When someone says an amp sounds modern...

[twoheadedboy]

...what tonal characteristics do you think of? I was just thinking about this. People toss this word around a lot. I've always been more into classic marshall and hiwatt type sounds, so "modern" has never really been my thing. To me, I guess it means pretty high gain, with a less complex, more blunt midrange character with tighter lows than a more vintage type of rock sound. What does it mean to you?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

...what tonal characteristics do you think of? I was just thinking about this. People toss this word around a lot. I've always been more into classic marshall and hiwatt type sounds, so "modern" has never really been my thing. To me, I guess it means pretty high gain, with a less complex, more blunt midrange character with tighter lows than a more vintage type of rock sound. What does it mean to you?

I associate the word with high gain and boutique made amps...

 

[RW James]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

I don't have a clue... but I heard this same comment when I went from my Crate to my Line 6 amp.

In my mind, modern is more digital sounding - that is distinct orvertones and harmonics - less blending than analog. That probably doesn't make sense - but that's the best I can do.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

I associate the term "Modern amp" with an amp that has a good master volume control that allows you to get high quality clean or overdriven tones at any volume...something amps from the 50's and 60's were unable to do with just a single volume control. To me, Boogie ushered in the era of "modern" amps because Boogie came up with the concept of cranking the preamp volume to get distortion and then lowering the master volume to get the overall volume to an acceptable level so you're not having to play super loud to get a cranked tone. To me, that's when "modern amps" came about. Lew

 

[Imp]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

tonally, it's all about tight bass and slightly scooped mids... the 5150 being pretty much the quintessential 'modern' amp..

tom

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

No mids and way too much gain and bass.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Tight and gainy.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Randall

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Dual-Recto/5150 tight high gain type sound is what i think of.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

For distorted tones, I think Metallica Black Album when I think 'modern' and Thin Lizzy when I think 'not modern.' I seem to equate modern with some of the Recto sounds.

 

[Usurper666]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

At least three channels, all with at least ten knobs each, MIDI switching, ten preamp tubes and at least four output tubes, a totally unnecessary tube rectifier, switch for full power, 1/2 power and one watt power for the bedroom, two effects loops (one series, one parallel), built in attenuator, digital effects built in, spring reverb, distortion so compressed & fuzzy it hurts, sterile cleans, two double thick PCBs and a cigarette lighter next to the standby switch. Oh yeah, it has to have tweed covering to give it some vintage credibility. Did I forget anything?

Cheers,

CJ

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Well according to the 'modern' channel on my Peavey bandit, it means 'so much noise and mush that you can hardly hear the notes'

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Well according to the 'modern' channel on my Peavey bandit, it means 'so much noise and mush that you can hardly hear the notes'

That sounds about right for "modern" See, Peavey can cop modern sounds with silicon like nobody else

 

[WhoFan]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

tonally, it's all about tight bass and slightly scooped mids... the 5150 being pretty much the quintessential 'modern' amp..

tom

The 5150 is my favourite modern amp! It's got a lot of gain yes but it's the EQ controlls i like the most! The low end thump that comes with thta amp is thrilling!

 

[MesaDCLP]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Modern tone makes me think the amp can have more preamp gain while maintaining less powertube overdrive...more of a metal sound. Most solid states are capable of this tone.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

modern....think generic 'alternative rock' PRS's into Mesa amps. I mean, there are great players using modern sounding stuff, but it's just a bland sound that lacks soul.

vintage....think about the complex rich tones of 1000's of artists of the past like duane allman, clapton, SRV, hendrix, warren haynes, BB king, chuck berry ...the list goes on as long as people embrace good tone like us here at the forum, and in the future.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

When I think of "modern", it's modern rock acts type stuff like Marshall Mode Fours, Mesa Rectos, Orange Rockerverbs and the like. I typically think higher gain and heavier guitar styles.

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

What about Bogners and Soldanos? I find those amps to be fairly modern sounding.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

What about Bogners and Soldanos? I find those amps to be fairly modern sounding.

In many ways, the Soldano SLO is the grandaddy of the 'modern' amp sound, with very high gain and tight response. When the SLO came out in '88, there wasn't a stock amp on the market that had the same gain and tightness.

The 5150 (basically a cheapo SLO) and Recto can be seen as descendants of the SLO.

 

[ankalar]

Re: When someone says an amp sounds modern...

Most of the people in this thread are describing, like many vintage snobs do, the worst of the worst. Like Hot Grits and twoheadedboy, I think the SLO is definitely the definition of a modern sounding amp.