Quote:
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Originally Posted by Punk.of.Ages
The main reason I'm starting this thread is to get some advice on a good guitar amp.
I don't know a whole lot about what makes a good amp and I need something gig-worthy, capable of putting out some mean distortion and good, clean tone at the same time, and also relatively cheap.
Now, in an attempt to keep this from becoming:
Me: I need advice on an amp, please.
Someone else (probably Martian): [Insert great recommendation here]
/thread
I also want to turn this into the thread where the musicians here at TFP can discuss and recommend all the great instruments, gear, etc. we find out there. You know, the stuff you come across that isn't widely known, but deserves to be. |
To answer your question: what kind of guitar do you play? What genre do you play (mainly)? I know that you'll probably say "a little bit of everything," but think about what it is you're trying to sound like.
When you say distortion, what sound are you looking for exactly? Metal? Garage? Give us some examples of bands with the kind of guitar sound you're looking for. Crunch or saturation? Wall-of-sound or wailing?
Martian's advice: tube vs. solid-state is right on ... especially when it comes to overdrive and distortion. And for loudness My 200-watt solid state amp can't hold a candle to my guitar player's 35watt Fender Deluxe (tube amp) in overdrive.
For clean sound I don't think tubes can be beat ... I really don't. I've heard some really good solid-state amps but they always seem to color the clean sound so much that I just don't care for it.
As for gear that helps me make music: it's not the gear; it's the musician.
I have played every kind of keyboard you can imagine. Currently, for live, I have gone back to a JV1080 and MAudio Keystation 88 (unweighted); a Korg CX3 and Voce Organ Module; and my trusty Oberheim OB12a. Various effects pedals connected to each, including a Dimebag Darrell edition Crybaby and a Sole Pressure distortion pedal. My dirty little secret is a Line 6 Roto-machine for Leslie Simulation.
I used to play keyboards connected to a laptop running Sonar, Collossus, NI B4 and various other soft-synths but it got to be too much of a headache to take care of it. Now I plan on using that laptop for "special effects" and back tracks.
I use a solid state amp: Yorkville KB200. Keyboards require a full-spectrum amp that most guitar and bass amps don't do.
In the studio I prefer an M3 vs. a B3. The M is much crunchier and cuts through better than the B. I'm not a blues musician at all so I don't need the bluesy sound of a B3. Almost any Leslie cab will do, but it's usually a 122.
I prefer a Yamaha C7 for recording acoustic piano. For playing a piano live I like Yamaha or Baldwin in rock and, of course, Steinway or better for jazz or classical (not that I do that anymore).
Mics and pre's depend on what you're trying to capture. But again, ultimately it's not the gear that makes a good song.
As for software ... it doesn't really matter as long as it captures the music. Pro-tools-shmo-tools.