Vintage Audio Gear

Question Need Advice choosing particular Guitar amplifier to achieve specific tone?
I am seeking advice on an amplifier to purchase. I have almost targeted the tone which I desire. However, I am uncertain of which amplifier would best achieve it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am seeking a lightweight combo amp, preferably between an 8-12 inch single speaker. Unfortunately, at the point in life where I can finally afford a stack/cabinet, I have been worn out from hauling 100 lb speakers across states from show to show. Since it doesn’t appear roadies are in my immediate future, I had best purchase a small studio amp. I am also seeking a very particular tone. I have purchased far too many amps at this point that I eventually just settled with or fought tooth and nail to get a decent tone every show. My guitar of choice is a: 1960 Reissue Custom Gibson Les Paul electric With stock 496r and 500t humbuckers Ideally for the tone I seek, I would play a Gretsch, or Gibson ES or Archtop. But I was hoping for some creative solutions. I love my Les Paul and would like to keep it as my #1. So I was hoping I might be able to get some advice of what might pair best with this guitar to achieve this tone. Now for tone; I am completely inept at describing tone or choosing adjectives which supposedly embody a particular tone. So….here are a few examples of what I am looking to steal/emulate and what “I have read” they play. If anybody knows the name or a few adjectives to describe these tones – that would be great as well. I also apologize if I am incorrect in naming what these men play. I did the best quick research I could. Greg Brown (Cake) – 1484 Silvertone Jack White (White Stripes) – 1485 Silvertone 6x10 Silverface Fender Twin Reverb With Big Muff pedal on MXR micro amp Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) – Marshall JTM45 Vox AC30 head Rich Robinson (Black Crowes) – Fender Tremolo through Marshall cabinet Fender Super Reverb Fender Blues Deville Fender Twin Reverb Fender Tremoloux through 4x12 Marshall Silver Jublilee I acknowledge that any help I can offer is vague, and apologize for that. I am leaning towards a Fender. I already know I dislike the Deville. I have played a Blues Junior and am okay with it; but afraid I would again be settling. Additionally, I have never quite mastered effects. Would it be prudent to purchase a sustain pedal to accommodate whatever I purchase? Or should I be able to find acceptable sustain in the amp I buy? I would very much like something that can swing from a bottom heavy, gritty (though not fuzzy) southern style rock to a smooth low overdrive high sustain jazz tone, with ideally, a mildy-overdriven Telecaster-ish flat picking tone – such as Greg Brown's somewhere in the middle. Last question; digital or non-digital? I know I am kind of all over the place in what I seek. Perhaps a Line-6 or Vox might be in order? As before, I would prefer something along the lines of a Fender; but if that’s not the appropriate amp, well then that’s not the amp I should get. Thank you SO much to anyone who has some advice or time to waste on this. I am very excited for this purchase. And really, any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again to everyone!!!

Best Answer Wow. That's a lot of info, but it makes formulating an answer a lot easier. The one common denominator in all of the amps that you mention is that they are what I could classify as "clean to mid-gain" amps. No real high gain animals in the bunch. And with the exception of one amp (the Vox), they're all class AB power sections with a mix of 6L6, 6V6, and EL34 power tubes. So, what do you go with? I've always liked the Fender Deluxe amps for my roots rock stuff. But, I also love Budda amps as well. They're not as common, but well worth seeking out. The Twinmaster is a really great amp, and at 18 watts you can get some power tube breakup with deafening yourself. Get yourself a good overdrive pedal in front of it (I've gotta plug the Fulltone Full Drive II as a great pedal), and you should be in tone heaven. Since you mention that you've never mastered effects, I would steer you away from modeling amps like Line 6. I don't have anything against them, and in fact have been using their amps live for almost 10 years (the AX2 and now the Vetta). But, unless you have a very good understanding of how effects work and interact with each other, and a good grasp on signal flow and how it impacts the total sound then you'll just get frustrated with it. I use the Vetta live because I'm playing in 2 cover bands right now, and it lets me cover a lot of sonic ground. Before going to modeling, I used 3 amps, a 16 space rack, and a 4' x 2' pedal board. The drummer would be set up be I was...that's a crime;) Now, I've got the head, cabinet, an 8 space rack with my wireless and IEM, and the Line 6 floorboard. I'm making noise 5 minutes after everything comes out of the cases. If you're just looking for a specific sound, then you're better off spending the money on one good amp, rather than something that copies a bunch of different ones! Finally, you're never going to exactly nail a semi-hollow body sound with your Les Paul. One thing I would consider is replacing the pickups. The ones in there now are Gibson's high output ceramic rockers. For the tones you're going for, the '59 PAFs would probably be a better choice. Greetings from Austin, TX Ken

