High gain vs not so high gain

[kneadmomunny]

what makes an amp high gain?

does it have to be tube?

is there a minimum wattage?

is there a solid definition?

any examples?

Discuss.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

High gain is actually everything with a high gain preamp X-D definition may vary, but it has nothing to do with wattage aswell as it doesn't have to be tube. Usually HiGain amps have 3 channels so you have everything from clean over medium gain to heavy gain...
Examples...
All tube: Marshall TSL, Mesa Triple Rectifier, Bogner Extacy, Framus Cobra
Hybrid: Marshall Mode Four, Randall V-Max
SS: Every SS Randall

 

[BigBazz]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

High gain to me...

Well, preamp gain..



You can create high gain sounds with distortion pedals.


Or boost an amp into high gain sounds with overdrive pedals.


High gain has nothing to do with whether its solid state or valve, or how powerfull the poweramp is, its down to the preamp.




Any amp can be high gain if you push it enough.

A plexi can sound high gain, though its more of a combination of pushing the poweramp and preamp with that amp, so i suppose it varies.


Sorry for the crap explanation, i know in my head what makes a high gain amp.. but i cant chuck it down on paper in usefull terms .

 

[34029324079]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

I prefer medium gain so I can push the amp...

high gain gets that icepick sound that is great for super fast chugging or nu-metal which I used to love but dont listen to much these days

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

Depends on your definition of high gain. For me, the highest gain amp I'd realistically need would be something like a Boogie Mk IV combo, which some people might consider pretty tame by today's standards.

 

[aleclee]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

Any amp can be high gain if you push it enough.

Nope. You might be getting high gain types of tone but pushing the amp has nothing to do with how much gain it has. It's kind of like saying that a car being towed at 120mph has a high power engine 'cause it's going fast.

Gain is a measure of signal amplification. In most guitar amps, the signal gets amplified beyond the circuit's ability to provide voltage or current, causing distortion. High gain amps have the ability to amplify the input signal to the point where it is extremely distorted. As a result, high gain has nothing to do with tubes/solid state, power level (since that extreme distortion is caused by preamp clipping) or anything really besides amplication factors.

 

[stangme01]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

I prefer medium gain so I can push the amp...

high gain gets that icepick sound that is great for super fast chugging or nu-metal which I used to love but dont listen to much these days

thats weird with all my amps the higher the gain the more compressed and "warmer" and "fuller" they get.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: High gain vs not so high gain

Gain is often a misused buzzword. Does it mean distortion or volume? Some people call a Hiwatt a high gain amp. But its not very distorted. It's really loud but not really heavily distorted.