It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:13 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:36 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
Hi,
maybe this is a stupid question but, here it is:

If I play guitar through, let's say Amplitube, and have to spend some time in adjusting presets, tone and so on - Why would I need an amplifier which does the same thing with Fuse software then? Especially if I have good speaker-monitors

Please, don't missunderstand me - I'd like to get Mustang III (I'm an gear geek too ;), but what I want to see is one realy very simple solution for guitar playing.

The solution that'll make me more playing instrument, instead of learning how to deal with software.

Is this a case with this amp, or is it's main advantage the fact that I might not need to buy pedals, processors and stuff?

As I understand, this amp can operate quite good even without computer, is that true?

On the other hand, why not buy a small tube amp (maybe Bugera v5), and one nice guitar processor (maybe VOX Tonelab) and have it all, for the similar price, avoiding PC, software tweaking and so on?

I'd love to see some thoughts from pepople who played guitar through PC (Amplitube, GuitarRig, etc) and bought Mustang III, how they feel now, was it worth it, and what is the main difference in quality of sound (not loudness) now, with MIII.

Thanks
Cheers :)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:09 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
Quote:
The solution that'll make me more playing instrument, instead of learning how to deal with software

Then, my personal opinion, don't go the route of using computer software (whether Amplitube, Guitar Rig, or anything else) instead of an amp.

Quote:
this amp [Mustang] can operate quite good even without computer, is that true?

Indeed yes. I have the same priority as you: playing the guitar, using effects etc to increase motivation/enjoyment for that, rather than getting bogged-down forever tweaking effects. I sit in front of the amp playing, I twiddle the knobs sometimes, I get a different sound, I play some more. Everything I want for playing enjoyment, at least at the moment, I can do directly on the amp. Yes I have used Fuse. Yes it can do more than you can do with just the amp. No I haven't found a compelling need for those extra things yet. So I shutdown FUSE and the computer and go back to the amp and the guitar. Keep it simple and enjoy the music. Happiness.

Quote:
why not buy a small tube amp (maybe Bugera v5), and one nice guitar processor (maybe VOX Tonelab) and have it all, for the similar price, avoiding PC, software tweaking and so on?

The Mustang 3 lets you do more on the amp itself (ie without a computer) than you can do with something like the Tonelab. Plus the Mustang gives you a wider range of amp sounds than you get with just one conventional amp. So you have a lot more options, in just one convenient box. There are of course other multi-fx units, costing more $$$, that can in turn do more than the Mustang. You pays your money...

Also with some of those units, they may have lots of flexibility, but they're more complex to set-up. Personally, I find the interface on the Mustang very simple and quick to 'dial-in' different tones, so again I can concentrate on playing rather than on fiddling with endless settings. I was in the same position as you; it's actually that "I can just get the sound I want really easily" factor that ended up swaying me to the Mustang over a tube amp / multi-fx unit. The price and convenience of a single box were bonuses.

NB All this is different with the Mustang 1 and 2. They have less, and more fiddly, on-amp control. I suspect they wouldn't serve your need. I think you're pitching this correctly thinking about the Mustang 3.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:28 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
Thank you so much for your answer.

To be honest, I don't look that much for too many different sounds (I'm the "Clean" old fashioned guy;)

what's important to me is to get a good sound.
Browsing through the internet I found many good reviews on Mustang III, but you can never tell what's the good sound for someone's ears, right?

Every day I'm that close to go and buy this amp (and get over with it), but then..a see this :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj7Kta-nB6g

So, what I hope for is that MIII have some preset that sound like this little tube amp..


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:33 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
Scott nails it.

I'm old school, a computer for music, and me,, we just don't see eye to eye.

I have an M-Box and a PC that can dim street lights, it just doesn't ever seem to be the case that I can fire up pro tools, or amplitude or what ever, without having to twiddle with the PC so everything works right.

If I want to practice, work on something for a few minutes or just make some noise last thing I wanna do is fart around with the computer for 5,10,15 what ever minutes so that I can get down to playing guitar.

I bought a Mustang III in June, (I also have three other excellent tube amps) and yes, they definitely sound better, but - the mustang sounds unbelievable. for what it cost and what it does, it's a no brainier.

Plus, it works just like a guitar amp! and turning on that amp takes about a second, one cable to plug in, and bazing! I'm there.

and what you hear in the clip is nice indeed but realize you're probably also hearing the processed/recorded track, notice he's got a mic in front of it. I don't think that amp has reverb or delay, the M III has a crap load of good sounding effects so yes, you can get similar sounds out of that.

here's one I uploaded using the M III and my Emperor Regent.
and that's right to the low def webcam mic. So that's the amp's sound, directly.
I think it sounds pretty nice.. what do you think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zHaoxymteA&feature=plcp


Last edited by KidBlast on Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:52 am, edited 2 times in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 11:42 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:37 am
Posts: 1315
Location: England
Quote:
good speaker-monitors

Personally, and I've heard others say the same, a guitar amplified directly by a "hi-fi" amp/speakers doesn't sound right. It may be accurate amplification, but something is missing - it has no soul or depth, even if processed by a multi-fx unit. Ironically, I find the "lo-fi" speakers etc in a guitar amp add an essential quality to the sound...

Quote:
what's important to me is to get a good sound.

Go to music store and try the amps for yourself. See what they sound like to you. If you audition the Mustang next to a tube amp, check the preset settings, and be prepared to experiment a bit. The sounds out-of-the-box probably won't be exactly what you want.

Quote:
but then.. I see this

Yes the Bugera V series are well regarded, particularly at their price. Remember though that the quality of the guitarist is the main thing. The person in that video is what makes it sound so good, infinitely more than the amp. [Addendum: I agree with KidBlast, the sound is being processed outside the amp, so you're not hearing the 'raw' V5]

Quote:
MIII have some preset that sound like this little tube amp

I doubt there's a built-in preset exactly like that. Also I don't know exactly settings would make it sound like that. But I am certain, from my own limited exploration of its capabilities, that there will be a combination of settings on the Mustang that will sound almost identical to that.

Find a good music shop that will let you demo an amp for a couple of hours, so you have time to explore its settings and hear its sounds. Then you'll be able to decide whether it's the right amp for you, much better than any advice people can give you here.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 12:10 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
hey KidBlast, that sounds very good. Glad you like Martin Taylor (hope you've heard David Grisman & Ma rtin Taylor togeher )

As for trying an amp in some store..pfft, what can I say, it was always sort of a problem for me
I don't know why but, everything I've ever tried in some music shop sounded good to me, so I am very easy customer to be fooled :)

here's a couple of videos of amps (sounds) I'm looking for. I know that some of those amps are recorded with effects, but if MIII with his options can sound like that, then it's superb.

Hope you can recognize some sounds / presets that are similar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUSRerVQUTQ

or

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e_4NVoZp1U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H91r7weuTg


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 12:24 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:47 am
Posts: 1256
Martin Taylor is incredible, I'll check for his work with Grisom)

anyway, Those amps all sound great. Bugeras are quite attractive, moderate pricing, and excellent tones. Laney's have always been great sounding amps, that one no exception.

Genz Benz are a bit new to the market, but another fine builder.

Another one to check out could be the Hughes Kettner Tubemiester. I think it's 18 watts. no built in 'verb' or effects but, you can remedy that.

Then there's Vox.....

Oyvhey, You're in a real pickle! so much to choose from.

since I have three really good sounding tube amps (Gibson Goldtone, MArshall 60wat combo, Fender HR Deville (4x10), I'm just not coming at this from the same angle you are. I really dig the Mustang, but it's not making me consider parting ways with my other amps.

have you also checked out the DRRI? (Delux Reverb Reissue) Everyone that gets one, just loves it to death. (about 900 USD)

Good luck, I think if it was me trying to decide with what's out there today, I'd need it! :shock:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 12:59 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
Oh, DDR is way to big for my room :)
So I need a small amp, with good sound

at first I wanted to chek out mustang I and II, but then I realized that they need PC much more than MIII


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:28 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:26 am
Posts: 500
Location: Lake Charles, LA
Ok, for that first video, I'd use either the '57 Deluxe model or the '59 Bassman model with a good blend. I'd EQ for tone, then add a small hall reverb post-amp. Tweak the settings. Should get you the same - if not exact - sound.

Then your other post, you put 3 vids up. Let me listen to those now...

Bugerra V22 review vid - The clean tone at 1:10 sounds like I'd use the '65 Princeton Reverb, maybe the '57 Deluxe. His bright channel I'd go '65 Twin Reverb all the way, but crank the volume up. For his dirty sound, the Fender Super-Sonic, unless you wanna get AC/DC like he does, then you move to [British '70s] the Marshall 1959SLP model. For metal, change the CAB to 4x12M.

Laney Lionheart L5T-112 - Clean: Ooh, '65 Deluxe Reverb. Very nice. I'd probably use a Super-Sonic or just turn the gain up on the Deluxe Reverb for his dirty sound.

Genz Benz Black Pearl 30 - Clean would be '57 Deluxe, hands-down. A very good amp model, in my opinion. His Crunch tone sounds like the [British '70s] 1959SLP with the 4x12V cab simulator instead of the stock 4x12G one.

