Bought a new amp!

[Surgeon]

Re: Bought a new amp!

It's always really interesting to hear that the old guard (said with as much love as I can muster Lew!) is much more open minded when it comes to technology than us youngsters... I'm not debating whether you're right or wrong about the amp Lew, as I personnaly have no opinion (haven't tried a mustang). However, reading such a post from a guy who's played/owned gear that we all salivate thinking of (you owned a '59 LP at some point no?) when it comes to axes and amps, really makes me wonder.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

+1. I had an amp tech tell me that. He said a lot of amp's today aren't designed to be worked on; they're made to be disposed of and replaced when they have problems. From a manufacturer's point-of-view, why make amps that last for 50+ years? They sell a guy one and never see him again. They'd rather sell him several over the course of his playing years. They can double or triple sales that way.

I've only just started setting up my own presets and it's time consuming. If they don't sound perfect onstage it'll be a hassle adjusting them on the fly too. It's not like bending over and turning down the level on a Tubescreamer pedal or Chorus.

Once you get everything right it would be a drag to lose everything.

But you can interface with your IPhone or laptop. So I'll bet that's what you do: store your settings there so you don't lose them.

I can't wait for my next incarnation ( ) so I can come back and see how far technology has come!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

It's always really interesting to hear that the old guard (said with as much love as I can muster Lew!) is much more open minded when it comes to technology than us youngsters... I'm not debating whether you're right or wrong about the amp Lew, as I personnaly have no opinion (haven't tried a mustang). However, reading such a post from a guy who's played/owned gear that we all salivate thinking of (you owned a '59 LP at some point no?) when it comes to axes and amps, really makes me wonder.

I owned a couple of Bursts. Yep. Long ago tho.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Bought a new amp!

I owned a couple of Bursts. Yep. Long ago tho.

Yeah, my point being that you owned or played plenty of drool-worthy/worship-worthy gear and still you try and enjoy modern technology as well...

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Bought a new amp!

The Line 6 IV doesn't sound like ass - not by a long shot.

Then we very much disagree. For higher gain/heavy overdrive, there isn't a comparison. The Spider sounds harsh, grainy, messy - just really bad clipping - with each gain channel having an unusable natural EQ tonality that can't be dialed out. Passable live in an absolute pinch/non professional gig. Laughable if someone tries to bring it into the studio to record. What amps could I be omparing it to? A '77 Bassman 70 (not in any way regarded as a "better" version of the Bassman, but it does exactly what I'd like it to do) has better cleans, better light overdrive tones when turned up, and for extra gain I use the Bogner XTC and Uberschall pedals. Miles better than the Line 6 IMO; well worth the increase in price, which really isn't much higher in the long run. That Bassman runs for about $400, and The Uberschall pedal can be found for as low as $120. A $220 increase isn't much in the long run when spending on amps. It comes down to "jack of all trades, master of none". Usually modelling technology nowadays can at least do a few sounds really well (like Bias), but the Line 6 just has hundreds of different flavors ranging from "ewww" to "meh".

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bought a new amp!

I doubt players are using Spiders in studios to make big-selling albums with. But at the typical local bar gig, with the usual poor room acoustics, people talking and laughing, things banging around, and all kinds of other background noise, plus the instrument balance being less than perfect, very few people in the crowd could tell if the guitarist has a tube or SS amp. I've seen live band mixes where you couldn't even hear one of the instruments, or had another one drowning out the others (I'll talk to them on break, and tell their levels and/or EQ's are off). I've heard a lot of out-of-tune guitars at gigs and festivals. If it's up to the individual band members to set their own volume levels, that's a roll of the dice. If you're running thru mixing board, you're at the mercy of that guy. The standard is set pretty low with the average band, and the tube vs SS debate is the least of their sonic issues.

