Vintage and modern.. speculation.

Doelle · #1 09-20-2011, 03:18 PM

So. First of, if this should be posted somewhere else, mods feel free to move it

I normally don't use these terms, as I find them very subjective. I just like this because of those qualities, or that because of them qualities.

I was just wondering. If you have a vintage sounding setup. Let's say a Vox Foundation with the 18" and a 51' P-bass. How modern a distortion could you get from that setup with a distortion for modern heavy tones? I don't really know what pedal or band might be a good example.. you go figure that out! But modern tone through vintage setup. Could you get a sound that would be considered useful in a death metal surrounding or the like?

I am not trying to start some flamewar. It is merely a speculation. So if people would behave nicely

I do know the terms are very subjective, but let's try not to discuss which is better, I would hate to be the guy who started that.

will33 · #2 09-20-2011, 03:45 PM

Distortion includes a lot of upper harmonics...don't think that would come across that great through a typical 18.....also don't know if that 18 is "typical". IMO, vintage stuff makes sweet, musical distortion, some of it to the point of being rat fuzz but modern metal stuff is beyond that, needing more pedals, stuff clipping more than a regular cranked up tube does, etc. Don't know that you could plow enough tubes into each other to make it, there's more processing going on whether it's in an amp, a pedal, externally or all of the above.

Alex1984 · #3 09-20-2011, 03:49 PM

I think 15s would be the standard cabs when it comes to vintage. They overdrive quite nicely, but not over-the-top distortion.

RickenBoogie · #4 09-20-2011, 03:49 PM

I think it would be possible to make a modern, quick, snappy bass rig sound more vintagey and warm, then it would be the other way 'round.

stflbn · #5 09-20-2011, 03:57 PM

So in 15-20 years what are they goin to call current "modern" sounding rigs if old rigs are Vintage and the rigs of that time would be current and 'modern'.

:: hmmmmmm ::

will33 · #6 09-20-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

So in 15-20 years what are they goin to call current "modern" sounding rigs if old rigs are Vintage and the rigs of that time would be current and 'modern'.

:: hmmmmmm ::

Class D/SMPS and neo speakers will be old fashioned heavy stuff.....it'll all be phone apps and plasma if not direct brain to brain ESP. You can take it all with you on your jetpack. BTW, it's 2011....where's my jetpack? We're livin' Roy Rodgers here when it's supposed to be Buck Rodgers.

JimmyM · #7 09-20-2011, 05:14 PM

I find the only real difference between what's called "modern" and "vintage" to be the tweeter. Take a "vintage" cab, slap a tweeter on it, and all of a sudden it's "modern."

johnk_10 · #8 09-20-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I find the only real difference between what's called "modern" and "vintage" to be the tweeter. Take a "vintage" cab, slap a tweeter on it, and all of a sudden it's "modern."

+1

Alex1984 · #9 09-20-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

So in 15-20 years what are they goin to call current "modern" sounding rigs if old rigs are Vintage and the rigs of that time would be current and 'modern'.

:: hmmmmmm ::

What would the "vintage" stuff now become? "Antique", "Historic"?

will33 · #10 09-20-2011, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex1984

What would the "vintage" stuff now become? "Antique", "Historic"?

Archaic....or maybe just "better". There's a reason 50 year old tube designs are still the industry standard and the most sought after, especially in guitar circles,....because it sounds better. Look at how popular analog stuff is be it pedals, keyboard rigs or whatever. The entire "modeling" thing is based on trying to sound like old gear, no new ground broken there. Top studios still use old microphone designs, classic boards/pre's/channel strips and even 2" tape, even with all the digitizing/computer mixing/mastering that comes afterwards, again because it sounds better and that's all that matters. Run of the mill live bass rigs have shrunk, etc. but still many of them try to emulate some warmer classic sound.

Contrary to my earlier post, I don't think the vintage stuff is going anywhere, but I still want my jetpack......that would be cool.

Gearhead17 · #11 09-21-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doelle

I was just wondering. If you have a vintage sounding setup. Let's say a Vox Foundation with the 18" and a 51' P-bass. How modern a distortion could you get from that setup with a distortion for modern heavy tones? I don't really know what pedal or band might be a good example.. you go figure that out! But modern tone through vintage setup. Could you get a sound that would be considered useful in a death metal surrounding or the like?

In Death Metal and other styles of metal, the bass tone that cuts through the mix and allows you to hear yourself is a good tone. Whether you do that on vintage style gear or modern gear, it does not matter. It's possible on both types of gear depending on what YOU want. You probably do not want to take out vintage gear onto the road though - stick to modern and available gear for the road or higher a high $$$ sound crew to run your sound back stage with the cool vintage gear.

seamonkey · #12 09-21-2011, 10:09 PM

"Vintage" is just age, the length of existence.

Ebay may have launch tulipomania on the "vintage" term. I often wonder what some musicians, and gear makers were thinking when they came up with some gear used in the past. Nothing to do much with quality of sound. Just what was available and profitable to make. Somehow old gear has "vintage" in the ad title, but I think, as a whole, new gear sounds better than it ever did in history. It's not like rare tonewoods were used.

walterw · #13 09-21-2011, 11:25 PM

that's not so much true for guitar, where the right '59 guitar and '68 amp could truly be said to be better than anything that you could buy today.

with bass stuff, yeah; there's some classics out there, but new bass gear (like new PA gear) is usually better, as in louder, lighter, clearer, more flexible, etc.