Re: lil dawg amps - GAS is building
The fact that you are buying another one pretty much answers my "are you happy with yours?" question!
It sure does! Jim is a GREAT guy, super meticulous, and works FAST -- he sends progress pics as the amp is being built so you can see every step of the process. His whole deal is using classic designs and not skimping on the quality, but making them affordable for a gigging musician.
Both my existing amps are heads with separate cabs and I am interested in a grab and go combo, and have always wanted a vintage tweed style.
Due to my recording, playing, and gigging lifestyle, a combo is out of the question for me, so I still use heads and cabs; I had Jim make mine as a lunch box head. I, too, wanted to try a tweed style amp and see what the fuss was about. I'm very glad that I did so.
My initial idea is to get a 25watter and use a powerbrake lite to attenuate to still get drive for lower volume situations, and running full open for louder venues. Would be playing blues and blues rock with a drummer, bassist and another guitarist. Rehearsals, bar gigs etc. Playing with a Strat and Les Paul.
Sounds reasonable. I am an advocate of playing low wattage amps flat-out. When I gig, I use an ABY pedal and use two amps in tandem. I do have a 30W JMP clone from Bumbox, which I use to augment my lower wattage amps in a live situation. I usually just match the levels however, and then kick in the Bumbox when I am playing a solo.
What wattage is yours and how loud does it get before overdriving?
Okay, I had Jim build me a Champ because I wanted less than 10W and a good pedal platform. Both inputs will get VERY loud with a sensitive speaker; the amp itself never really breaks up, but you can get a bit of hair on it when dimed ... I rely on using a speaker that breaks up early (Eminence Wizard for vintage square back Fane Crescendos in a Hiwatt 4x12). But when you kick it with pedals ... man, the amp sounds as mean/heavy as anything else out there. I will have an audio example below.
My next one is going to be a Deluxe because I always wanted one.
I think the Champ set me back $700 with the options I wanted. The Deluxe head is about double that ...
I'd like to run it lightly overdriven and roll back the volume to clean up.
Me, too.
But, I also kick it both ways -- I use pedals to push it and then roll back the volume for a kind of gritty clean ... I am not a fan of crystal clean guitar tones.
What styles and situation do you use yours for?
Situation-wise, I have used mine for everything: jams, TONS of recording sessions, and lots of gigs. Style-wise? It will do anything from country to metal ... no joke. Audio example coming up.
Any other info you think would be useful would be appreciated.
Not much other than to say I have had nothing but great experiences working with Jim. There is no 'catch' to what he does ... there is no 'building to a price point'.
And now, the clip.
The guitars on this song are my '62 Japanese RI Stratocaster with a Seymour Duncan SSL1 in the bridge going into the Champster with a z.vex SHO and Xotic BB Preamp in front of it. 'Clean' guitar is using a Catlinbread Naga Viper and Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone. Not sure if you will dig the music, but it does show the tonal range from the Champster. Speaker used on this one is the Eminence Wizard, mic is a Sennheiser e609 & SSL mic preamp.