How many of us really know what we sound like to the audience? You can obsess over details that are totally lost in that building.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

I doubt players are using Spiders in studios to make big-selling albums with. But at the typical local bar gig, with the usual poor room acoustics, people talking and laughing, things banging around, and all kinds of other background noise, plus the instrument balance being less than perfect, very few people in the crowd could tell if the guitarist has a tube or SS amp. I've seen live band mixes where you couldn't even hear one of the instruments, or had another one drowning out the others (I'll talk to them on break, and tell their levels and/or EQ's are off). I've heard a lot of out-of-tune guitars at gigs and festivals. If it's up to the individual band members to set their own volume levels, that's a roll of the dice. If you're running thru mixing board, you're at the mercy of that guy. The standard is set pretty low with the average band, and the tube vs SS debate is the least of their sonic issues.

How many of us really know what we sound like to the audience? You can obsess over details that are totally lost in that building?

I care about how the sound makes me feel. Whether the audience can tell a modeling amp from a tube amp isn't a high priority for me.

But the Line 6 is a good modeler. I love the way the guy in my band uses his Line 6 for both clean tones and overdriven tones. It's what made me want to get one.

I went into GC wanting to try Line 6 and the salesman set me up with one. I liked the overdrive and metal tones, but I'll admit to thinking: "This sounds so familiar. No wonder the guitar solos on so many records all have the same tone and sound the same...they're using a modeling amp."

Don't know if that's true or not...probably isn't. But that's what I felt.

Then the salesman plugged me into a Mustang III and I liked it too but missed the heavy bass of the Line 6 and those slightly corny overdrive tones.

So I went home and did a bunch of research and came back a second time.

This time I got what the Mustang III is all about.

But it took a third time to convince me and then I bought it.

Today I worked out a dynamite Twin Reverb setting with tremolo and reverb for an instrumental I'm working on for the band of Ghost Riders In The Sky.

Kind of like this but my own take on this version:

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Bought a new amp!

I doubt players are using Spiders in studios to make big-selling albums with. But at the typical local bar gig, with the usual poor room acoustics, people talking and laughing, things banging around, and all kinds of other background noise, plus the instrument balance being less than perfect, very few people in the crowd could tell if the guitarist has a tube or SS amp. I've seen live band mixes where you couldn't even hear one of the instruments, or had another one drowning out the others (I'll talk to them on break, and tell their levels and/or EQ's are off). I've heard a lot of out-of-tune guitars at gigs and festivals. If it's up to the individual band members to set their own volume levels, that's a roll of the dice. If you're running thru mixing board, you're at the mercy of that guy. The standard is set pretty low with the average band, and the tube vs SS debate is the least of their sonic issues.

How many of us really know what we sound like to the audience? You can obsess over details that are totally lost in that building.

I'm not debating whether tube/ss/modeling is better. I don't carre about that. My point is that the Spider isn't a good sounding amp. Period. Wouldn't matter if the Spider was tube or analog SS - if it still sounded as it does, then it still sounds bad. There are modeling amps that I think sound better than the Spider from all price points: a Roland Cube, Vox Valvetronix, Bias, Amplitube, AxeFX, Kemper, etc. There are SS amps I think sound better than the Line 6 - Randalls, Roland JC120, etc. Tube amps that sound better than the Spider: any of the actual amps that the Spider tries to emulate. If the Spider is all there is at a gig, then sure make due with what's available; what really counts the most is the performance/does the band sound good altogether. But that still doesn't change that it's a lackluster sounding amp.

I went into GC wanting to try Line 6 and the salesman set me up with one. I liked the overdrive and metal tones, but I'll admit to thinking: "This sounds so familiar. No wonder the guitar solos on so many records all have the same tone and sound the same...they're using a modeling amp."

Uh, can you prove it?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bought a new amp!

Don't know if that's true or not...probably isn't. But that's what I felt.

he doesnt have to and while i know its not true, i do understand the statement. when you have piles of gain and things are recorded and mastered a certain way you get a pretty generic tone too frequently.

i listened to the recording. they both sound ok but neither flip my skirt. i dont use a new fender deluxe reverb, i use an old one and it sounds way better than the new ones, black or silver. its not stock and ive massaged it to where i want it but everyone who plugs into it loves it. ive plugged into the new ones and while i can make it sound fine (maybe im spoiled) it sure doesnt sound or feel as good. all that said, if you like it and it makes you play comfortably then run with it. the audience cares much more about the performance than what amp you are using

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Bought a new amp!

