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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
 Posted - 03/06/2007 : 03:46:09
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Hey
Im starting to get fed up with running such a big chain, when i see a lot of people using only 3 pedals.
Right now, i use a transistor amp (Fender FM212R), and use 16 pedals.
TU-2 > CS-3 > OC-2 > NS-2(send) > SD-1 > PSM-5(send) > DF-2 > DS-1 > MD-2 > MT-2 > PSM-5(rec) > NS-2 (rec) > Crybaby > GE-7 > EH-2 > CE-3 > Phase 90 > DD-6.
Im thinking about letting the amp do all the work, and selling almost everything ive got except for a couple.
Im not sure which amp I should go for, and if its even a good idea since it took a year to collect all these pedals (and i love each of them  )
Can anyone recomend an amp that is good at metallica/tool/zeppelin sounds?
And what pedals should I hang on to?
It would help if other people that play this style can list their gear as well.
(Also, I use 4 guitars, and they all sound identical after getting processed so much, so its like they loose all their uniqueness, and it doesnt matter which one im playing)
Any ideas?  |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2007 : 14:47:28
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I definitely would recommend upgrading to a tube amp, whatever your style is. You could probably thin out your pedal chain a little with the right amp too.
Metallica started with Marshalls and then moved to Mesas after their Marshalls were stolen while on tour. I think they boosted their Marshalls with a distortion pedal. The newer Marshalls probably have enough built in gain to forgo the distortion pedal altogether.
Personally I would go with an older Marshall like a Super Lead or JMP head as this would work well for Led Zeppelin sounds too. I would boost that with the MD-2 and get rid of all the other dirt, eq, and compression. Your chain could then be Guitar -> TU-2 -> OC-2 -> MD-2 -> Crybaby -> CE-3 -> Phase 90 -> DD-6.
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indytone
Bronze Member
USA
124 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2007 : 15:04:32
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Hey there. I hear what you're saying, and I agree... get a tube amp.
If you want that Zep/Tool tone, I would go for something like a Traynor or Garnett amplifier. They were both designed by the same guy and sound great.
Also, check out Univox amps. The blue ones with handles on the top are pretty bad ass sounding.
In my opinion, you've got way too many different distortion pedals. With a lower-wattage tube amp (and by lower wattage, I mean in terms of comparison with many metal bands... around 30-50 watts) you will be able to control your distortion output with your playing/attack. Let the amp work for you instead of the pedals.
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2007 : 17:23:13
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I'd suggest keeping the SD-1 as an overdrive, put it in front of the a good 2-channel tube amp together with the crybaby.
Put all the chorus, phase and delay pedals in the amps effects loop if you still want to use them anyway.
Take the TU-2 out of the chain as well, keep it, it's a good tuner.
Compression works better for bassplayers although the CS-3 is also really great as a feedback booster/sustain pedal/guitar solo boost.
And sell the rest, you don't need a zillion different distortion pedals, do you?
Mind you that when playing live a lot of effects generally get eaten by the bass and loud cymbals, so there's no real use for them anyway.
It's cool to have at home and in the studio, but for live use I would just use an overdrive and a wah and that's it.
You will notice how much better your tone will be, and how much quieter your rig without all the humming and hissing from pedals, crappy patch cords and wallwart adaptors.
Good luck 
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 04:34:37
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if you have a lot of money, i have one suggestion
Orange Thunderverb 200. |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 06:56:00
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Hey
Thanks for all the sugestions.
Im definately going to buy a tube now.
Im a college student, so I dont have too much extra cash laying around, so all I can spend is what i can get off all my pedals, my current amp, and one of my guitars.
It should get me a little over $2000CAD. That has to include the cab too though.
Im moving into a new house in 2 months, so Im going to wait until then to get the new amp. That gives me some time to get some more ideas and go around trying some amps.
Ive never seen the Orange Thunderverb 200. What kind of sound does it have? |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 07:50:55
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| Orange is awesome! I too wonder how it sounds... |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 13:34:55
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from what ive heard, its the cream of the crop. a friend of mine has one and he says it made him forget about his JCM800 instantly.. its built from the ground up with high quality parts. some features are strange like no wheels. but apparantly this helps transer lows into the floor.
theres all kinds of stuff like that on this amp. theres also a built in attenautor(spelling?) what this does is let you play through a cranked amp setting at any volume you want! and that is an AMAZING feature. i think the head alone is around 2 grand. |
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tomwest
Silver Member
United Kingdom
436 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 14:20:57
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I prefer Solid State amps, but Orange are certainly the cream of the crop, you definitely get what you pay for. Maybe when I get my student loan.. |
Edited by - tomwest on 03/07/2007 14:21:33 |
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Erik dP
Silver Member
Sweden
150 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 16:07:14
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I currently use a VOX DA5. It is a low cost 5W amp with a battery option if you want to play anywhere. It sounds great with plenty of modeling sounds and effects. It especially sounds great through a 4*12 cab. It does sound loud enough for home practice, studio use and very small gigs (without a loud drummer). I guess that using any higher power amp with the DA5 as a pre-amp would work for more power, but I have not needed this yet. Micing/lining up to mixer is probably what I woud do instead.
It does not have an effect loop but I have tested to use the phones/line out for this purpose and it seems to work fine as the signal seems to pass through this (serial) before the final power amp section (used some tape to fit a cord on the "shout down" side of the phones output connection). It might be so that the DD-2 and RV-5 I used have enough headroom while older effects may distort here.
You also have a line in and a mic input. I have also plans to put a momentary switch possibility in parallel to the "effect on/off" button and the "tap tempo" button to get some foot control of the effects. |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 16:12:39
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My question is what are you going to use the set-up for?
More then likely you won't need to go the Head+Cab route.