Question can i replace a 12ax7 tube with a 12at7 type?? whats the differnce?
this is in my sears silvertone twin twelve amplifier what are the sound changes also?? and is it a danger to my amp>??

Best Answer 12AT7 tube has much lower amplification factor than the 12AX7 tube...about 5 or more times less. IF you replace with a 12AT7 in an amp, you may find that you cannot get the volume you had with the 12AX7...not much difference other than that. Try it ans see what happens. But, If I were you, all amps are designed with each stage at a set amplification....to lower one stage may result in poor performance due to cranking up volume control to point that clipping occurs, and yet still not enough volume..depends on what stage this tube is in. IF it is in the early preamp stages, such as for Magnetic cartridege, you will probably not have enough volume to reach rated wattage of amp...On the other hand, a 10 fold decrease in amplificaton only results in about a 6 db sound difference, and if you do not drive this unit to loud levels, you may not notice any difference. Good luck.

Question How to hook up a Sanyo Amplifier Model # JA256?


Best Answer Hi Shaun. I'm having a bit of trouble finding information about your Sanyo Amplifier. What type of Amplifier is it ? (Integrated 2 Channel or Surround Sound Receiver) Is it part of a Home Theater system or is available on its own to buy? If you could add that info. i might have better luck.Thanks.

Question I bought a sanyo stereo amplifier and separate receiver. I'm looking for directions on how to hook them up.
Jacks on back of both are RCA. I do not see jacks for speakers. May sound stupid, but is there another piece of equipment that belongs in this group? Equipment is older. Is there a manual that explains how to use these pieces that I can look at or buy?

Best Answer on the back of the amplifier there should be some 'snap connectors' which the bare wires from the speakers go in to. the 'snap connectors are usually black and red.

Question Can a 500k capacitor handle a 1200 watt Pioneer amplifier?
I got it at Walmart with a 5Gauge installation kit. I think 500k is only 0.5 farads.

Best Answer caps really don't "handle" anything. They're not much of a benefit for a 12v dc electrical system at all. Use it, don't use it. The issue is the alt. If it produces enough current to run the standard electrical system plus the amp then you're fine with or without the cap. If it's a small alt there may be issues. You'd have to provide the specific power ratings for the amp (RMS) and the current rating for your alternator for someone to make a reasonable speculation on whether your electrical system will meet the amp's needs or not.

Question Is there a way to max out the watts of a 760watt max pioneer car amplifier?
I just recently got a 760watt 2 channel pioneer car amp and it says it's putting out 250w x 2. I was wanting to know if you can raise the wattage to like 275 x 2 for example? Also it says it's a 760 watt max, but with it being 760watt amps, that it should be pushing out 380w per sub

Best Answer no but what are you trying to do fry your amp

Question How to get regular sound from tv to Panasonic SC-BT230 5.1 Surround Sound System  ?
i got a panasonic theater system but it seems to only play sound from the panasonic dvd/amplifier ... i want to get sound from regular tv show or the ps3... can someone help plz?

Best Answer Connect optical cable from PS3 and cable box to sound system for audio.

Question Panasonic is best amplifier developed in now?


Best Answer Not that I'm aware of. I've always favored Memphis amps for their clean power & excellent build quality. See link below: