Whole Lotta Question ..warned you :)

[NewWave]

I'm going to buy a couple amps more likely to buy a fender and a marshall. First I don't have a lot of option to choose from for the fender amp (scxd or scx2 i think) and i can't find it even from a fender retailer near me they currently only have hot rod deville 412 and mustangs and frontmans.

I'm thinking to buy 1 online from ebay i think. Well, because of that limitation I cant try one and just see demos from youtube and i choose scxd more because its not very harsh sounding (in the demo of course) but i can't find one new so is it built like a tank and will last if i buy used?

The marshall retailer near me only have JCM 900 dual reverb, JCM DSL 50, JCM TSL 100, MG's and AVT's, JMD 50 watt, and a vintage modern 50watt. From what I hear and read JDM, VM, and DSL suits my needs (Classic - hard rock) beacuse i already has a hi gain amp for metal sound.

For the fender i buy it for rock and roll and rockability sound (I love keith richards!!) so if the super champ is not worthed what are other options for me to buy?

I don't really use wattage till more than 50 because next year im going to a college abroad and will find it hard to crank in a small apartment.

Also what cab is good for both the fender and the marshall .Im thinking of greenbacks right now because alot of amp manufacturer use it for their expensive line amp.

Also If i get a marshall and its too loud for me to crank it can i use a voltage changer so that it will run on lower voltage than it should be (240 to 110) and produce less power? I read that EVH once used it for somewhat like a watt control

If not what mod should i make to make myself a watt control knob. thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!!!

 

[DonP]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Also If i get a marshall and its too loud for me to crank it can i use a voltage changer so that it will run on lower voltage than it should be (240 to 110) and produce less power? I read that EVH once used it for somewhat like a watt control

Do not do this. You could damage the amp. Then you would have nothing.

Valves need a 6.3v heater voltage. When you reduce the heater voltage, they will die faster (just like powering up without warming up first). To lower the wattage correctly, you need to open up the amp and kill the high voltage B+ only. This could get scary because you are playing with 500v.

In order to cut volume in 1/2, you need to reduce power by 10x. So a 10w amp is 1/2 as loud as a 100w amp.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

+1

Yes. EVH used to Variac the voltage down but, being a millionaire, he could afford the drastically shorter valve replacement cycle.

To run a stage type amp at college room sound pressure levels, get an attenuator/loudspeaker simulator device. The THD Hot Plate, Palmer Simulator, Marshall Powerbreak and the ol' Rocktron Juice Extractor all do the job. Make sure to match the impedance of the device to your chosen amplifier.

Alternatively, just buy one of the great low output amps currently on the market. Marshall, Fender, Blackstar, Orange and others all offer something.

If you are undecided between Marshall and Fender, the Blackstar HT-5 with its ISF control could answer the brief. A HT-5 through a 4x12 is genuinely giggable.

 

[NewWave]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

@Don
ok thx mate

@funkfingers
In the post I wrote that I am going to buy 2 amps which is most likely a fender and a marshall. I'm joining music faculty so i need an amp that can be used in bigger venues

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

In this day and age stadiums have been played with 18 watt amps. What you need to do is refine what your after. Do you want power tube distortion? Then its much easier to achieve with a small amp. Do you want headroom? then you want a bigger amp particularly if you want solid bottom end. With so many choices on the market your really limiting yourself by arbitrarily specifying Fender and Marshall. Refine what it is that your really after.

 

[NewWave]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

I need 3 amps 1 for british vintage rock sound 2 for american rock and roll sound and an amp that dont break easily when crank for cleans

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Problem. What is the British Rock sound?

Beatles, early Stones, Kinks = Vox. Early Who and Cream = Marshall. Much recorded Led Zeppelin = Supro. Rory Gallagher = treble booster into Vox. Queen too. Thin Lizzy = Marshall. Robert Fripp = Roland JC120 (+ fuzz pedals).

The most famous user of Marshall amplification was a left-handed American ex-paratrooper. Does that make his sound British or American?

 

[donnievaz]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Problem. What is the British Rock sound?

Beatles, early Stones, Kinks = Vox. Early Who and Cream = Marshall. Much recorded Led Zeppelin = Supro. Rory Gallagher = treble booster into Vox. Queen too. Thin Lizzy = Marshall. Robert Fripp = Roland JC120 (+ fuzz pedals).

The most famous user of Marshall amplification was a left-handed American ex-paratrooper. Does that make his sound British or American?

The common consensus is that Marshall is the British sound and Fender is the American. It's based on the origin of the amps not the people that played them.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Do yourself a favor, and go buy the new Hughes & Kettner Tube Meister 18.