Yeah, you can do just about ALL of that on your Mustang III.

_________________
Marshall JVM410H + 1960A Lead
Fender Mustang V + V412
Fender Mustang II
Marshall Lead 12 3005 MS
Gibson Les Paul Custom Silverburst
Gibson SG Faded Special
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Hagstrom Ultra-Swede
Custom Warmoth Strat


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:55 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
FFXIhealer, txs man,
if you find time some day, maybe you could try those settings and write here some impressions about it?

If you find the sounds close to these ones here (Laney, Bugera etc) that'll be great :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:11 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:08 am
Posts: 824
Hey Gillette,

The Video you shared sounds pretty much like the basic Deluxe 65 amp model on the mustangs, pretty basic stuff.

IMHO the mustang is much more versatile than any small tube amp plus effect pedals:
-you get an amp that you can play at room level volume, or small to medium gigs up to 100W, or use as a 100W monitor and connect to a gazillon watts PA
-You get a ton of amp models (not just one, as you have with the Bugera or any other tube amp). IMHO just having the Super sonic, Deluxe and Twin models more than justifies the price of the amp itself.
-You never get to change tubes! think reliability here.
-You get a USB recording interface for zero noise recording (you can forget about mics and stuff like that) and you get the basic verion of Ableton for free (which itself costs a couple hundred i think)
-the whole mustang 3 wieghts around 16kg in one single, sturdy box
-The only thing you could NEED a computer for, is in the case you want to alter the effect sequence on your effect chain. For all other operations/tweaking I can think of you can go with the Mustang 3-4-5 alone.

In the other hand if what you want is to fiddle with software you can buy one of the new epiphone guitars that comes with a USB port on the guitar itself :) you don't even need instrument cables but then you will need:
-a decent computer to run the software (you don't want a blue screen while you are in the middle of your dramatic heavy-metal, ear-splitting solo right?)
-pricey software and effects
-a solid state amp
-external speakers

forget about moving that setup from your basement :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:15 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:39 pm
Posts: 154
Gillette wrote:
Hi,
maybe this is a stupid question but, here it is:

If I play guitar through, let's say Amplitube, and have to spend some time in adjusting presets, tone and so on - Why would I need an amplifier which does the same thing with Fuse software then? Especially if I have good speaker-monitors

Please, don't missunderstand me - I'd like to get Mustang III (I'm an gear geek too ;), but what I want to see is one realy very simple solution for guitar playing.

The solution that'll make me more playing instrument, instead of learning how to deal with software.


If you want to just play your guitar, and not have to learn how to deal with software, and all the constant tinkering that requires, why would you want to go with an all-software solution rather than an amp??? I guess I'm not getting your intent?

If you want a simple solution, then modelling software, and trying to deal with low-latency audio on Windows is NOT something you want to even consider.

_________________
1963 Princeton
1965 Twin Reverb
1968 Bandmaster
1970 Champ
1983 (?) Musicmaster
2012 Mustang III
West Grande (x2)
Acoustic G60-T
Marshall JTM 60


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:46 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 9:51 pm
Posts: 42
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Gillette wrote:
Thank you so much for your answer.

To be honest, I don't look that much for too many different sounds (I'm the "Clean" old fashioned guy;)

what's important to me is to get a good sound.
Browsing through the internet I found many good reviews on Mustang III, but you can never tell what's the good sound for someone's ears, right?

Every day I'm that close to go and buy this amp (and get over with it), but then..a see this :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj7Kta-nB6g

So, what I hope for is that MIII have some preset that sound like this little tube amp..
hj7Kta-nB6g[/url] Ok, first, I'm the same as you. I like a clean sound (Twin Reverb). I use the "65 Twin Reverb" on my mustang III, I also like the "57" Deluxe Reverb and "65" Deluxe Reverb. I have not yet used the FUSE software or done any download updates. Not to say that I won't! I just like play n' my MIM Strat into the amp as if it were an old tube amp. I must say, I really like this amp!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 1:34 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
txs mickey66, yep..the clean sound is what I like.
Distorsion isn't for my ears much :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Mustang III or..just - Amplitube?
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:51 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:14 am
Posts: 10
unfortunately, I've decided to give up on MIII..
And not just on that, but on any kind of digital amp, because I've tried some tube amp (and actually ended up buying one)

The output sound of MIII is probably fine, and close to the sound of amps it emulates, as someone said - but the feel I get during my guitar playing thorugh an tube amp - is just something else

The interaction is different

Through MIII (I think) every guitar (either strat or LP) sound pretty much the same
I found somehow it's just not for me.

Maybe some other time :)


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 15 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: