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Post subject: How to get more vintage tone from my Affinity?
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:06 am
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Hello, I have Squier Affinity Strat (all stock!) and cheap Fender Frontman 10G (10W). Yes, my guitar isn't the best guitar on the world, but the tone is very flat, non-dynamic. I listen a sample with cheaper Squier Strat with Fender FM 15g (from starting pack) and the tone is very bright and dynamic.

What's the reason for that? The pickups, amp? I think to soon make some upgrade. What will be more necessarily for me, new pups or a new amplifier? I want to get more bluesy, bright and vintage strat tone :)


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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 9:39 am
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First of all, bluesy and bright are two slightly different things. :D

Yes, I would definitely recommend a new amp.

How much are you willing to spend?

I would tell you to get a vox ac4tv, champ 600, or a pathfinder 15r.

Pickups can come later, once you have a better tone.

-The Screamin' J

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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:08 pm
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hendrixfan99 wrote:
I would tell you to get a vox ac4tv, champ 600, or a pathfinder 15r.

Pickups can come later, once you have a better tone.

-The Screamin' J


Agree 100%. Roland Micro Cubes sound pretty good too.

Pickups should be second in line to getting a new amp. There are tons of great bluesy pickups out there for after you've got the amp down. Do you want your tone to sound like any bands/guitarists in particular?

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Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:20 pm
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I agree change your amp first. Recommendations: Vox, Roland, or Fender tube. Then if still not happy, change your pickups to vintage pickups.

RK

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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:54 pm
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try roland micro cube. its definitely worth it! 8)

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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:02 am
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what about marshall? i have also an affinity & im seriously think to buy a new amp...


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Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 11:43 am
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I can also vouch for the Roland Micro Cube. It offers a wide variety of settings--you're sure to find something you can work with.

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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 1:48 pm
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frankenstein wrote:
what about marshall? i have also an affinity & im seriously think to buy a new amp...


If you're talking tube Marshall, I say go for it. If you're talking about their solid state MG series, I think they are a but overpriced, and perhaps overrated, for what they are, but what do I know? Try it for yourself, if you like it, go for it, as music is all about using what you want to get the sound that you want, and NOT about getting what everyone else thinks you need for the sound they think you want...

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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:33 pm
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I wanted a Marshall bad when I started out, and I didn't think there was any difference between the Marshalls I heard Jimi Hendrix play and the MG series Marshalls that I wanted. Then I heard some of my friends play through their MG Marshalls and I was a little shocked by how bad it sounded. The Micro Cube has a Marshall amp model built in that sounded a hundred times better than an actual Marshall. I'm sure the Marshall tube amps sound amazing, but stay away from the lower end amps.

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Post subject: new amp
Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:01 pm
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yes,i got my first squier bullet and did not like toomuch,then i got a fender cyber twin and now i love my squier..


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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:13 am
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Does anyone have an opinion on Orange amps, other than the outrageous price?


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Post subject: Orange Amps
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:00 am
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morecowbell wrote:
Does anyone have an opinion on Orange amps, other
Quote:
than
the outrageous price?

I was racently talking with Charlie Starr and Paul Jackson of BlackberrySmoke who both play through Orange Amps I thought they had a great bluesy/rock sound


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Post subject: Re: How to get more vintage tone from my Affinity?
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:51 am
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RZArector wrote:
Hello, I have Squier Affinity Strat (all stock!) and cheap Fender Frontman 10G (10W). Yes, my guitar isn't the best guitar on the world, but the tone is very flat, non-dynamic. I listen a sample with cheaper Squier Strat with Fender FM 15g (from starting pack) and the tone is very bright and dynamic.

What's the reason for that? The pickups, amp? I think to soon make some upgrade. What will be more necessarily for me, new pups or a new amplifier? I want to get more bluesy, bright and vintage strat tone :)


tried adjusting the height of the PUPs, I find that it can give a fuller sound too!


