How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

[IMENATOR]

Hi everyone,

Yesterday my old 15w amp failed and I can't get no sound out of it. I was concerned it may have been a problem in my guitar (I had made some re-wiring recently) so I went to a music store and pulgged it into an amp just to test.

Lucky enough the wiring is fine and my guitar sounded fine. In fact it sounded even better than when playin at home, it made me realize that besides my recent pickup changes I also need to start looking for a new amp to get a better tone.

Currently I am using a couple of pedals to get my overdrive and distortion thru pedals so, how to choose a new amp?

- Solid state or tubes? Why?
- If switching rom 15w to 30w, what would be the benefit besides the obvious louder sound?
- Even if no efects/overdrive/distortion on amp, what are the factors that imprint the amp's own tone factor into the final tone I can get?
- I plan to take my own guitar and distortion pedal so I can know the actual result. Any other tip when goint to a music store and testing?
- Are there good online articles/tutoriasl/FAQs or any other kind of learning resources to learn about amplifiers and their tone?
- Any reason why you would recomend using overdrive or distortion from amp rather than pedals?

I know these are lots of questions. I apreciate any help provided.

Thanks in advance to all.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

Don't sweat the details. Play a ton of gear with and without your pedals and buy what makes sense for your budget and playing situation.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

Don't sweat the details. Play a ton of gear with and without your pedals and buy what makes sense for your budget and playing situation.

I know I have to test a lot my self, no doubt about it. However I also like reading and learning about technical stuff and understand the reason why things work the way they work, I like to know the details sorry :cool2:. That was the reason why I actually turned my eyes into SD pickups, I loved that video with the factory tour and how pickups work. Maybe I am asking too much but that is the kind of stuff I would like to know.

Also getting coments and experciences from other people is quite benefical and that is why I throwed the question. Hopefully someone had gone this path before and may have some answers rigthaway. In my opinion the best of internet is sharing and collaboration.

 

[papersoul]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

I would make the switch to tubes and ditch the pedals. You will never go back!!!!! :14:

 

[guitarrob]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

I would make the switch to tubes and ditch the pedals. You will never go back!!!!! :14:

I don't know about that. Some like tube distortion and some like pedals, It is preference... People like different tones which is why many of the best players out there have their own signature distortion pedals. They give them the tones they are after.

 

[Psykel]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

Well, depending on your playing style and the kind of music you play, using the overdrive from a tube amp for rhythm and a kind of base sound and then using pedals to boost for solos and such could be an idea to try. That's how I do it.

 

[Gforce9]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

IM,
I think your budget will dictate where you need to look. A small, solid state amp will cost you $150-$300 new, a Matchless DC-30 is about $3500. Not always, but typically, spending a few more dollars will get you more. I have had several solid state and low-mid level tube amps. One day, since I had the money, I sold it all for a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia (18-watt, single channel,1x12" hand built tube combo). It cost me ~ $1200 at the time. Two things to say about it: 1) I have had zero trouble in 8 years compared to various issues with the others, and 2) It sounds fabulous in any mix I've ever played in.
Tube amps usually handle pedals better (to varying degrees) than do solid state...a less harsh, more natural sound usually results. This is not to stay good tones can't be had in solid state amps; I'm only saying a Bogner, Matchless, or Dr. Z amp will sound better and last longer than a $100 practice amp..... I hope you find a gem.........

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

I would make the switch to tubes and ditch the pedals. You will never go back!!!!! :14:

Sorry, but this is off.

Pedals made to work with good tube amps make for more tones than you could ever get from a tube amp by itself, and besides, some tube amps just sound like sh!t, and there's no getting around that fact. Pedals can help.

To the OP...do you want a nice fat warm sound, or are you after a colder thinner tone? Find that out, and then go out and try out amps until you find the one that works best for you with your pedals.

 

[lareplus]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

I love the clean tone of several solid state amps and with a variety of pedal as well. . .but some solid state amps just don't do well with overdrive, much to my chagrin. But it is also true that some tube amps are great with some overdrive pedals and some are not. . .part of it might be the speaker, as well.

