Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Alexander
I've built and modified a lot of amps, and I've paid pros (mostly Don Butler) to modify amps that I don't want to or can't. Let's say you buy a new Vox AC30CC series amp. It sounds really good stock, there's no question about that. However, if you listen to it after the mods that Don does to these reissue amps (swapping the small, generic tone caps in the signal path for Sozos, swapping the small 1/4 watt resistors in the signal path with carbon comps, swapping the choke and OT for much higher quality Mercury Magnetics units, the amp sounds way more complex and toneful, much more like the best of the 1960's ones. The difference isn't subtle. By comparison, the new unmodified amp sounds a little "simpler" and doesn't have as much swirl and chime and bloom. That may not matter to you, but it does matter to me. If you want a new amp, especially a factory-built amp with small generic caps and resistors and a cheap OT, to sound like a great old amp you have to swap some parts and tweak some component values. If you don't value the change, then fine. I do.
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I agree with this. Some people go overboard tweaking the heck out of an amp, guitar, etc. Lord knows I'm guilty of that too. But the way I see it, 1) I notice the difference in the changes/mods I make, 2) I'm not knocking those who like their stuff stock (some of the best gear don't need nothin and sound great as-is), and 3) it's a hobby, and as such, the tweaking is as much a part of the hobby as playing is.
I don't think that modding an amp is going to make me a better player, I just think the improvement in sound is noticeable and (most of the time) worth the effort.