I don't know if it was suggested but I find the orange tiny terror to be the perfect amp to use for when you want to be quiet and have halfway good sound it does have 1 12ax7 tube in the preamp but I had mine for 2 years now and this thing works great and it has headphone jack and it also works with 8 or 16 ohm speakers and it takes pedals great. It's like a solid state but with better sound. Cheers
Should I Just... Give Up?
- Thread starter BrettFuzz
- Start date
39martind18
Friend of Leo's
Last week, my wife called me a model husband, and I was thrilled until I looked up the definition of "model:" a small imitation of the real thing. Outside of my TMDR, that did it for me with modeling amps...
Robert Repp
NEW MEMBER!
I recommend you get a quality 5W class a amp and figure out how to get the sounds you want from it. Play with the volume knob for amount of breakup, use tone knob to control flabby or biting, and use guitar volume for loudness. You'll be able to get breakup without it being too loud. Well....ay least I'm able to do that. A good class a amp will respond to your touch as well creating more volume and more breakup or distortion depending on how hard you hit the strings
superjam144
Tele-Afflicted
Try a blues cube hot/stage/artist. Great amp. The boost button can get Eric johnson terrain.
I like the clean heavy dollop of verb.
I like the clean heavy dollop of verb.
MyLittleEye
Tele-Meister
@BrettFuzzMy opinion is that you should (a) find an amp that sounds how you like, then (b) turn it on when you want to play it, and (c) turn it off when you're done.
Sincerely,
Another internet random guy.
I went through a phase of searching for the perfect portable Harmonica amp.
I still have my original Microcube and Vox DA-5 I picked up on this journey of discovery. However the amp I eventually settled on was the humble Pignose. I found that, for all their multiple amp models and built in effects, at the end of the day, if I could find one good sound in any modelling amp, I'd just leave it at that and that would be where it would stay. In the end, the sheer simplicity of the Pignose won me over. It sounded perfectly fine as itself without having to pretend to be something else. I could just chuck a reverb or delay pedal in front of it and together they'd still be my smallest lightest option.
It's the portable amp of choice for my guitar now too, served by a pocket sized (coat pocket sized) Zoom Multistomp for effects. I've come to accept it simply for the LoFi solution that it is.
ASATKat
Poster Extraordinaire
For my simple needs of great amp tone, great reverb and delay the Kat mk2100 gives me more than any amp I've ever owned. I like the 3 choices of excellent reverb. And the modes of clean, crunch, lead, brown give me variety from Bill Frisell clean to Gary Moore brown blues tone. With the best Two Rock like tone of any tube or digital amp I've owned, the clean sold it for me, clean with body to the tone, no weakness or thinness, tinfoilness.
The amp totally confuses me. For such a stellar sounding amp I would think it should cost more, 2x to 3x more. Like the price of Fender. But that strategy catapulted Boss to the top shelf of non tube amps. I look at it like business brilliance, and has me looking at Boss 2023 with a game changing outlook like I've never had with Boss before.
The amp totally confuses me. For such a stellar sounding amp I would think it should cost more, 2x to 3x more. Like the price of Fender. But that strategy catapulted Boss to the top shelf of non tube amps. I look at it like business brilliance, and has me looking at Boss 2023 with a game changing outlook like I've never had with Boss before.
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eddiewagner
Poster Extraordinaire
two words: fender Tonemaster.
FortyEight
Friend of Leo's
U know how I practice with my electrics about 90% of the time? unplugged.
To me, that is wonderful tone. It also doesn't require me to burn any electricity or irritate the neighbors. i do that with my drums.
i do plug my bass in more, but i play it plenty unplugged.
look, its your money, your life. but, well, anyways. if i keep going on what im goin on.... i will just keep my mouth shut.
vox cambridge 15
fender super 60
a tube preamp pedal
To me, that is wonderful tone. It also doesn't require me to burn any electricity or irritate the neighbors. i do that with my drums.
i do plug my bass in more, but i play it plenty unplugged.
look, its your money, your life. but, well, anyways. if i keep going on what im goin on.... i will just keep my mouth shut.
vox cambridge 15
fender super 60
a tube preamp pedal
NoTeleBob
Friend of Leo's
Get a good used modeling pedal. Get a clean SS amp, no DSP, with an effects look so that you can go direct into the power amp. Done.
mexicanyella
Poster Extraordinaire
OP, I say this sincerely: if you are a couch movement and potted plant rotation noticer, by which I interpret to mean you are a person who is very detail oriented and with very acute senses—wait unto you shell out some serious coin on the tube amps you really like, then one day jump on them during one of your breaks only to discover you ears are having an off day.
Or the good sounding tubes that were in the amp(s) wear out and you are in tube selection free fall trying to find ones that sound as good and thinking about how much you trust your sonic memory of the old ones.