The only thing I know to do is to take your pedals and try them out, that's the best way.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

What are your favourite recorded guitar sounds?
What will you use the amp for? Bedroom practice, or playing live next to a heavy handed drummer?
What amps have you had experience with and what did you like/dislike about them?

 

[James Rock]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

I would make the switch to tubes and ditch the pedals. You will never go back!!!!!

Yep because I know plenty of tube amps that can sound like a tube amp with a fuzz face infront of it or a RAT or a Shin Ei Fuzz or a Big Muff. People with 4 channel amps still use tubescreamer. Its all just flavour.

To the OP if you want a versatile clean sound that can handle pedals and can do with headroom I'd look into a Fender style amp as alot of pedal builders usually test their pedals through a twin or a deluxe as they are common amps. On the other hand if you want a more midrange focused sound there are amps that runs fairly clean might work like something based on old NMV marshall or bassman. It all depends on budget and the kind of sound your after. What pedals do you use? and what was your old amp?

 

[hermetico]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

I don't know about that. Some like tube distortion and some like pedals, It is preference... People like different tones which is why many of the best players out there have their own signature distortion pedals. They give them the tones they are after.

at the VOLUMES THEY NEED, I will add here!.

To the OP, If you are going to add your salt just with pedals, buy an amp with a single clean but tasty channel.
Even that SS doesn't deliver mojo enough, they work at any loudness level and, that's something for you to think about.
Even 1W in a Tube amp can sound louder than 15W in a solid state amp and, a tube amp that isn't properly drived can sound tasteless. A good compromised solution in those cases is some kind of hybrid, with preamp tubes and solid state power amp.

If you wanna check tube amp's character and loudness, just try a cheap VHT Special 6 or the Special 6 Ultra, to understand how loud can 6W sound. If you can stand this loudness, there is a thread here about Vox Night Train 15W heads being sold by 200$, what is a bargain for a such a very nice sounding little amp!.

On hybrids there are more room, as Fender Mustangs (specially interesting the III), or Vox Valvetronics but, those usually include a lot of effects inside, also.

On pure solid state, there is some Roland around with a very usable clean foundational tone.

 

[jmh151]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

IMO, most Boss pedals are voiced to sound their best through a very clean Roland JC-120, and sound great through Fender amps. Most pedals sound great through Fender clean channels, and are voiced to sound their best through Fenders

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

If you want to use pedals for everything, a Twin is a decent choice, as is any high wattage amp.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

If you want to use pedals for everything, a Twin is a decent choice, as is any high wattage amp.

She's a beauty!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

How does this sound to you? A pair of small tube amps (Fender Pro Juniors), some pedals (A Klon and a Wampler maybe) and the guitar genius of Jeff Beck. Here in the US I can get a pair of used Pro Juniors for under $500.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

What are your favourite recorded guitar sounds?
What will you use the amp for? Bedroom practice, or playing live next to a heavy handed drummer?
What amps have you had experience with and what did you like/dislike about them?

Great questions! We'll see if he decides to be smart and start with answering these questions first.

 

[Inkstained]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

Test the prospective amp at a local Guitar Center.

Bring the pedals you usually use with you.

Plug into prospective amp. Do it this way: Guitar > pedals > amps. Turn the volume knob on the amp ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. Clockwise, FULL ON.

Do lots of windmilling with your picking arm. Close your eyes, grimace, grunt. Sweating is good, especially if there are a lot of people about.

You'll soon know if the amp is the one for you.

Enjoy!

 

[brunogio]

Re: How to choose a new amp if I do my overdrive/distortion with pedals?

Lots of good answers here but I think the main suggestion is to find something that sounds good clean to your ears at the volume you plan to play it.

I like tube amps myself. But try out a bunch of stuff. Just be wary of brands that don't have good reliability. Run the names and models by us here and I'm sure you'll hear if they are good quality or not.

Reverb is nice to get on the amp and saves you buying a reverb pedal and many amps have nice reverb to boot.

Don't be afraid to use drive pedals even if the amp has on board gain.

You can use an OD on either a clean or crunch channel to get something different. I find this helpful when playing live so I can get different levels of dirt on different songs. Makes a two channel amp more versatile live.