The Ten Things I've Learned About Amps.

fezz parka · December 6th, 2007, 03:15 PM

Things I've learned about amps:

1. Life's too short to play through crap.
2. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
3. One man's meat is another man's pudding.
4. A great player sounds good through anything.
5. A mediocre player sounds mediocre through anything.
6. Tubes are good, but some are better than others.
7. Tone is in the hands. But a good amp sure helps.
8. It's all about the joy of playing. Find the joy, you'll find the tone.
9. Got a sound in your head? Play it with heart, and it'll come out of your hands. Hear it? Play it. The only thing stopping you is you.
10. It's all about the music. The rest is GAS.

petebradt · December 6th, 2007, 03:32 PM

Indeed.

RodeoTex · December 6th, 2007, 05:18 PM

11. Charged tubes and capacitors can blow a hole right thru your thumb.

tele12 · December 6th, 2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fezz parka

4. A great player sounds good through anything.

Yes.

Guitar_Ninja · December 6th, 2007, 07:13 PM

One big one I've learned over the years: no matter what amp you play through, it'll always sound like you. Applies equally to guitar played on and effects played with.

Big Lug · December 6th, 2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fezz parka

7. Tone is in the hands. But a good amp sure helps.

That's what I keep telling tell the wife

"See hon, it's written right here why I need to spend good money to sound good."

namida · December 6th, 2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fezz parka

1. Life's too short to play through crap.

This one got me thinking. The amp that can suit my style and tendencies that will probably last my lifetime and will always be a joy to play

Rumble · December 6th, 2007, 09:35 PM

13- The amp is more central to the tone than the guitar- A crappy guitar, if it's straight, can sound awesome through a good amp. A really fine guitar will usually sound crappy through a crappy amp. But guitars still cost more.

e-merlin · December 6th, 2007, 10:25 PM

14. Don't lean into the mic if you gotta potty.

candh · December 6th, 2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumble

13- The amp is more central to the tone than the guitar- A crappy guitar, if it's straight, can sound awesome through a good amp. A really fine guitar will usually sound crappy through a crappy amp. But guitars still cost more.

As a hobby-business amp builder I have been preaching this for years. I must admit to being a bit "biased" though....

Tele Fan · December 6th, 2007, 10:38 PM

15. It don't have to be a big amp to have a big sound.

PRNDL · December 7th, 2007, 01:08 AM

Addendum - some amps (especially homemade ones) are like the Millenium Falcon ... they're nothing to look at, but they've got it where it counts.

MulliganChebichev · December 7th, 2007, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tele Fan

15. It don't have to be a big amp to have a big sound.

+1

tjalla · December 7th, 2007, 01:14 AM

16. What sounds good at home doesn't necessarily sound good with a band, and vice versa.

Stefan · December 7th, 2007, 01:29 AM

17. Twin Reverbs are heavy

ruger9 · December 7th, 2007, 04:46 AM

18. SPEAKERS make the biggest tonal change in an amp (moreso than tubes, mods, etc.)

Durtdog · December 7th, 2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fezz parka

5. A mediocre player sounds mediocre through anything.

That's why I always buy the cheapest amp I can possibly find. I'm saving a bloody fortune, and no one can tell the difference.

Tele Fan · December 7th, 2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durtdog

That's why I always buy the cheapest amp I can possibly find. I'm saving a bloody fortune, and no one can tell the difference.

Same here

Tremo · December 7th, 2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fezz parka

Things I've learned about amps:

1. Life's too short to play through crap.
2. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
3. One man's meat is another man's pudding.
4. A great player sounds good through anything.
5. A mediocre player sounds mediocre through anything.
6. Tubes are good, but some are better than others.
7. Tone is in the hands. But a good amp sure helps.
8. It's all about the joy of playing. Find the joy, you'll find the tone.
9. Got a sound in your head? Play it with heart, and it'll come out of your hands. Hear it? Play it. The only thing stopping you is you.
10. It's all about the music. The rest is GAS.

Yowza, couldn't agree more.

In the case of #4, Steve Freund uses ss amps I wouldn't be caught dead with, and sounds great through them.

2ndstringer · December 7th, 2007, 09:11 AM

The tone is in your mind.

John

Kurzman · December 7th, 2007, 09:26 AM

19. LSD will improve the sound of any amp.

xjazzy · December 7th, 2007, 10:10 AM

Someone said tone is in your trousers...

eddiewagner · December 7th, 2007, 10:13 AM

20. some amps turn you on, some do not.

vampirefish · December 7th, 2007, 10:33 AM

OMG... this thread is killin' me - TOO FUNNY because there's so much truth to it!

