1 Topic by Rick49 (edited by Rick49 2011-04-30 15:37:50)

  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-02-14
  • Posts: 318

Topic: Help for Amps

Ok, I'll try to keep this as short as possible (although that's not really posible).

I own a Marshall JCM900 (Dual Reverb). Through that amp I have a Fuzz Factory in the fx loop. I like the clean of the amp very much, it's great. But I do not like the second (overdrive) channel.... actually I really bought the amp for the cleans. I have written a view new riffs, which I love in the setting with the fuzz factory and the clean channel. But as we are all JB fans you'll understand that I want an amp that has a great overdrive side of it. I stumbled on this amp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaZByEsgMgE

This amp has just one channel, but the master volume is put after the entire circuit so you can crank the preamp and lower the master without really losing tone and stuff.

Now the problem is that I'm really hesitating about selling the JCM900 and get the other amp...

What do you think I should do? If you have suggestions about another amp in that price range (900 dollars) that really is worth selling the other amp, please tell me.

Rick

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa
  • macg1
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Re: Help for Amps

Sounds to me like you want an amp that has clean AND overdrive, but you are just not happy with the JCM900?  The RR is a great sounding amp but unless you are the kind of player who is comfortable getting all of the sounds from just noodling with the guitar knobs, then a single channel thing like the RR is not your deal.  You may be better suited with a Boogie type of amp, like a Mark I or II.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-02-14
  • Posts: 318

Re: Help for Amps

macg1 wrote:

Sounds to me like you want an amp that has clean AND overdrive, but you are just not happy with the JCM900?  The RR is a great sounding amp but unless you are the kind of player who is comfortable getting all of the sounds from just noodling with the guitar knobs, then a single channel thing like the RR is not your deal.  You may be better suited with a Boogie type of amp, like a Mark I or II.

Well.... it's actually not really about if it's 1 or 2 channels, I can get the tone with the guitar knobs, that's no problem, but I'm afraid I will lose some kind of tube-feeling... I'll check out the Boogie's in a minute.

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa
  • macg1
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Re: Help for Amps

It is hard to replicate the tube sound using chips.  The RR gets as close as I have heard.  Let us not forget, that unless you plug straight into an amp, we are adding a bunch of chips and stuff in the signal path (overdrives, fuzzes, distortions), but they end up hitting a tube and the sonic characteristics do change.  The RR is a great amp, great price, but it may not be for everyone.  It is modeled after a trainwreck sort of tone.  If Marshall is what you want, then you better look elsewhere.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Cambridge
  • Registered: 2011-01-15
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Re: Help for Amps

vintage modern is a great clean and dirty sounding amp for rock!

can't go wrong with a JCM2000 though...

Jonny L

Videos of my playing: http://www.youtube.com/user/JonnyLowtherMusic
  • macg1
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Re: Help for Amps

JCM 2000 DSL would be a great choice.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
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Re: Help for Amps

Jlowther wrote:

vintage modern is a great clean and dirty sounding amp for rock!

can't go wrong with a JCM2000 though...

Yeah the Vintage Modern is a cool amp with great tones well suited for rock, but it has nowhere near the thickness and gain a DSL can produce.  I have both and they are excellent amps either way.  But the DSL is a little more versatile.  The Vintage M does though have that nastiness to it's tone!

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Re: Help for Amps

Does the DSL of the VM have Master Volume though? To me that was a very good point of the RR.

Anthony
  • From: North Carolina
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Re: Help for Amps

Yes sir it sure does.  I tried one out with a Firebird 2 years ago in store.  I hate to sound like the old saying but Gibson and Marshall combined is a match made in heaven!

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  • From: York, PA
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Re: Help for Amps

ACF wrote:

Does the DSL of the VM have Master Volume though? To me that was a very good point of the RR.

Both channels of the DSL each have a separate gain and volume knob, while the Vintage Modern has an overall Master volume.  The gain on the VM comes from the body and detail knobs, each one gives either more low gain or high end gain tone.  I guess it's like combining both channels on a plexi or whatever.  If switched into "high dynamic range", you get a lot more gain but it is rhaspy, more GnR sound..  A good example of What a Vintage Modern sounds like is the video of Joe playing with the Jools Holland Band- Lonesome road blues.  He's pushing it with a TS8080.  If you're a cleaner player and don't make a lot of mistakes, the VM is great.

11 Reply by helrazr84 (edited by helrazr84 2011-04-30 22:10:29)

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
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Re: Help for Amps

macg1 wrote:

It is hard to replicate the tube sound using chips.  The RR gets as close as I have heard.  Let us not forget, that unless you plug straight into an amp, we are adding a bunch of chips and stuff in the signal path (overdrives, fuzzes, distortions), but they end up hitting a tube and the sonic characteristics do change.  The RR is a great amp, great price, but it may not be for everyone.  It is modeled after a trainwreck sort of tone.  If Marshall is what you want, then you better look elsewhere.

I think you make a good point.  I never thought of that or if it would make a difference.

  • Registered: 2011-03-30
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Re: Help for Amps

The RR-1 is not just good for solid state. It is a great amp, period! Don't go by the Youtube clips, try one yourself, in person. I will be adding one to my rig very soon. That said, if your looking for a more Bonamassa style tone, DSL would be more suited.

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Re: Help for Amps

It is a great amp.  but because of its design nature, it is not for everyone.  I see it as the kind of amp that benefits from someone like Lance Keltner (the designer), who really knows how to control dynamics using his fingers and the guitars.  The price is great and if a t-wreck style amp is you deal, then you will no be disappointed.  That is the essence of the question really.

Rusrant wrote:

The RR-1 is not just good for solid state. It is a great amp, period! Don't go by the Youtube clips, try one yourself, in person. I will be adding one to my rig very soon. That said, if your looking for a more Bonamassa style tone, DSL would be more suited.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
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Re: Help for Amps

Couple of questions are you running your fuzz in the effects loop? Thats not a good idea it will sound better in front. Also have you tweeked the 900 tryed all setting even some that seem weird? Changed out tubes? Etc. I have heard some great JCM900 and some total dogs.  I thought the Duel Reverb was susposted to be a better one in that line.

  • From: The Netherlands
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Re: Help for Amps

Big E wrote:

Couple of questions are you running your fuzz in the effects loop? Thats not a good idea it will sound better in front. Also have you tweeked the 900 tryed all setting even some that seem weird? Changed out tubes? Etc. I have heard some great JCM900 and some total dogs.  I thought the Duel Reverb was susposted to be a better one in that line.

The Fuzz Factory is a kind of unique pedal, it's a very complicated pedal, you have to know how to tweak it to get it right. I have tried so many times to make it sound good in front of the amp but that doesn't do it for me, in the effects loop is much better. but that's not really the problem, the problem is the amp it's overdrive channel. I have the amp now for about 1/3 year and I changed the tubes about 2 weeks after I got it. I tried as many settings as you can imagine, so...

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa
  • From: Detroit
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Re: Help for Amps

Sometimes I tend to like clean channel with a pedal for most amps than the overdrive channel of the amp.  hmm

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Re: Help for Amps

A lot of single channel amps are superb mate, Gary Moores tone using a JTM45, Marshall guv'nor pedal and his 59 les paul is one of the most sublime tones I've ever heard. I've heard the RR demos and it does sound nice but there is no way on earth I'd invest in such a new product on faith and some you tube demos, especially as it is solid state, you simply must try it with your own gear first, I've made very costly mistakes with amps buying them on faith and then moving them on, never again.
I'm not a fan of the JCM900, its far too brash for my tastes, no finesse.I have never heard any amp with a fuzz in the loop either, especially one as insanze as the fuzz factory, bet you get some interesting tones there! however I do believe there are that many options out there from any number of manufacturers that you can find your happy medium, it just takes a lot of research and road testing.

  • From: The Netherlands
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Re: Help for Amps

Maybe I'll make a demo from the rig now and how it sounds like with the fuzz in front of and in the effects loop. I'll let you here the overdrive channel as well, that will give you all maybe an idea what I mean...

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa