Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: richard on January 13, 2013, 09:26:03 PM
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Most disappointing amp you've had ? Mine was a Marshall JCM800 channel switching combo. I had it on loan for a couple of months. When I first plugged in I was impressed. It was the first Marshall to have usable pre-amp drive. The honeymoon didn't last. The 'clean channel' was awful and , after a while, the lead channel got very irritating - it produced some rather odd, unpleasant frequencies every now and then as well as some very square-wavish distortion. Couldn't wait to give it back to the owner who kept dropping the price because he didn't want it either.
Didn't have a Marshall for a few years until I got gig with a cabaret band. I was low on funds so I bought a Valvestate 8080 combo from the first range. Reasonable drive channel but the clean channel was an embarassment. Totally characterless. Replaced with all solid state Laney GC120 combo which was much better. I liked that amp and would like to have a try of one again someday to see it's as good as I remember.
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Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Nice clean but the OD channel was weird. It was thin yet muddy and fizzy sounding.
Still have a sort of love-hate with my Laney GH50L. Sounds great but it's very "dry" and hard to play for lack of a better description. Just seems to fight against you somehow haha. I want to try out a V30 cab with it as well since I'm still not sure on the G12H30s, bit fizzy which I think is the speaker breakup.
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- Koch Multitone 50 combo: clean channel ok, crunch I never got right and a bit too thin, leadchannel too much fizz and needed much gain to sound acceptable.
- Most Marshalls and Mesa's don't do it for me, but that's not the amps fault. I prefer a good vintage sounding clean channel in a channelswitching amp. I cannot find that in most Marshalls and Mesa's.
- Fenders are love and hate. Clean and light crunchy they can be a delight. Drivesounds are most of the time poor.
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Any Mesa Boogie amp. I never have enough time to sit down with one and really find a tone in there, as many say to do, so I never really got the hype of them.
I was also thisclose to getting an Orange Rockerverb, but something just told me not to. It was the right call!
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Marshall Class 5 - I just can't get any good sound out of it.
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Any Orange amp I've ever tried - the boxy mids just do my head in.
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Marshall Class 5 - I just can't get any good sound out of it.
Forgot about this one! Definitely one of my least favorite amps ever.
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Hmmm, I can't get a good sound out of any amp....
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Still have a sort of love-hate with my Laney GH50L. Sounds great but it's very "dry" and hard to play for lack of a better description. Just seems to fight against you somehow haha. I want to try out a V30 cab with it as well since I'm still not sure on the G12H30s, bit fizzy which I think is the speaker breakup.
yeah it probably is partly the speakers. it's a bit gritty rather than smooth anyway, but g12h30s sort of accentuate that. I actually like mine with (heritage) g12h30s but it did take me a while to get used to it. It's definitely smoother and more modern-sounding with v30s... but also a little generic, maybe. I prefer it with more vintage celestiony style speakers (which is not to say you necessarily will, of course).
I didn't really get on with the genz benz el diablo. I really liked it when i tried one ages back in a shop, but then i picked one up recently from gak when they were blowing them out... just didn't "feel" right (I found out just before it arrived that it's not all-tube, which may have skewed my perception of it, but still...). the more i used it the more i was starting to like it, though- it was a bit tricky to dial in, it's quite complex. But then the thing died on me and rather than get another one and maybe still decide i didn't like it, i took that as a sign and just took a refund :lol: GAK was very good to deal with, fwiw.
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- Marshall Valvestate VS100: My first big amp. I thought it sounded better than the AVT's which had just come out around the same time. I used this thing for years but at bigger shows it really lacked power and never really honestly had the tone.
- JCM900 4100: My first valve head. Better than the valvestate. This also the first amp I modded and repaired. The lead sound is horrible in comparison to other things.
- JCM800 2205: Better than the 4100 but a long shot. This is a cool head. Forget the clean channel as its useless. Turn the channel volume on the OD channel up to max, and use the gain control to add gain (like any other preamp gain control) and use the master vol to set the overall level. That is the best way to use that head as far as i'm concerned. First amp I did any major changes to. I still have it but its in bits. Not an ideal sound.
