Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: monkeywalker on March 23, 2006, 07:24:00 PM

Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 23, 2006, 07:24:00 PM
i have a decision to make, i don't know whether to get myself a new amp(i'm thinking aroud £550) or a new set of bkps.

if i go for an amp im lookin for something with quite a saturated over drive channel like the marshall avt series but i don't know if i want another marshall. any suggestions?

if i go for pickups i'm at my wits end as to whether i want to go for a calibrated set of abraxas for my epi 335 (it sounds absolute cr@p) or bkp-90's. ive already got an abraxas bridge in one of my guitars.

what do you think guys


btw im totally not with it today so if that was rubbish the send me a slap via thread
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: Searcher on March 23, 2006, 08:06:05 PM
What amp do you currently have?  If it's a tube amp, I strongly recommend talking to Bob at Eurotubes (http://www.eurotubes.com) and getting a set of decent tubes.  You could do that and get a new set of pickups!
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 23, 2006, 08:56:50 PM
yeah, what amp do you already have?

the laney tt series does that fluid overdrive in an all-tube amp, it's about the cheapest one i know of that gets that high gain. Unfortunately, the 50 watt combo is £679 (and that's the cheapest I've seen it, lol).
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 23, 2006, 08:58:07 PM
couldnt you get an amp worth £550 on ebay for £350 then get a set of BK's???? lol  :P
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 09:17:07 AM
the amp i have now is a marshall avt 50. its valvestate. although its small it does have enough power as its closed back, the thing is, it's bacoming a little unreliable. i.e processor fan makes dreadful grinding noise when it wants to and it switches from the clean to overdriven channel without warning.

the channel switching thing is a problem with the footswitch as it doesn't do it when it's not plugged in and your using the switch on the amp instead.

i suppose the sensible thing to do is go for an amp due to the problems. i just don't know what to get. i don't really even know what there is for that kinda price thats good.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: maliciousteve on March 24, 2006, 09:23:39 AM
Quote from: monkeywalker
the amp i have now is a marshall avt 50. its valvestate. although its small it does have enough power as its closed back, the thing is, it's bacoming a little unreliable. i.e processor fan makes dreadful grinding noise when it wants to and it switches from the clean to overdriven channel without warning.

the channel switching thing is a problem with the footswitch as it doesn't do it when it's not plugged in and your using the switch on the amp instead.

i suppose the sensible thing to do is go for an amp due to the problems. i just don't know what to get. i don't really even know what there is for that kinda price thats good.


I used to have that same channel switching problem too with the AVT50 head i used to have. I don't know what the hell was up with it.

Try looking on ebay for an old Laney Pro Tube or a used marshall DSL/TSL
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: Kilby on March 24, 2006, 10:22:11 AM
Quote from: monkeywalker
i.e processor fan makes dreadful grinding noise when it wants to and it switches from the clean to overdriven channel without warning.

the channel switching thing is a problem with the footswitch as it doesn't do it when it's not plugged in and your using the switch on the amp instead.


The fan should be an easy replacement, the switching could be simply a case of replacing the switch within the footswitch, failing that check the socket on the amp.

These may at least take the immediate pressure off having to buy a new amp allowing you to be a little more choosy (and more time to increase your budget and buy something that you really want).

Rob...
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: _tom_ on March 24, 2006, 10:45:07 AM
To be honest I'd go for a small valve combo such as a Laney LC30 etc. Your tone will probably be loads better even with the stock pickups, so you should be happy with it till you get new BK's  :P
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 24, 2006, 02:50:03 PM
Quote from: Kilby
The fan should be an easy replacement, the switching could be simply a case of replacing the switch within the footswitch, failing that check the socket on the amp.

These may at least take the immediate pressure off having to buy a new amp allowing you to be a little more choosy (and more time to increase your budget and buy something that you really want).

Rob...


Seconded

 :D
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 04:55:25 PM
iv got a laney vc30 at my house at the moment coz my best mate is away on a snowboarding trip with all our friends(which i should be on kickin ass down the slopes but i didnt have the funds at the time :evil: ) and i hate the way it sounds, it makes everything sound the same and it over heats and the drive from the valves on the overdrive channel is feeble to say the least.


ive sorted the fan out before, it was full of dog hair(as i have several mutts) and it was fine until the other week, i'll have another look.

what i really want is some big ass mesa boogie amp :twisted:  but i'll never have the money, after all i am a student...
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 24, 2006, 05:04:24 PM
well i cant speak for vc30's... but i recently bought an lc30.... the jury is still out on this one.... cant make my mind up whether i like it or not.....

definately isnt bad though....  are the vc's more/less expensive than the lc's?
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 05:15:56 PM
the vc30 was £500  i dont know what the lc's cost
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 24, 2006, 05:17:49 PM
corr...


got my lc for £180 off ebay.....

why not go for an engl....?

thats what im thinking of doing- selling the laney and getting an engl thunder 50 combo
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 05:29:26 PM
i've never tried engl and non of the music shops i've been in seem to have them.

i do have another idea which has nothing to do with amps. i've had my heart set on getting feline to make me a new thinline telecaster body, with a contour where the neck and body join. they make guitars that from what i have seen so far are nothing short of amazing, i don't know what that would cost though....might be a bit out of my league....and by a bit i'm thinking alot
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 24, 2006, 05:39:09 PM
lol... well im guessing most of their stuff is over a grand.... seeing as their ex-demo type ones are still £999 or so....
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 05:50:00 PM
well you see i don't need anything other than just the body no bridge, no pups no nothing, just a painted body. actually come to think of it, my dad is always banging on about gatting a tele body in olympic white and i would like that.


soooo many things i want. i should just get rich....weve all thought of that though haven't we :roll:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 24, 2006, 07:38:37 PM
isn't soundsgreatmusic near manchester? they stock engls...
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: math2014 on March 24, 2006, 08:13:03 PM
LC30: 350quid new
Orange Rocker 30 : 600quid new (better low vol performance than the LC30)
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 09:20:02 PM
yea dave sounds great is near mcr, its still bout 20 miles from my house and has the worst car park in the history of man kind.

i actually got my bkps through them, its a really good shop, they didn't have any engl's last time i was there but i'm sure they would get one in for me, i get the impression i can't afford them


i have head ache... too much whiskey that is
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 24, 2006, 09:22:14 PM
if you have £550 then you can afford the thunder 50 combo.... almost a screamer combo actually depending on where you get it from
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 10:08:59 PM
sambo my boy, i'm one step ahead of you there, about 15seconds before you posted that thread i looked up the thunder and my decision was practically made for me.

ill have a look at tyhe screamer as well.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: HTH AMPS on March 24, 2006, 10:51:17 PM
If you are looking for a quality guitar then you could do worse than contact JJ Guitars (as advertised in Guitarist Magazine), I tried their guitars at a show in Newcastle and was very impressed - they were selling off old models for around half price - you can't argue with PRS quality workmanship for £799 (sale price), I was a fannys-hair away from buying their Electra model at the show, it was gorgeous.

I would always go for nice guitar over an amp - you're not doing yourself any favours with an Epi 335 (sorry to be so blunt).

http://www.jjguitarsshop.co.uk/

 :twisted:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 24, 2006, 11:02:04 PM
I haven't tried the thunder, I'm not sure how high gain it gets. Screamer is good though. But none of those engls include a footswitch- although you could buy it later.

^I'd actually take a good amp over a guitar, since it's most of your sound- with the caveat that the guitar isn't so poor that it makes you not want to play, lol.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 24, 2006, 11:07:57 PM
:lol: , its not the only guitar i have, the only reason i haven't sold it is because jim marshalls signature looks cool on the arch top.

i use a japanese tokai sg, its fantastic and has the best and most confortable neck i've played to date.

i already have 8 guitars(some good...some not so good). however i have only one amp which is limping for want of a better word, i totally agree with you though, i would much rather have  a new guitar.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 24, 2006, 11:15:24 PM
i think my heart always says guitar but my brain says amp... like dave said, it makes up the majority of your tone and as long as your guitar is decent then a new amp will have a massive positive impact on your sound. but i always want new guitars instead of amps....

dave couldnt you use a footswitch from another amp? would it work? if not, how much are engl footswitches?
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: HTH AMPS on March 24, 2006, 11:55:35 PM
ahh, sounds like you have decent guitars to choose from then.  With £550 to spend you have alot of choices, you could pickup a 5150 combo for around £400 - the combos seem to go for less than the heads for some reason.  That would leave you with enough for one-and-a-half BKPs  :D

Marshall DSL50s seem to be going for silly-cheap prices on ebay at the minute too.

A JMP-era Marshall 2203 or 2204 combo can be had for £350 if you're patient and snag the right deal - there's one on ebay right now for £375 & no reserve.  Again, the combos are less sought after and therefore cheaper than the heads.

 :twisted:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 12:04:56 AM
you can get 5150 combos for £400?!???????????

omg
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: HTH AMPS on March 25, 2006, 12:17:46 AM
There are two 5150 combos on ebay right now, I'd be very surprised to see them go over £450

I'm looking for a 5150 head on the cheap at the minute - my mate is buying a Randall Titan head so I'll have the opportunity to try that out too  :D

 :twisted:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 25, 2006, 04:27:31 PM
Quote from: sambo
dave couldnt you use a footswitch from another amp? would it work? if not, how much are engl footswitches?


the cheapo 2-button footswitches are £25. I'd assume you could use any standard 2-button one for that type of switching.

To get all the features (on the screamer- to get the master volume switch etc) you need the 6-button one- it's about £120.

I actually use four of the 2-button ones on my savage se, because the 6-button one didn't switch all the options, lol. But the cheapo 2-button ones are pretty cheap looking and feeling (there are better quality metal 2-button ones, but they're about £55+ each, i wasn't buying four of those, lol!)
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 05:43:55 PM
^haha cool. £100+ is so steep for a footswitch... grrrrr..

gonna check out those 5150's now...

i thought any 5150, combo or not would be waaaaaaaaay outta my league
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 25, 2006, 06:24:37 PM
i ordered me an engl thunder today, woo hoo!

i couldn't resist :roll:

i read some reviews and made up my mind, it will arrive in about 10 days

i'm happy :D  :D  :D

the nieghbours will be sorry they moved here :twisted:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 06:25:29 PM
DUDE!!! tell me how you get on with it... im really close to getting one myself.... we can be thunder buddies!  :D
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 25, 2006, 06:50:07 PM
yeah, we could kick ass with our excessive thunderous loudness and general thrashing around with our axes!!!


i'll put it on full volume and place it on a high stand and you can listen to it from your house, just get on the roof :)
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 08:47:48 PM
:D  :lol:

damn i really want one now.... if you like it... im getting one ... thats final...

what styles are you into/what styles will you be using it for?
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 25, 2006, 11:33:32 PM
Quote from: sambo
we can be thunder buddies!  :D


that's so gay...


anyway, try one if you can, lol- you may hate it!
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 11:35:25 PM
^ hA! yer it is lol..

yer im gonna try one... but i dunno where.... i dont wanna trek to loads of different shops to try all the amps i wanna test...

i need a place that does:

engl
vox

maybe:
peavey
koch


now guess which shop does three of them?
 :evil:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 25, 2006, 11:36:01 PM
^machinehead!

just go in there, lol.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 11:37:14 PM
:evil:  :x GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAHSFSEFBEFBAESG!!!!!!  :evil:

ok ok... ill go in.... as long as i can give the owner evil looks ok?
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 25, 2006, 11:40:54 PM
^yeah, go for it.

Dunno if they do peavey, but they do engl.

