Next Trend in Amps?

[Skarekrough]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

I think the botique trend is just really starting to get to a point that they're making amps for the "common man." It's one of those things that the vintage market was expensive (but nowhere near as expensive as guitars) and hard to track down unmolested/hacked amps and the market is there for reissues that are true to the original without all the occasional negative stuff.

The high-gain stuff I don't pay any attention to; they're so far detached from what I play or listen to I have no place to even comment on them. The only thing I have any reference from would be alot of kids looking for bedroom amps.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

One thing I'd also like to see is multi-test probe outputs from the power tubes to the back of the amp for biasing without having to buy a bias probe. Add to this a small hole in the back of the amp plate leading to a trim pot to adjust the bias without disassembling the amp. There's no sense in making you take an amp apart just to adjust the bias. That's like making you remove the engine of your car to change the oil. Automobile manufacturers don't operate with the same disregard to maintenence, so why should amp manufacturers?

The answer I've gotten from manufacturers is that they don't want clueless nitwits (my words, not theirs) frying tubes through excessive bias and blaming the manufacturer for a crappy amp that eats tubes.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

I hear you, but, look at this thread... how many forward ideas have you seen in this thread? Not a lot truly.

Better question might be what about todays and yesterdays amps don't do it for you? What do you want them to do better?

Old amps are great and I love them...I was just talking about new amps...there seems to be very little new going on, if there is it's never very well done IMO...

Victoria amps are amazing but they are just Fender clones, Blockhead amps are killer but they are just Plexi clones (which are just Fender clones!)...Im talking about new designs...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

well, i think that amps biggest threat is their past. Fender and Marshall know that people buy those amps for the historic sounds they produce. They don't stray too far from that, and when they do, it doesn't last long. Guitarists are also very conservative in the sounds they are going for, so a new amp with a unique sound rarely has a chance in the marketplace. Boutique builders base their designs on inprovements of those classic designs. I love the modeling idea, but putting in the token tube (a preamp tube, no less)is too much a balancing act.
Until guitar players stop recreating classic sounds, there won't be any more classic designed amps. Supply and demand.

 

[taphappy]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

Thats why I belive that next gen amps shold include the basic classic tones most guitarists love, like I stated in my first post. Then they add high uality modern parts that are low noise and high reliabilty. And to top it all off, offer it at a low price. If it becomes a fad and the market is saturated wouldnt guitarists try out new unique amps?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

The answer I've gotten from manufacturers is that they don't want clueless nitwits (my words, not theirs) frying tubes through excessive bias and blaming the manufacturer for a crappy amp that eats tubes.

Granted. Thing is, if they would take the time to give some guidelines to go by, there would be a large group of folks out there who would flock to these amps and would treat them right. I'd rather have knowledgeable customers than dumb ones. If someone is too stupid to learn how to bias the amp when they change tubes, they don't need to have a tube amp in the first place. Sort of the same thing about changing tires and owning a car. It's required knowledge and ignorant people pay a stiff penalty to remain ignorant.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

One thing I'd also like to see is multi-test probe outputs from the power tubes to the back of the amp for biasing without having to buy a bias probe. Add to this a small hole in the back of the amp plate leading to a trim pot to adjust the bias without disassembling the amp. There's no sense in making you take an amp apart just to adjust the bias. That's like making you remove the engine of your car to change the oil. Automobile manufacturers don't operate with the same disregard to maintenence, so why should amp manufacturers?

Uh, in case you didin't know, the Edana 45 that you ordered will have that feature. You'll just have to unscrew the back panel off the head to get to it. I'm making it something that some one just doesn't walk up and jam something into or change the bias unintentionally.

Merry Christmas!

 

[ankalar]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

Rather than adding more controls for more channels, I would like to see more amps with the automatic knob-turning features that Fender Cyber Twins have. Lots of rack preamps have patch settings like that, but I would like to see it in head/cab or combo format.