- Peavey 6505: Absolutely too noisy.
- Mesa 3 channel Dual Rec: Just couldn't get what I wanted out of it. Didn't find it easy to dial in, didn't like the channel switching, didn't find a real consistency between channels.
- Soldano Decatone: Lead channel wasn't as nice as my Soldano Avenger.
- Bogner Uberschall: Really struggled to dial this thing in to where I wanted it. Just couldn't bond with it.
I still own a Soldano Avenger and SLO100. I just get exactly what I want to hear with either of them, in various different ways.
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Anything with EL84s. I find they're set up to do the Vox thing, which to my ears only works for singlecoils. Buckers + Vox = thick muddy mess.
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yeah it probably is partly the speakers. it's a bit gritty rather than smooth anyway, but g12h30s sort of accentuate that. I actually like mine with (heritage) g12h30s but it did take me a while to get used to it. It's definitely smoother and more modern-sounding with v30s... but also a little generic, maybe. I prefer it with more vintage celestiony style speakers (which is not to say you necessarily will, of course).
Yeah I like the sound with the G12H30s and it sounds great in a band (I think the fizz helps it cut through a bit or something) but I often find myself wanting a more modern/smooth tone. Although I think I'm just looking for any excuse to treat myself to an Orange 2x12 or 4x12 :lol:
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^ haha you're preaching to the choir about the addictiveness of speakers and cabs :lol:
But yeah I actually quite like (some) fizz too. But sometimes you want more smoothness, too. actually the eminence swamp thang/texas heat combo sounds pretty good with the gh50L... though they're pretty american-sounding, so if you want to stay with british tones, that's probably not the way to go. Or eminence v12s might be worth a look, they're kinda like more laid-back/already broken-in v30s. They're also pretty cheap. But if you're getting an already-loaded cab there probably wouldn't be much difference in price.
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I used to own a marshal TSL601 combo which is the harshest and shitetiest sounding amp I've ever heard, especially the dirty channels, it sounded awful so I had to get rid of it within only a month or so, I also didn't get on with Tech 21 amps, but most other amps have been fine.
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I more or less found a setting I liked on all the amps I've tried, but I've not always liked the speakers they might have been connected to.
Sometimes I've tried amps where I didn't like one of the channels though.
The stock Epiphone Valve Junior was pretty bad though.
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Anything with EL84s. I find they're set up to do the Vox thing, which to my ears only works for singlecoils. Buckers + Vox = thick muddy mess.
I often find that Voxes sound muddy yet too shrill with humbuckers and yet sound fine with single coil guitars.
I have also found issues with some big amps that maybe sound great once you open them up to stage volume (assuming you are playing a big theatre) but you can't use them at home as they sound rotten at low volume.
I liked my Jcm800 2205 split channel though, although my rack through a 10w single ended power amp suits me best - I use an MJW one with my Egnater modular system.
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The two that stood out were the Diezel VH4 and an Engl Straight combo I once had (it's out of production for years now). Cleans were good on both amps but neither had a crunch tone I liked and both had too much gain on their lead channels for me. Especially the Engl was frustrating in that aspect since it lost more and more highs the further down you set the gain control. Traded them both.
Cheers Stephan
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A long time ago I had a solidstate Vox AC30 and that was probably the worst amp I've ever heard or used in my life!
I'm also not a fan of the 2x12 Fender Hot Rod Deville; even though I love the 4x10 version. The 2x12 version was very boomy in the lows and very thin and ice pick-y in the highs with next to no mids at all. The 4x10 version seemed a lot more neutral sounding and took pedals really well. If I were to have a clean only amp for live use it'd probably be this.
I also tried a Hugh and Kettner Switchblade for a while whilst on my big amp hunt a few years ago and really didn't like that much either. The cleans were very flat and dull and the mid to high level OD/Distortion sounds sounded like a really piss poorly EQ'd Metal Zone :lol:
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Randall RG200 G2
Aside from some major reliability issues I had with it (ie it died within a couple of months from new), it just didn't have any balls.
All fixed with my 5150 full stack! :)
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I often find that Voxes sound muddy yet too shrill with humbuckers and yet sound fine with single coil guitars.
Yeah, odd isn't it?? :?
I'm also not a fan of the 2x12 Fender Hot Rod Deville; even though I love the 4x10 version. The 2x12 version was very boomy in the lows and very thin and ice pick-y in the highs with next to no mids at all. The 4x10 version seemed a lot more neutral sounding and took pedals really well. If I were to have a clean only amp for live use it'd probably be this.
I've found that too. I played a Blues DeVille 4x10 once that I thought sounded really great.
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Interesting comments about Voxes. I know it's sacrilege, but I've never quite been able to hear the "magic" of the AC30.
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Me neither, that's why I sold my 65 Amps London Pro. Far too Vox-y for my liking, especially as it only really liked singlecoils. I sold it to a guy who likes Telecasters and Voxes!
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Interesting comments about Voxes. I know it's sacrilege, but I've never quite been able to hear the "magic" of the AC30.
I think a few people get it right - Brian May for one!
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Interesting comments about Voxes. I know it's sacrilege, but I've never quite been able to hear the "magic" of the AC30.
I think a few people get it right - Brian May for one!
Rory Gallagher too maybe?
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Interesting comments about Voxes. I know it's sacrilege, but I've never quite been able to hear the "magic" of the AC30.
I think a few people get it right - Brian May for one!
Rory Gallagher too maybe?
Oh yeah, I wasn't saying it's impossible to get a good sound out of one! Just whenever I've heard one up close and in the flesh I wasn't that keen.
Both single-coil guys of course, although I know Brian May does use them in humbucker-like combinations sometimes!
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I meant to add Rory ...and Quo did well with them apparently.
Shadows and Beatles seemed to fare well from what I've heard
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I meant to add Rory ...and Quo did well with them apparently.
Shadows and Beatles seemed to fare well from what I've heard
Never heard of those guys.
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I concede defeat!
(http://www.hannahshopeministries.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/white-flag.jpg)
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Notice how it's singlecoils that seem to rule with Voxes - do any famous humbucker users use one for dirty tones?
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Notice how it's singlecoils that seem to rule with Voxes - do any famous humbucker users use one for dirty tones?
Dave Davies? Though his V tone was more of a light crunch by today's standards.
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Cornford MK50 - way too stiff
EVH 5153, blue channel was meh, red channel way too compressed / dark
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Had: TSL602. Loads of options, no good at anything really.
Tried: Uberschall. Muddy, tubby, fizzy unless its crushingly loud, and I'll bet thats just because its $%&#ing loud (i.e. the recorded sound is probably much the same).
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doesnt mr grohl use a vox (one of many amps he uses)
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Notice how it's singlecoils that seem to rule with Voxes - do any famous humbucker users use one for dirty tones?
Dave Davies? Though his V tone was more of a light crunch by today's standards.
I thought Dave Davies used a Harmony Meteor on most of the famous Kinks recordings - it has single coils...
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Engl Powerball. Sounded great but only when you had multiple extras like an EQ in the FX loop, certain valves etc. Too much hassle.
Marshall TSL60 Sounded far too raspy and lacked a good 'thud'.
Crate I forget which model just it was even worse than the TSL60
Laney VC50 I traded my VH100R for it so I could get a similar tone but compact. Didn't work out and I ended up selling it. Had a really weird high end rasp that wasn't like the TSL60 but it was there enough to annoy me.
Not had many bad experiences with amps.
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Notice how it's singlecoils that seem to rule with Voxes - do any famous humbucker users use one for dirty tones?
Dave Davies? Though his V tone was more of a light crunch by today's standards.
I thought Dave Davies used a Harmony Meteor on most of the famous Kinks recordings - it has single coils...
could be could be!
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Any Mesa Boogie amp. I never have enough time to sit down with one and really find a tone in there, as many say to do, so I never really got the hype of them.
This, and any amp with too many channels and controls..
somebody mentioned a soldano decatone, and i can see that especially for the above reasoning. Soldano's should be about as little knobbing and as much tone as poss.
I have an HR50+, one set of tone controls, 2 channel volumes and gains, a footswitch and thats about it.
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doesnt mr grohl use a vox (one of many amps he uses)
Used to use one live for cleans only ;)
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A few years ago I had a 60s AC30 on loan for a few weeks and I could get a killer sound out of it with an SG with a JB at the bridge and a RAT 2 for extra drive. Slight problem was that the killer sound emerged with the volume on 6. And ONLY on 6. Anything below or above that volume sounded terrible.
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I'm quite sure that Clapton used (and might still use) Voxes for a while and he got insane tones out of it, both with single coils and humbuckers.
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I meant to add Rory ...and Quo did well with them apparently.
Shadows and Beatles seemed to fare well from what I've heard
That Edge guy gets a pretty tasty tone out of an AC30 too
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I'm quite sure that Clapton used (and might still use) Voxes for a while and he got insane tones out of it, both with single coils and humbuckers.
In the Yardbirds days he did, but I wouldn't say they're his best tones by any stretch of the imagination. I think he had a non-treble boost version from the tone he got back then. His tone in the Bluesbreakers with the Marshall was miles better.
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Notice how it's singlecoils that seem to rule with Voxes - do any famous humbucker users use one for dirty tones?
I think Snowy White used one with his 57 Gold Top.
Cheers Stephan
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I read an interview with EC where he talked about using Vox amps in his early days. He said he really didn't like the way they distorted.
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Just found another one. Couldn't be bothered to cart my amp to rehearsal so spent 3 hours playing through a single channel Orange AD30. Horrible, fuzzy sound - only 5 knobs so not much to play with but could get only a passable sound at best. No cut or punch.
On the other hand I put my Boss OD3 through it which I haven't used in years and it's reminded me what a great all-round o/d pedal this is. At least I was able to get some decent solo tones. Little life saver.
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Just found another one. Couldn't be bothered to cart my amp to rehearsal so spent 3 hours playing through a single channel Orange AD30. Horrible, fuzzy sound - only 5 knobs so not much to play with but could get only a passable sound at best. No cut or punch.
On the other hand I put my Boss OD3 through it which I haven't used in years and it's reminded me what a great all-round o/d pedal this is. At least I was able to get some decent solo tones. Little life saver.
Wow... I can relate to this so easily, in fact I was just about to add the AD30 into this list.
Easily my least favourite Orange amp. I'll admit, I've only tried it at music store volumes, but it was mushy and lacked any presence and attack, even at very low gain. Tried it out in the the shop multiple times when trying out guitars and pedals hoping that it somewhat resembles my TH30... nope. Thank god I saved some money and bought the TH30, love that amp to bits.
I'll admit though, I even had the same experience using an OD pedal with the amp as you :D
Plugged a PRS Tremonti SE Custom and a Mooer Hustle Drive and then into the AD30 and I got tonnes of presence and tightness and even the some clarity that was lost in the mushiness. It suddenly sounding usable.
What a coincidence, huh? :D
Anyway, needless to say, I've got a prolonged NPD coming up that I haven't had time to post and a review too, because Mooer Hustle Drive is awesome, especially for it's price.
Also, the PRS Tremonti SE Custom has given be a bad case of GAS, because that guitar was awesome when I tried it. Easily better playability and looks than some guitars over 2 times the price. Huge surprise and one of the few guitars that I've immediately liked when I tried it.
Anyway, I'm going wildly off topic so I'll stop :D
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- Peavey 6505: Absolutely too noisy.
What are noise gates made for again? cr@p I can't remember.
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To suck tone and cut off your sustain?
If I spend a lot on a amp I don't want to have to fork out more money on a noise gate just to kill the hiss from it. The JSX and XXX have some noise gate/coring circuit built into the amp which might be a nice addition to the 6505, but i don't like to run extra gear just for the sake of it.
I use plenty of gain but once I started using the nailbombs (and even other BKP's) and a touch less gain, I started being able to control my feedback even when really loud with just the guitar. Don't even have to touch the volume. I got my rig solid. Feedback when I want it without using a noise gate.
Also... I tried the NS2 input/loop sort of wiring and I thought it sucked. There was enough hiss out of the FX loop for it to cause problems with triggering the gate. Running something an NS2 or Decimator in front of the amp is a waste of time too if you want to cut noise, because most of the noise is generated by the preamp.