H & K too- they might be worth a look too, lol. Ooh, and rivera!
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 11:42:20 PM
yer i know lol.... the rivera pubster+clubster are supposed to be pretty good right?

damn why do machinehead have to be so good yet so GAY!!!!!
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 25, 2006, 11:55:35 PM
^yep, but i haven't tried them, unfortunately. Might be over budget too.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 25, 2006, 11:56:25 PM
yer they're a bit over budget... but if i love a particular amp enough im willing to save up a bit more
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 25, 2006, 11:57:45 PM
^that's a good attitude to have- no point paying £600 for something you don't like, if something you do is £700.

Just don't try an engl se with that attitude, lol.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 26, 2006, 12:00:50 AM
hahahaha!!! damn... you shouldnt have said that... cause you know what im gonna want to do now... hehehe
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: Searcher on March 26, 2006, 03:01:55 AM
Quote from: sambo
:evil:  :x GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAHSFSEFBEFBAESG!!!!!!  :evil:

ok ok... ill go in.... as long as i can give the owner evil looks ok?


Here's what you do: go in there and waste hours trying amps at annoyingly high volumes.  And then order one from somewhere else!  Hey, just coz they're morons, doesn't mean they can't be useful.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 26, 2006, 12:30:14 PM
^ HAHA!!!!  :lol:  :D

yer i was gonna do that actually with a tokai explorer- coda music in stevenage (who are like machineheads rivals round here) do it like £25 cheaper or something... i was gonna go to machinehead.... try it for aaaaaaaages with different amps e.t.c...

say:

"ooooooh yes i think this is the one for me!"

then say:

"off to coda now to get one!!!!"


then whip out my camera to capture the look on their faces forever
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 26, 2006, 04:31:17 PM
sambo, i'm think i'm not into the kinda music you like, i'm very much a jimi hendrix, stone roses, oasis person.

i'll tell you what i thinkof the amp when i give some proper testing :)
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 26, 2006, 05:10:44 PM
kool.... i think my tastes kidna range from that stuff... all the way through to like black sabbath e.t.c....
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 28, 2006, 11:04:00 PM
sambo!!! the guys at sound control cancelled my order for the amp. apparently my bank wouldn't let them withdraw the exact amount.

i transferred money from one account to another and i asked if it needed time to clear, the lady behind the desk explained that it didn't and it was available immediately. so i go home home and order the amp in the evening. i thought great!!

i come home from college the next day and theres a message saying that my order has been cancelled.

it turns out the money wasn't available.  the word that springs to mind isn't publishable so let me just say this,ahem, GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: sambo on March 28, 2006, 11:06:59 PM
ARGHAARGHARGHARGAHRHGAHRGHA!!! GRRRRRRRRRR

thats a bummer dude.... damn you must be sooooo pissed off...

well hope you get it soon mate...

did you get their ex-demo type one for £500?
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 29, 2006, 05:27:37 PM
That sucks man.

I hate banks. It took them about 5 days to transfer my money to germany when i got my Engl.

I suspect I could have cycled there in that time. EDIT: yes, I have a waterproof, floatable bike.





Actually, I don't even have a bike.
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: Searcher on March 29, 2006, 05:40:53 PM
I'll sell you a bike.  ;)
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 29, 2006, 06:09:34 PM
^ I don't want a bike, lol.

 :lol:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: Searcher on March 29, 2006, 06:25:19 PM
Ah, go on.  I'll even wipe off the paint I spilt on it!  You can't ask for more than that.   :roll:
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: monkeywalker on March 29, 2006, 07:04:22 PM
:lol:  you'd make a great sales man dude :lol:

i like that you just sort of randomly picked up on the fact he didn't have a bike
Title: new picups or new amp, what to do what to do.
Post by: dave_mc on March 29, 2006, 09:45:55 PM
Quote from: Searcher
Ah, go on.  I'll even wipe off the paint I spilt on it!  You can't ask for more than that.   :roll:


 :lol:  :lol:  :lol: