crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
I only need an amp with a good core tone and a volume and tone control.
I only need an amp with a good core tone and a volume and tone control.
What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
- Thread starter misterwhizzy
- Start date
ratherdashing
Kablamminator
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
This is a weird question, because in my mind it doesn't have a real answer.
I play a Mesa head, and I consider every knob on that to be essential. However, I've also played minimalist amps like a tweed Twin, or a Dr Z Route 66, and in those cases I did not miss the other knobs.
I don't think I've ever played a good quality amp that I felt was lacking in knobs, or had too many knobs. If a particular amp works fine with just a volume knob, that's all it needs. If another amp works fine with a full range of tone controls, master volume, and a switchable graph EQ, that's good too.
This is a weird question, because in my mind it doesn't have a real answer.
I play a Mesa head, and I consider every knob on that to be essential. However, I've also played minimalist amps like a tweed Twin, or a Dr Z Route 66, and in those cases I did not miss the other knobs.
I don't think I've ever played a good quality amp that I felt was lacking in knobs, or had too many knobs. If a particular amp works fine with just a volume knob, that's all it needs. If another amp works fine with a full range of tone controls, master volume, and a switchable graph EQ, that's good too.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
I have 4 amps on hand right now and 3 of them are volume and tone amps...I love that set up, there is a magic in the midrange of a single tone control amp that can not be gotten with a full tone stack...
I have 4 amps on hand right now and 3 of them are volume and tone amps...I love that set up, there is a magic in the midrange of a single tone control amp that can not be gotten with a full tone stack...
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Try this.
Put your preamps up where you normally run them. Set the volume of the amp on 4. Listen for a while.
Now, set your preamps on half or slightly less than half the original number. Set the volume of the amp on 7. Listen.
Hear more mids?
Try this.
Put your preamps up where you normally run them. Set the volume of the amp on 4. Listen for a while.
Now, set your preamps on half or slightly less than half the original number. Set the volume of the amp on 7. Listen.
Hear more mids?
SamusChief
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Depends on the tone.
Cleans only need volume. No EQ needed. Maybe reverb if I feel fancy.
Distortion is where I fine tune. I typically need all the main EQ's, like bass, mid, treble, and gain. Solos I add a little phaser and a mid boost, maybe a slight volume boost. I've never tried resonance or presence, but I imagine I would use both.
Depends on the tone.
Cleans only need volume. No EQ needed. Maybe reverb if I feel fancy.
Distortion is where I fine tune. I typically need all the main EQ's, like bass, mid, treble, and gain. Solos I add a little phaser and a mid boost, maybe a slight volume boost. I've never tried resonance or presence, but I imagine I would use both.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Besides volume knobs:
Bass - to add depth and warmth.
Middle - To cut through the bass and add some body.
Gain - I pour this stuff in like hot, molten lava and it sears that body but good.
Treble - I'm sure it's useful for something.
Reverb - To sweeten everything that needs it.
Besides volume knobs:
Bass - to add depth and warmth.
Middle - To cut through the bass and add some body.
Gain - I pour this stuff in like hot, molten lava and it sears that body but good.
Treble - I'm sure it's useful for something.
Reverb - To sweeten everything that needs it.
FuseG4
Our Neighbor Totoro
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
I actually do that all the time and yes, everything is a lil warmer. Sometimes I'll actually lower the volume on a dirt pedal instead of the guitar's volume for a gainy tone that's not so fizzy but also isn't disrupting my roommates/neighbors.
I actually do that all the time and yes, everything is a lil warmer. Sometimes I'll actually lower the volume on a dirt pedal instead of the guitar's volume for a gainy tone that's not so fizzy but also isn't disrupting my roommates/neighbors.
Johtosotku
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
My main amp has four knobs: volume, bass, treble and attitude. The attitude is a kind of a presence control but a bit more versatile.
My second amp only has volume and tone.
I haven't felt the need for any extra knobs on either one. Both have had good tones that I've expected from them. I won't say that extra knobs would be useful on different amps. # of knobs isn't a thing I care about at all when picking out an amp.
My main amp has four knobs: volume, bass, treble and attitude. The attitude is a kind of a presence control but a bit more versatile.
My second amp only has volume and tone.
I haven't felt the need for any extra knobs on either one. Both have had good tones that I've expected from them. I won't say that extra knobs would be useful on different amps. # of knobs isn't a thing I care about at all when picking out an amp.
slicepaperdavid
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Completely agree my friend
Completely agree my friend
Markk
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
I spat out my tea and couldn't stop laughing at that.
I keep forgetting about all the possibilities that are out there. I think even my TSL owner's manual says something similar.
I spat out my tea and couldn't stop laughing at that.
I keep forgetting about all the possibilities that are out there. I think even my TSL owner's manual says something similar.
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
The usual gain, mid, treble, presence, and bass. Reverb is also a must for my clean as it adds depth and character. I usually run my distortion dry and without reverb though.
The usual gain, mid, treble, presence, and bass. Reverb is also a must for my clean as it adds depth and character. I usually run my distortion dry and without reverb though.
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SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Depends on the amp (for me) . . .
. . . but on a 5E3, it is deff all i need :
Depends on the amp (for me) . . .
. . . but on a 5E3, it is deff all i need :
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
He must have one of these Vox'es then !
He must have one of these Vox'es then !
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
http://www.kustom.com/product_detail.aspx?TypeID=2&FamilyID=75&ProductID=234&Tab=0 = $99.00 USD
Another new amp on the block w only one knob !
http://www.kustom.com/product_detail.aspx?TypeID=2&FamilyID=75&ProductID=234&Tab=0 = $99.00 USD
Another new amp on the block w only one knob !
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Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Depends on the amp you're playing and the music you're playing.
Depends on the amp you're playing and the music you're playing.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: What knobs are essential to you on an amp?
Always thought I needed the three tones at the least till I got my Zinky Blue Velvet. Volume tone and a mid boost cut on the clean, drive volume tone mid boost cut on the dirty side and a master volume and master reverb is all it has and I don't need more. Best sounding and most versatile amp I have ever owned bar none!!
Depends on the rig and how good the designers ears are!!
Always thought I needed the three tones at the least till I got my Zinky Blue Velvet. Volume tone and a mid boost cut on the clean, drive volume tone mid boost cut on the dirty side and a master volume and master reverb is all it has and I don't need more. Best sounding and most versatile amp I have ever owned bar none!!
Depends on the rig and how good the designers ears are!!