I'd only use a gate if i was playing in a small venue but needed to be so loud I lost the control I mention above, and unless I'm playing something staccato that needs to stop dead and I might struggle otherwise, I'd leave it switched off.
I don't believe in running to the noise gate to solve problems elsewhere in my setup. I've used one a lot in the past and now I don't need to and I prefer not to. I also don't believe gates should be there to back up amps with poor component and layout choices.
But... each to their own.
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^
I'm always hesitant commenting on amp threads, but it seems to me you should never need to use a noise gate with any particular amp.
I get the same thought when people say "stick an EQ pedal in front of it". :?
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+1, if an amp works the way it should the only time you should absolutely need a noise gate is when you bring OD or boost pedals of some sort into the mix.
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I'm not sure "any noise" means an amp is bad. I haven't tried any (good) high gain amps at high gain settings which didn't have some noise, and if a noise gate helps, that's awesome. That being said... I also agree with what dmoney is saying, there's a difference between running a noise gate to cut unavoidable noise and/or tighten up your playing slighty and running a noise gate to compensate for dodgy amp design or cheaping out on components. There's definitely a point where it gets excessive, and I agree with solving problems at source rather than using band-aids if at all possible.
that being said my laney gh50L probably qualifies as noisy, yet i still like it :lol: But i can sorta get round it with appropriate settings. ^ I'd also say that using a boost pedal but lowering your amp's gain probably decreases noise, not increases it. that's been my experience, anyway (that's one of the ways i get round it on the laney, i just turn the gain down and hit it with a boost EDIT: two boosts if necessary \m/ :twisted: \m/ ).
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I'm not sure "any noise" means an amp is bad. I haven't tried any (good) high gain amps at high gain settings which didn't have some noise, and if a noise gate helps, that's awesome. That being said... I also agree with what dmoney is saying, there's a difference between running a noise gate to cut unavoidable noise and/or tighten up your playing slighty and running a noise gate to compensate for dodgy amp design or cheaping out on components. There's definitely a point where it gets excessive, and I agree with solving problems at source rather than using band-aids if at all possible.
that being said my laney gh50L probably qualifies as noisy, yet i still like it :lol: But i can sorta get round it with appropriate settings. ^ I'd also say that using a boost pedal but lowering your amp's gain probably decreases noise, not increases it. that's been my experience, anyway (that's one of the ways i get round it on the laney, i just turn the gain down and hit it with a boost EDIT: two boosts if necessary \m/ :twisted: \m/ ).
I'll accept all high gain amps have some hiss and I don't mind that in small doses. My Soldano's (legitimate and otherwise) have incredibly low noise floors for a number of reasons but all by design. The Laney (as I recall) may well have a lower noise level than the 5150 also.
The thing with the 5150 is that the preamp valves are mounted on a vertical board under a flap, inside the back of the chassis. First off that means the guitar signal has to get from the front to the back across unshielded PCB traces and a ribbon cable. That increases the risk of RF problems and noise being picked up along the way to be amplified at the first stage. This part of the amp is really sensitive. Peavey put in some capacitors to bleed off high frequency way outside the hearing range to prevent RF interference but they also use a lot of series resistance. When using the high gain input you end up with 79Kohms into the first stage. Series resistance in the signal path adds noise no matter where it is and a source is usually from pots or using voltage divider with large resistances to attenuate the signal between stages. You can cut the 68K resistor on the input of the first stage down to 33K and maybe even less. This has a huge impact on the hiss. I know that because I've done it to a 5150 in the past.
Those resistors are all small 1/4watt's too, which makes them more prone to introducing noise from thermal factors (when they get hot). The valves will get hot... and because they are fixed in an enclosed space with all the preamp components around them they won't cool as easy as they would being outside the chassis. This in turn could possibly increase the noise in the preamp.