 

[SOLO GUITAR STEWIE]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

I love the modeling + preamp and power tubes idea....
(with the pod xt preferably)
and with a self biasing system so you can change tubes quick
without a big hassle

chris

 

[Jeroen]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

What IS the part that makes a tube amp so heavy anyway? Is it the power transformers? Why don't amp manufacturers incorporate the same type of transformers that's used in a computer, for example? I don't know #### on amp electronics, so this may be a real stupid question to some of you guys, but I'm just wondering

 

[some_dude]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

That's a great idea, DSS... Isn't there a boutique company that does something like this now?

The Laney Iommi comes with a built in treble booster.....it's on an on/off switch though.

The Krank Krankenstien uses a solid state clipping section in the preamp to achieve more gain.....I believe it's premanantly enguaged, so you can't tweek it.

Same with the JCM900.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

Rather than adding more controls for more channels, I would like to see more amps with the automatic knob-turning features that Fender Cyber Twins have. Lots of rack preamps have patch settings like that, but I would like to see it in head/cab or combo format.

Rivera Knucklehead.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

I think you wil see more "dual" amps like the Mesa Blue Angel and Road King--where players will be able to switch between (say for example) medium power (50 watt, 2X6L6) and low power (15 watt, 2XEL84) power amp configurations in a single cabinet, single chassis amp.

I think you will see more medium power amps with built-in power and speaker attenuation. I think you will see more low-power amps with built in mics and XLR outs for stage mic-ing, and small tube amps featuring more features for the gigging pro.

I think digital modeling is here to stay--look for at least one company to introduce a hybrid combo featuring a digital modelling pre-amp and a tube power amp stage.

Look for tubes to get more expensive.

Bill

 

[neosadist]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

My dream amp:

Tube amp, 2 x 12", with four input channels, each with EQ. No effects other than a master reverb. Have several outputs, like for driving another cabinet, an XLR output (like having one direct box per channel), and a Line Out. This would mainly be geared towards (you guessed it) church and small gigs.

Robert

 

[aleclee]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

What IS the part that makes a tube amp so heavy anyway? Is it the power transformers? Why don't amp manufacturers incorporate the same type of transformers that's used in a computer, for example? I don't know #### on amp electronics, so this may be a real stupid question to some of you guys, but I'm just wondering

Trannys are the heavy part. Computer power supplies are low-voltage affairs (5-12 V) while amp power supplies are much higher voltage (350-500V). Even if you could go with a lighter power supply, the output transformer is heavier than the power tranny and there's no substitute for good iron at that stage.

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

I'd like to see a head that integrated some sort of bradshaw type switching rig into things, that would be cool.

Tha's cool. I'd like a combo or head with 3 great tones, (clean, crunch, hi gain) & some loops & built in switching (pre & post pre-amp) for outboard gear.

I like my amp modeler for some things, but I'd like the option of switching back to my straight amp sound without having to use exernal switchers or rack stuff.

 

[Lee_L]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

I really like the power switching thing, or a built in attenuator. Tube amps need to be opened up to sound great, and that's just not logical in a bedroom or even apartment situation.

 

[ES350]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

Well, how do you (or why would you, from an economic standpoint) reinvent a Western Electric push-pull Class AB tube circuit? That's how it works...you can tweak the preamp, add 'effects' and goof around with a bunch of other parameters, but the basic idea is the same and has been since the late 40's. Not a lot of corporate R&D money going into tubes these days...
Most guitarists want 6L6/EL34 based amps so they can sound like Artist X, Y, and Z...where's the market for a SE 300B or a nice clean 807 based guitar amp? It doesn't exist, so they don't get built.

 

[Lee_L]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

Well why not? I say let's use some different tubes and get some different sounds.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Next Trend in Amps?

Uh, in case you didin't know, the Edana 45 that you ordered will have that feature. You'll just have to unscrew the back panel off the head to get to it. I'm making it something that some one just doesn't walk up and jam something into or change the bias unintentionally.

Merry Christmas!

I honestly didn't know that, but I'm very glad to hear it. My comment wasn't aimed at you Scott, but rather at the industry in general. I know some of the boutique guys do make it easier to change, but the non-boutique mainstream guys could learn a big lesson from folks like you.