This may not be the proper forum for this, but then again, I only play Stratocaster’s so….

I am torn between purchasing an amp or a processor. I do realize there have debates on various threads before as to which type of amp, which manufacturers amp, and so on and so forth. Currently I am keeping sort of a mental pros and cons list of amps v. processor. I love the editing software on the processors, but not wild about some of the signal loss I seem to get when running through a speaker/external amp.

I’d be curious to hear about the different rigs/setups/ pedals and such you guys use, especially if any of you run processors; tonelabs, Gt-8, Rp’s or whatever brand you use.

I have been a self proclaimed “NON” chaser of tone. However, I have found myself lately spending more and more time tweaking sounds and tone and settings in my editor, then saving it back as “a setting” for “a song”, if that makes sense.

As always, input is appreciated.

Peace,
84

Well things may have passed me by a bit but I like both. I like to make my amp my own. I did this by careful selection of my individual tastes and desires.

I still think you build an amp/rig by starting at the top of your signal. First, you choose the preamp to set YOUR tone. IMHO, quality is very important here. Then power amp and speaker based on room size, tone and responsiveness. Again quality is very important. Then after that move to effects/processor NEEDS. I stress needs because your may really just need great reverbs and delays, so find a processor that does those things best. Don't get overly sold on muti-effects you will ultimately never need and might negatively affect your tone. Choose sound quality over variety and you will happier ultimately.

For me sounding exactly like 1 million different amps has not been important as having some base tones that are very good quality. I would rather my amp sound better than all those other amps than like them. With a good flexable amp you should be able to approximate many amp tones anyway

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

Well I love, simply adore a Valve amp, but a short time ago had to play a gig that needed a very quick setup and packdown and was at the end of the working week and didn't fancy humping kit about.

Solution: Laptop, external USB soundcard running Guitar Rig 3, Pink Numb Lead loaded, direct into PA.

Rocked On......Sounded Ace.

Depends on your situation....

This

It's not likely I will be running through a PA anytime soon. I want the benefits of Tone editing on my PC, but the sound/feel of an amp. In other words, when I get my tone/sound where I want it, I'd like to be able to play without headphones, but not sacrifice the tone. IMO, something is lost from the processor to the speaker. I have been told running a processor through a keyboard amp is the best way to capture the effects/tone from the processor. But I haven’t' tried that, and honestly, don't believe it fully.

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of modeling amps either. Unless I am misunderstanding how they operate, I would have to fiddle with knobs/controls every time I switched from Joe Satriani to Ozzy, or, Van Halen to Brad Paisley (yes my musical pallet is that diverse). IMO, the beauty of the processor lets me address my diversity by tailoring a sound/tone for a song. I may be making this more complicated than it needs to be but before I go drop a few C’s I’d like to know I’m making a wise purchase.

Thanks for the replies!

Peace,
84

I haven't read thru the other responses here so please forgive me if I add anything terribly redundant. These are, as always, just my own personal opinions.

Processors vs. amps....hmmm...to me it depends on the application really. First let me say that I -am- an effects junky. Yes, I love the sound of a great amp just all by itself but I really grew up with part of that psychedelic stoner mentality...I like lush revers, long slow delays, wide flanges/chorus/phases, etc.. Stuff like Pink Floyd or even the Funkadelic classic "Maggot Brain"...yea...I love that kind of stuff. Needless to say, be it live or in the studio I do tend to use A LOT of effects. With that said, recording and playing live are two very different animals.

More often than not, when I'm in the studio I tend to record without an amp. I'll typically run my effects (whatever they may be at the time) direct in to the board. The truth of the matter here is that by the time the mixing engineer (whoever he or she may be) gets done "tweaking" the sound so that it fits in with the over-all mix, most subtle little nuances such as the difference between one amp and another...most of these very very small things are usually lost in the mix anyways. For that matter, in a studio just changing mics or even where the mic is placed will change how any given guitar amp sounds. In fact with today's tech, you can plug a guitar straight in to a mixing board (or other "input device") and add all your "software" afterward and have a mix that comes out sounding like anything from a vintage old tweed to a full blown Marshall stack. Once it's down on tape (harddisk, memory card, CD, whatever...) and once the rest of the mix is added...it really all becomes more than just a bit subjective.

Now live...to me that's another thing. If your primary goal is to be playing live then there is one simple rule to remember...no matter what effects or guitar you use, it's all only going to sound as good as your amp does. Even a $200 Squier Strat will sound good through a decent amp but even a $4000 Custom Shop model is going to sound "cheap" through a crappy amp. So given a choice between a good amp and effects, I'd take the amp first.

Now I would like to quickly add that when I say a "good amp" that doesn't necessarily mean "tube" or "expensive" or anything else. Until recently my main gigging amp has been an old, beat up Lab L5 and I've even been known to use my little Peavey Backstage a lot over the years because it's portable and it's loud! LOL!!! That said, since I don't know what you're actually using, there are a lot of cheap amps out there today that just really aren't all that decent (Gorilla, First Act, Crate, etc). If you're using something like that and you plan to play live...do upgrade the amp first. That said, there are many "good" used amps out there for under $300.

Now as far as my own rig goes, up until recently I was using (mostly) my '96 MIM Strat through a number of various pedals (most prominently a Digi RP-50) in to my Lab L5 (100 watt, 2x12, solid state combo). I've actually used this rig for about the past 10 years or so. Recently however I got a new Bugera V22...which to me is a fantastic sounding amp and -very- versatile...and I've started running an ART Multiverb for my effects. I love the distortion and tone I'm getting out of the new Bugera so I don't really need the amp models of the RP any more...I'm mainly using the ART for the delay/echo and the flange effects. It's nice because it plugs right in to the effects loop on the Bugera and makes for a neat, compact and really great sounding package.

Peace,
Jim

i prefer a good sounding amp with a processor for effects. i have a digitech rp350 hooked up to my pc. it's very easy to get the sound the way i want. if i need good clean sound, i just bypass the 350 and i'm all set.

i haven't found a lot of amps who effects are as good as i want, or as easy to use. i can just switch presets through the 350, and don't have to reach around and fiddle with knobs mid-song

Actually, my local store has a rp 355 I am considering. Do you ever run your 350 into your amp as a speaker or do you go specifically PC only?

thx,
84

Start with a good quality amp and get used to how the amp and guitar sound and feel together. Fiddle with all the knobs and switches. Try every possibility. Play the the guitar and amp alone together long enough to make them an extension of yourself. Then begin to buy F/X and build your rig from that point.


My 2¢.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Ok. So if I know that i will be running a processor (at some point), give me some ideas of good/quality amp(s) that will do the processor justice.

I don't need something that will blow the windows out Mostly playing small; indoors, patios, etc... nothing huge.

Thanks for the replies, as they have helped!

Peace,
84

while my pc is hooked up to the 350, the 350 is plugged in to the amp. that way i get a more accurate sound than i would get through my headphones or my pc speakers. it gives me the sound i get when performing.

The Vox VT and AD VT series offer modeling capability and have a tube driven preamp to give a tubelike tone to the models.These amps also have user programable memory banks where you can create and tailor the amp models and effects to suit your needs and store them indefinitely so you can bring themup as needed.The amp models are very true to the original amps they replicate and the effects are convincingly like the pedals they emulate.The Univibe and Leslie are so realistic that they have to be heard to be believed.They are very dependable and you can pick up used ones pretty cheap.I bought a AD120VTH for less than $400 and it sold new for $1200+,it was less than 2 years old and in mint condition when I bought it.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

If your looking at a multieffects unit that does amp and cabinet emulation then yes you should go with a keyboard or small PA amp. You want something transparent (as much as that is possible) so that it sounds the same going to your amp, a PA or headphones.

I find it's still difficult to get a good overdrive sound from most units. They do heavy gain well and clean well, but not in-between.
I played with the older VOX tonelab and wasn't happy with it. When you strip away all the reverb and delay I couldn't get a decent overdrive sound.
My only experience with a POD was at the Gibson booth at guitar shows and I didn't think they sounded that good (maybe if I had time to tweak some more).
I have heard some good sounds from a GDEC but I don't know if it sounds as good direct to a PA or headphones.
If I’m going direct, I use my ZOOM G2 which has pretty darn good cabinet emulation. It doesn't doo everything well, but it gets that right. I then use analog overdrive pedals in front of it.

I just bought an Eleven Rack and a pair of KRK Rockit 5 G2 Studio monitors. I've palyed through an Eleven Rack and it was amazing. The Plexi and Blackface where excellent and the effects were great.

It's very amp friendly, in that it has knobs to turn and an effects chain. Give it a look. I think a lot of tube amp guys will be surprised.

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2008 American Standard w/ Hot Noiseless
2009 Hwy One Tele
2010 Vox AC15 w/Greenback and Top Boost
Fulltone Fulldrive II Mosfet
TC Nova Delay
Hardwire RV 7
EB Jr Volume Pedal
BOSS TU3 Tuner
Digidesign Eleven Rack

What amp do use for this??

Thanks,
84