You can get a lot of range on the gain channel, a nice tubey clean channel, variable wattage, and silent Red Box recording out.

You can gig with it, use it as a practice amp, use it as a headphone rig, and record without using any volume. The perfect amp to take to a dorm room and have great tone.

$599

 

[NewWave]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

@gearjoneser where's the vintage rock sound in that amp?

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Do yourself a favor, and go buy the new Hughes & Kettner Tube Meister 18.

You can get a lot of range on the gain channel, a nice tubey clean channel, variable wattage, and silent Red Box recording out.

You can gig with it, use it as a practice amp, use it as a headphone rig, and record without using any volume. The perfect amp to take to a dorm room and have great tone.

$599

That thing is all kinds of cool. I may need rethink my setup :33:

 

[FretFire]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

@gearjoneser where's the vintage rock sound in that amp?

Turn the gain and volume knobs until you hear what you like, that's where the "vintage rock sound" is. I think you need to go play some amps, instead of shopping off an idea. You can accomplish what you're trying to do with one amp and some pedals.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Also consider that a good pedal platform (which the Hot Rod Deville you mentioned would be) would allow you to get a pedal to hit that "British sound" you are after, plus would allow you to have excellent cleans and excellent headroom.

You don't need 3 amps, honestly, unless you are getting a small practice amp for your dorm, you don't even need 2. One nice amp and some pedals will get you where you want to go for a lot cheaper, and it will be a lot less to carry around.

 

[voggin]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Also consider that a good pedal platform (which the Hot Rod Deville you mentioned would be) would allow you to get a pedal to hit that "British sound" you are after, plus would allow you to have excellent cleans and excellent headroom.

You don't need 3 amps, honestly, unless you are getting a small practice amp for your dorm, you don't even need 2. One nice amp and some pedals will get you where you want to go for a lot cheaper, and it will be a lot less to carry around.

I have a HR Deville, and I agree. To use the cliche, it "takes pedals well" and has lots and lots of headroom. It's only weakness is it's own drive channel, but I understand the new ones (HR III) have improved the dirt channel, so it may be even better now.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

I'm confused on what you are after tonally.

What type of music are you playing?

What is your other gear?

Where are you playing? Is it mostly in your bedroom, recording, small clubs, outdoor festivals, etc? That usually determines how much power you need. If you are primarily playing in a small apartment with thin walls you may find a 1 watt tube amp is too much. If you are playing mostly in small clubs 15-30 would be more than enough in most cases. If you are playing an outdoor festival with an under powered PA then you might need a couple of 100 watters.

If you find that volume is an issue at attenuator (Weber Mass, Marshall Powersoak, THD hotplate, etc) can and does help. It won't however take a 100 watt Marshall and make it sound awesome at bedroom levels.

 

[lNllClK]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

I have a bugera v5... it has an attenuator that drops the wattage to .1 watt... even at .1 watt cranked on that it's too loud for college I'm pretty sure. You may be better off with a modeling amp. idunno man... valvetronix or whatever with a headphone jack. The bugera is a nice compromise between the british and american sound in my opinion, when cranked it sounds pretty great, somewhat voxy. cheap too... but for your situation i'm really thinking a valvetronix or the mustang, cuz all you'll get is buzz buzz buzz at low volumes in college, unless you don't mind that. I was in the same situation a couple of years ago in an apartment and I still couldn't crank my v5 at .1 watt

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Do yourself a favor, and go buy the new Hughes & Kettner Tube Meister 18.

I second this notion!

No... I haven't plugged into the Tubemeister yet. But having owned and played several H&K amps over the years... the Meister sounds like it's right up the alley you are goind down. In fact, I've been wanting to pick one up myself and will no doubt do that sooner or later.

Btw... I have a DSL50 and it's a great rock amp. But it's pretty loud and there's no Fender in there. The TubeMeister will have some Fender AND Marshall tones in there. Same can be said for my Egnater Rebel 20, but if I were to choose between the Meister and the Egnater I'm pretty sure I'd end-up picking the H&K.

 

[NewWave]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

There's no specific sound that I'm after. I really want to cover from jazzy to metal with a few amps or even one if I'm able to. Maybe I'll try some fender and use pedals with it and if it covers all pretty well I'll just get one.

 

[lareplus]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

I would suggest one amp with a Vox Tonelab which has really great amp emulations. . .the AC15 and AC30 are good, as are the Dumble and Fender emulations. They don't sound exactly like, but nonetheless, they sound awesome. I cant comment on the Marshall etc tones as you spin the dial because I have never played through those amps and don't really gravitate to them. . .lots of demos on youtube though. .

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Whole Lotta Question ..warned you

Or try an Egnater Tweaker?