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Amplifier demo examples

6thplanet

6thplanet

Supporting Member
Commercial User
Aug 17, 2019
2,102
4,574
Indiana
#1
I'll spill the beans a bit. I've designed an amplifier that I'm wanting to make multiples of. Since they'll be one off types, most will obviously want to hear them before deciding if it's something worth purchasing.

What I'd like to know is what demo types of audio/video do you all feel is the best informative way to convey what an amplifier sounds like.

Cabinets definitely influence the end sound, so I'd definitely like to demo on different ones. I'm definitely considering having others try them out.
 
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#7
Totally agreed. Would love for everyone to try it, but the design and aesthetics might be an instant turn off for some. Then hearing it will sway a different way.

I will throw out if your in the Louisville Kentucky area, I'd like to eventually get some hands on opinions.
 
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#9
Been there, done that. Built a little over a dozen "Brown Devil" guitar heads in the late 70s. The demo was "Listen to our album. Lead guitar is using one" Tubes, 10 to 70 watts (20 to 140 for the 4-tube version) variable with a "Power" knob. The name BTW came from the Ohmite Brown Devil resistors in the adjustable voltage power supply. Demoing a bass amp is a lot more difficult as most good sounding recorded bass is direct.
Edit: Might want to add, doing that today would be close to impossible due to UL/CSA electrical safety standards. Amps used TV power tubes with a top cap with 600 volts on it.
 
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#10
The amp makes so little difference in the sound. By the time you run it through a cab, and then have that signal go through a mic, you've lost most of what makes the amp unique. So instead of focusing on how your amp sounds different, maybe you should focus on how it's feature set is unique.
If you wanna do some sound/video examples, I would just play a generic line (ideally through a looper, so your reaction to the amp is out of the equation), and then sweep each of the controls, so that people have an idea where the EQ grabs, how the gain reacts, and whatever else special is there. And for extra points, do that with different loops of different playstyles.
 
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#11
6thplanet said:
I'll spill the beans a bit. I've designed an amplifier that I'm wanting to make multiples of. Since they'll be one off types, most will obviously want to hear them before deciding if it's something worth purchasing.

What I'd like to know is what demo types of audio/video do you all feel is the best informative way to convey what an amplifier sounds like.

Cabinets definitely influence the end sound, so I'd definitely like to demo on different ones. I'm definitely considering having others try them out.
Click to expand...
Di, close mic, room mic. Cycle through inputs and blend them.

Play a standard bass model. P, J, or Ray.

Run through features and settings, add a pick part, add a slap part.

Play through whatever cabinet you have. It doesn't really matter at recording volumes.
 
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#13
Use a common bass that everyone knows the sound of (ie a jazz or precision). Play simple lines, perhaps with a looper as suggested earlier and tweak the knobs.

Aa for cabinets, I would either use something hifi, like a Fearful, well known like an 8x10, or alternatively, use a DI that will take an amp level signal. If you did the later, and have the ability to use IRs, you could even include cab types in the demo.
 
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#15
6thplanet said:
I'll spill the beans a bit. I've designed an amplifier that I'm wanting to make multiples of. Since they'll be one off types, most will obviously want to hear them before deciding if it's something worth purchasing.

What I'd like to know is what demo types of audio/video do you all feel is the best informative way to convey what an amplifier sounds like.

Cabinets definitely influence the end sound, so I'd definitely like to demo on different ones. I'm definitely considering having others try them out.
Click to expand...

What are the basic specs/features of your design? Perhaps a comparison with a couple of similar popular amps with same bass/cab.
 
#16
6thplanet said:
I'll spill the beans a bit. I've designed an amplifier that I'm wanting to make multiples of. Since they'll be one off types, most will obviously want to hear them before deciding if it's something worth purchasing.

What I'd like to know is what demo types of audio/video do you all feel is the best informative way to convey what an amplifier sounds like.

Cabinets definitely influence the end sound, so I'd definitely like to demo on different ones. I'm definitely considering having others try them out.
Click to expand...

Love your last comment about speaker cabs, it is so true and extremely overlooked when amps are reviewed.
The other comment from someone about no wankery is also extremely important. Would rather hear a scale played slowly than some bedroom wizzard beating treble out of his bass instrument WIV 'is FUM. That crap makes players turn straight off.

I play old tube amps but keep an open mind that they are old tube amps and something new might sound similar to my tastes. Slap instantly loses the sale.
 
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#18
6thplanet said:
I'll spill the beans a bit. I've designed an amplifier that I'm wanting to make multiples of. Since they'll be one off types, most will obviously want to hear them before deciding if it's something worth purchasing.

What I'd like to know is what demo types of audio/video do you all feel is the best informative way to convey what an amplifier sounds like.

Cabinets definitely influence the end sound, so I'd definitely like to demo on different ones. I'm definitely considering having others try them out.
Click to expand...

best way is to send me one for free and i can tell everyone what i think.

seriously though- amp demos are very tricky. it's inherently hard to capture the user experience.

i find that the words of someone i trust are really the only helpful thing. there are certain credible tbers, and certainly my working pro friend i often trust. i have some friends who i know have knowledge, and share my taste, and their word is worth more than any audio demo.

when you factor in cabinets and microphones, it's super tricky.
 
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