I think that is where the real bummer will start. That seems like a pretty negative and discouraging prediction, but it’s a real one, one I have encountered myself. At least with modern (modeling) tech you have the consolation of having a bunch of things to try in tweaking your tone that don’t involve purchasing and shipping and tech fees and still thinking “Nope, not that one either.”
One other thought, which might or might not be attainable depending on how your inspiration/ reward wiring works: try to focus more on the execution of the music you like and less on tonal nuance. It may be impossible for some people to separate the two, but I have found, especially as I have gotten older, that what gets me feeling inspired/gratified is more about execution and feel and timing. I’m just as likely to fail at that as I am likely to fail to achieve a great tone, admittedly. But at least I can say that my own modest gear can get in the ballpark of what I consider rewarding sounds, and when I’m having a good day and play something well, I find that sense of accomplishment can occur with any of a range of sounds my modest gear can produce.
Or the good sounding tubes that were in the amp(s) wear out and you are in tube selection free fall trying to find ones that sound as good and thinking about how much you trust your sonic memory of the old ones.
I think that is where the real bummer will start. That seems like a pretty negative and discouraging prediction, but it’s a real one, one I have encountered myself. At least with modern (modeling) tech you have the consolation of having a bunch of things to try in tweaking your tone that don’t involve purchasing and shipping and tech fees and still thinking “Nope, not that one either.”
One other thought, which might or might not be attainable depending on how your inspiration/ reward wiring works: try to focus more on the execution of the music you like and less on tonal nuance. It may be impossible for some people to separate the two, but I have found, especially as I have gotten older, that what gets me feeling inspired/gratified is more about execution and feel and timing. I’m just as likely to fail at that as I am likely to fail to achieve a great tone, admittedly. But at least I can say that my own modest gear can get in the ballpark of what I consider rewarding sounds, and when I’m having a good day and play something well, I find that sense of accomplishment can occur with any of a range of sounds my modest gear can produce.
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For a few years now I have been trying to find a SS/modeling amp that would be "eh, close enough" to any of the tube amps I have been (un?)fortunate to have played (not even a specific one). I keep coming up short every time. And, truth be told, I have not even played that many tube amps and not even for that long... but the few I played, even for just a few minutes, seem to have ruined me forever for the SS/modeling amps. It's frustrating at best. I also have the misfortune of being the type of a person who walks into a room that I had only been to once before in my life and notice immediately that the couch was moved 2 inches closer to the tv and the plant pot is now facing the other way. So frustrating to live like this; I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Anywhoo... here are some of the SS/modeling amps I have tried and my experience/opinion of them. Please keep in mind this is my own subjective opinion and if yours differs please don't take any negatives personally.
Roland Cube 80x - too muffled, could not get it to sound open no matter what, sounded like the amp was in a closet and not in the room with me
Katana 50 - this sounded fantastic after putting up with the Cube, the breakup and the presence (amp in the room feel) were miles ahead of the Cube; probably should have stopped here but... it could also be a 'false memory'... it's been a while
Katana 100 MK2 - started using a looper pedal and wanted the FX loop; sounded bigger than the 50 because it was... bigger? But also brighter... not in a good way; could have been the new, not yet fully broken-in speaker
Katana Artist Mk2 - only got it because I got a great deal on it; much much darker sounding than the 50 and the 100; had it for quite a while but could not fully get on with the Waza speaker, a speaker swap might have made this one passable
HotOne Ampero Stomp 2 with Headrush/Alto speaker - this had really good usable presets and overall sound; I just could not get that amp-in-the-room sound/presence no matter what FRFR (or other kind of) speakers I tried
Catalyst 60 - my latest; it sounds like a recording of a guitar tone, rather than an amp in the room (even tho it technically is an amp in the room). Weird because it's the Katanas that are often flagged as uninspiring, they lack character, etc., which is probably true, but at least they sound like the amp you are plugged into is what's generating that tone... and this is much worse, sounds way fake.
I also have a Roland Micro Cube (first version), Mustang I v2, Mustang LT25, Mustang Micro, also AmpliTube 5, Guitar Rig 6, Bias FX2 plug-ins and have also tried a bunch of other plug ins, out of which Neural DSP's Tone King was my favorite. I found out that I don't like anything smaller than 10" speaker and plug-ins sound great but not amp-in-the-room great.
The reason I have been looking for a SS/modeling amp is that I work from home and every hour or so I have about 5-10 min to spare so I grab a guitar and play... so I leave the amp on and ready all day... probably 10 hrs a day at the minimum, but more realistically 12+ hrs (yes, I have no life). A SS/Modeling amp I can either leave on all day or turn on/off every hour, it does not care. My one tube amp, tho, would hate me if I did either of the two things. I am looking for that amp-in-the-room sound/feel primarily because anything that does not provide that, no matter how great it sounds for what it is, is totally uninspiring to me.
But... hear me out... what if I got like 2 other tube amps and split the 12-14 hr duty among the 3 of them...4-5 hrs a day each? Does that even make sense? Am I crazy? Ok, don't answer this last one. Man... talk about the least efficient way to solve a problem... lol.
