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Amp that best takes to effects?

#26
It really comes down to how much signal the initial input stage can take.
For that, I vote Alembic preamps (F1-X or F2-B). It's nearly impossible to get them to really overdrive, even with super loud active basses i've had. Stacking multiple fuzz loops, dropping it an octave, and playing on top of that with more fuzz and octaver? No problem. EQ is very minimal but effective with anything put into it.
 
#27
motoxer101 said:
So I realize I will get some chuckles but: I have been using an Acoustic B600h head since they came out in 2010 and it takes pedals really well. (Honestly this had been one of the most reliable, consistently good sounding amps I've ever owned). It was mentioned above but sometimes too much eq can result in not so good tone. In my experience with Ampegs, Fenders, Trace Elliotts, Peaveys, and now Acoustics is if it sounds good without pedals it will sound good with quality pedals.

That being said I have never used effects loops and plug whatever board set up I've had at the time directly into the amp/head.

Let the laughter commence.
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I had an acoustic b200h head. I absolutely hated that amp. It was cheap and reliable but thats all I can say positive about it. Could never get rid of the overwhelming mid and low mid pile up in it, no matter how I dialed the EQ. Volume stability of the out was horrible, had to run compressor between it and the board. Just hated the sound of it, never ran my effects on it.

But My vintage Trace Elliots.....love them, Love that classic TE sound coupled with effects. But, to each their own.
 
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#29
I think you'd be good with almost anything. As stated already. I use an all tube head by Electric and it has very limited EQ shaping. Yet even with what it has, it still has quite a bit of options tonally. I've had a lot of luck with it so far with effects. It handles them wonderfully. However, it's not an amp you can just pick up at your local GC or Sam Ash (usually). I used a GK 1001rb before that and I felt that that amp handled anything I threw at it like a champ. Tons of EQ and tone shaping on there there. Great prices on the used market as well.

I would be more concerned (not sure that's the right word) about what cab you'd be using. It looks like you're using GK cabs, which is great. You just have to watch that some effects like to jump your signal up there. I know IME they do. But overall, you can't go wrong with GK. If you already have the cabs.......;)
 
#30
Yeah, sounds like it's a cab issue more than anything else.

The biggest problem I have with the GK MB stuff is you can only use MB stuff with them. It's kind of a pain, right up until I have to move them for a gig and I'm reminded how light they are and how much air they move.

Looks like I will stick with my current setup for now, and move into something top-notch in the future (like that Verellen, a company I've loved for years but never had the scratch to afford one).

I'll try to throw in some more EQ to brighten up the effects a bit as well, see if that helps.
 
#32
davy4575 said:
But My vintage Trace Elliots.....love them, Love that classic TE sound coupled with effects. But, to each their own.
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This ^
My old SMX head is an effect users dream.
I, like davy475 LOVE the old Trace sound as is, but I can throw any effects at my head, wether they be in front, in the fx loop, or in the high pass fx loop (the fun I've had with this and a guitar stack!)
Add the built in dual band compression and yer sorted.
Again, not for everyone but I have NO intention of changing my rig .... EVER
 
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#33
Other than the Peavey that I started my playing days with, I've never had an amp that didn't sound good with effects.

I also find myself in the horn turned down or off group though. I find that the majority of effects sound harsh with the horn on.
 
#34
Dilbert said:
This ^
My old SMX head is an effect users dream.
I, like davy475 LOVE the old Trace sound as is, but I can throw any effects at my head, wether they be in front, in the fx loop, or in the high pass fx loop (the fun I've had with this and a guitar stack!)
Add the built in dual band compression and yer sorted.
Again, not for everyone but I have NO intention of changing my rig .... EVER
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Yep. couldnt agree more:
10525634_10203567732174088_6507066044979887340_n.jpg
 
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#35
I imagine almost any amp with a decent clean channel could handle most effects alright. The better the clean channel the better most effects are going to sound.

Of course for dirt a nice drive channel is always nice so you can stack them in various ways for extra versatility. Also I feel the pedals play a role too. Say a simple classiv drive pedal for example, many have a very specific voicing, if you combine that with an amp with a different voicing that doesn't compliment it well it may sound bad. So the more versatile the amp/ pedals the better becouse then you can dial em in to sound good with anything! That is my take on it at least.

My dream amp would be a 1 or 2 channel tube amp with a ton of controls to take each channel from clean to crunchy and adjust the voicings
 
#36
I use an Eden WT550 with an AccuGroove Tri 210L. I find the Eden neutral sounding, as well as very adjustable regarding EQ. It's easy to increase specific high mid frequencies that make your pedals sing through the amp.

I'd be interested to hear what others' opinions are regarding the Eden used with effects.

Cheers,
Kalle
 
#38
Plucky The Bassist said:
GK has always enhanced all the pedals I've put through them...in terms of volume and sheer *oomph* from their strong EQ section. Fuzz and OD pedals always sound beastly through my GK amp heads.
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+1 on GK. every effect I've owned sounded really nice through a gallien-krueger amp. I use to have a gk half-stack and they sounded awesome with distortion and modulation effects. I currently own a hartke amp and it sounded pretty decent with my effects. however, I do miss owning a gk amp and I am thinking about buying one once again.
 
#40
I don't seem to have any issues using effects with my rig. I even run the xlr from my sans amp RBI to foh. I think one of the reasons is just the types of pedals I use. The b7k ultra is made to be able to run direct, and the darkglass duality has a filter control which in my opinion makes it the best fuzz I've ever tried without having to mic up a cab to get a decent sound. My board is small at the moment but I've run just about everything through it over the last couple years. Whammy, octave, delay, reverb, chorus, overdrive, fuzz, loopers. i used a m5 for a while that had phasers and flanger and stuff. Really the only effects I haven't tried with it are like a dedicated synth pedal or an envelope filter
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