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Post by joelhamilton on Feb 11, 2016 11:47:12 GMT -6
I think we are negligent if we don't explore specific amp/guitar combinations as the "Holy Grail" (which I do not believe in by the way, except in that which inspires the player to greatness)
Santana loved Humbuckers with a Twin cranked, Teles through a Deluxe, Strat or Les Paul through a Marshall, Randy Kohrs through anything damn him.
There are some magical combinations.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Feb 11, 2016 13:03:46 GMT -6
My best combo? I owned a Marshall 100 that I got from the Allman Bros. at the time of their Fillmore East recording. It was either Duane's or Dickey Betts', I was never quite sure. I used a full stack then.
Both my 61' Les Paul Jr. and later on, my Les Paul sounded better than anything I've heard them with since. That amp just had everything, incredible tone sensitivity, clarity and sustain, note definition, even when cranked, all with just the volume knob.
Closest I've heard and played to that amp, was the Blankenship Leeds 21, which is amazing, because it has that vibe, buts 21 Watts.
It sounded something like this at 7:00 and 9:25:
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Feb 18, 2016 22:07:18 GMT -6
I'd love to own an all original 68 Princeton Reverb.
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Post by Ward on Feb 18, 2016 22:26:54 GMT -6
I'm thinking the best tone I've ever heard is coming out of brand new Carolann amps these days... and they have that magical midrange that used to be in old amps, way back in the day that made your ears pop.
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Post by jayson on Feb 20, 2016 9:34:06 GMT -6
There are so many ways to get that job done these days I have a pretty hard time even entertaining the notion of a "holy grail" amp. If you'd asked me that question in, say 1985, I'm sure I'd have lots of familiar names on that list like Matchless, Fender, Marshall, Boogie... But these days it seems if you're a decent player it's not too hard to get really great sounds from so many different approaches that it's a fair question to ask if you really need an amp at all.
I picked up a production Blackstar amp a couple of years ago and I definitely enjoy what it can do through a 4x12 cab. It's not one of their boutique amps, but it sounds great in lots of different styles and situations. If I were trying to travel light I could even see using a Vox Tonelab SE processor and a pair of small line arrays. It's definitely not old school, but if it sounds good - especially in the mix - is it some kind of crime? From where I sit even guitar amp plug-ins can be pretty useful.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't have anything against a beautiful, hand wired, point to point amp; but I just don't view that as the only or even the necessarily best solution for getting sounds anymore.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Feb 20, 2016 12:53:27 GMT -6
There are so many ways to get that job done these days I have a pretty hard time even entertaining the notion of a "holy grail" amp. If you'd asked me that question in, say 1985, I'm sure I'd have lots of familiar names on that list like Matchless, Fender, Marshall, Boogie... But these days it seems if you're a decent player it's not too hard to get really great sounds from so many different approaches that it's a fair question to ask if you really need an amp at all. I picked up a production Blackstar amp a couple of years ago and I definitely enjoy what it can do through a 4x12 cab. It's not one of their boutique amps, but it sounds great in lots of different styles and situations. If I were trying to travel light I could even see using a Vox Tonelab SE processor and a pair of small line arrays. It's definitely not old school, but if it sounds good - especially in the mix - is it some kind of crime? From where I sit even guitar amp plug-ins can be pretty useful. Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't have anything against a beautiful, hand wired, point to point amp; but I just don't view that as the only or even the necessarily best solution for getting sounds anymore. I've had a few guys come through with 5lb Quilter amps and cop decent tone. Some guys can make anything sound good. I on the other hand, can make anything sound bad. Haha. |
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Post by donr on Feb 20, 2016 20:54:54 GMT -6
I'm a big fan of 65amps. Besides the others mentioned.
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Post by jeremygillespie on Feb 27, 2016 12:01:14 GMT -6
I can get 90% of what I need out of my Gibson Falcon, and my '65 Deluxe Verb (lucked out at an estate sale for the '65 and got it dirt cheap - I'd never pay today's actual prices for one).
When I finish my 5E3 build I think I'll be all set.
