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Jill Valentine
Bronze Member
USA
116 Posts |
 Posted - 11/30/2005 : 07:24:35
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Okay, I own a Fender Twin Reverb. I love the amp but I'm starting to notice something. When I play other amps with built in distortion I can hear a better overall distortion sound (from most amps) than my Fender Twin reverb with any metal pedal I have. The palm muted riffs sounds almost as good but the hardcore power chord progression just dosen't sound as good to me. So I guess I'm just wondering if any of you guys use boss distortion pedals and a overdrive amp (mesa, marshall, b52, line 6 ect)at the same time and if one actually needs any distortion pedals if they have a good distortion amp? Maybe I need to tweek my knobs more? Maybe I need a EQ? Myabe I need a distortion amp? Let me know what you think. |
Edited by - Jill Valentine on 11/30/2005 07:25:15 |
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2005 : 17:30:29
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IMHO, an eq pedal can go a long way, but you should be able to get a good distorted sound out of a Fender Twin with a distortion pedal. I've gotten a great sound out of a borrowed Twin with only a MT-2, and two friends of mine use an Analog Man-modded DS-1 with their Fenders to get their "dirty" sound. maybe try an eq pedal with a distortion pedal?
FYI, both of my guitar amps are high gain designs (Mesa/Boogie mk. 2 and a Marshall JCM 800 clone), and thus I get my distortion from my amp and rarely use distortion pedals with them (but I do use a SD-1 overdrive). good luck with your quest for dirt! |
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Jill Valentine
Bronze Member
USA
116 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2005 : 20:51:38
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| Your amps rock Pawnshop. Wish I could afford one. They produce a all around good distortion that dosen't get to distorted and muddy. That's what happens with my set up. If I try to use my DS-1 it sounds to weak and it kinda sucks for anything not punk. |
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pawnshop_trash
Gold Member
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2005 : 18:37:57
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thanks for the kind words! neither of my amps were really that expensive, though -- the Boogie was beat up but bought cost under $300 from a friend some ~10 years ago; the other one, Peavey's VTM series (same basic circuit as a master volume JCM 800, but with 6L6 output tubes, and the 'father' of the 5150 amp) cost about the same used. (that said, I spent $100+ per amp for new tubes, and a 4x12 cab isn't exactly cheap either.)
but the moral of my story is, keep your eyes peeled for bargains, and eventually you'll find an affordable good-sounding amp.... |
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starr36
Platinum Member
Canada
1172 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2006 : 04:36:51
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NEVER have I liked ANY kind of distortion box; I have always relied on the amplifier. I had 2 solid state fender Amps one a Fender MONTREUX, which for transistors was short lived but freaking worked really good, then I traded it in for a HORRIBLE Fender STAGE 185, which came out in early 90;s with red knobs. It was just sounded cold and bleak. uggh!  I never bought NEW ever again in my life.
I woke up in a fog one day and bought a Mesa Boogie MK iV head and cabinet. The guitar and the AMP work as one instrument - it was truly magic compared to using cheaper combos. TRULY, one feels like the guitar and amp are one instrument, and for those who are on the quest for tone, this is a glorious moment when you achieve this.  .
I say stop all your trips to starbucks and put $5.00 in a box everytime - sacrifice something, and buy yerself a killer amp, you will never go back to boxed distortion.
A friend of mine scored a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier (or something or other) twin speaker combo that weighed 500 lbs. It had about 20 little toggle switches on the back. That Amp was freaking unbelievable in the tones it produced. I saw one at Sharky's last year for $2499.00. (it was 1/2 price folks)
Having said that, if you have a GREAT Vintage type AMP without an overdrive channel, well, you may as well buy and sell as many distortion boxes you can find, until you find one that works with your rig - this can take forever - but, the results will be worth it!
And Hey, you can post the results of your painful labours here for all of us to maybe save some time so we can do more important things:  |
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visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 17:04:24
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Jill,
Your Twin, how does it sound when you use it without any distortion? Is it clear and clean? Does your model have a masterknob you can pull-up? Some of them do, and this little knob will create distortion, but it is not everyone's favourite.
When was the last time your amp had a service? You may need new valves? In a way chaning the valves is like changing the strings on your guitar: Your amp will sound a little brighter.
Overal be careful with your settings, do not put things too extreme. When you are using pedals for distortion, make sure the amp does not do that much of the drive, let all the drive come from your pedals, and just use the amp as a mastervolume.
You could try an eq pedal, but I guess you need to experiment a lot with finding the right settings.
For Punkrock, the Twin may not be your best choice, personally I would go for something like a Marshall, but having said that, it should be possible to get good tones out of your amp given the fact that the amp works as it should and does not have any real issues.
Give it another try and see how you get on with things. |
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s0ulzer0
Copper Member
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 18:31:26
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Back in the 80's I was using Marshalls, JMP MkII Super leads and then JCM800's. They get dirty, but not balls out. I always used a CS-2, SD-1, GE-7 to drive it.
When the JCM900 SL-X came out, I still used a little bit of overdrive from a Boss ME-5.
I then got a Peavey 5150 then a Triple XXX, those amps did not need any additional OD, so I just used a GX-700 for EQ, Compression & FX.
Now I'm back to Marshall with a JCM2000 DSL100 and a GT-8.
Depending on what channel I'm using determins how much overdrive I push from the GT-8. Even Marshall's "Ultra Gain" doesen't get it by itself. I mean - it's right there at the edge of being awesome...then stops. LOL!
I kind of wandered off.....basically, IMO, it depends on the amp. I hate buzzy-fuzzy distortion, I like to use an overdrive to push the dirty channel on amps rather than get a grind box, but I have used them to get something really nasty for a song that needed it.
If you get an amp that has the perfect drive on its own, then no OD/Dist box is needed. |
Edited by - s0ulzer0 on 03/10/2006 18:32:47 |
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lightburst
Silver Member
Germany
158 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2006 : 09:33:02
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I�ve made the experience that an amp wich sounds beatyfull clean isn�t so great with distortion. And so is the Twin Reverb with the stock speakers IMHO. Once I�ve heard a Twin equiped with Celestions and the overdrive / Distortion sound was great and it was realized with stompers!
After having several dual or multi channel amps in the past I went back to a single channel vintage type amp, the 59 Bassman Reissue. And with some good stompers I can get an amzing sound. My favourites for that purpose are the OD-1 and a Marshall Guvnor first version (sorry not a Boss). But it took me some time to figure out wich stomper fits my needs AND my amp best.
And as starr36 said before the amp is the second half of my instrument 
Oh...I forgot: when I had one amp equiped with a drive channel I always had an overdive in use too just for more drive  |
Edited by - lightburst on 03/11/2006 09:35:27 |
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Alien DNA
Bronze Member
Australia
90 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2006 : 08:03:07
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Im another guy who doesnt use distortion pedals to achieve the grunt I need. I guess we should be asking you what style of music you play so someone can steer you in the right direction if they have the same tastes.
I play prog/thrash and I have yet to hear a gruntier overdrive I get from my Crate excalibur solid state head with a blue voodoo 4X12 quad...get heaps of compliments from people at gigs. Think Dimebags tone....and your getting close.
RIP Dimbag
Cheers |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2006 : 17:19:32
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Jill Valentine, I have never experienced any stock pedals that sound good driving an amp, especially a Twin. I'm not a big fan of the Twin's "dirty" sound either. That's not to say I don't like Twins. I love them. Still, a "metal" pedal into a Twin is probably very shrill and not as tight as you want, right?
So there's basically two camps: An amp w/ great overdrive & clean sounds, or clean amps that sound great clean or using good (modded or "boutique") OD/Dist pedals.
I prefer the latter, because I don't like Amp FX loops. I've tried buffered, non buffered, pre & post amp loops... I just haven't been happy with any of them.
I like amps (like certain Boogies) that have awesome OD/Dist built in, but not if I'm using effects.
Make sense? There's hope for your setup. |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2006 : 19:35:26
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I have a 69 Twin and I use an Analogman modded DS-1 and a Analogman modded SD-1. I have also used a Rat 2 with it, all with IMO great results.
That said, everyone�s ears are different and like everything else, you need the right tool for the right job.
I�m playing funk/staxy blues and some jazz so I really need that clean tone at high volumes, hence the Twin.
But I also have a Mesa .50+ that can create some of the dirtiest tone I need.
The twin is a great amp but it depends on what you are looking to play and what your expectations are of this amp. For a while before I picked up the Twin, I tried to get the Mesa to get those great Fender clean tones. I tried swapping out a bunch of different tubes running hot and cold but while I got close; it�s not meant to do what a Fender Twin is supposed to do.
The twin is a great amp, maybe just not right for what you need it to do � again right tool for the job.
I'll also add that the guitar and pickups you are using have a lot to do with it too.
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Edited by - zestystrat on 12/27/2006 19:38:17 |
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DarrinPA
Silver Member
USA
221 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2006 : 20:38:53
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I have never like the distortion sound on an amp, from my first amps [solid state fender and crate] even on a Mesa Boogie triple rectifier, Marshall plexi head, Crate blue voodoo. I have always relied on distortion pedals. But I'm not a fan of boss distortion, I prefer Ibanez or Marshall pedals. I used to turn up the distortion/gain to max thinking I would have a heavey sound but I realized backing off the gain actually helps sometimes in getting a more powerful sound.
And no, those heads I listed I don't own, but I use them every week at a recording studio that we rent out as a practice spot. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2006 : 21:42:24
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i have a musicman combo very like a fender twin and i tried a experiment recently...i plugged my 2x12 cab with vintage 30 speakers in and disconnected the musicmans ones(stock musicman speakers)now the v30's were a big improvement in the sound especially with the distortions,overdrives,fuzz....another thing is the cab has a closed back which i think projects a tighter sound for distortion..twins and musicmans were designed by leo fender for more country,jazz players....so if you can get your hands on a closed back cab with some celestion v30's(make sure you check the cab and amps impedance match up very important in valve amps)try it and see what you think..i'm going to put the v30's in the musicman when i have time and put the orginal greenback speakers back in the cab for the marshall.... |
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Topic |
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Does one need a distortion pedal with killer amp?
