Ibanez Effects & Amps
yeah, i think we're going a little too far with the idea of a "bedroom tube amp." Remember, it's supposed to be cheap?
So, here's a more reasonable suggestion... IMO, anyway. Two channels, one clean, one lead. (you'llprobably have to call it something else, so the nu-metallers will buy them). Gain and level on both. Clean channel gets a little bit of crunch going as it goes up, nothing big. Lead has stupifying amounts of saturation- remember, to the majority of the public, ibanez=metal. footswitchable, footswitch included.
Independant EQ for each would be great, but that'd probably add to the cost. So, go with a single three band EQ setup. prescense would be nice, too.
Reverb, and if possible an effects loop. DSP on a tube amp? *shudder* i hate to say it, but it'd probably sell.
20 watts through a 1x12. maybe 10, but not much less. extension cab output, as well. Headphone jack.
Maybe i'm being optimistic, but i'd say you could probably get that to list for just under $500. maybe $400 street. would it sell?
HELL YEAH.
All these other ideas have been cool, and they're products i'd love to see introduced at some point. However, pre- and post- eq, as much as i'd love to see it, would definately up the cost and complexity considerably. metal players generally need to be able to jump between clean and distorted sounds, and msot of them need to do it too fast to fake it with a volume knob adjustment, so two channels are a necessity at this level. Three would be overkill in a 20 watt bedroom sized combo (remember, it needs to be small to fit this niche). 50 milliwatts? it'd rock for recording, but i'd be shocked if it could put out enough power to jam along with a drummer, for instance, and at this level, you need soemthing that you can play with other musicians with if you crank it. trust me on this, this was me four years back. I'd never buy anythign that wasn't loud enough to at least be heard in the same room as a drummer. (a drummer playing moderately soft, anyway). Likewise, to a hard rock guitarist, amp wattage is kind of like the old "phallus" debate- "mine is bigger than yours is." WE all know how much a small tiny amp would rock. most poeple don't.
So, there's my vote, and my reasons. Eventually, i'd love to see this basic amplifier supplimented with a 50-watt head version (three channels, pre and post eq, the works) and a mini recording model (one channel, 5 or fewer watts)
Of course, if ibanez needs someone to help design the thing and do all the R&D work, i'd be MORE than willing to led a hand... *hint, hint* lol
-Drew
EDIT- actually, i may have missed the price point. you'd be appealing to beginners looking for their first "real" amp, so $300-$350 would be a better street price target. $400 tops. this might mean cutting something- maybe less wattage (10 would be totally acceptable, i'd imagine), probably the DSP unless you can do that cheaper than i'd imagine, and probably killing the prescense knob.
Also, maybe a 4-band EQ would be nice- high, low, and a parametric mid- frequency and boost/cut. would do a lot in the way of diversity, especially for the way it'd interact with the tube distortion.
(Edited by Drew at 9:03 pm on April 14, 2002)