Or should I just turn on my one tube amp in the morning and leave it on all day and play it and deal with the consequences/mainteanance/rapair cost as they arise?
WWYD?
For the record, I feel really fortunate to have these kinds of problems because, compared to some of the rest of the world, these are not really problems... they are the "first world problems", a.k.a., "how much money should I spend on the thing nobody ever needs ever..." lol.
Either way, your input is appreciated and I thank you.
I don't see the newer Rolands (like the Artist) on your list, or the Fender ToneMasters.
You should try them- with the Rolands be sure the check out the available Tone Capsules, they really change what the amp sounds like. I like my Roland Artist ok stock, but with the Ultimate Blues Tone Capsule, it's good enough to replace my tube amp with my band, and it's a helluva lot lighter, sounds good at any volume. Can be louder too if needed.
I haven't played a ToneMaster myself, but people seem to really like 'em.
Brent Hutto
Tele-Afflicted
I think you might be describing me and my ears.
I can shut down at go to bed at night after spending my last playing session completely blissed out at how nice of a tone my guitar/pedal/amp has. Then after breakfast the next morning, power up and sit down to a dead, lifeless, completely uninspiring sound. That's with every single knob and switch in the same position as I left it the night before.
Or vice versa, I can leave the house in the morning completely bummed out over how crummy my tone was and that afternoon when I come back and plug in everything sounds wonderful to me with the exact same settings.
Sometimes I ask my wife if she can hear some of these differences and she swears that to her the same tune played through the same settings always sound very similar from day to day. It's gotta be my ears.
Makes it very hard to evaluate changes in my equipment or in what settings I use. I'm never sure if a bad sound is the gear or if I just happened to be have a few hours of a "bad ears day".
Wi
Yes, the op should give up. He doesn’t like modelers, just tube amps. Buy one and quit trying to sample everything out there. Personally, I’ve enjoyed my Quilters for over 7 years, but they’re not for everyone. I’ve thought of buying another tube amp because that’s all I had for 40 years +. I’d like a Swart AST PRO to be exact, but my heart hasn’t been able to convince my brain yet, so why bother. Play whatever makes you feel good and stay off Reverb unless you’re looking for a specific item. I’m a working musician and I have to like my own sound. I think debates nowadays are getting more about analogue vs. digital, and I don’t have a dog in that fight. For what it’s worth, I, grandpa, think digital is close to having the upper hand and I’m not a digital guy. Like a the song says, “just find a place to make your stand and take it easy.”
With or without cheese, or loaded no onion, wheat or white bun, fries or no…..so many choices. Just buy something and eat! Why do we tone chasers make it so difficult.
Yes, the op should give up. He doesn’t like modelers, just tube amps. Buy one and quit trying to sample everything out there. Personally, I’ve enjoyed my Quilters for over 7 years, but they’re not for everyone. I’ve thought of buying another tube amp because that’s all I had for 40 years +. I’d like a Swart AST PRO to be exact, but my heart hasn’t been able to convince my brain yet, so why bother. Play whatever makes you feel good and stay off Reverb unless you’re looking for a specific item. I’m a working musician and I have to like my own sound. I think debates nowadays are getting more about analogue vs. digital, and I don’t have a dog in that fight. For what it’s worth, I, grandpa, think digital is close to having the upper hand and I’m not a digital guy. Like a the song says, “just find a place to make your stand and take it easy.”
DocScotter
TDPRI Member
I'll be honest in that I haven't read this whole thread and I don't know if some of y'all have seen this video by Jim Lil but it's pretty compelling. It makes me think of that Billy Joel line: "There's a new band in town but you can't get the sound because it's only in a magazine."
northernguitar
Poster Extraordinaire
#psychoacoustics
give it all up and buy some electric trains. you'll be happier.
Red Ryder
Friend of Leo's
I think people spend too much time trying to sound like somebody else instead of being themselves. Like a good cheeseburger a good amp makes you full and happy. A lot of players have told me what kind of amp I should get for good rythm guitar, until the 100 watts hammers out of 8×12"s. Play what you've got, work on your own style not someone else's.
kuch
Friend of Leo's
Never thought I would but a couple of months ago I picked up a Blonde Tonemaster Deluxe reverb. It's great. In the past, I've played/owned at least 1 of almost every Fender tube amp since the 60's. I must say that the TM is very usable and sounds great. It's still a lot of amp, even with the attenuator. I'm seriously considering picking up a TM Princeton and handing off the TM Deluxe to my grandson who is starting to gig with his band. Haven't got there yet but selling my 65 PRRI might be a possibility.....
47adelynn47
Tele-Meister
i have a supro blues king 10...they're called delta kings now...5 watts all tube with that certain something in the tone that you...and i...like about tube amps...it has a stand by switch...my is on all day too with no issues...3 or 400 bucks used...the bk/dk 12s are 15 watts if you need more volumne...a little more $ too
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