Dual Amping

[bucketshred]

Yo!

The band I play in (www.facebook.com/crowsnh if you're interested) have recently parted ways with our other guitar player, leaving me as sole guitarist.

Currently, I'm running a Mule'd Les Paul into a JCM800 and I'm thinking of splitting the signal to another head, what do you reckon the best match would be? Budget of £500. I was thinking of one of those dinky little Terror (dual? tiny?) running at full wack to give some girth.

Also, A/B/Y splitter boxes, suggestions?

Paddy

[Toe-Knee]

Really this depends on how you want it to affect your current sound.

If you are just wanting to "widen" your sound you could go the cheaper route and just run a  dual cab setup.

if you are wanting to adjust it tonally this could also be done with speakers too.

As for amps i'd need more info of what you are wanting to add to your current sound to make a suggestion really.

If you are dead set on the dual amp idea i would personally get an amp that offers some drastically different sounds and use it for texturing or say use your JCM for distorted sounds and get a really nice clean amp exclusively for cleans.

[bucketshred]

Thing is, we rarely take our cabs to gigs anyway due to most gigs only needing breakables. Plus, now we're down to one car between four band members, so space is a premium.

The JCM800 is crunchy and cutting, as they should be, I just need something to add more grunt. We never play clean (balls to the wall rock and roll).

[Alex]

The classic way is to use a very short delay on the sound.
However, IMO with the right amp there is no need for all of this. Sell the JCM800 and get a Mesa Dual Rectifier or, more affordable, one of the bigger Orange amps, I think that would help.

[bucketshred]

Nope, not an option. I love that JCM800. And I can't stand Mesa/Boogie.

[Dmoney]

I toured with a guy using a 5150 and a Mesa MK3. The 5150 had the mids scooped, not loads of gain, and the mesa was set with a mid hump on the graphic EQ to fill out the mids. sounded cool.
Maybe you could go with something along those lines. Or maybe even a second JCM just eq'd differently?
a 5150 would fill in that low end and the highs still with the depth control. back the mids off some so the marshall comes through?

[BigB]

Nope, not an option. I love that JCM800. And I can't stand Mesa/Boogie.

 PDT_003

[Mesa69]

The Tiny Terror seriously ROCKS! i wouldn't bother with the Dual unless you need the extra channel. I did find the overdrive a little too smooth for my tastes at first, but that smoothness may go well with the Marshall... If you do go Tiny Terror and find the overdrive a little smooth try the TAD el84s, they have a more agressive charater IMO

+1 for a little delay for fatmaxing tone! Also 11s make a huge diffrence. Oh yeah and dissing Mesa seriously messes with your tone.   :D :) :( :|

[richard]

http://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-amp-heads/pid9096/cid689/cornford-roadhouse-50w-all-tube-uk-made-guitar-amp-head.asp

How about this ? I think a Cornford would be a great complement to your JCM800, a bit fatter sounding and more gain.
You said that you rarely take cabs to gigs - do the venues you play supply all the cabs you need ? I can't say I've ever played a gig where cabs were provided.

[Dmoney]

most of the gigs I have played have been the same. heads and breakables is all you need. Usually a touring band or local bands cabs will be used. Or they'll come from some cheap practice space or something. sometimes you run into trouble when people (promoters) assume bands will lend their stuff out or just assume band will turn up with a full backline. Same in the EU.

In the US its different. All bands seem to have a whole backline and tend to share much less kit.

[HTH AMPS]

You'll want something with 6L6s and more gain to compliment the JCM800.

5150 comes to mind, but if you're just mixing it in with the JCM800 as the bulk of your tone, you'll get away with almost anything to widen it.  This would be a good fit for a solid state head/combo as they naturally have loads of top and bottom with the mids being less able to cut.  Plus it'll work within your budget. 

[richard]

Exactly - the Roadhouse now uses 6L6 tubes.

[ericsabbath]

Jet City JCA50H