Author Topic: what pickups? (Read 6916 times)

tewboss · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:12:33 PM »

No I'd say buy a low power valve amp. I was never happy with my solid state amp, and any valve amp with a master volume control would be better. You can also buy solid state amps that have valves in the pre-amp stage (such as the higher powered Marshall Valvestates) as these tend to warm up the sound because most solid state amps sound a little sterile. Much of the distortion comes through the power amp valves so having a Valvestate doesn't really equate to a real valve amp.

I'd also ask what type of music you listen to. The reason is that some solid state amps are used with heavy music - Dimebad used solid state Randall amps when he played with Pantera. If you after bluesy music or blues rock then one of the basic Epiphone amps would sound good with an overdrive pedal in front of it.

sambo · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:25:49 PM »

what are master volumes meant to do!?!?!?!? the one on my lc30 is just like an ordinary volume control it does nothing to suggest anything different is going on...!??!!

_tom_ · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:20:36 PM »

I think on single channel amps they are so you can crank up the pre-gain to get a saturated sound but to keep it lower volume... I think... but thats still not power tube saturation. My amps master is the same as yours, it just controls the level of the drive channel, whilst volume is the clean volume.

Crazy Gra · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:23:05 PM »

I go with the valve amp advice.

My 22 watt Fender DRRI is bloody LOUD! But when it starts to break into distortion it's tone HEAVEN. But to run it that loud for any length of time would get me evicted and possibly a visit to the hearing aid specialist.

Anyhow the point I'm making is that you should be aware that even 5w valve amps can give good tone IMHO. Is there something like that available in the UK? The Mesa Lonestar Special can run down to 5w (class A) but it's damn expensive, and still quite loud at that.

sambo · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:39:07 PM »

the first thing that comes to mind is the matamp minimat....?

matteo · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2006, 04:32:34 PM »

i think the lowest i seen is a laney 15w and its about £200. my guitar teacher says valve amps are best for gigging and solids are better at lower volumes. im still in 2 minds.

i listen to all sorts mostly guitar gods,hendrix, velvet revolver, van halen, metallica, satriani, bb king!! ac/dc, you get the picture!! so many tones but id rather have my own!!