Re: If You Had $1,600 For A New Amp...?
i guess i'll try one of those attenuators. i heard they're like $150 though. know of a cheaper or better product for that price?
Now you're talking. An attenuator is a great idea, but I'd suggest you don't skimp when shopping for one. Avoid marshall's power brake and look at the weber MASS or the THD hotplate.
-also be aware that even the best attenuators start munging your tone up a bit after a 15db reduction. So an attenuator will be a great help, but it won't work miracles.
Look into buying a 1x12 cabinet specifically for recording. 2x12 and 4x12 cabs sound great when you stand in front of them, but for recording, nothing beats the focus of a single 12. It's also a great way to cut down recording volume further.
To go an extra step, drop your wattage. Your marshall is a nice amp, but you could look at getting a 50w amp to help cut down on volume a bit. And a 50w amp will play ANY venue. Trust me on that one.
Now, as far as tone/playing frustration goes, it pays to relax a bit if you can. Recording your playing is an excellent idea, as it's a fantastic way to understand what your strengths and weaknesses are. But it's also great to take a break and come back fresh. I'm also a strong advocate of playing clean with no effects or playing unplugged, as that was you'll get a real understanding of where your hands are at compared to your brain/soul.
From hearing your clips, your tone isn't too bad at all, in fact much better than many home recording players I hear. That's not to say it's truly inspiring, pro-level stuff, but it's not too shabby either. I'd say you'd be better off refocusing on some technique spadework in a few areas: bending intonation, rushing your timing, and cleanliness of technique. You've set yourself high standards by trying to play the stuff you've recorded, but those standards are attainable if you work at it and are honest with yourself.
Originality goes a long way. You're about the ten millionth young player to post 'still got the blues' and 'cliffs of dover' clips on an internet forum in the hope that other players will tell you that you play/sound really good. and you could easily become one of the several thousand players out there who can nail this stuff, too. If that's the limit of your ambition, cool. But if you really want to engage with others, playing something original is the only way for people to really hear the real you. Be brave.
And nothing beats the real world for advancing as a musician. Get yourself a gig, and try not to get angry when one of those real world people offers some advice. Chances are they're trying to help.