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Post by yotonic on Feb 27, 2016 23:03:02 GMT -6
My best combo? I owned a Marshall 100 that I got from the Allman Bros. at the time of their Fillmore East recording. It was either Duane's or Dickey Betts', I was never quite sure. I used a full stack then. Both my 61' Les Paul Jr. and later on, my Les Paul sounded better than anything I've heard them with since. That amp just had everything, incredible tone sensitivity, clarity and sustain, note definition, even when cranked, all with just the volume knob. I used to live in Jacksonville Florida, and between the Skynrd boys, Vanzants, Allmans, that whole tribe, you could always find great guitars and amps floating around town if you had cash, and especially at the old "Don's Music & Pawn". I had the best Marshall JCM800 100 watt head one of the VanZants had modified, it was awesome. I kept it for 20 years, and then like a degenerate Gearslut I sold it. |
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Post by yotonic on Feb 28, 2016 0:01:05 GMT -6
My God I forgot how insanely talented John Frusciante is. Like one of those people who is just at another level from everyone else.
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Post by drbill on Mar 3, 2016 14:27:43 GMT -6
My $.02....
I've got a '64-65 Blackface Deluxe that I had Paul Rivera mod (ala the Carlton, Lukather, Graydon mods) in the early 80's. It's a VERY cool amp, and has a celestion green back instead of the Black Widows that he normally put in. (Did this mostly for weight reasons as it used to be my wifes amp, but really glad I kept the celestion). It can get loud, but it's still creamy smooth and very versatile with his mods, fat switch and preamp/master topology.
My favorite new amp is a Emery Micro Baby 1-2 w amp. Love that thing....
They may not be the "holy grail" for everything, but they suit my needs to the "T".
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Post by 79sg on Mar 7, 2016 15:16:35 GMT -6
I own the Emery Sound Microbaby as well for the past 7 years. It sounds great, takes pedals extremely well and wonderful to record with. 1 - 2 watts is a lot louder than most would think. I keep the tone control turned off, not sure if you use yours that way drbill.
Other than that I play Mesa Boogies.
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Post by drbill on Mar 7, 2016 17:41:25 GMT -6
Yup. Tone control off 98% of the time. Wonderful amp. But you're right - it does like to have a pedal to drive it a touch if you're getting fairly dirty with it.
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Post by brianellefson on Apr 4, 2016 12:04:04 GMT -6
I think I found my next best thing to a holy grail amp. And it's not even an amp.
Just sold my last amp and I'm left with the Kemper. Profiled my '65 Twin before I sold it to Jack Endino over at Soundhouse here in Seattle.
I know it's kind of taboo to be blown away by something without tubes. And it's probably a bit worse to be impressed by something that steals the souls of old amps. But I'm totally content with having only a Kemper.
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Post by sean on Apr 7, 2016 11:43:22 GMT -6
My Swart Atomic Space Tone is the one amp I've owned that I don't think I'll ever sell. It's not too bright, has great reverb and tremolo, and plenty of volume. I owned a nice Princeton Reverb that I should have kept and sold my Goodsell...which is a nice amp but a little lacking in the reverb department.
There's a dozen things I'd love to have but I'd be happy with just the Swart.
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Post by robschnapf on Apr 15, 2016 8:14:29 GMT -6
I been getting a lot done with an old ampeg Gemini I.
A deluxe killer.
Great reverb killer trem.
Good enough for Mike Bloomfield, velvet underground.
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Post by indiehouse on Apr 20, 2016 15:09:21 GMT -6
My Swart Atomic Space Tone is the one amp I've owned that I don't think I'll ever sell. It's not too bright, has great reverb and tremolo, and plenty of volume. I owned a nice Princeton Reverb that I should have kept and sold my Goodsell...which is a nice amp but a little lacking in the reverb department. There's a dozen things I'd love to have but I'd be happy with just the Swart. Love my Swart AST! I do lust after Fender Deluxe tones, though. The Swart has this tight, midrange tweed thing going on, which I love. Sometimes I want that loose and creamy Deluxe thing, though. |
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Post by Ward on Apr 25, 2016 6:55:15 GMT -6
Has anyone yet mentioned the Magnatone 213 Tonemaster?
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Post by Martin John Butler on May 3, 2016 19:38:14 GMT -6
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