I had 2 Mesa's DC-5's one as the combo version and one as a Head+Cab. And even with the pretty regular gig schedule I had, I rarely wound up bringing the full Head+Cab set up.
For a number of reasons: It's really too damn heavy, at any club or party I let the PA do the work (low stage vol is a good thing). A mic on the grill of a speaker will give you the same results.
I have played on stages from small amphitheaters to subdivision pool parties all with a combo amp.
Yeah some will argue that you move more air with a 4x10 cab and that is true but with my mesa I could always add an additional speaker cab if I really needed it � and truth be told I�d rather be able to go from smaller to big then only have the option of big. IMO you�ll look like a tool lugging a half stack to a jam session. Plus there are plenty of combos with more then one speaker.
Also, I would agree that you have to pair down your rig. Less is more in this case or if you can�t live without them start working on a true bypass set up.
Finally I will disagree about losing the compression. For a lot of the heavier stuff, those big gtr riff are compressed, so don�t toss it out just yet. I think that compression is one of the most misunderstood efx and while I�m no audio engineer, I think its worth keeping around and reading up on how you can use it in your chain.
/rant |
Edited by - zestystrat on 03/07/2007 16:31:19 |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2007 : 22:50:09
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Hey
The use will be mostly for at home, and i jam with a couple friends often.
Im looking to start up a band with a couple people, and we will eventually start playing gigs.
I would like to have a good setup now so i dont have to upgrade later on, and i can get used to it now.
I wont need the best of the best though, but i would like to go close to it for the money i can get.
Ive put up an add for all my pedals right now, and ill sell them all except a couple. If i sell too many, i could buy them back later though.
The ones im keeping for now are: TU-2, DD-6, DS-1, SD-1, Crybaby.
If i get good enough offers on them though, i will let them go
I would prefer the full head+cab over something small with speakers built in. It just seems more professional and better. I want to have everything ready for when i need it.
Im looking into orange heads, but is it better to combine it with an orange cab, or can i use anything (like a marshall cab). How much difference would it make? |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2007 : 00:29:10
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good question.. in my experience with heads and cabs, i found that mixing DOES matter for this reason. just say you have a boutique head like an Orange Thunderverb 200 and ran it through something like a run of the mill Marshall JCM800(which is a decent solid cab), you really arent using it to your full potential..also make sure the outputs can handle each other.
another big misonception is that heads and cabs are better than solid states or tubes. personally i wouldnt go the stack route unless i was in a big band on a world tour. most of us will never need more power than a solid state can provide. plus stairs arent fun hauling 2 4X12 cabs
last piece of advice is this. i dont know how many times ive seen people buy top of the line heads and cabs, kick on their MT-2 and crank out the Slayer. nothing against Slayers music, i dig Slayer, but having a $3700 boutique stack is a little overkill. i know buying really nice gear is tempting and it looks killer to show it off , but you really have to ask yourself, "is this going to be best for my style of music/playing or am i buying it more cuz everyone else says its awesome." especially on something like a new amp, test, test, and test before you buy.
in general, you should have equipment that makes you happy and keeps you playing at the end of the day. whether it be a wall of Marshall stacks or a 15 watt Vox. good luck with your choice, bud |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2007 : 00:48:59
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Thanks for that answer.
That made me think of what I was doing.
The main reason why I wanted a new amp was to cut back on all the pedals.
I will keep in mind what you said while im looking around.
Right now im just in the phase of researching my options and selling off what ive got. When i have a couple in mind, ill go around trying everything out.
I'm going to find out about some tube amps now as well. It would be better to have a nice tube amp than a poor head and cab. (maybe I dont have to sell off one of my guitars either) |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2007 : 16:32:21
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quote:
Originally posted by mattoqua
Hey
The use will be mostly for at home, and i jam with a couple friends often.
Im looking to start up a band with a couple people, and we will eventually start playing gigs.
I would like to have a good setup now so i dont have to upgrade later on, and i can get used to it now.
I wont need the best of the best though, but i would like to go close to it for the money i can get.
I would prefer the full head+cab over something small with speakers built in. It just seems more professional and better. I want to have everything ready for when i need it.
I think you are now on the right track...
From what you are saying you should go with a tube combo (w/ 2x10 or 2x12). A good tube combo is neither less professional nor inadequate for your immediate and future needs (jamming with a couple friends and any band that isn�t playing arenas or has rodies). Size matter not�EC recorded Layla with a Fender Champ - although I don't reccomend you buy one of those for what you are looking to do.
More importantly, no one who is important is judging your playing or band by the size of your amp. Also, in general you�ll spend more cash on a head+cab.
One time I was lugging my half stack onto a stage and a soundman busted my chops and said �You know why those rock stars have those huge amps like yours?� I asked why��Because they have roadies�. I love sarcastic soundmen, who watch other guys work�.
He was right tho, I soon sold my Mesa DC-5 head & cab and bought a 69 Fender twin. I still have the combo version of the Mesa.
Let us know what you come up with�.
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Edited by - zestystrat on 03/08/2007 16:40:44 |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2007 : 04:07:07
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I finally made a decision.
Its not what i thought it would be though.
I had a couple buyers lined up for some pedals, but when the day came around I gave them a last play, and I just couldnt give them up. I cancelled everything, and Im just going to keep them.
I thought how long it would take before I could sell my amp too (which I need to get rid of before I can buy a new one), and it would be a while with a really bad sound (since all the pedals would be gone).
Also, Ive never got to fully test out a tube amp, so I dont know how much different it will sound. Im still going to be looking for one, try out a lot at the store, but I wont buy a new one until this one sells. And it will definately not be a thunderverb (even though how perfect it seems for me). 
Thanks for all the help though. I'll keep it all in mind when I go looking. |
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Amp or pedals?
