Mesa Boogie Rectifier Preamp or Peavey JSX - Page 2

Darin · #16 04-04-2007, 08:21 PM

Using a Lexicon Omega external 24bit interface and CuBase recording software that came with it.

The Lexicon wasn't very expensive. I think maybe $200 or something like that. And a plain ole Shure SM57 mic. Nothin special.

IbanezGirl · #17 04-04-2007, 08:35 PM

Darin, i've been impressed with your audio samples of the JSX. It's a shame they don't make a 30 watt. I will be in the market for a new amp in a few months time, and would have jumped at the chance otherwise.

Darin · #18 04-04-2007, 08:40 PM

I have heard a modded Peavey Classic 30 1x12 combo that sounded pretty darn good. It's an option for an affordable 30watt gainy tube amp. I'm not sure what out there.

I've played through this thing: http://www.orangeamps.com/tinyterror/
If you haven't had a chance to check it out. It's worth a look. Gobs of gain and only 15 tube watts.

Darin · #19 04-04-2007, 08:43 PM

IbanezGirl Do you have a myspace?

IbanezGirl · #20 04-04-2007, 09:10 PM

Thanks for the tinyterror link. Oh, it has an Output switch too!. I will definitely have to check one out. Thanks Darin

Sorry don't have myspace.

SimpleMind · #21 04-05-2007, 08:01 AM

Hei Darin, just came over one more little question. This will be a once in a live investment, that means probably the one amp i will have for the rest of my live. I am not quite sure if i should take the Combo or Half stack but i am tending for the Half Stack. What would you choose? Are the Half Stack and Combo comparable with respect to useability as a practice amp at home? If thats the case there would be no doubt for me to choose that one because of the better sound in bigger venues (does the soundaspect apply to smaller venues too?). With respect to transportation i can`t see that much difference. Thx again for helping so kindly.

Darin · #22 04-05-2007, 07:00 PM

That's a tough one to answer. The combo has it's advantages. But the downside it, the weight. The head alone is darn near 60lbs. Add a cab with 2 speakers and your arms will fall off. I had a friend play a combo in a live concert and he loved it. The advantage to having a head is you can be picky about you speakers when you buy a cab. I already had a Carvin 2x12 cab, which I really dig. I would have a 4x12 but I drive my little car to my gigs and the 2x12 fits in the trunk. If I were currently looking for a 2x12, I'd check out the Genz Benz cabs. I can't really add anything more than that. I'm sure the portability and not having to have a speaker cable with you is great for a combo. One more thing. I don't always have my head and cab near each other at shows. I might have my head on the drum stand and my cab 20 feet away. Or more likely I will have my cab behind the house 4x15 pointing back at me and my head behind me. Personally I prefer the head and cab route. But I'm sure there are people that can make as strong an arguement for the combo.

RSVampire · #23 04-05-2007, 08:50 PM

the sound is also quite a bit more loose in the bottom end of a combo amp because it has an open back design. That means you can look in the back of the amp and see the back of the speaker magnets.

This makes it cool for studio and room use because it can fill a room quite a bit more and use the room/walls to it's advantage. The downside is once you turn it up really loud the lack of air pressure pushing the sound outward makes the lower end sound kind of tubby/muddy/loose whatever you want to call it.

You can remedy this by just buying a closed back extension cab and hauling that to your gigs when needed. But like Darin said, you can do a lot with a Head and Cab setup.

With the Head you can still buy open back cabs and such but it's also cool to be able to place the speakers away from the amplifier. For at home you can build a small isolation box for the cab and mic it with the amp cranked and also eliminate reverb/room noise all without letting your neighbors know you have your amp on 11.

If it were up to me, I'd buy the Head and Cab. Also, for any of you looking at the power switch on the combo and the lack of it on the Head, you can just pull the outer 2 power tubes and that will cut the power rating in half 60 watts.

voodoo_child · #24 04-05-2007, 09:09 PM

Specifically to the JSX, isnt there some circuitry difference between the head and combo? I thought i read something about the EQ or tone stacks being slightly different....maybe not?

As for pulling 2 tubes to lower it to 60 watts...? If its too loud for you at 120, it'll probably still be too loud at 60. The difference in loudness is what...80% or something....? certainly not half anyway...

Definitely budget for a Hotplate attenuator, they are really cool little gizmos if you're using a lot of big tube amps.

RSVampire · #25 04-05-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voodoo_child

Specifically to the JSX, isnt there some circuitry difference between the head and combo? I thought i read something about the EQ or tone stacks being slightly different....maybe not?

As for pulling 2 tubes to lower it to 60 watts...? If its too loud for you at 120, it'll probably still be too loud at 60. The difference in loudness is what...80% or something....? certainly not half anyway...

Definitely budget for a Hotplate attenuator, they are really cool little gizmos if you're using a lot of big tube amps.

yes there could be tone stack differences between the amps but as far as I know of there are none.

I didn't say cut the "volume" in half I said cut the power rating in half. It will help with some volume, but that comment was more thwarted towards people who will say "the combo has a 1/2 watt switch and the head doesn't"

I forgot about the Hotplates, those are definitely a good investment to get a lower sound out of a live situation. Thanks for helping and contributing to the focus of the thread.

-Ryan

voodoo_child · #26 04-05-2007, 09:23 PM

Yeah, i can't be 100% sure, i just remember something about a slight difference in the combo version, maybe a pssive EQ vs active or something? Id imagine someone who owns one could shed light, im just rummaging around the back of my mind, and theres a lot of crap there

The hotplate is more aimed at any amp really, whether its got a low power switch or not. I just find them great gizmos, they really do a great job on making really powerful amps a bit more manageable. Sometimes you find a really great amp and are thinking 'man, this amp sounds amazing, i wish i could play the damn thing at home without waking half the neighbourhood'....

Darin · #27 04-05-2007, 09:23 PM

It's not a Legacy. It doesn't need a "HotPlate or Power brake". The JSX Sounds as good at any level. I will do a test to prove this and post a clip in a little while here.

voodoo_child · #28 04-05-2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

It's not a Legacy. It doesn't need a "HotPlate or Power brake". The JSX Sounds as good at any level. I will do a test to prove this and post a clip in a little while here.

Hi Darin, I wont disagree with you, since you've got a JSX and I dont.

Ive found hotplates to be great additions to any amps, whether they sound great quiet or not. Simply because power tubes do certain things when they are running flat out.

Im not a amp-expert (usually just go by my ears), so someone might correct me here, but unless you're running your power tubes at full whack, you're not going to get that sag and clip that makes an overdriven power section sound so great.

Same as, you might have a car with a great engine that sounds great and pulls strongly in any gear, but you're not going to go fast unless you put your foot down....?

But i may be wrong, i'll look forward to your clip, they've all been great so far.

Darin · #29 04-05-2007, 10:52 PM

Ok, here it is. This clip has 2 parts. The 1st part was with the amp darn near uncomfortably loud, the 2nd is a nice comfortable apartment level. Any difference in tone, which is not much if any could be easily remedied by turning a knob. I only touched the master volume for the two parts.

http://www.christianbattleofthebands...t%20levels.mp3