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Multi-amp setup? (Read 1992 times)
Matchstikman
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Multi-amp setup?
05/14/16 at 17:04:21
 
In the last few years I've been jamming with a bunch of guys; a little blues, a little jazz, old school rock, and the occasional heavy thing.  After a while it became evident that I couldn't get the sounds I wanted from one amp even if it did have multiple channels.  Either the distortion side wasn't good enough or the clean side wasn't clean enough.  I know there are alot of professional musicians that use multiple amp setups to get they sound they want.  For example, they'll use Marshall for the heavy distortion and switch to Fender for a clean sound.  Or maybe two of the same amplifier, each dialed in to a specific setting.

So, anyone heard of anyone doing this with audio equipment.  Is such a thing doable?   For example, a solid state amp for music that requires lots of bottom end and then a tube amp for other things that require a delicate touch.

It would be quite a setup.
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Lon
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Re: Multi-amp setup?
Reply #1 - 05/14/16 at 20:48:20
 
I have a Fender Jazzmaster Ultra-light amp that has a truly deep clean channel . . . it's a digital power amp I believe. I have a matching cabinet and both are so light! I'm picky, and I get a really nice clean sound out of this for jazz and the blues I play. Mine is a prototype in a beautiful wine finish that has only one channel and no effects built in--the standard model that was for sale had an additional distorted channel and effects built in. I have never heard that version, but if it had the same clean sound and a distorted sound it might be an ideal amp for your purposes. Really, I didn't think I would like this amp but it won me over, I'm a big tube amp person but this one had the really satisfying sound and the promise of long reliability and the light weight that won me over. Unfortunately the model never took off and they are not available to buy new except occasionally on ebay and other guitar-owner sales sites.

http://jazztimes.com/articles/17062-fender-jazzmaster-ultralight-guitar-amplifie...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtqYB3YTnzk

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/fender-jazzmaster-ultralight-a...

For distortion I use a two tubed preamp from Damage Control called "Liquid Blues Distortion." It has a clean bypass that gives you a creamy tube clean sound, and a variable tube distortion that can give you subtle to extreme blues distortion. Again, Damage Control has gone out of business and they are not easy to find.

http://damagecontrolusa.com/products/liquid-blues/

If I were performing I have the perfect  amp for my purposes that is heavy and bulky and yet gives me a totally fat and clean sound I would want on stage, a '59 Bassman Reissue, Tweed edition. These four 10" speakers with the classic tweed sound amplification just have the mojo that I love to hear. I also have a Hot Plate device for this that allows me to ramp up the volume output controls but limit the sound coming out giving me lots of power tube distortion when needed in a smaller space. The Bassman is a dinosaur, and I will never use its potential but man it's got THE sound for me.

Another amp to look into is the TV Bassman amp. . . that was available in a Ten, Twelve, Fifteen and Two Ten series I think. I have the Fifteen. It's a digital amp with a 12AX7 tube preamp section. Again, I thought this would be crap and it totally surprised me as being a very tight version of the '59 Bassman sound, just clear and thick and full. I bet the Twelve would be a great amp for  your purposes. Again, they never took off and are hard to find these days.

http://en.audiofanzine.com/bass-guitar-combo-amp/fender/Bassman-TV-Series/editor...

Hope this gives you some ideas and things to research.

I use these amps for my guitars, basses and six-string basses. . . .
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