"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle". Gear combos you never thought would sound good.

[Loomer]

Last night Madsakre and I had an actual rehearsal with our band (that in itself is a historic and rare event, but I digress), and I had a real "Oh?!... Oh!" moment with the gear I was using.

The setup was as follows:

BC Rich Exotic Spalted Mockingbird w. a Miracle Man in the bridge --> Boss Bass Overdrive pedal (of all things!) --> ENGL Blackmore stack on clean.

And for some reason this was the heaviest tone I'd had in quite some time. It sounded like mid-period Bolt Thrower on steroids. I pretty much only tried the BOSS bass drive as a joke, but it ended up sounding absolutely crushing! Who would have thought?

Now, please share your "Well, this shouldn't work on paper but somehow it does"-moments!

[Twinfan]

My practice rig is currently surprising me, it sounds fantastic!

Jet City JCA20H head => Two Marshall 1936 2x12 cabs with G12T-75s (cost me a grand total of £324.99)

In my mind, that should sound cheap/fizzy/scratchy/harsh/too bright etc.  In reality, it's a clear/crunchy/singing bluesy rock tone.  Pushed by a Klon clone, it sings like a Gary Moore/Joe Bonamassa solo.

Who'd have thought it?

[gwEm]

Danelectro reissue into Orange Tiny Terror
(even started a thread about it - expected it to sound like arse, but it was great!)

Flying V with dirty fingers, into Boss OD-1 into Marshall JCM800
(its not that surprising, since this was a rig for many metal players - but alot of tone snobs look down on the dirty fingers and OD-1)

[Loomer]

Yeah, I saw that thread! Sounds wicked :)

I love expensive gear as much as the next guy, but I honestly get so much more satisfaction out of making "cheap" gear sound good. I don't know, maybe it's because I've always rooted for the underdog :lol:

[Philly Q]

I didn't realise you guys were in a band together.  I had noticed you have similar musical tastes!

Haven't got any "shouldn't work on paper but somehow it does" anecdotes, but I do have a natural talent for making all gear, cheapo to megabucks, sound equally bad.

[Keven]

the neck of a peavey generation into the stock body and pickups of a jay turser strat! it shouldn't work, or be in tune. not only does it work, it sounds GREAT even with the stock pickups.

[Stevepage]

I honestly didn't think the Jet City stuff would sound good. I originally bought a Laney VC30 from guitarguitar and some how it got lost in transit so as a replacement they sent a Jet City combo on my request. Oddly both turned up at the same time so I tried them out side by side and I was blown away by the Jet City and returned the Laney. You'd be forgiven for thinking that it sounds like an amp more than double what it cost me because it really is that good.

[marauder]

Crate Powerblock, I don't understand why these sound good.  And enough grunt to play with bass too.

Small enough to put in your pocket (almost!).  An overdrive on the front end and it responds nicely, they must have some weird circuitry in the input stage, I've not heard another SS amp that likes an overdrive in front.

Of course, because it was so good they discontinued it.

[Madsakre]

Yes a crate powerblock and a Line 6 Hd500 works wonders too. A band called jig-ai uses a powerblock + at pod xt live. Sick guitar tone

[danger5oh]

The rhythm guitarist in my band is a HUGE Dimebag Darrell fan, so of course he favors solid state amps.  I've been trying for a long time to try and convert him to the valve-side of amps, but he won't budge.  I've also always been the type to favor the expensive boutique stuff or the rare vintage stuff, my friend on the other hand is all about making the cheap stuff sound good.  Anyway, we've recently come up with a rig that is ridiculously crushing in terms of tone, and every time we jam it never ceases to amaze me:

Ibanez ART w/ Seymour Duncan Invaders on the NECK pickup --> Boss Metal Zone (I know, right?) --> MXR 10 Band EQ --> Marshall MG100DFX

I don't even think if this combo was duplicated would it sound the same... I can't explain it.