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Post by John on Feb 16, 2024 5:39:45 GMT
Come summer I am going to start having a bit more time and I like to get back into playing. The issue I have always had is getting tones, especially distortion at a reasonable home listening levels. My last tube amplifier the Fender 30r had a fantastic distortion but I could not get it at reasonable level as the sound would become thin and tizzy at room levels. The best modeller I had was the Yamaha THR 30i but it does not give you that special response you get between gain, sustain and the guitar. The Katana lead sound is to dry for me in the mids (I have tried a few and had similar issues with each one).
Time has moved on and in the last few years so have what is possible.
It is possible to get something like a Two Notes Captor and put it through a active speaker with a decent valve amplifier.
Some guitar amps have IR (impulse response) built-in
There are three other ways to achieve this. Get a good reactive attenuator
Or a amp with a built in reduced load
Or a amp with a really good volume control
For me playing electric guitar is about getting a good tone. I find that my playing becomes more expressive the more I enjoy the tone, but I have no idea what way to go.
My thinking is either get something totally boutique like the Bartell Starland. It has tone to die for, able to play at reasonable volumes and would take some basic pedals to add a bit of balls when needed (maybe a Archer JB, a delay and a looper). This would be bloody expensive but boy the tone would be special.
Or for something like the Victory Jackman, the one with a headphone out and built in two notes IR a good all rounder that would take pedals well or even a head with a two note captor.
I even been thinking about something like a Diezel VH4 or 2 They are supposed to be good all rounders and a two note captor with an active speaker would work with them.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 16, 2024 15:49:48 GMT
Instead of jumping straight in and spending megabucks, you might want to consider a good overdrive pedal, John, instead of an expensive easy-to-overdrive amp.
This is a good place to start. You can pick one of these up for less than sixty quid. I've got one and it sounds good. I can get a great range of overdriven sounds out of my 5W Marshall Origin.
I can also recommend these personally, and they come with the built in added fun of tube rolling. There are articles on the net about it, and I upgraded mine. They can be had for £100+ and if it didn't take up the space of two "ordinary" pedals it would still be on my pedalboard today.
It's worth a trawl through YouTube looking at overdrive pedals to see if you come across one that replicates the sound in your head.
Alternatively, more expensive, but how about an amp sim, something like these..?
Just some alternatives for you to consider.
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Post by John on Feb 16, 2024 16:28:38 GMT
Cheers Paul
This is all useful as have plenty of time and still undecided what to do.
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Post by John on Feb 16, 2024 16:50:12 GMT
This is the main drive pedal I want with whatever route I go down
I never going to play like Jeff but I love that tone and it will move away from that Shred approach I have
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Post by Slinger on Feb 16, 2024 20:33:17 GMT
Ah, a Klon clone. I've got me one of them, and it's another Nu>X pedal, and a mini pedal at that.
This might interest you, the Archer is a Silver Klon clone, whereas the Archer Ikon is a Gold Klon clone. (My little Nu>X does both)
There's also a J. Rockett Archer Select
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Post by MartinT on Feb 16, 2024 20:44:09 GMT
Gosh, it's another language to me.
EDIT: ooh, I recognise many of those germanium diodes from my radio tinkering days.
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Post by John on Feb 17, 2024 7:46:22 GMT
Thanks Paul I have used Nux pedals before and enjoyed the tones and effects they create, Real bargains in the pedal world.
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Post by John on Feb 17, 2024 7:57:51 GMT
This is a good video for hearing the difference between the pedals
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Post by Slinger on Feb 17, 2024 11:09:38 GMT
This is a good video for hearing the difference between the pedals "Does the JB Archer sound like the Klon? No." Fairly obvious really, as it was modelled on JB's Gold Klon, not the Silver Klon they're using. From what I've been able to tell via YouTube videos the Silver gains more warmth as you increase the gain. |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 17, 2024 17:27:59 GMT
Why is a Klon so-called?
I've Binged to no avail.
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Post by Slinger on Feb 17, 2024 18:10:59 GMT
Why is a Klon so-called? I've Binged to no avail. It's just the name Bill Finnegan (the designer) incorporated his business under. I have no idea why he would choose that, but that's what he picked. The then one-man company's full name is Klon Siberia. www.anatomyofguitartone.com/home/a-brief-but-complete-guide-to-the-klon-centaurI was chatting to a guy who builds (excellent) pedals under the brand DopeFX and he used to make a clone of the Klon pedal and had to stop as he received a "cease and desist" order from Finnegan. He makes a few pedals a month and sells them on eBay, he doesn't even have a website, so it's not like he was after making a fortune, and Bill Lawrence had actually stopped producing them himself by then. These days you can't move without tripping over Klon clones, Andertons sells 29 of them But of course, as he's already had the notice he can't go back to making them. I know this because I asked him to build one for me.  |
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Post by ChrisB on Feb 17, 2024 23:55:09 GMT
Why is a Klon so-called? I've Binged to no avail. It's a $300-ish guitar overdrive pedal that now sells for $7000-ish second-hand, Martin. Klon is the name of the company. The pedal is called the Centaur. There are a myriad of copies of it, at prices ranging from £30 to many hundreds. This is by far the best hearted version, and Josh Scott, who made the video is a star. |
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Post by John on Apr 19, 2024 7:29:14 GMT
I have been doing a lot of research with regards what amplifier to go for.
I really like the Revv amplifiers, valve amplifiers with a modern twist and not crazy money. I am thinking a Revv D20 as it is a good pedal board platform and has a number of modern features that appeal to me. I am also thinking of the Revv G50 but perhaps it is a bit overkill. I love that it has midi foot control that is easy to store different tones.
If I went for the D20 I would probably get the following pedals
I really like it tones and not to intense for my tastes.
This would give some of those atmospheric delays I am looking for without a deep dive into the pre-sets like you have to do with the Boss DD500.
The other pedal I would add would be a BlueSky reverb pedal
The other pedal I might add if I feel I need it is JHS Morning Glory
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Post by John on Apr 19, 2024 7:51:27 GMT
Here are some other amps I thought about
I just love the tones of this amp and can hear why the reviewer loves it. However just to expensive
The new Soldano Astro 20
Trouble is I not heard a lead tone I love, but so many great players have played through a Soldano
I like is the Fryette Aether another tone monster of a amp, but I would have to import and no idea if I could live with the open window this has
The builder has a Hifi philosophy when it comes to guitar amplifier design
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 19, 2024 9:06:31 GMT
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Post by John on Apr 19, 2024 10:35:19 GMT
Yes the Lionheart was another amplifier I like and was considering. She has some great tones
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 19, 2024 11:26:21 GMT
Agreed, she's an absolute queen of tone, such a special talent.
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Post by Slinger on Apr 19, 2024 14:38:31 GMT
This one, John?  Joking aside, what about speaker cabs, or are you going to restrict yourself to headphones? |
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Post by John on Apr 19, 2024 14:46:08 GMT
Yes but not in Pink!!!
It has XLR out with IRs so active monitor out seems a logical way to go
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Post by John on Apr 19, 2024 14:47:33 GMT
Late at night playing would be headphones
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