O_0 man the heavens collapsed
Cool Lew...
I like the new Roland Blues Cube and got some sweet tones out of it.
It is all in how one uses the gear!
Have fun!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

Thanks Jeremy.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bought a new amp!

I care about how the sound makes me feel. Whether the audience can tell a modeling amp from a tube amp isn't a high priority for me.

Agreed, I also want a tone that inspires me, but my point was that whatever the tone is, it isn't necessarily what the people out front are hearing. Because of the room and all the commotion and distractions going on in it, the subtleties and nuances that we strive for may or may not be heard by the crowd.

 

[Securb]

Re: Bought a new amp!

.

 

[HTT]

Re: Bought a new amp!

When my Mustang amp worked I loved it. But my unit had the Mustang fizz and would not hold settings-some electronic glitchthingy. I gave it away. The speaker in the amp is quite impressive.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

When my Mustang amp worked I loved it. But my unit had the Mustang fizz and would not hold settings-some electronic glitchthingy. I gave it away. The speaker in the amp is quite impressive.

Bummer. They do come with a 5 year warranty that's transferable. Couldn't use it?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bought a new amp!

You know, most people have their eyes and ears on the musicians onstage, basing their opinion on what you are musically.

It's only us guitar nerds who give a crap about tubes and speakers, etc.

I can't believe that in this decade you can find such a versatile and good sounding amp as the Mustang or Valvetronix, that covers Fender, Vox, Marshall, and Mesa so perfectly for as low as $150 used.

I've even seen a guy load a Mustang chassis into custom cabinetry to make it appear like a boutique tube amp!

That said, can I call you Mustang Sally now? hahaha

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

Spent hours with this yesterday.

I'm retired now. I'm disabled and Social Security gave me early retirement although I didn't ask for it. It's good though. My wife has cancer much more severe than mine and I'm her full time caretaker.

Anyway, I spent hours programming it for the next gig and the Mustang III is amazingly deep. I'll never get everything out of it that it can do. It would take a lifetime.

I'll find the online advanced manual and post it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Bought a new amp!

Here's the manual. http://support.fender.com/manuals/guitar_amplifiers/Mustang_1-5_Advanced_English.pdf

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Bought a new amp!

I care about how the sound makes me feel. Whether the audience can tell a modeling amp from a tube amp isn't a high priority for me.

But the Line 6 is a good modeler. I love the way the guy in my band uses his Line 6 for both clean tones and overdriven tones. It's what made me want to get one.

I went into GC wanting to try Line 6 and the salesman set me up with one. I liked the overdrive and metal tones, but I'll admit to thinking: "This sounds so familiar. No wonder the guitar solos on so many records all have the same tone and sound the same...they're using a modeling amp."

Don't know if that's true or not...probably isn't. But that's what I felt.

Then the salesman plugged me into a Mustang III and I liked it too but missed the heavy bass of the Line 6 and those slightly corny overdrive tones.

So I went home and did a bunch of research and came back a second time.

This time I got what the Mustang III is all about.

But it took a third time to convince me and then I bought it.

Today I worked out a dynamite Twin Reverb setting with tremolo and reverb for an instrumental I'm working on for the band of Ghost Riders In The Sky.

Kind of like this but my own take on this version:

Tiocfaidh 'ar l'a!!!

Cool video, not my favorite version but definitely fun to watch!!!

 

[leevc5]

Re: Bought a new amp!

Fender Mustang III 100 watt modeling amp. 12" Celestion speaker. Great sounding models of all the classic Fender and Marshall amps of the last 60 years and 100 presets that can be modified to taste and then stored as your own preset. Sounds amazing

After reading this thread I am going out this morning and try out one of these contraptions. I have played for years through a fender champ 12 tube amp and love the beautiful warm clean tone and the natural tube overdrive it produces. I also play through a Marshall AVT50 with a tube preamp and am pleased with it as well. I had a Spider III 75W for a short time but with its 400 presets I could never find a sound I cared for. From what I've read here I think maybe it's time for this old codger to give the new technology another shot.

Congrats on your new amp. Play long and prosper!