Some amp observations

[richard]

I always used to drag my Cornford to rehearsals but I'm now settled in a decent multi room rehearsal studio that has decent backline so I've been using whatever amp is available at the time. In the last couple of months I've used the following half stacks -  Marshall JCM900, Marshall SLX, Marshall Jubilee and Mesa Dual Rectifier. Combos have included a modern split channel Hiwatt, Fender Twin split channel and a Fender Deville (older model, not the Hotrod).
There's been others that have slipped my mind. I always play my Gibson Firebird Studio with RYs. I always set up a crunch rhythm sound and sometimes go through a Boss OD3 for a little extra kick.

I haven't used Marshalls in years although I've owned a few way back. A big surprise was the JCM900 split channel head. It seems to have a terrible reputation but I really enjoyed it. I got a great sound with the 'clean' channel gain maxed. Not so fond of the SLX. There was something about the mids that didn't sit quite right with me but I would have happily gigged with it - I just preferred the 900. Best of the Marshalls though was the Jubilee. I LOVED this amp. I had the 1 x 12 combo at one time and regret letting it go. Great variety of gain sounds available and sounded very good without being cranked too much - maybe that's the diodes. I would love to gig this amp.

Biggest surprise however was the Twin. Never seen this model before and I want to try it again. It was possible to get some terrible sounds from it but once I'd got the treble and presence sorted it it sounded like a really great Marshall. The best of the batch just ahead of the Jubilee.

The worst ? The Deville by far. The overdrive channel stinks and there was nothing I could do about it. Running it closely for last place was the Rectifier. Now I know this is more of a metal amp but I thought I should be able to get a decent crunch sound out of it. Not a chance. No matter what I did the top strings E and A sounded awful. Either as dull as dishwater or thin and screechy. Running at metal gain levels didn't improve things. Seemed to have no dynamics.

I know there's a lot of variables - tubes, speakers etc. These are just my experiences. I'm going to try and find out more about the Twin and I'd certainly bag a Jubilee if one came within reach.

[Lucifuge]

Where do you rehearse that has this kind of gear? Everywhere I have been has either old Marshall Valvestates or modern cheap solid state Fender or Peavey.

[richard]

This place, it's really good and inexpensive:

http://brightonelectric.co.uk/?gclid=CIqk4aTWq7sCFUUOwwodxlwA3g

[MrBump]

Blimey, that place looks great!  I'm paying £42 for an evening in a filthy stinking bloke-pit!

[gwEm]

good post.

(I quite like the JCM900 split channel head too)

[richard]

We pay £38 for 3 hours. There's a couple of other good rehearsal paces in Brighton but I think this one is the best. We have our fair share of cesspits too. This place has great backline, a terrific spares shop and a nice caff. Oh, and friendly, helpful staff. What more could you want ?

[Philly Q]

It's got daylight, too!  Very nice.

[Dmoney]

I like brighton electric. I've been there a few times. I've also been to that weird place in the front towards the concorde, up the wacky steps?

I feel some of the amps are a little uncared for. I've played a microphonic orange head in there. Some of the amps seems a bit 'lacking' sometimes but still. The gear there is much better than at other places.

The split channel is an 800 isn't it? a 2205 or 2210. I've played a 2205/10 in there I think. If you play rock sounds, my tip for the 2205/10's is to turn the overdrive channel volume to almost 10 and leave it there. Use the gain to get the drive and the master volume to get your level. If you do that, you kind of have to forget the clean channel exists but I think the overdrive tone is WAY better.

[Dave Sloven]

I have always thought mould, darkness, and blokey smells to be an essential part of the practice room experience.  We are supposed to suffer for our art, yeah?  This place looks too nice!

[Brow]

My bands currently pay £16 for 3 hours, and some people have even been known to complain that that's too expensive!  :lol:

The split channel is an 800 isn't it? a 2205 or 2210. I've played a 2205/10 in there I think. If you play rock sounds, my tip for the 2205/10's is to turn the overdrive channel volume to almost 10 and leave it there. Use the gain to get the drive and the master volume to get your level. If you do that, you kind of have to forget the clean channel exists but I think the overdrive tone is WAY better.

I'm going to try this on my 2210 and see how I get on. The clean channel isn't that great anyway!

[richard]

What do you get for £16 ? There's four of us so a little under a tenner a head. I'm happy to pay it for what we get.

Dmoney - I've been to the place up the steps. A true sh*thole. They do have an 800 at Electric but I haven't used it, I rather like the 900 though. It was a JCM800 combo that started to turn me off Marshalls. I hated it - I've never had such a tempremental amp in as much as it sounded completely different from one gig to another. Very poorly put together as well - it devolved back into kit form after a few months.

[Brow]

What do you get for £16 ? There's four of us so a little under a tenner a head. I'm happy to pay it for what we get.

We pretty much get a room for 3 hours, an off street car park, a vocal PA and free tea/coffee for our £16.

You can rent drums and backline etc; which are £4 per item for the duration of the rehearsal.

[Twinfan]

Brow - what a deal!  We pay £30 for 3 hours and get a vocal PA.  It's a really nice place though, so at £7.50 each it's not too bad.  Better than the hell holes I've been to in the past!

On the subject of amps, I've been seriously impressed with my Marshall Class 5 for rehearsals.  I've considered getting something 'better', but 5w is plenty for what I need and why spend the extra ££££££?

I must be getting old, turning down an excuse to buy new gear.....

[Brow]

Brow - what a deal!  We pay £30 for 3 hours and get a vocal PA.  It's a really nice place though, so at £7.50 each it's not too bad.  Better than the hell holes I've been to in the past!

The building itself is a bit of a dump, and the outside toilet is hell on earth, but otherwise it's ok  :lol: For the price I don't really have much cause for complaint!

[Dmoney]

Dmoney - I've been to the place up the steps. A true sh*thole. They do have an 800 at Electric but I haven't used it, I rather like the 900 though. It was a JCM800 combo that started to turn me off Marshalls. I hated it - I've never had such a tempremental amp in as much as it sounded completely different from one gig to another. Very poorly put together as well - it devolved back into kit form after a few months.

I've been to some joint that was an old public loo too. That technical "was" a sh*thole!

I'm not a big fan of 900's generally speaking but I've never played an 800 combo I've been happy with no matter variety of 800 it's been. They all sound wrong and feel weak to me. Combos that get used hard need more care than heads too, since everything in them gets more rattled from the speaker/s. I imagine a lot of practice rooms just get stuff serviced as and when it breaks.

There is a rockerverb in brighton electric i think, some kind of orange, and with no guitar plugged in when i flicked the metal front of the amp i got a super loud 'PING!' out the speakers. A good indication that a valve is microphonic. I wonder how long that lasted. I've also had mesa combos in a place in london with the same thing. sitting there squealing with no input. horrible.

BE is a good spot though. Why better than Enterprise in London. But Enterprise probably has a different kind of clientele that makes avoiding nice gear a better plan.