Preferred Concert Amps?
- Thread starter Diminished Triad
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thespricket
New member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
I feel like any mostly clean Fender, hopefully with some reverb, will always do the trick for me. Even the hot rods. They just work so well as a platform. I like to use a few tone shaping pedals, usually a compressor always on and at least two drive pedals. Being a NY Brooklynite I have had to design my pedal board to work well with any amp, as long as it's clean. I don't have a car so I don't take my blues jr out.
Sometimes you show up to a dive bar and there's nothing to use except an old crate solid state 212. Or even a 15 watt Vox modeling amp that luckily could be mic'd. And if you know what you're doing and have a few handy pedals you can make it sound great.
But if I had the need and the means to hook myself up with a solid workhorse amp and tour I may have to be boring and say a Twin Reverb, or maybe a Deluxe Reverb. If I knew that I was going to be micd up at every show I'd go with the Deluxe. I really like keeping the stage volume low, and so does everyone else!
An AC30 would also be great to run with just a touch of breakup. They can be so dynamic, but there are far too many horror stories about those guys running too hot. I like the current production models just fine but there's such a stigma about those that people always compare them to older models and how the new ones are no good. Personally I always get a great sound plugging straight into a new one, wether it holds up to the old ones or not idk.
Guitar->pedals->amp
I feel like any mostly clean Fender, hopefully with some reverb, will always do the trick for me. Even the hot rods. They just work so well as a platform. I like to use a few tone shaping pedals, usually a compressor always on and at least two drive pedals. Being a NY Brooklynite I have had to design my pedal board to work well with any amp, as long as it's clean. I don't have a car so I don't take my blues jr out.
Sometimes you show up to a dive bar and there's nothing to use except an old crate solid state 212. Or even a 15 watt Vox modeling amp that luckily could be mic'd. And if you know what you're doing and have a few handy pedals you can make it sound great.
But if I had the need and the means to hook myself up with a solid workhorse amp and tour I may have to be boring and say a Twin Reverb, or maybe a Deluxe Reverb. If I knew that I was going to be micd up at every show I'd go with the Deluxe. I really like keeping the stage volume low, and so does everyone else!
An AC30 would also be great to run with just a touch of breakup. They can be so dynamic, but there are far too many horror stories about those guys running too hot. I like the current production models just fine but there's such a stigma about those that people always compare them to older models and how the new ones are no good. Personally I always get a great sound plugging straight into a new one, wether it holds up to the old ones or not idk.
Guitar->pedals->amp
chadd
Well-known member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
I've been thinking about building one for each of my cabs.
I've been thinking about building one for each of my cabs.
Sixtiesguitarvibe
New member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
Legacy I 100w head through a weber attenuator into a 2x12 Mesa cab. Mic it up and turn it loose!!!
Legacy I 100w head through a weber attenuator into a 2x12 Mesa cab. Mic it up and turn it loose!!!
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
When I used to play big rooms regularly I ran a Randall RG 120ES head into 1 or 2 4x12 cabs. It was fun, had tons of vibe and lots of gear filled the stage up nicely. My band was a ferocious mess and we cared little about what any soundman thought. We were loud and obnoxious and it wouldn't have worked any other way. The Randall was a MV amp so realistically I probably didn't kill any one.
A little more recently I used PV stuff, Windsor or XXX amps thru a 4x12, again MV amps that were easy to control and sounded great at reasonable volumes but could be cranked when called upon. I started going smaller with a Jet City 20wt head when I didn't need to worry about the big room thing. The JC was great but after a certain point on the master volume it just didn't give you anything more and it started to sound a little lifeless. It was a pretty great little amp though especially at the price point, no reason to have crappy amps anymore.
Nowadays I use an Orange Dual Terror thru a 4x10 cab mostly though I still have a nice 4x12. The 7/15/30wt settings make it really easy to accommodate any room I've played. I will run it thru a 1x12 cab too if that is what is appropriate. I've played several outdoor gigs that I could run pretty loud and never had an issue with it. That little Orange is a tank and does everything I ask of it
When I used to play big rooms regularly I ran a Randall RG 120ES head into 1 or 2 4x12 cabs. It was fun, had tons of vibe and lots of gear filled the stage up nicely. My band was a ferocious mess and we cared little about what any soundman thought. We were loud and obnoxious and it wouldn't have worked any other way. The Randall was a MV amp so realistically I probably didn't kill any one.
A little more recently I used PV stuff, Windsor or XXX amps thru a 4x12, again MV amps that were easy to control and sounded great at reasonable volumes but could be cranked when called upon. I started going smaller with a Jet City 20wt head when I didn't need to worry about the big room thing. The JC was great but after a certain point on the master volume it just didn't give you anything more and it started to sound a little lifeless. It was a pretty great little amp though especially at the price point, no reason to have crappy amps anymore.
Nowadays I use an Orange Dual Terror thru a 4x10 cab mostly though I still have a nice 4x12. The 7/15/30wt settings make it really easy to accommodate any room I've played. I will run it thru a 1x12 cab too if that is what is appropriate. I've played several outdoor gigs that I could run pretty loud and never had an issue with it. That little Orange is a tank and does everything I ask of it
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
These days, amazing sound systems are commonplace. Just use the amp that sounds best, and let the professional engineers worry about getting it to the right volume. Personally, I wouldn't bring anything bigger than a 12–30 watt 1x12 combo to any gig that had a respectable P.A. and sound person. Maybe an extension cab too, just to place in a different spot on the stage and/or as a monitor...but probably not.
These days, amazing sound systems are commonplace. Just use the amp that sounds best, and let the professional engineers worry about getting it to the right volume. Personally, I wouldn't bring anything bigger than a 12–30 watt 1x12 combo to any gig that had a respectable P.A. and sound person. Maybe an extension cab too, just to place in a different spot on the stage and/or as a monitor...but probably not.
DeadandBuried
New member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
Peavey 6505+ with a 4 x 12 usually, sometimes a 2 x 12, most of the places we play mic up the cabs so I don't need a very loud stage volume but I would like to hear myself on stage too. Venue's very, some have crap monitors some are better. I have a very loud drummer also so I need something to compete with him lol.
Peavey 6505+ with a 4 x 12 usually, sometimes a 2 x 12, most of the places we play mic up the cabs so I don't need a very loud stage volume but I would like to hear myself on stage too. Venue's very, some have crap monitors some are better. I have a very loud drummer also so I need something to compete with him lol.
allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
I go with a boogie Mkv with EL-34s, all channels on 45w, channel volumes between 9-12 o'clock and master volume about the same through a custom built vertical angled 2x12 with a WGS Et-65 and Veteran 30. Gives me some power tube crunch and enough stage volume without blowing my eardrums and still able to mic it.
I go with a boogie Mkv with EL-34s, all channels on 45w, channel volumes between 9-12 o'clock and master volume about the same through a custom built vertical angled 2x12 with a WGS Et-65 and Veteran 30. Gives me some power tube crunch and enough stage volume without blowing my eardrums and still able to mic it.
allbutromeo
Well-known member
DeadandBuried
New member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
What are these amp modeller's like? I love the sound of a Kemper Profiler, but I'm resisting the urge to trade in my tube amp and cab for one!!
But I've seen loads of bands, esp the drop tuned metalcore type bands Memphis May Fire, Sleeping With Sirens, etc etc use them and the tone is great!
What are these amp modeller's like? I love the sound of a Kemper Profiler, but I'm resisting the urge to trade in my tube amp and cab for one!!
But I've seen loads of bands, esp the drop tuned metalcore type bands Memphis May Fire, Sleeping With Sirens, etc etc use them and the tone is great!
jackson111
New member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
When I was in aband I preffered my marshall jvm 205h. It was funny our singer hated it, but after hearing a recording of one of our shows he lived it. He told the other guitarist you got get a boost fir you solo work. To which he said I have one and I use it. The way marshall sat in the mix it cut through his solos. I have a new carvin x100b I love more then the marshall now but I havent played out with it so it may not sung good in a mix but I hope to find out once I decide to get back in a band, just taking some family time note with my new 15 month old
When I was in aband I preffered my marshall jvm 205h. It was funny our singer hated it, but after hearing a recording of one of our shows he lived it. He told the other guitarist you got get a boost fir you solo work. To which he said I have one and I use it. The way marshall sat in the mix it cut through his solos. I have a new carvin x100b I love more then the marshall now but I havent played out with it so it may not sung good in a mix but I hope to find out once I decide to get back in a band, just taking some family time note with my new 15 month old
Laughing Kookaburra
Active member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
While I've gigged with a variety of rigs over the years, it just so happened that I had a Fender Twin Reverb at the time I was doing large stages (all outdoor). I would add a 4x12 for those gigs. It certainly roared with an OD pedal in the chain.
I don't anticipate a return to a stage that size again, but with the improved PA systems out there, I can see one of my current smaller rigs working well.
While I've gigged with a variety of rigs over the years, it just so happened that I had a Fender Twin Reverb at the time I was doing large stages (all outdoor). I would add a 4x12 for those gigs. It certainly roared with an OD pedal in the chain.
