What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

[Quencho092]

I'm curious about this. Is it just the actual quality of the components? IE- a home made AB763 Deluxe Reverb clone made with top end components and quality big trannies would sound more harmonically complex than the same amp with more economical components?

On to my second question-What non reverb fender amp would you guys reccomend for a DIY build? Something around 50 watts that is very harmonically rich? I was thinking of a blonde or higher power tweed. It will be combo'ed up to a 15 inch weber california.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

I have no clue but you WILL hear it!

 

[taphappy]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

I still havent heard harmonically complex... or have I?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

I think the most harmonically complex circuits are simple ones without many bells or whistles. The simpler the better. The old Fender champ is harmonically complex and it's extremely bare bones and simple. It seems to me that the more you add to a circuit, the less soul it has.

 

[sosomething]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

Marketing hype?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

Is that not just another word for an amp that cannot take more than two notes chords before collapsing into...erm complex (dis)harmonies??

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

The amount of "tone jelly" rubbed on the makers Thighs at the time of construction.

 

[Erlend_G]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

Well, with "harmonically complex" i guess you mean "lots of harmonics".

And to get lots of harmonics, you need a bright, lively sounding guitar, with very bright and clean pickups, fresh strings, and an amplifier that either keeps the information that already is there, or adds harmonics with a tube preamp stage.

To my ears, it's always best to have a lively\bright sounding setup, and then turn down the treble\fiddle with the EQ if you want a darker, warmer tone. Then you'll keep the harmonics.

Anyway, that was not what you asked, right?

I guess that if an amp should be harmonically complex, it's gotta have some overdrive in the preamp stage. Since as we all know, an overdriven tube will make both even-order and odd-order harmonics.

-Erlend

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

Great transformers and great speakers are a must.

They are the heart and soul of an amp.

Lew

 

[shredaholic]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

Preamp tubes can have quite an effect on this. So can carbon comp resistors, but the effects are quite subtle and definately would not make an amp harmonically complex on their own.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

I think the most harmonically complex circuits are simple ones without many bells or whistles. The simpler the better. The old Fender champ is harmonically complex and it's extremely bare bones and simple. It seems to me that the more you add to a circuit, the less soul it has.

I finished my Champ clone (10 watt) kit last week, and am still blown away by how GOOD it sounds when there's so little to the circuit. It's really making me rethink my setup.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

Preamp tubes can have quite an effect on this. So can carbon comp resistors, but the effects are quite subtle and definately would not make an amp harmonically complex on their own.

I agree with you about the preamp tubes,(Nothing against you at all brother)but all the carbon comps add(After the hype)are alot of extra,un-needed "shot" noise....From my findings....CC resistors were used in the good ole days because they were cheap and plentiful...

I Know this is a subjective area,but I used all metal film resistors and some metal oxides for the areas where we need 1 watt or above resistors...When all was said in done with my Marshall,the tone is smooth and very quiet...I guess alot of folks feel MF resistors brighten and make things harsh,but it's the entire circuit and components overall that makes the differences...

Anyway....My own amp has upgraded transformers now and the MM choke Trace(voodoo amps)sold me...I was the one who may have recently used the word "complex"....What I mean is that I now hear other keys of harmonics when the amp sustains and my amp has this more openess and 3D quality tone that it didn't have before...I call this "complex tone" for lack of a better way to explain it? It's a combination of everything being pretty much right from the guitar cable and all the way through the speakers,cab,effects,cables,pickups,etc.....We're all striving every day for the perfect tone I guess!

 

[Quencho092]

Re: What makes an amp or circuit "harmonically complex"?

whats the diff between the power section of a blonde and a tweed?