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Post subject: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:27 am
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Well folks, I've finally cracked! So much so that I think that I am on the brink of having an epiphany. Allow me to explain:

A few weeks ago I found my first guitar amp stuffed in a closet within the depths of my basement. If I had to estimate I probably recieved it 8 years ago and, being 14 years old at the time I likely thought nothing more of it than a little practice amp good for nothing more than getting some sound out of my cool new electric guitar. Well let me tell you - was I very wrong!

Not long after learning guitar basics on that amp I bought a larger Marshall amp, and this effectively spelt the last time I would plug in that amp in nearly a decade.

Now, here's where it gets tasty: I recently decided to give my little amp a go just for fun (and to find out whether it even worked), and was ASTONISHED by the sound that I could get out of it. For the first time in my life I've been able to attain a tone which to my ear sounds like what I've been trying to achieve - all from a solid state amplifier! I play using a CS stratocaster with Custom 50's pickups, as well as a '62 Musicmaster (all single coil pickups). If I had to describe the sound that I am getting, I would say it sounds like how oldies sound on an AM radio. It's a more easy-going/primitive sound, and I like it that way.

Here's a few shots of the humble amp in question:
Image
Image
Image

So I ask - is it so wrong that the sound which I'm after isn't coloured with tube distortion and compression? I fully understand how driven tube amps produce what is largely considered a more desirable tone for rock, etc. But when I push this amp, it just sounds right to me, y'know?

Questions:
-What can you guys tell me about what I have here? Surely there can't be anything special about this one amp in particular. I mean, it's a crappy no-name practice amp.
-What can you tell me about the "Gain" knob? Is it a feature unique only to SS amps?
-Are larger versions of this amp (with these EXACT controls only: Gain, Master, and EQ) readily available? This is the sound that sounds right to me!
-Any lessons regarding the signal differences in SS vs. Tube amps

I'd like to thank everyone who can steer me in the right direction here, as this is very important to me!

Best regards and wishes,
Chris


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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:43 am
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There isn't anything "wrong" with that amp if it delivers the tone you seek.

I can't help with that brand's pedigree though -- I've never seen one before.

Rawk on!

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:50 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
There isn't anything "wrong" with that amp if it delivers the tone you seek.

I can't help with that brand's pedigree though -- I've never seen one before.

Rawk on!

Arjay


+1 Sorry, never saw that badge either. If it's the tone you seek, it's all that counts.

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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:07 pm
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http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rockburn-Watt-B ... B000GG4ASG

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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:38 pm
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http://www.google.com/search?q=rockburn ... tartPage=1

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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:33 pm
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Clean that puppy up and GO FOR IT! I love little oddball amps, own a fair number and I love to crank 'em up. Nothing wrong with solid state!

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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:20 pm
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And there's nothing wrong with an amp that doesn't color sound either. That's why amps like the JC-120's are huge hits.

I think I have your fender counterpart too: its a 13 year old fender frontman 15B (its a little bass amp haha). I found it up in the attic one day and plugged it in. no sound came out... so I threw it into the trunk of my car, forgot about it for about 3 weeks, and suddenly it starts playing good as new... funny huh?

It gives a very "uncolored" sound, which I like with my pedals and all. Its not as loud as my ampeg too, and a good 50 pounds lighter... :lol:

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Post subject: Re: I need your help, Amplifier Gurus
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:19 pm
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Here's a pic of my little amp:
Image

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