So, here's my plan.

[youngthrasher9]

I've made several threads about amps recently, and I think I've come to a decision.


Instead of buying a $800+ amp, I'm going to build an AB switcher, AMT S1 preamp, and Pro Tone dead horse overdrive.

That way I can get (or get close to) that high gain Soldano tone, and I can keep the cleans and mild OD sound that I love from my Blackstar.

Is there a reason why this wouldn't work?

This how I would do it: guitar to switcher, A to amp input, B to dead horse, dead horse to preamp, preamp to fx return.

I'm assuming this would work fine, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: So, here's my plan.

To my understanding it would work correctly, and I condone the DIY attitude!

To give you a little head start, here are some things you might find useful:

View attachment 45581



I also recommend making your first pedal build a treble/clean booster, and it will be VERY inexpensive and potentially very useful. Here is a schematic I will use starting tomorrow:

(Realized it said permission refused for last image to be posted, here is a link: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/ge_boost_lo_amz_mosfet.gif)

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: So, here's my plan.

An AB switch is a damn simple thing build, I'd feel absolutely ridiculous shelling out $50 to buy one vs. half that much money and 10 minutes worth of soldering.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: So, here's my plan.

^1+. I kinda feel bad charging someone for replacing their pickups sometimes because of the same general idea. I see it as something so simple (on a few guitars it is almost criminal of me, like simple 1 pickup/volume wirings), but they say they can't do it and I need money somehow. I just always try to give them a lower or at most the same price than Guitar Center would charge them to swap pickups, and I try to get it back to them the same day or following day if possible.

Here is one I found with LEDs (if you would like).

View attachment 45583

I also still recommend building a clean boost simply because of how fun it is along with the satisfaction of making your own pedal.

 

[crguti]

Re: So, here's my plan.

 

[dominus]

Re: So, here's my plan.

An AB switch is a damn simple thing build, I'd feel absolutely ridiculous shelling out $50 to buy one vs. half that much money and 10 minutes worth of soldering.

I've seen used Morley ones for $20 quite often. That's about how much in parts they are. (Nice strong housing, switches, leds, etc.)

I think I paid $35 for my Morley ABC, so I can switch between (or combine) three outputs.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: So, here's my plan.

I've seen used Morley ones for $20 quite often. That's about how much in parts they are. (Nice strong housing, switches, leds, etc.)

I think I paid $35 for my Morley ABC, so I can switch between (or combine) three outputs.

Huh, I didn't even look it used prices. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: So, here's my plan.

Is the blackstar fx loop series or parallel? A series loop will probably bypass the black star preamp once you connect the s1. I'm not familiar with parallel loops. You may need to get the boss pedal recommended earlier (line selector) to do what you need to do

 

[DankStar]

Re: So, here's my plan.

I'd just get one of those jet city things - super cheap and don't they have a soldano type thing going on?

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: So, here's my plan.

I'd just get one of those jet city things - super cheap and don't they have a soldano type thing going on?

I'll speak up here, because every time these come up I do. I much prefer my Jet City JCA20H to my Blackstar HT-5. I bought the first generation without the famous Soldano overdrive channel, but a couple of mods and it sounds phenomenal. Very low headroom, but it does the low-wattage, high-gain Marshall sound fantastically, and I would argue much better than the Blackstar.

My problem with the Blackstar is that as you increase the gain, the character never really changes. You just get more noise, and slightly more saturation. There's no graininess or additional crunch. It just continued the kind of smooth thick overdrive, and it wasn't really my thing. I don't know how to put into tone words what the JCA does, but I like it better. I think the JCA22H might be a perfect fit. At least give it a shot, and try it with different cabs, because I wasn't a big fan of the Jet City speaker compliment. I run mine with an Eminence Governor/Wizard combo, and I love the sound.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: So, here's my plan.

i reckon before you make a decision, go to as many places as you can and plug into as many amps as you can.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: So, here's my plan.

i reckon before you make a decision, go to as many places as you can and plug into as many amps as you can.

Always a good suggestion, because you never know...