hmmm...what amp am I looking for?

[Jay]

I always used to stick my amp on the side of the stage facing across.  The other guitar player did the same.  That way we basically monitored each other and kept the sound guys relatively happy.  Kinda like what Jonas suggested.

[zhivago]

I'll try that next Saturday when I play live again

thanks Jay

[chrisjedijane]

I always put my amp facing sideways - I can hear myself better, I can turn up a little bit more (maybe "2" on the blues deluxe), and the rest of my band gets blasted with noise and feedback for the whole gig. MOAHAHAHA!

they're kinda used to it now

[zhivago]

I always put my amp facing sideways - I can hear myself better, I can turn up a little bit more (maybe "2" on the blues deluxe), and the rest of my band gets blasted with noise and feedback for the whole gig. MOAHAHAHA!

they're kinda used to it now

I'm really lucky...the other guy in the band LOVES feedback...we do all sorts in between songs

[chrisjedijane]

so do we - I've kinda managed to get the other guys into it, too

[mezcalhead]

Tiltback legs is a good idea .. cheap, and the cabinet isn't vintage so you can mod it all you want .. plus they look very groovy!

I think an attenuator is probably a good idea too .. for recording some guide tracks lately I've been using the Hotplate, which has a line out. You can actually set the Hotplate to be a full load and not use the speakers at all but still get a great sound out via the line out .. so this might be an option for small gigs: pedals, TLux head only and attenuator, run the line out to the PA and get your guitar sound in the foldback .. ?

If you have the speaker cab, you can just up the load on the Hotplate until the volume coming out of the speakers is what you want on stage.

At higher attenuation, the amp doesn't sound quite as "real" but it's still 95% of the way there, closer (IMHO) than you'd get with pedals and way closer than a modeller.

Not sure how the price of a Hotplate would compare to a BOR, I'm guessing about the same? I'll check in a bit.

[zhivago]

hey thanks Jon...I'll look into the hotplate.

[i love sharin foo]

(or maybe find an ultra rare EL84 Tremolux!! hehe!)

You know, you could try a set of those THD Yellow Jacket tube sockets. You could swap in a pair of EL84s with no mods and without having to rebias or anything like that. It might quiet it slightly, but the main thing it would do is give you that EL84 sound.

http://www.thdelectronics.com/products/ ... jacket.htm

Justin

[zhivago]

interesting invention....I wonder what the Tremolux would sound like with them....hmmm....I'm kinda intrigued now...

*off to research more*

[mezcalhead]

Yes! I was going to mention Yellowjackets but forgot .. at one point I was going to try a set in my SFVR but I got distracted.

[Jez]

Hiya John, long time no see!

I've got loads to say on this subject!

First off, I've had quite a few EL84 amps, and my experience is that 15 watters are too quiet, and 30 watters too loud! Yeah, tube amps are a pain in the arse, but I still love them.

Something you need to bear in mind with EL84s is that they are NOT as bassy as Fender Blackface type setups. Even 30 watters, so I think you'll struggle with a 1x12 setup, from what you're saying about your needs.

I had a 15 watt Traynor for ages (which I think you played). It was great for overdriving, but you couldn't get any control over your bass or dynamics, 1x12 wasn't enough.

30 watts is just too loud, I could never get my Laney LC30 above 3, especially playing London gigs miked up. I could never get a natural enough OD sound.

Changing the speaker and output tubes does make a huge difference, and deserves some tinkering by itself. You can adjust to give a 15 watter more headroom and 30 watter less.

I think EL84s sound best with Alnico Blues, but I have played 15 watts through a 2x12 with G12H30s, and the volume, tone and control was amazing. The volume change between a Greenback and an Alnico Blue in the Traynor was huge.

If I could, I think my ideal setup would be a 15 watt amp with a 2x12, Celestion Alnico Blue and Celestion G12H30, and I'd recommend that setup if you're thinking of going the EL84 route.

My other suggestion is see if you can find a Watkins WEM Dominator 30 Lead. They are 30 watts with a 15" speaker. They also have two channels you can jumper. I had one and it sounded amazing. All the EL84 goodness, but the 15" speaker just gave so much bassiness and control. Of course it weighed a lot, but I loved it...

I've heard yellowjackets don't really make your amp sound EL84-like, as the circuit in the amp isn't geared that way... Don't know any more than that though...

Hope that helps!

Jez

[haledixon]

these guys' shop is about a mile from my house. extremely nice amps. the hammerhead sounds like it's up your alley.

http://www.carramps.com/hammerhead.html

[Jay]

Those things are outrageously expensive though...  I think Yannis is looking for something around $1,000 or less.

[haledixon]

you can't put a price tag on awesomeness.



but yeah, they're kind of pricey.

[mjet]

you can't put a price tag on awesomeness.

Maybe, but the shop might not let you take awesomeness home with you without the right amount of cash.