The Millineum Falcon!

Regarding #2... I'd like to add that 'You can't polish a turd, no matter how hard you try!'

Fret Wilkes · December 7th, 2007, 10:42 AM

------

davidge1 · December 7th, 2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumble

December 6th, 2007, 03:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
fezz parka Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: A town south of Bakersfield... Posts: 1,284 50 Photos	The Ten Things I've Learned About Amps. Things I've learned about amps: 1. Life's too short to play through crap. 2. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. 3. One man's meat is another man's pudding. 4. A great player sounds good through anything. 5. A mediocre player sounds mediocre through anything. 6. Tubes are good, but some are better than others. 7. Tone is in the hands. But a good amp sure helps. 8. It's all about the joy of playing. Find the joy, you'll find the tone. 9. Got a sound in your head? Play it with heart, and it'll come out of your hands. Hear it? Play it. The only thing stopping you is you. 10. It's all about the music. The rest is GAS.

December 6th, 2007, 05:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
RodeoTex Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 795	11. Charged tubes and capacitors can blow a hole right thru your thumb. __________________ Turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose.

December 6th, 2007, 07:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,023 2 Photos	One big one I've learned over the years: no matter what amp you play through, it'll always sound like you. Applies equally to guitar played on and effects played with. __________________ "That's for the prequels, number one!"

December 6th, 2007, 10:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
e-merlin Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,552	14. Don't lean into the mic if you gotta potty. __________________ WARNING:This post may contain items including, but not limited to, sarcasm, irony, hyperbole intended to bring humor to this discussion. Those of you who are overly sensitive or who have no sense of humor are better off ignoring this post.

December 6th, 2007, 10:38 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 754	15. It don't have to be a big amp to have a big sound. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

December 6th, 2007, 03:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
petebradt Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Niner Country Posts: 3,220 12 Photos	Indeed.

December 6th, 2007, 09:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rumble Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Georgia Age: 36 Posts: 599	13- The amp is more central to the tone than the guitar- A crappy guitar, if it's straight, can sound awesome through a good amp. A really fine guitar will usually sound crappy through a crappy amp. But guitars still cost more.

December 7th, 2007, 01:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
PRNDL Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SW Florida Age: 45 Posts: 132	Addendum - some amps (especially homemade ones) are like the Millenium Falcon ... they're nothing to look at, but they've got it where it counts.

December 7th, 2007, 01:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
tjalla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,500 7 Photos	16. What sounds good at home doesn't necessarily sound good with a band, and vice versa.

December 7th, 2007, 01:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
Stefan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 29 Posts: 1,798 36 Photos	17. Twin Reverbs are heavy __________________ 1981 Capri Orange Fender Telecaster 1976 Fender Stratocaster 2005 Martin HD28

December 7th, 2007, 04:46 AM	#16 (permalink)
ruger9 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Posts: 1,528	18. SPEAKERS make the biggest tonal change in an amp (moreso than tubes, mods, etc.) __________________ "I've got callouses, from all those nights, spent playin' a Telecaster, 'till my fingers bled Bud Light" - Travis Tritt

December 7th, 2007, 09:11 AM	#20 (permalink)
2ndstringer Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 127	The tone is in your mind. John

December 7th, 2007, 09:26 AM	#21 (permalink)
Kurzman TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 67	19. LSD will improve the sound of any amp.

December 7th, 2007, 10:10 AM	#22 (permalink)
xjazzy Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portugal Posts: 738 6 Photos	Someone said tone is in your trousers... __________________ Still got the Twang! myspace.com/jotacaster

December 7th, 2007, 10:13 AM	#23 (permalink)
eddiewagner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 49 Posts: 3,562 27 Photos	20. some amps turn you on, some do not. __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat

December 7th, 2007, 10:33 AM	#24 (permalink)
vampirefish TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: port orchard, wa Posts: 34	OMG... this thread is killin' me - TOO FUNNY because there's so much truth to it! The Millineum Falcon! Regarding #2... I'd like to add that 'You can't polish a turd, no matter how hard you try!'

December 7th, 2007, 10:42 AM	#25 (permalink)
Fret Wilkes Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Harmony, R.I. Age: 51 Posts: 863 21 Photos	------ __________________ See, I didn't reconize ya when ya first drove up till ya stuck yer hand out and wove then I seen right off who ya was and knowd ya. Epiphany: The Ignore List can make the TDPRI and even BETTER place to be!