I don't anticipate a return to a stage that size again, but with the improved PA systems out there, I can see one of my current smaller rigs working well.
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
We do a lot of the summer festivals here in Australia with audiences between 10,000 to 16,000, and I use the same amp I use everywhere else, my terrifying 18w single 10" '83 Fender Super Champ. Obviously this is style dependent, i.e., we're not playing metal.
The FOH console sees the few millivolts of signal it needs to send it to 80k watts of PA, so it tends to sound kinda large. I will sometimes get some fed into monitors or side fill, always with a LPF around 3.5 to 4kHz because I don't want to hear anything above that. Works a treat, but other guitar players are often quite threatened by it. You know, the size..
Here's some pics...
Scary, init?
Cheers......................................... wahwah
We do a lot of the summer festivals here in Australia with audiences between 10,000 to 16,000, and I use the same amp I use everywhere else, my terrifying 18w single 10" '83 Fender Super Champ. Obviously this is style dependent, i.e., we're not playing metal.
The FOH console sees the few millivolts of signal it needs to send it to 80k watts of PA, so it tends to sound kinda large. I will sometimes get some fed into monitors or side fill, always with a LPF around 3.5 to 4kHz because I don't want to hear anything above that. Works a treat, but other guitar players are often quite threatened by it. You know, the size..
Here's some pics...
Scary, init?
Cheers......................................... wahwah
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
I wish you'd stop with the pics, it's scary just thinking about that amp. To be honest, i think that's just an empty cab with a Pignose amp inside it. No-one needs an amp that big.
btw Geoff, I always wondered .... does the pair of 6V6s give you clean sounds alongside the drum kit, or do you rely on some form of monitoring to be able to get enough clean volume ?
I wish you'd stop with the pics, it's scary just thinking about that amp. To be honest, i think that's just an empty cab with a Pignose amp inside it. No-one needs an amp that big.
btw Geoff, I always wondered .... does the pair of 6V6s give you clean sounds alongside the drum kit, or do you rely on some form of monitoring to be able to get enough clean volume ?
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
Ironically, headroom is really only a problem on small cramped stages, because of the proximity of loud bass and drums. The bigger the stage, the less of a problem it is. I always keep the amp fairly close to me, and it is surprisingly loud for its size. The trade off is that on some larger stages, it is necessary to put some kick and snare, maybe hats and a little bass in my monitor send, so sometimes when that is the case, I will add in some of my own guitar as well to keep a balance.
I run the amp with its chanel volume around 7 and the master at 6, so it is the kind of harmonically full Fender clean that will break up a little if you hit it hard, but will give you a clean but full sound when played moderately. That sets it up as a great platform for pedals as well.
Cheers........................ wahwah
Ironically, headroom is really only a problem on small cramped stages, because of the proximity of loud bass and drums. The bigger the stage, the less of a problem it is. I always keep the amp fairly close to me, and it is surprisingly loud for its size. The trade off is that on some larger stages, it is necessary to put some kick and snare, maybe hats and a little bass in my monitor send, so sometimes when that is the case, I will add in some of my own guitar as well to keep a balance.
I run the amp with its chanel volume around 7 and the master at 6, so it is the kind of harmonically full Fender clean that will break up a little if you hit it hard, but will give you a clean but full sound when played moderately. That sets it up as a great platform for pedals as well.
Cheers........................ wahwah
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Preferred Concert Amps?
For the last twenty years I've used a Boogie Triaxis with a 20:20 power amp through a Marshall 2x12 or 4x12. Super versatile & amazingly toneful, inspiring and reliable and plenty loud for me. More controllable than the ferociously loud '79 Mark II that I used throughout the 80s & early 90s. Celestions have remained a constant for me, though. And if I should ever wind up on arena stages I could add a 50:50 and a couple more 4x12s, and keep my tones exactly the same. Or just rely on the monitors and add a backline of those great prop Marshall stacks. But only if they go to 11.
For the last twenty years I've used a Boogie Triaxis with a 20:20 power amp through a Marshall 2x12 or 4x12. Super versatile & amazingly toneful, inspiring and reliable and plenty loud for me. More controllable than the ferociously loud '79 Mark II that I used throughout the 80s & early 90s. Celestions have remained a constant for me, though. And if I should ever wind up on arena stages I could add a 50:50 and a couple more 4x12s, and keep my tones exactly the same. Or just rely on the monitors and add a backline of those great prop Marshall stacks. But only if they go to 11.
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