Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

[Cynical]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

This is false. Most pedals are designed to work with tube amps.

Yes, because a pedal knows what's coming after it in the signal chain.

Some pedals are designed as signal conditioners of various sorts, sure, but those aren't the pedals that someone who is asking for a "pedal platform" is planning to use. They're looking for distortion pedals that are meant to be the sound, and those just want as clean and accurate of an amplifier as they can get. When it comes to accurately reproducing a wave, solid state beats valve any day. There's a reason why, on a valve amp, Boss distortion pedals always sound better plugged into the FX return than into the front of the amp; no 12AX7 driven pre-amp in the world is going to stay as clean as a "this pedal is your tone" pedal is going to want it to.

I have a Yamaha THR100HD it’s versatile but has no recording out and doesn’t really do anything awesomely just acceptably plus I’ve ran some pedals thru it that sounded horrible I’d like to avoid the analog to digital conversion as much as possible and it’s a lot easier to find good sounding analog pedals than digital most of the time.

Solid state does not mean digital. A proper solid state amp is still analog; digital modelling amps are something else entirely.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Yes, because a pedal knows what's coming after it in the signal chain.

While a pedal won't "know" what comes after it in the signal chain, it's entirely plausible that some pedals were designed with a certain signal chain in mind. Tube amps tend to be more compressed and forgiving than solid state, and many distortion pedals are designed with that in mind. You could absolutely run the pedal into a solid state amp, but the end result is likely to be harsh and fizzy.

Some pedals are designed as signal conditioners of various sorts, sure, but those aren't the pedals that someone who is asking for a "pedal platform" is planning to use. They're looking for distortion pedals that are meant to be the sound, and those just want as clean and accurate of an amplifier as they can get. When it comes to accurately reproducing a wave, solid state beats valve any day. There's a reason why, on a valve amp, Boss distortion pedals always sound better plugged into the FX return than into the front of the amp; no 12AX7 driven pre-amp in the world is going to stay as clean as a "this pedal is your tone" pedal is going to want it to.

I don't think you can make an absolute statement like that. Something like an AMT preamp is designed to completely shape the tone, and it may sound better into an effects return that the front of an amp, but that'll depend on things like headroom and the amp's tone stack. Other pedals like an MXR Distortion + or Boss DS-1 sound pretty bad when run into an effects loop because they're designed to be shaped further by an amp's tone stack.

 

[Cynical]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

While a pedal won't "know" what comes after it in the signal chain, it's entirely plausible that some pedals were designed with a certain signal chain in mind. Tube amps tend to be more compressed and forgiving than solid state, and many distortion pedals are designed with that in mind. You could absolutely run the pedal into a solid state amp, but the end result is likely to be harsh and fizzy.

Except nearly all distortion pedals are far more compressed than a tube amp's preamp distortion. This is why a Boss MT-2 is harsh and fizzy when run into the front end of a tube amp, but the bees go away when plugged into the effects loop... or into a really clean solid-state channel.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Sometimes harsh and fizzy is what one is looking for.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Boss pedals are literally designed to be run into a JC-120.

Despite a certain youtuber’s recent video, most simple distortion and overdrive boxes do not sound good into a loop (nor are they designed to)

 

[B00B-screamer]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

I’ve look at attenuators but haven’t found one that doesn’t color the tone which wouldn’t take a chunk out of my amp budget, as far as fenders go while I like them they do heave a slight mid scoop and I’ve read I want a flat response for pedals. I could dial back in the miss with eq I guess there are so many options when it comes to pedals and amps. I was thinking a Matthews effects architect or cartographer for low gain since it has strong eq and is Klein based then maybe a keeper super phat drive I’ve heard nothing but good about them as well as the filaments. I’m trying to keep my pedals around 200 or less except for meris they are worth the 300$ till you realize my whole amp is only 150$ more.

Still like the Marshall dsl but it has lots of compression and mid boost which I don’t think would give a true pedal sounds

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Check out the Bugera INFINIUM G20

It ain't a Peavey or a Blackstar
And brand new it runs less than a used Blackstar or Peavey

Bedroom / Studio amp it is

 

[Securb]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

I have a Classic 20. It has a built in boost with is nice. I have not used many pedals with it but so far I am loving the amp. It has a very feature friendly back and front panel. The one think I will point out about this amp is it is higher gain than you would expect and has more growl than people expect. You can coax creamy classic overdrive out of it but it will dance with the devil in the realms of metal. I have had no need to gain stage it or use any type of boost or overdrive. It is a nasty little amp.

If you are looking for a good deal on one believe it or not Walmart.com was blowing them out around a month ago.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

I have a Classic 20. It has a built in boost with is nice. I have not used many pedals with it but so far I am loving the amp. It has a very feature friendly back and front panel. The one think I will point out about this amp is it is higher gain than you would expect and has more growl than people expect. You can coax creamy classic overdrive out of it but it will dance with the devil in the realms of metal. I have had no need to gain stage it or use any type of boost or overdrive. It is a nasty little amp.

If you are looking for a good deal on one believe it or not Walmart.com was blowing them out around a month ago.

Wal-Mart! Really? I’ll need to see if they still have any.
Not that I really need another amp, but I’d love something that would serve as more of a “blues/classic rock” setup.
I can do that with my Blackstar too I guess.
What is really like to grab is a Classic 30 combo.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Wal-Mart! Really? I’ll need to see if they still have any.
Not that I really need another amp, but I’d love something that would serve as more of a “blues/classic rock” setup.
I can do that with my Blackstar too I guess.
What is really like to grab is a Classic 30 combo.

Walmart.com is an oddball wannabe-Amazon-rival that seems to be trying to get word of mouth by running cool clearances on ALL sorts of random stuff (that nobody seems to know about, though, so kinda fail)

... got a set of new high-end Michelins for my Navigator @$104/ea shipped from em a few months back...that's like 65% off msrp, and free shipping saving another $100

 

[Adieu]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Older USA-built Peavey or Fender sold-state with one or two 12" speakers and in the 40-100w range.
Great pedal-platform amps. (IMO that means using pedals for many or most of the gain/high-gain tones)
Cheap, and very cheap if you keep a lookout locally. $100-range

Some of those cheaper old fenders lack a mids knob on the clean channel though, which isn't acceptable IMO.
There were some USA Fender solid-states that did have a full tone-stack on the cleans, just be aware.

Use the saved cash for a used Mesa cab. Make sure the amp you get has an extension-cab output.

Mesa cabs are nice but overrated from a value perspective.

It's all about decent plywood builds and real UK speakers. Unloaded or boring-speaker cabs can be had for $100-150, and Mesa speakers are easy to find used for $40 - 75 ea

 

[dave74]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Mesa cabs are nice but overrated from a value perspective.

It's all about decent plywood builds and real UK speakers. Unloaded or boring-speaker cabs can be had for $100-150, and Mesa speakers are easy to find used for $40 - 75 ea

Mesa cabs go used often for 4-500, I got one of mine local for $400 in excellent condition, a 412. The 212s are almost as much though.
I know they list them higher, mine was listed at $500, but craigslist people want to sell quick usually.

 

[B00B-screamer]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Well the classic 20 is 500$ on Walmart so that sale is gone. As far as what I’m looking for I have a solid state Yama the but it just sounds sterile and doesn’t get that tube tone if I don’t want pedals. I just want something not colored or compressed that’s good with pedals that can also do the good clean tone with no pedals. I know that breakup tone when u drive the tubes. If money was no option sure I’d get a jhs color box and various other amps and pre amps in a box but for now it’s not an option

 

[dave74]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

It's all about decent plywood builds and real UK speakers

Agreed.


Many would be surprised at how some of the cheaper ss amps sound through a really good cab, especially those with any of the warmer celestions.

 

[Securb]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Well the classic 20 is 500$ on Walmart so that sale is gone.

Too bad I got mine for somewhere around $380. I had a couple of guitar players over the house this weekend. I love having someone else play my amp and being ably to move back a bit and focus on the tone. That amp sounds so good. Everyone that plays it falls in love with it. As far as being a good pedal platform it also has an effects loop with an effects loop on/off footswitch.

 

[B00B-screamer]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Too bad I got mine for somewhere around $380. I had a couple of guitar players over the house this weekend. I love having someone else play my amp and being ably to move back a bit and focus on the tone. That amp sounds so good. Everyone that plays it falls in love with it. As far as being a good pedal platform it also has an effects loop with an effects loop on/off footswitch.

What’s the headroom like? For pedals you need lots of headroom right now the only thing keeping me on the fence is that the black star is said to have lots and I haven’t read anything about the peavey

 

[B00B-screamer]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Mesa cabs go used often for 4-500, I got one of mine local for $400 in excellent condition, a 412. The 212s are almost as much though.
I know they list them higher, mine was listed at $500, but craigslist people want to sell quick usually.

Right now I’m using an Ibanez 1x12 with a seventy eighty speaker that came with my Ibanez tsa15h Head. I’ve wanted at least a stereo cab forever but they are as much if not more than an amp

 

[Securb]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

What’s the headroom like? For pedals you need lots of headroom right now the only thing keeping me on the fence is that the black star is said to have lots and I haven’t read anything about the peavey

I have only had it "cranked" once or twice. It has plenty of clean headroom for a 20-watt amp. I will say it doesn't seem as loud/powerful as a 22 watt Fender Deluxe, but let's face it that amp is a freak of nature. Still, it is a loud little beast.

Keep in mind I have a 100 watt rated 15-inch speaker in the cab I use it with so I am not getting any speaker break-up either. Depending on the speaker you use your actual mileage may vary.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Nice looking rig....



I want it.
[emoji4]

 

[Adieu]

Re: Pedal platform amp and gain stacking

Right now I’m using an Ibanez 1x12 with a seventy eighty speaker that came with my Ibanez tsa15h Head. I’ve wanted at least a stereo cab forever but they are as much if not more than an amp

Craigslist!!!