Now I know they aren't high gain amps... but Frank's JPF Amps are built with all these factors and more in mind. Short run from the input to V1 to reduce the chances of interference getting in early. Techniques to cut down series resistance and therefore noise throughout the whole design. Transformers placed apart to reduce noise being induced between them. Use of a toroidal power transformer which reduces chances of noise also. Twisted heater wires laid out neatly due to the valve placement on the chassis. Star/Node ground scheme with the signal ground to the chassis right by the input to reduce effects of ground loops when using other gear into the head... and all that is before you even get to what makes them sound the way they do.
As a high gain example, the Soldano amps are all laid out in a very similar way to the JPF's but in addition they use high spec 1watt rated low noise metal film resistors & conductive plastic pots (instead of carbon traces). I also like to use elevated filaments to reduce the chances of problems from 50 cycle hum from the heaters.
horses for courses. I'd still not really complain about using a 5150.
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Hang on!!!!! This is MY thread about amps you don't like. Go and argue about noise gates somewhere else. Don't know what the world's coming to........
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I agree that if an amp needs and EQ or gate to function normally or sound good then it isn't worth the effort.
Here are a few amps that i didn't get on with
Every blackstar i've played S100,HT series etc
Peavey 5150 - far too noisy and fizzy
Orange Rockerverb - muddy and flabby sounding
Cornford mKII i think - I couldn't get a good tone out of this at all
Marshall DSL - muddy and flabby and too grainy sounding
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I concede defeat!
(http://www.hannahshopeministries.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/white-flag.jpg)
Someone mentioned the Beatw@ts positively linked in the same sentence to any one or more of the following: tone, musicality, musicianship, quality, not being ####!!s who should have all been shot at birth, decent sound - and you CONCEDED DEFEAT?!?!?!
Have I taught you NOTHING, Philly?!
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Sorry, Roo!
I had to look back to remember what I was conceding defeat about.... something to do with Voxes. :lol:
I think I was acknowledging that Rory Gallagher, Brian May and Hank Marvin had achieved decent tones from Vox amps. I wasn't really thinking about the Beatles part!
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Sorry, Roo!
I had to look back to remember what I was conceding defeat about.... something to do with Voxes. :lol:
I think I was acknowledging that Rory Gallagher, Brian May and Hank Marvin had achieved decent tones from Vox amps. I wasn't really thinking about the Beatles part!
Better :)
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(a) I'll accept all high gain amps have some hiss and I don't mind that in small doses. My Soldano's (legitimate and otherwise) have incredibly low noise floors for a number of reasons but all by design. The Laney (as I recall) may well have a lower noise level than the 5150 also.
(b) The thing with the 5150 is that the preamp valves are mounted on a vertical board under a flap, inside the back of the chassis. First off that means the guitar signal has to get from the front to the back across unshielded PCB traces and a ribbon cable. That increases the risk of RF problems and noise being picked up along the way to be amplified at the first stage. This part of the amp is really sensitive. Peavey put in some capacitors to bleed off high frequency way outside the hearing range to prevent RF interference but they also use a lot of series resistance. When using the high gain input you end up with 79Kohms into the first stage. Series resistance in the signal path adds noise no matter where it is and a source is usually from pots or using voltage divider with large resistances to attenuate the signal between stages. You can cut the 68K resistor on the input of the first stage down to 33K and maybe even less. This has a huge impact on the hiss. I know that because I've done it to a 5150 in the past.
Those resistors are all small 1/4watt's too, which makes them more prone to introducing noise from thermal factors (when they get hot). The valves will get hot... and because they are fixed in an enclosed space with all the preamp components around them they won't cool as easy as they would being outside the chassis. This in turn could possibly increase the noise in the preamp.
Now I know they aren't high gain amps... but Frank's JPF Amps are built with all these factors and more in mind. Short run from the input to V1 to reduce the chances of interference getting in early. Techniques to cut down series resistance and therefore noise throughout the whole design. Transformers placed apart to reduce noise being induced between them. Use of a toroidal power transformer which reduces chances of noise also. Twisted heater wires laid out neatly due to the valve placement on the chassis. Star/Node ground scheme with the signal ground to the chassis right by the input to reduce effects of ground loops when using other gear into the head... and all that is before you even get to what makes them sound the way they do.
