Dr Z amps
- Thread starter edgie
- Start date
I wholly agree with this. We modern players are blessed with having different ways and brands to enjoy our loud amps without having to disturb the neighbor. I myself use an attenuator with my flexi-50 and i can crank the thing to experience power tube saturation without killing myself with the volume. Pedals don't compare with a good amp's power tube saturation tone IMHO.
junkiemanxl
Active member
What are the prices like david?
One thing good about dr z's is that they have several small yet toneful amps that don't have presets, on-board fx, and other unnecessary stuff for players who just want to hear their guitars and effects properly. I was also looking at the carmen ghia last year before the recession hit.
How loud do you want them to be? If you play at home, a 20 watt Blackface-based amp will still stay clean at the most comfortable volume. And here's the thing, after you plug in your OD pedal to a clean tube amp and then a clean solid state amp side by side, you'll realise what you've been missing your entire life.
Tubes, because of their wonderful nature, complement a distortion signal like no solid state or digital platform could. Your distorted signal hitting those tubes are a marriage in heaven: you get more harmonics, sensitivity, warmth, sustain, smoothness and a more convincing overdriven tone.
Why do you think David Gilmour swears by tube Hiwatt amps instead of solid states for a clean platform for his pedals? Or Eric Johnson for that matter. These guys are notorious tone junkies so they definitely have a good reason to have an all tube arsenal, them and basically ALL other guitar heroes.
Right on, brother. You can't ignore the preamp tubes distortion too :evil:
That's why it's so sad. An amp is the most important element in your tone and yet, the most important factor is the most largely overlooked here. Ironically, the guitar is actually the weakest link.
Monopolist
New member
Check out tube amps by Blackheart. It's really affordable.
gsonique
New member
PAF ....so...are you gonna buy us all a nice tube amp ??
See that above is bullshit !
yet another BS ...
...its overlooked everywhere else too buddy !!
1..What i have seen is badly made tube amps sold at the price of crappy solid state amps ....
2...Tube takes lots more attention and maintenance and this annoys working musician who just want get his/her work done for the night with least hassle.
3...F'more a good repair shop is hard to find here ....not to say there none ...as "dodgy" ones a plenty tho
4...Tube amp need to be played loud to feel the goodness and this is difficult without being the noisy inconsiderate neighbor.
ATTENNUATORS SUCK ....if that’s your suggestion.
5... Replacement parts are hard to come by and expansive.
6...Good tubes are always running low.
I love tubes ... and I own tubes ...but I have a brain to think and discern my options.
Cheers
Goose
See that above is bullshit !
yet another BS ...
...its overlooked everywhere else too buddy !!
1..What i have seen is badly made tube amps sold at the price of crappy solid state amps ....
2...Tube takes lots more attention and maintenance and this annoys working musician who just want get his/her work done for the night with least hassle.
3...F'more a good repair shop is hard to find here ....not to say there none ...as "dodgy" ones a plenty tho
4...Tube amp need to be played loud to feel the goodness and this is difficult without being the noisy inconsiderate neighbor.
ATTENNUATORS SUCK ....if that’s your suggestion.
5... Replacement parts are hard to come by and expansive.
6...Good tubes are always running low.
I love tubes ... and I own tubes ...but I have a brain to think and discern my options.
Cheers
Goose
gsonique
New member
Why on earth would I want to treat everyone a nice tube amp when they could save up and buy one themselves, just like I did? You want tone, you gotta have to want it and take initiative to get it. I'm pretty sure you've been down that road too.
Regarding the guitar is the weakest link, let's just put it this way: you take a Historic '59 Les Paul, plug it into a Fender Frontman VS an Epiphone LP plugged into a Tone King Metropolitan, and then see which setup gives you a better sound.
Just because I said the guitar is the weakest link doesn't mean that it is THE weak link, there's a difference. In a traditional Blues situation where it's pretty much just guitar and amp, the guitar sound is more distinct but I still believe the amp makes up the biggest component in your overall tone. Now in a context like Progressive music, you'll definitely hear more of the effects, processors and amps than the guitar. Steve Vai will sound more like Steve Vai with a Tele plugged into his rig than his personal Jem plugged straight into a Fender Bassman. You get my point now?
And I never referenced crappy made tube amps too if you've read my previous posts. Which is why I brought up Ceriatone more than once cause I've heard they're solidly made for a price that reasonable, and I believe in word of mouth.
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Just let it go man. You can win, but you would have to change the world. It's like climate change, we all need it but we all still love our 5.2L V8 engines and need plastic for every packaging and killing some fields for a new shopping centre or your dream condo is a necessary evil in most people's minds. Hell, it' ain't evil if it's progress, some would think.
I've been blessed to play and have the ability to play on a regular basis some outstanding amps, with credentials and parts that would make any individual nod his head and smile. I myself would love to have a Twister or Dr.Z with a Airbrake at home. However as what above posts have said, many factors contribute to the lack of good tube amps flying out of stores vs JEMs or Malmsteen Strats, and it is sad that it is a truth of life to what I consider a paramount importance to tone aside from your hands and soul.
What I'm trying to say is, amps rules, people need to realize that as you have pointed out, but until every kid or bedroom musician can get access to S$500 tube wonders that wont wake up the neighbours or worst, their parents, that $100 modded DS1 through their MIK RG copy would make alot of people happy in their little rock star world.
I've been blessed to play and have the ability to play on a regular basis some outstanding amps, with credentials and parts that would make any individual nod his head and smile. I myself would love to have a Twister or Dr.Z with a Airbrake at home. However as what above posts have said, many factors contribute to the lack of good tube amps flying out of stores vs JEMs or Malmsteen Strats, and it is sad that it is a truth of life to what I consider a paramount importance to tone aside from your hands and soul.
What I'm trying to say is, amps rules, people need to realize that as you have pointed out, but until every kid or bedroom musician can get access to S$500 tube wonders that wont wake up the neighbours or worst, their parents, that $100 modded DS1 through their MIK RG copy would make alot of people happy in their little rock star world.
You forgot the little Akira rotating fan on the floor~
gsonique
New member
Yeah Breen...sometimes we got to come down from our high horses.
I deal with more people than most of you here and meeting individual needs the best possible way i can ....you know... it gets tough aye!
See... I got this little Laney transistor acoustic amp with the tweeter pulled out ...everyone seems to ask me if it's tube ?!!
I use this amp for gear tests, mindless wanking and its ability to get good tone at low volume is just brilliant.
....the best part...i got this amp for free...
I love tube amps ...and in the midst of designing my own 2 channel high gainer... getting it to sound good at lower volume is the ultimate challenge right now.
Cheers ...
I deal with more people than most of you here and meeting individual needs the best possible way i can ....you know... it gets tough aye!
See... I got this little Laney transistor acoustic amp with the tweeter pulled out ...everyone seems to ask me if it's tube ?!!
I use this amp for gear tests, mindless wanking and its ability to get good tone at low volume is just brilliant.
....the best part...i got this amp for free...
I love tube amps ...and in the midst of designing my own 2 channel high gainer... getting it to sound good at lower volume is the ultimate challenge right now.
Cheers ...