Mickguard Posted February 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted February 16, 2007 Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 Have you tried a Variac to lower the voltage into the amp? They let you use all the power amp distortion you want. Also for your boost, I'm guessing for the solos, have you thought about taking your amp to a mod shop and getting them to install a second footswitchable master volume? these are the bees knees to get out in front for the widdly diddly bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 new amps do tend to "break in" a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 I tell you, hauling all the heavy equipment around can get old, especially if you play every weekend. By the time we setup our pa equipment, lighting system, etc. it's not fun to haul in a Marshall stack in just for a small club. It also kinda defeats the purpose of miking everything. If you play so loud that the sound guy can't bring your volume down to match the others, then you have a problem anyway. Seriously, there are local bands that the lead guitar player plays so loud that it makes everything sound terrible, and being a lead guitarist, that's saying a lot. I use to think I had to play loud on the stage, but nowdays I understand that it's better to have a great state of the art PA system to drive your sound, that way the soundman can get the mix correctly. Once you get the stage volume down, you can hear your monitors better, which is a good thing, since you can get the mix you personally like on stage. So really, you don't have to use a massive amp, I normally use a combo amp, but have since bought a new practice amp, and have thought about using it, simply because I never turn up past 3 on my other amp and it's miked anyway. So to me, just as long as you have a good sound, go for it, even though the stage prescence might suffer, although you'd be suprised how many people don't even care or notice what your playing through. Unless they're a guitarist that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 Yeah, that's what I've read...but does that happen in the course of a night? And is it really that dramatic? yeah it really is...the tubes get hot and really mellow out. It'd be nice if some of these companies would come out with serious quality low-power amps. well...i am not sure what you mean...but there are alotof boutique builders who do just that... vht has a 50 watt pittbull for boutique metal guys...engl makes 50 watters i think...and there are many,many more. have you looked at orange amps?i hear good things about them. http://www.rocksolidamps.com/index.php?con...ii=50&mid=2 maybe you want 25 watts http://www.rocksolidamps.com/index.php?con...ii=81&mid=2 anyway...they are out there...but they cost the big bucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 once it breaks in it stays broken in...just like a guitar. but they will continue to get sweeter over some time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 mick...you do know you can buy kits in the 5-10 watt range?build your own box and buy the speaker you want.they are based on vintage amps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 I've got a 1964 Fender Champ amp that I wouldn't trade for the world, and I think it's like 10 watts, but it's still got the best blues sound out of any amp I've ever heard. Needless to say though, I don't play it out on gigs. same as this one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksound Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Since this thread is about amps, did you guys know about this site? lots of nice stuff, and it's for a good cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 I've got a 1964 Fender Champ amp that I wouldn't trade for the world, and I think it's like 10 watts, but it's still got the best blues sound out of any amp I've ever heard. Needless to say though, I don't play it out on gigs. same as this one The blackface champs are 6 watts, and justifiably famous for their tone, especially for such little amps. I almost built one, but I finally decided on the tweed deluxe instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted February 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2007 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 (edited) Epiphone just came out with an interesting amp....the Blues custom....it's a 2x12 cabinet with a 25/15 pentode/diode....even has a tube rectifier...doesn't have tremolo, otherwise I'd be buying one....just because... I've also discovered that there are mod kits available for the Epiphone Valve Junior...I'm seriously considering modifying mine...I wonder if there's a way to modify the speaker output for 8 ohm? (right now it's set at 4 ohm) The Vibro Champs come up for auction now and again, sell for around 350 euros! I'll grab one eventually...although I wouldn't mind building one if I could find a kit (has to have that tremolo though) To answer your question(s) Don't buy a mod "kit", it's a waste of your money. I spent less than $10 on mine because parts are cheap as dirt if you don't buy them in a kit. PM me if you want the final schematic of mine, It's got a few simple mods on there and it sounds much better than stock. Yes, you can set the speaker out to 8 ohm. It's as simple as switching one wire around. Another great resource for building low watt tube amps is ax84.com I built a P1 (slightly modified to suit my tone) and it sounds great. There are alot of interesting things you can do to it. Here is one where a guy rebuilt it into a champ IMO anyone with a VJ needs to mode the crap out of it There is just so much you can do to it so easily. Edited February 23, 2007 by Godin SD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 (edited) Another good amp-building forum is www.18watt.com. In their "By the Bench" section there is a current 220+ page thread on modifying the valve jr., with mods directed at voicing it more like fender amps or more like marshall amps plus some general upgrades. The valve jr. output transformer has a 4 ohm tap and an 8 ohm tap. You would have to disconnect the 4 ohm tap from the output jack and connect the 8 ohm tap. That's the one wire change that Godin mentions. Edited February 24, 2007 by jnewman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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