As a high gain example, the Soldano amps are all laid out in a very similar way to the JPF's but in addition they use high spec 1watt rated low noise metal film resistors & conductive plastic pots (instead of carbon traces). I also like to use elevated filaments to reduce the chances of problems from 50 cycle hum from the heaters.
horses for courses. (c) I'd still not really complain about using a 5150.
(a) i honestly can't remember what the noise level was like on the 5150. I've tried them, just not for a while. :lol:
(b) yep, of course. You know way more about amp design than I do, I just know what the things sound like. :lol: From what little i understand of what you wrote there, we're in complete agreement :)
(c) same here :lol: I did like the ones I tried, even if they were a bit noisy.
Hang on!!!!! This is MY thread about amps you don't like. Go and argue about noise gates somewhere else. Don't know what the world's coming to........
:lol: sorry :oops:
i'm not sure whether the hot rod deluxe should qualify for me or not (i think tom mentioned it a while back). I like its cleans, but man its od channels are complete garbage, verging on "unusable".
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Hang on!!!!! This is MY thread about amps you don't like. Go and argue about noise gates somewhere else. Don't know what the world's coming to........
I don't get on with noise gates :D
(Actually that's not true - I use them when recording vocals to exclude the sounds of the missus going "do you have to make that noise?")
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Speaking of 5150s, I've only tried one once and it was when I sucked at dialling in amps but there is a certain metal tone out of 5150s that some people have that I don't like, it's as if there is something weird going on in the attack of the low mids but then I'll hear other metal clips of 5150s where I don't hear it at all. Not sure if it is me hearing things or if some people suck at dialling tones/have different tone preferences to me.
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I can't play any amp without my noise gate and TS, they always sound to loose and muddy.
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[posted in error]
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I've only ever had one good amp and its still does the business for me. It doesn't need a noise gate, it has lovely cleans, crunch and does all that evil stuff that the bloke downstairs approves of. To get a good lead or crunch tone just watch the presence, treble, gain, use the mid boost/cut and speaker damping.
I used to be clueless when I first got it, had everything dimed and it sounded like shite.
I've still got to treat it to a set of Tungsols in the pre & power amps. Soon.
As for amps that I didn't like that I've owned. A peavey backstage. Load of old wank.
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Only the one amp I REALLY didn't get on with.
A Randall RT 50. To this day I still don't understand why it bought it. I sold it at pretty big loss a few a months later. Totally not suited to the kind of music I like playing. I admit that I was a bit of a helmet for getting it.
The kid who bought it off me came to my house (with his Dad) and wanted a quick test. He pulled a 7 string guitar out (might have been an Ibanez) and proceeded to make the amp sound even worse than I could possibly dream of. Deal done within 2 minutes.
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I can't play any amp without my noise gate and TS, they always sound to loose and muddy.
You're doing it wrong ;)
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I agree that if an amp needs and EQ or gate to function normally or sound good then it isn't worth the effort.
Here are a few amps that i didn't get on with
Every blackstar i've played S100,HT series etc
Peavey 5150 - far too noisy and fizzy
Orange Rockerverb - muddy and flabby sounding
Cornford mKII i think - I couldn't get a good tone out of this at all
Marshall DSL - muddy and flabby and too grainy sounding
Funny you should say that about the rockerverb its the tightest amp ive ever played and leans to the tight and bright side rather than muddy/flabby still each to their own!
Agree about Blackstar HT's though I really dont like the overdrive channel.....
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I don't find my Rockerverb 50 muddy and flabby at all, but it's probably not the tightest amp on earth. It's great with tele's and strats. The 6V6-version I have somehow seems to prefer singlecoils. I think in general they sound better on the RV then humbuckers. I don't use the tight setting, I like the loose setting, not a surprise with a strat or a tele.
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I don't find my Rockerverb 50 muddy and flabby at all, but it's probably not the tightest amp on earth. It's great with tele's and strats. The 6V6-version I have somehow seems to prefer singlecoils. I think in general they sound better on the RV then humbuckers. I don't use the tight setting, I like the loose setting, not a surprise with a strat or a tele.
I hear Jimmy Pages OR50 has a "tight but loose" setting.