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Post subject: Re: How to get more vintage tone from my Affinity?
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:14 am
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RZArector wrote:
Hello, I have Squier Affinity Strat (all stock!) and cheap Fender Frontman 10G (10W). Yes, my guitar isn't the best guitar on the world, but the tone is very flat, non-dynamic. I listen a sample with cheaper Squier Strat with Fender FM 15g (from starting pack) and the tone is very bright and dynamic.

What's the reason for that? The pickups, amp? I think to soon make some upgrade. What will be more necessarily for me, new pups or a new amplifier? I want to get more bluesy, bright and vintage strat tone :)


As you can see, there are a number of opinions here but the general consensus is to get a new amp. New pickups will certainly make a difference in your tone (as will proper adjustment of the pickups) but the difference won't be all the significant through the amp you are playing. The simple truth of the matter is that even a cheap guitar will sound half way decent thru a good amp (depending on the player of course) but even a top of the line Custom Shop Strat will sound like crap thru a piece of junk. That little Fender Frontman is a "practice amp"...meaning that it's purpose is for you to sit there and practice your licks and scales and such. It was never designed as any kind of "tone machine".

Now as to which amp...that really depends on your intent. If your only goal is to sit there in your bedroom and "shred like a maniac", then something like a Roland Cube is perfect...they do actually have pretty good tone for what they are and Roland is certainly a very decent company. If on the other hand you are going to be looking at jamming with others at some point...say in a "band" perhaps, then you are going to want something with at least a little more "oomphh". This is really where things can get a bit dicey as "tone" is a very subjective thing. Personally, if I'm recording or playing a really important gig, then typically I will use either my '73 Bandmaster tube head or my old Lab L5 2x12 combo because I want to sound as good as I possibly can (beyond my playing of course). On the other hand, if I'm just going over to a friends house to just sit around and "jam" or something, then I'll take my little Peavey Backstage Plus...it's VERY portable and easy to haul around and it's -LOUD-, LOL!!! When I was much younger and had a lot of stupid gullible friends to help haul my gear around, yea...I used to haul around my 130 watt head and a 4x12 cabinet every where I went. Now that I'm getting older though and my back isn't nearly what it used to be (and my friends are a hell of a lot smarter), having something that's easy to carry makes a huge difference to me. With my little Peavey, I can toss a pedal or two in the back with a couple of chords, grab a guitar and go.

Now all of that said, an amp, like a guitar is a very personal choice. Before you buy ANYTHING...even that little Roland Cube that everyone is so exuberantly recommending, I'd play every amp I can get my hands on that was in my price range, including used gear! And take your own guitar with you to do this...you are NOT going to get an accurate reference of how the amp sounds by grabbing that $1200 American Standard off the shelf!!! Seriously...make a field trip out of it...grab your guitar and head to every music store that's within your driving distance and play your freakin' fingers off until you find that amp that suits your own personal needs. And by the way...don't just play the "major" brands such as Fender and Marshall. There are a number of newer brands out there that are well worth a look such as Bugera and Egnator. In fact Bugera has a little 1x12 combo that Guitar Center had on sale last month for $349 that is very well worth a look...nice little all tube tone demon for the price.

Very seriously...you are NOT going to find the sound that is right for you by sitting around bs'ing on an internet forum. Everyone's tastes are different and only YOUR ears, hands and heart can tell you what's right for -you-.

Lastly remember this; regardless of every last word I wrote above, 9/10's of your sound comes from your fingers and NOT your gear! Others may certainly try to tell you different but the cold hard truth of the matter is that Eric Clapton would still sound like Eric Clapton...even if he was playing through your current rig...because he -IS- Eric Clapton. In your first paragraph you stated, "I listen(ed to) a sample with cheaper Squier Strat with Fender FM 15g (from starting pack) and the tone is very bright and dynamic"...ask yourself this; were -you- playing on that sample or was it someone else? At the risk of sounding blunt, the problem may not be your guitar, pickups or amp...it may simply be your playing. It's easy for people to blame their gear...just as a golfer may blame his clubs for his poor swing, a lot of guitar players will blame their guitar or amp for their poor sound but as with the golfer, the best, most expensive gear in the world will not make up for poor technique. Just something to keep in mind.


Just my $.02 worth,
Jim


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