Rack Users and abusers??
- Thread starter y2stevo
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Nate
New member
Re: Rack Users and abusers??
I'm using a Mesa Boogie 20/20 power amp. I couldn't be more satisfied with it. It definately does not have as much power as an old Plexi, JCM800, Dual Recto, etc etc, but it can fill up a room quite nicely.
Both the Boogie and the Marshall use EL84 tubes (two per channel). From reading user reviews on harmony-central.com, not that many people are satisfied with Marshall's 20/20. Apparently the craftsmanship isn't quite up to par. Not once did I read a review like that about the Boogie.
If that isn't enough power for you, you can buy a bigger poweramp and slave the 20/20 out to it for a volume boost. As far as the bigger poweramp is concerned, I'm not sure if a solid state amp would colorize your tone or not. I'll wait for someone else to chime in before I run my mouth any further.
y2stevo said:
I'm using a Mesa Boogie 20/20 power amp. I couldn't be more satisfied with it. It definately does not have as much power as an old Plexi, JCM800, Dual Recto, etc etc, but it can fill up a room quite nicely.
Both the Boogie and the Marshall use EL84 tubes (two per channel). From reading user reviews on harmony-central.com, not that many people are satisfied with Marshall's 20/20. Apparently the craftsmanship isn't quite up to par. Not once did I read a review like that about the Boogie.
If that isn't enough power for you, you can buy a bigger poweramp and slave the 20/20 out to it for a volume boost. As far as the bigger poweramp is concerned, I'm not sure if a solid state amp would colorize your tone or not. I'll wait for someone else to chime in before I run my mouth any further.
Hellion
New member
Re: Rack Users and abusers??
I disagree. I think what you're hearing is a "guitar straight into the amp" tone, and I agree with you on what the different genre's of rock lean towards as far as basic tones. But what I was getting at is that the minute you start adding distortion, echo, chorus, phasing, or what have you, the way you amplify is no longer as important. You've changed the signal.
lastwinj said:
I disagree. I think what you're hearing is a "guitar straight into the amp" tone, and I agree with you on what the different genre's of rock lean towards as far as basic tones. But what I was getting at is that the minute you start adding distortion, echo, chorus, phasing, or what have you, the way you amplify is no longer as important. You've changed the signal.
Hellion
New member
Re: Rack Users and abusers??
Well, you're entitled to that opinion. But that's what makes this site so nice is that we can all express our points of view. I don't think the comment is silly at all. This is the experience that I've had. Yours is obviously different. That's okay.
screamingdaisy said:
Well, you're entitled to that opinion. But that's what makes this site so nice is that we can all express our points of view. I don't think the comment is silly at all. This is the experience that I've had. Yours is obviously different. That's okay.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: Rack Users and abusers??
True enough.
Here's my point of view;
The way you amplify is important. The method of amplification imparts a distinct tone upon your signal.
Using a distortion pedal through my Mesa (tube) sounds much different than through my Peavey (solid state). If "the way you amplify doesn't matter", they should both sound the same, should they not?
If what you're saying was true (the way you amplify doesn't matter), when I click on a chorus/echo/phase/ect effect it would make my amp sound the same as either a Marshall, or a solid state PA amplifier.
Isn't that the intended effect of using effects?
Either way, unless you can prove to me that using a distortion/modulation/time-based effect will somehow make all amps sound the same, I think your comment is silly.
Hellion said:
True enough.
Here's my point of view;
The way you amplify is important. The method of amplification imparts a distinct tone upon your signal.
Using a distortion pedal through my Mesa (tube) sounds much different than through my Peavey (solid state). If "the way you amplify doesn't matter", they should both sound the same, should they not?
If what you're saying was true (the way you amplify doesn't matter), when I click on a chorus/echo/phase/ect effect it would make my amp sound the same as either a Marshall, or a solid state PA amplifier.
Isn't that the intended effect of using effects?
Either way, unless you can prove to me that using a distortion/modulation/time-based effect will somehow make all amps sound the same, I think your comment is silly.
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Hellion
New member
Re: Rack Users and abusers??
Look guys, the topic of this thread was rack systems. In the past I used a Fender 75 and a Musicman 112 (both tube amps) to amplify the processed sound of my guitar through a Digitech processor. I later compacted the setup to a Marshall 8008 (solid state). I've used the same Digitech processor (and other signal processors by A.R.T., ZOOM and Marshall) through countless other amps, both tube and solid state (Marshall, QSC, Yamaha, Fender). I haven't been able to tell a huge difference in sound quality, all other things being equal. I'm not saying that the amplification process is unimportant. I've simply stated that once I processed the signal, I couldn't tell the difference whether the post was tube or solid state. And if you were to listen to my current system, I don't believe that you would be able to tell, either.
screamingdaisy said:
Look guys, the topic of this thread was rack systems. In the past I used a Fender 75 and a Musicman 112 (both tube amps) to amplify the processed sound of my guitar through a Digitech processor. I later compacted the setup to a Marshall 8008 (solid state). I've used the same Digitech processor (and other signal processors by A.R.T., ZOOM and Marshall) through countless other amps, both tube and solid state (Marshall, QSC, Yamaha, Fender). I haven't been able to tell a huge difference in sound quality, all other things being equal. I'm not saying that the amplification process is unimportant. I've simply stated that once I processed the signal, I couldn't tell the difference whether the post was tube or solid state. And if you were to listen to my current system, I don't believe that you would be able to tell, either.
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crazytooguy
New member
Re: Rack Users and abusers??
Well, to add to the tone changing thing - I use a Lexicon MPX-1 in front of the 20/20 power amp. For some effects, I crank the Lexicon's output level and turn up the 20/20's volume knobs and get a super nice tube growl that sounds great! So the power amp CAN be used as a tone modifier, even with effects processors. I see the 20/20 as part of the tone-generating chain, not just a gain-booster for outputting previous tone modifications.
Well, to add to the tone changing thing - I use a Lexicon MPX-1 in front of the 20/20 power amp. For some effects, I crank the Lexicon's output level and turn up the 20/20's volume knobs and get a super nice tube growl that sounds great! So the power amp CAN be used as a tone modifier, even with effects processors. I see the 20/20 as part of the tone-generating chain, not just a gain-booster for outputting previous tone modifications.
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