Hi all
Following the ecstatic (or indeed ex-static given the situation!) resolution of my noise issues, it has prompted me to really look at my gear and what I keep, what I lose, and what to get in the place of things I move on.
The pedals part is ticking along, but the amp part is still a bit of a sticking point.
I fancy something Fender-ey, that's the problem. Playing-wise these days I either play overdriven Strokes/White Stripes style Indie, or strummy clean Jeff Buckley style with big reverb. I predominantly use a Tele. Mainly house based playing and practising at the mo but am working towards being able to play in public so may be worth planning ahead
I currently have (and pros/cons etc):
Blackstar HT5R 1x12. Pros: has a decent neutral clean channel which seems to take pedals well. FX loop. Seems to be good build quality. Cons: The drive channel is too much and too pedal like (I know that's the idea before anybody shouts!) whereas I think I am preferring a boosted normal amp (Fender style) for OD, and more Fender flavoured cleans as well a la Buckley. In a shop they managed to get a nice twangy Fender tone through one but I've not managed it myself since
Wangs VT15 Head. Big of an unusual one this, and no the brand is not a typo. It's a Chinese amp, I think something to do with one of the companies in the recent Chinese music fx boom (Joyo or Mooer or Belcat or something). Pros: Has a good crunchy sound, great for Stripes style bashing (not fully tried it with cleans yet but has a hi and lo input so that might help). FX Loop. Master volume, can play quiet for home but sounded good up way loud in the shop. Cons: I only have a crappy Vox Lil Night Train cab at the mo (1x10) so not getting the best out of it, so would need a better one. It does seem to get a bit warm as well, but it's the highest wattage valve amp I've owned so that may be normal? Lastly, if it's made by somebody like Joyo, I have a few reservations about its durability
So what I'm considering instead is:
Sell them both, try a Fender Superchamp (though I resent having more stuff than I need on that, could do without the modelling channel I imagine if the clean channel is good?). Either combo or head & Cab depending. Wary of this being a "trade down" though as the Blackstar seems better quality from my limited experience here, any opinions?
Sell the Blackstar, and get a better 1x12 cab for the Wangs
Or either of the above, plus a good Fendery Preamp to plug into the FX loop return? Not sure there is a standalone Fender type pre though?
Or sell both, invest in a PA system and a Guitar Preamp + Cab sim (H&K Red Box?) or multi fx, where I can plug my guitar and mic into so can be self contained for public performance if required.
Get a Blues or Pro Junior and try and get it modded for an FX loop (not sure yet if possible). There's a sweet Red Pro Junior that looks great.
Sell the Wangs, keep the Blackstar, and admit to myself I don't need two amps as not good enough ha ha
Sorry for the essay, but any thoughts on the above if you've not fallen asleep would be awesome. Thanks a bunch!
I'm scared and I'm waiting for life
Comments
Actually, I'd probably point you to one of those...
Other than that, the blackstar is a good amp. It's a sort of, Jack of all trades, almost. Has decent cleans and drive. Not sure if you can do this, but for more natural drive, a home made volume box attenuator with a 50w attenuator wired up to two jacks in a sweet tin (well, that's what mine is) between the amp and speaker would let you run the clean channel louder and get natural drive from that.
Then, you can just crank the gain on the drive channel, get some hot humbuckers and make rawk.
Edit: I'll confess, I like the blackstar tone. Not Marshall, not fender. Something of its own.
Same reason I like peavey. They do a valveking amp, actually, that might suit your wants.
@ecc83 Hmm I did think about the Wangs through the Blackstar but the cable that goes from the Blackstar speaker out to the speaker did not seem long enough to attach to the Wangs, can it be done though despite this? Or do you mean the FX send as line out to the FX return on the Blackstar?
@gubble I know my inner demon thinks I can't have too much stuff, but I do also have a Lil Night Train to sell so currently three amps and only two hands to strum into them with. Ha just totted up 2nd hand values of everything, it's amazing how it stacks up isn't it, I could almost justify a Kemper!
@ThePrettyDamned I've used a Blues Junior before which sounded ok for what I was playing at the time, but not great for the cleaner strummy stuff I agree. And they do seem overpriced for what they are. Would the Hot Rod not be way way too loud for home though? I'd understood the volume goes from 0 to 10 faster than a Ferrari, I play pretty quiet at home which is where the Blackstar scores high. No idea with the attentuator, the clean channel is nice on the blackstar (agree they are excellent amps just not quite the noise I'm after) and takes pedals for drive well, the Bad Monkey in particular goes nicely, just not feeling it as much as I am liking the idea of a Fender! Might just be the idea of one that's tempting though, not the reality so much. Never looked at Peavey, in terms of actual looking (as they aren't pretty most likely) nor in terms of consideration (as not many places by me stock them), I'll have a listen around, thanks
The newest hot rod deluxe amps don't have that issue. Older ones can be fixed with a volume box in the effects loop, and the amp sounds brilliant at low volume much, much better than the blues junior in my opinion. I really like the drive sounds, though I've only used the older ones. Consensus says the new ones are even better.
Peavey amps are worth a look in, just in case you like them. You might not, though.
Ampmaker do a champ clone kit that's supposed to be dead easy to build if you can solder okay. The champ x2 is a good one, too.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I will look into the changing of stuff inside the Blackstar, though I am now hugely gassing for the Hot Rod Deluxe as I've always liked them but had always been told they'd be far far too loud, if this can be solved i am incredibly tempted to sell everything (or trade in?) to get one of these Deluxe Rods that are hot!!
Try the 12AT7 first though, since if it doesn't do what you want in the HT-5, you can use it to improve the tone of the Hotrod instead .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
It'd take pedals awesomely, should have enough grunt for when you'd like to gig, has awesome cleans and reverb etc etc. the quality of tone would kick all the others into touch as well.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Still, to op, they sound the balls for cleans