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A Few General Amp Questions And Help Needed Picking Out A Amp

L

Lukas M

Apr 24, 2008
13
0
Canada
www.myspace.com
#1
1st off

I'm looking to get a new amp, i have had this cheap 10 watt combo for the last year and i need something i can jam with other people with. I'm looking to spend at the most 800 but more looking at about 600$ (Canada). I'm not sure really what to be looking for seeing how i have never owned a good amp, i don't know tube or SS differences nor combo vs non-combo. so I'm looking to find out the tone differences with Tube and SS and what a good tube amp in my price range would be and a good SS amp in my price rage would be? any help would be nice. I was thinking a comb cause there easy but I'm looking for the best deal and tone for the money or would it just be worth saving up into the 1200 zone to get a better amp?


2nd question.


I was told preamps are a good way to get killer tone or add to a good tone. i was wondering i have a LTD ax 404 with active EMG pick ups, what would a good preamp be to look into?


thanks for any help and if i sound like a n00b its cause i am :p



lukas
 
#3
There are no "always true" descriptions of differences between tube and SS. Generally though people say tube amps have a "warmer" or "fatter" sound, sometimes mushier; and tubes are often thought to overdrive in a more pleasing way. Where SS is often said to be cleaner or more articulate. "Tone A" above to me is just a clean SS sound. It's harder to say with the Opeth tones, because their mix is fairly dense and heavily processed. But in general if you have heard a more grindy, thick, muscular, overdriven tone in rock, it's a safe bet they use an Ampeg SVT all-tube amp to get that sound when performing live.

A separate preamp is not necessary if your amp has a decent-sounding preamp built in. You can get "Tone A" with just an ordinary SS amp head. But for example if you wanted a specific tone that was different from the clean tone, something with more grit or thickness or other coloration, then an external preamp or modeling multieffect or tone-shaping effect can be useful.

When buying your first "real" amp, IMO the most important thing is to get the most powerful amp you can afford, without worrying about tone or features. "Most power" is going to be a combination of higher wattage, more or bigger speakers, and many other qualities; but focus for now on the wattage and the size/number of the speakers and the cab. The reason I say this is because if you get a wimpy amp, it won't matter what kind of preamps or processors you buy, it will just sound wimpy. But a nice big amp will make you sound killer by itself, regardless of tube vs. SS.
 
#4
Lukas M said:
1st off

I'm looking to get a new amp, i have had this cheap 10 watt combo for the last year and i need something i can jam with other people with. I'm looking to spend at the most 800 but more looking at about 600$ (Canada). I'm not sure really what to be looking for seeing how i have never owned a good amp, i don't know tube or SS differences nor combo vs non-combo. so I'm looking to find out the tone differences with Tube and SS and what a good tube amp in my price range would be and a good SS amp in my price rage would be? any help would be nice. I was thinking a comb cause there easy but I'm looking for the best deal and tone for the money or would it just be worth saving up into the 1200 zone to get a better amp?


2nd question.


I was told preamps are a good way to get killer tone or add to a good tone. i was wondering i have a LTD ax 404 with active EMG pick ups, what would a good preamp be to look into?


thanks for any help and if i sound like a n00b its cause i am :p



lukas
Click to expand...

O.k.,

you have $600 dollars canadian. That should be a nice start.

1. What style of music will you be playing?

That's about it.

The choices are legion so style can help steer your choice.

:D

Joe.
 
#6
RockNRollAl said:
I think you can get a YouTube tone for a lot less than $600... :D:D:hiding:
Click to expand...

:lol: 17 and jobless = no money but like i said 600-800 its alright.


Lowtonejoe said:
O.k.,

you have $600 dollars canadian. That should be a nice start.

1. What style of music will you be playing?

That's about it.

The choices are legion so style can help steer your choice.

:D

Joe.
Click to expand...

like i linked in the 2nd post progressive death metal and thrash metal. listen to the links cause just cause it says death metal does not means its rah rahrah screamy crap listen to the music some of it is very clean soft and nice.
 
#7
bongomania said:
There are no "always true" descriptions of differences between tube and SS. Generally though people say tube amps have a "warmer" or "fatter" sound, sometimes mushier; and tubes are often thought to overdrive in a more pleasing way. Where SS is often said to be cleaner or more articulate. "Tone A" above to me is just a clean SS sound. It's harder to say with the Opeth tones, because their mix is fairly dense and heavily processed. But in general if you have heard a more grindy, thick, muscular, overdriven tone in rock, it's a safe bet they use an Ampeg SVT all-tube amp to get that sound when performing live.

A separate preamp is not necessary if your amp has a decent-sounding preamp built in. You can get "Tone A" with just an ordinary SS amp head. But for example if you wanted a specific tone that was different from the clean tone, something with more grit or thickness or other coloration, then an external preamp or modeling multieffect or tone-shaping effect can be useful.

When buying your first "real" amp, IMO the most important thing is to get the most powerful amp you can afford, without worrying about tone or features. "Most power" is going to be a combination of higher wattage, more or bigger speakers, and many other qualities; but focus for now on the wattage and the size/number of the speakers and the cab. The reason I say this is because if you get a wimpy amp, it won't matter what kind of preamps or processors you buy, it will just sound wimpy. But a nice big amp will make you sound killer by itself, regardless of tube vs. SS.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much i will take that into consideration, what you said makes alot of sense.
 
#8
Take a good look at Traynor. They're a great deal, particularly since you're Canadian. Quality stuff with an excellent warranty that you'll probably never have to use. Since they're made in Canada and owned by L&M they're easy to find at any L&M store. You can find good used ones too.

Almost every Canadian old timer has owned or played through Traynor or Yorkville Sound. Traynor amps from the late sixties are still in service and being gigged.

Even though I can afford to own and do own more expensive gear, like GK and Mesa, I've owned several Traynor or Yorkville amps in the past 40 or so years and I've used them on gigs. I still own a nice little Yorkville combo for practice at home.
 
#10
62bass said:
Take a good look at Traynor. They're a great deal, particularly since you're Canadian. Quality stuff with an excellent warranty that you'll probably never have to use. Since they're made in Canada and owned by L&M they're easy to find at any L&M store. You can find good used ones too.

Almost every Canadian old timer has owned or played through Traynor or Yorkville Sound. Traynor amps from the late sixties are still in service and being gigged.

Even though I can afford to own and do own more expensive gear, like GK and Mesa, I've owned several Traynor or Yorkville amps in the past 40 or so years and I've used them on gigs. I still own a nice little Yorkville combo for practice at home.
Click to expand...


Sounds intresting i will for sure check one out. thanks

Lowtonejoe said:
Like, o.k dude!

(sheesh)

:D

Joe.
Click to expand...

lol :p
 

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