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Post subject: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:33 pm
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I'm new to amps and I want to know more about them before I go and buy a crappy one or spend a ton of money on a nice one I don't need or something of that nature. My first question is what is the purpose of having two channels versus one or three versus two or whatever?


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:41 pm
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Multiple discreet channels are useful for pre-configuring different tones from a single amp. Modern gear is usually equipped with foot-switchable channel selection to afford easy access to the channels "on the fly" while playing. The same feature may be added to a vintage multi-channel amp via several different brands of stompbox switchers.

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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:47 pm
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I have an idea in my head. I want three sounds: a clean sound, a hard rock sound (overdrive, distortion, fuzz), and all the other effects (flanger, chorus, etc.). So I could get an amp with one channel and run it all through that using pedals and just turn them on and off. I wouldn't need two channels or more? Having all that stuff on one channel wouldn't mess it up or "distort" (not literally distortion) the sound coming out the the amp?


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:56 pm
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A multi-effects pedal such as a Zoom G1X, a Digitech RP200, or a Boss ME30 combined with a single-channel amp would perform in similar fashion such as you envision.

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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:58 pm
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What if I want specific pedals for everything? Will it still work?


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:09 pm
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Likely not.

The three pedals I mentioned all have multiple amp-simulator pre-sets, which can be arrayed with their other on-board effects or used unilaterally to get different amp voicings from a single rig.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:14 pm
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So if I got an amp (or rather a head) with three channels (one for clean, hard rock, and everything else) I would be okay?


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:29 am
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Quote:
So if I got an amp (or rather a head) with three channels (one for clean, hard rock, and everything else) I would be okay?


My search for this on one amp has never been ok...
In my search for a tone from a certain artist I like, I find out what they use and try to mimic their equipment to the best of my budget.

In my creative process I never know what the final product of my lead guitar is going to be, so it takes a lot of different setups for me to have a pallet to choose from. The same with my rhythm guitar.

I have five amps now and each one serves up the particular sound I am trying to achieve. For the clean stuff I usually go with my Egnater Tweaker 15, Blues Deluxe and for really clean I go through a Motion Sound KPS200. For most of my wall of amps heavy metal stuff, I usually use a Fender Vibro Champ XD with a big muff pi. I am mostly doing recordings though. For crunchy stuff the Egnater and the Blues Deluxe with a few overdrives, like a Hardwire CM2 and a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet will get that tone...

I run my modulation effects through my effects loop and I use separate pedals, no more multi effects for me...

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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:39 am
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beowolverine93 wrote:
I have an idea in my head. I want three sounds: a clean sound, a hard rock sound (overdrive, distortion, fuzz), and all the other effects (flanger, chorus, etc.). So I could get an amp with one channel and run it all through that using pedals and just turn them on and off. I wouldn't need two channels or more? Having all that stuff on one channel wouldn't mess it up or "distort" (not literally distortion) the sound coming out the the amp?


You can do this. It may be all you need.


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:50 am
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If I did get more than one amp how would I go about switching the channels on the amps and switching between the amps from the front of the stage? A pedal?


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 7:18 pm
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beowolverine93 wrote:
If I did get more than one amp how would I go about switching the channels on the amps and switching between the amps from the front of the stage? A pedal?

You can buy A/B switches to switch between amps. Most multi channel amps have footswitches to switch between channels. But if you're trying to save $$, I would suggest a single or 2 channel amp w/an effects loop, & a multi effect unit, esp. if you want the effects you mentioned. It also means a lot less gear to haul around.


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:32 pm
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A good starting point may be to find an amp with a nice clean platform. Search for a clean you like, before anything else. Logic being that you can make a clean amp sound dirty with effects, but you can't make a dirty amp give you as pristine of a clean tone.


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:10 pm
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I was thinking about starting with a Marshall 2245 (JTM45) head and cabinet. The original Marshall amp. It has one channel and the tone I'm looking for in an amp.


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:21 pm
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beowolverine93 wrote:
I have an idea in my head. I want three sounds: a clean sound, a hard rock sound (overdrive, distortion, fuzz), and all the other effects (flanger, chorus, etc.). So I could get an amp with one channel and run it all through that using pedals and just turn them on and off. I wouldn't need two channels or more? Having all that stuff on one channel wouldn't mess it up or "distort" (not literally distortion) the sound coming out the the amp?


You can definitely do this. Just get or build a pedal board, arrange all your effects how you see fit (start with distortion/overdrives closest to the guitar, then modulation effects, then reverb/delay closest to the amp), and plug it in. If you plan on running a lot of pedals, including overdrive, you might want to start with a pretty clean amp, like a Deluxe Reverb or a Twin. Some pedals will have different output levels, and some will definitely color the sound/add distortion to the signal. You're just going to have to try a bunch and see what you like. But you can definitely get away with a single channel amp. I have exclusively single channel amps in my arsenal right, and while I don't run a huge pedal board, the single channel setup gets the job done for me. But, I generally just crank the volume for overdrive rather than using overdrive pedals.


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Post subject: Re: New To Amps
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:13 am
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You may want to start with asking yourself "what does my favorite guitar player use?". Now, that doesn't mean that you need to spend 3,000 dollars on your first amp but, it is something to aim for. Do you plan on playing with a band? I imagine so. You want to find a fairly loud amp if you play blues or blues rock. You want a VERY loud amp if you plan on playing any kind of metal variant. Solid State amps are VERY reasonably priced for a loud amp and VERY reliable. Tube amps are VERY expensive sometimes...especially considering the wattage output but offer undeniably better tone and presence even for a lower wattage output. For example, I would put up my 40 watt tube combo up against a 100 watt solid state amplifier any day and feel fine about it. My amp would probably sound better too...however I spent easily twice as much as the guy with the 100 watt solid state amp. My amp is a 2 channel amp and I really don't even use the lead channel. I get all of my gain out of a stomp box (either a Fulltone OCD or a Plimsoul) and I leave my amp on the clean channel and honestly don't really even do much as far as switching...I use the volume control on my guitar to control the amount of gain I use. That works for me....not sure how well I would or wouldn't work for you. I am on the fence and off the fence as far as amp modelers like Zooms or Pods or whatever goes....I've used em....loved em...hated em...sold em....bought em again...etc...They have a place. Right now I don't use one. I might pick one up again in the future. Just go to a store during the week (NOT THE WEEKEND!) and take a while to play around with a few different amps and figure out what sounds good to your ears. Budget for it and don't settle for less or you will be kicking yourself over it within six months. It that happens, just remember...there's always Craigslist for buying and selling gear! :)


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