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From: Mike Curtis
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 13:23:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Amps/mics

I've tried a Mesa Boogie V-Twin distortion pedal into the PA, and I really
like it. I found it acceptably close in sound to my Champ. I'm getting
one pretty soon.

I also understand the Matchless tube pedal is great sounding.

Not all tube preamps sound good. That warm tube distortion depends on
space charge, which requires a high plate voltage. A LOT of tube based
pedals run on low voltage, and sound as bad as transistorized distortion
pedals. Best universal absolute advice: TRY it FIRST.

Regarding digital, I have my reservations, but I wouldn't rule it out. I
may be getting an AxSys or one of the other solid state digitally
processed tube emulator amps in the near future. It sounded pretty good
at Guitar Center, but I want to see what it sounds like using my guitar
and heavy strings.

On Thu, 15 Jan 1998, Tim Moyer wrote:

>At 10:28 AM 1/15/98 EST, MojoBluz wrote:
>>DIGITAL? Been there...tried that...not happy with it. Digital distortion & FX
>>or simulated tube overdrive (rack mount units) will never completely
>duplicate
>>the tone, sound, and characteristics of a warm tube amp.

What digital distortion devices have you tried? Except for DSP based
devices (brand new to the musical effects market), all the multieffects
boxes I've seen use analog distortion. And yes I dislike this too.

>> I guess it all
>>depends on what sounds good to your ears, but to mine -- digital sounds way
>>too sterile to get an acceptable harp sound. Of course, there are many
>>variables--tubes, mikes, etc. But...IMHO, you don't NEED to buy a Sonny Jr.
>>or RI Bassman to get an awesome amped harp sound.
>>Big John

Yup. A miked Champ sounds awesome, and is cheap.

>How about using a superclean rack mount amplifier, driven by a rack mount
>tube pre-amp, connected to a nouveau vintage speaker cab? I've got one on
>the drawing board right now, just waiting for funding. By summer I'll be
>humming. I like the fullness and warmth of tubes, but am not blind to the
>plethora of rack mount effects (digital and otherwise). I also like the
>idea of configurable overdrive from the preamp, and speakers with nice
>coloration. I can build this thing new for less than half what a Sonny
>costs. Of course it'll have a ton of my own labor in it, but it's a lobor
>of love...

No reason this won't work. And I too like GOOD digital effects. If they
are sampled at a high enough frequency and have a really good antialiasing
filter, they won't have that "harshness" so many complain about. Some of
the cheapies are badly lacking in this department. Also, digital effects
must at no time be overdriven. Good ones have a great signal to noise
ratio and should be underdriven if anything.

Make sure the dimensions of the speaker cabinet match those of the
amplifier you like the best. It DOES affect the sound!


-- IronMan Mike Curtis
My CD "Doin' It All Myself" available in Tower, Blockbuster, Camelot, PX