Lets look at our guitars thread
Discussion
Grobag said:
Chemistry, slight thread de-rail but see you've got a H&K mini-stack there, how do you rate it? Haven't played through one yet but kinda fascinated by the blue glow thing, and tempted by the Grandmeister Deluxe 40!!
Overall, I like it (and obviously it's worth it for the blue glow alone; that never gets old 
).It sounds good, has a good range of tones, seems well made (I've had it a few years and had no problems at all), has lots of features (without being burdened by ones you won't use) and is very flexible (especially the ability to run it at 1/5/18/36W). Having two 1x12 cabinets allows me to easily run it as a 2x12 or use just one cabinet and plug the other into a second amp. I also like the fact that the amp/speakers seem to allow each guitar to sound like it should; each guitar's character comes through very clearly, so a Strat sounds all sparkly and quacky, a Les Paul's bottom end rumbles through, etc.
Downsides are that overall it can sound quite 'pure' and hi-fi' - a Marshall stack it is not! It can also sound quite mid-rangey, especially at lower power/volume settings (i suspect this is as much to do with the speakers as the amp). However, I find that my Fulltone OCD and Xotic Effects EP Booster (my favourite pedal ever) largely allow me to overcome these issues. Of course, for clean and overdriven stuff its great, but I wouldn't say it's an ideal metal amp, if that's what you are after.
Frankly, it's a fine amp and far exceeds my talent/needs. I'd buy one again, knowing what I know now, and I'm sure the Grandmeister Deluxe 40 (or the new Tubemeister Deluxe 40) woudl be even better.
Having said all that, for low volume practice I find that I use my Yamaha THR-10X, which (to my amazement) produces excellent sounds from a fairly cheap, solid state amp with tiny speakers.
Happy shopping and let us know what you get
chemistry said:
Grobag said:
Chemistry, slight thread de-rail but see you've got a H&K mini-stack there, how do you rate it? Haven't played through one yet but kinda fascinated by the blue glow thing, and tempted by the Grandmeister Deluxe 40!!
Overall, I like it (and obviously it's worth it for the blue glow alone; that never gets old ).It sounds good, has a good range of tones, seems well made (I've had it a few years and had no problems at all), has lots of features (without being burdened by ones you won't use) and is very flexible (especially the ability to run it at 1/5/18/36W). Having two 1x12 cabinets allows me to easily run it as a 2x12 or use just one cabinet and plug the other into a second amp. I also like the fact that the amp/speakers seem to allow each guitar to sound like it should; each guitar's character comes through very clearly, so a Strat sounds all sparkly and quacky, a Les Paul's bottom end rumbles through, etc.
Downsides are that overall it can sound quite 'pure' and hi-fi' - a Marshall stack it is not! It can also sound quite mid-rangey, especially at lower power/volume settings (i suspect this is as much to do with the speakers as the amp). However, I find that my Fulltone OCD and Xotic Effects EP Booster (my favourite pedal ever) largely allow me to overcome these issues. Of course, for clean and overdriven stuff its great, but I wouldn't say it's an ideal metal amp, if that's what you are after.
Frankly, it's a fine amp and far exceeds my talent/needs. I'd buy one again, knowing what I know now, and I'm sure the Grandmeister Deluxe 40 (or the new Tubemeister Deluxe 40) woudl be even better.
Having said all that, for low volume practice I find that I use my Yamaha THR-10X, which (to my amazement) produces excellent sounds from a fairly cheap, solid state amp with tiny speakers.
Happy shopping and let us know what you get
I'm not a metal player so I'd guess the gain channels would be fine, plus I've got a boost pedal if I find I need it. Not sounding like a Marshall is part of the attraction! In fact it was all sounding good and I'd started doing man-maths and convincing myself that it would benefit my very average playing. Then you kinda ruined it by mentioning something I was doing my best to blank out..... that truth be told for noodling at home I should probably shelve the idea and buy something sensible like the Yamaha instead!!! 
That's no fun though is it!! 
I’ve had this guitar for over 20 years. Many others have come and gone - some worth 20 times as much!
I’ve always used it on stage. Probably over a thousand sessions as well.
It’s a 1982 Ibanez SB 70. It’s had super 70’s on from new. Amazing sounding things, they really are. Nickel strings on it - as in all my electrics. Incredibly stable - tuning wise. No frills.
They are rare but very cheap - never more than £400. I’d not sell this one for any money.
Just thought I’d share that. I’ve got a few silly guitars - but this is the one that actually gets used. Day in, day out.
Great thread, this.
So I'm sure many of you have been following NAMM - what are you liking the looks of?
Helix FX (HX Effects) looks great - natural successor to the m9/m13 series but with Helix FX and routing capabilities - opens up the product to those who weren't interested in modelling and goes head to head with the H9/AX8 and also the new Boss offerings. - Hopefully I'll have some nice Helix tones to upload soon - https://www.gearnews.com/namm-2018-line-6-hx-effec...
Poly Expressive - interesting way of controlling FX Paramaters with a thin board that's easy to transport and road ready - some people can't quite adjust but Loki the owner seems a great guy and is bringing something different to the market - https://www.gearnews.com/poly-expressive-creative-...
PRS S2 Studio - PRS's attempt to make a hard working guitar for the everyman - their top end models were so expensive they were worrying to travel with - and whilst the SE series has some corkers, it's build quality is not on par (and the best are signatures, which some dislike). The first of the S2 line was almost there, but now with the studio you have a proper swiss army knife American PRS that you don't have to worry about as much - perfect for session/functions work- I think i'll pick one up next year - https://www.gearnews.com/prs-s2-series-studio-stra...
Helix FX (HX Effects) looks great - natural successor to the m9/m13 series but with Helix FX and routing capabilities - opens up the product to those who weren't interested in modelling and goes head to head with the H9/AX8 and also the new Boss offerings. - Hopefully I'll have some nice Helix tones to upload soon - https://www.gearnews.com/namm-2018-line-6-hx-effec...
Poly Expressive - interesting way of controlling FX Paramaters with a thin board that's easy to transport and road ready - some people can't quite adjust but Loki the owner seems a great guy and is bringing something different to the market - https://www.gearnews.com/poly-expressive-creative-...
PRS S2 Studio - PRS's attempt to make a hard working guitar for the everyman - their top end models were so expensive they were worrying to travel with - and whilst the SE series has some corkers, it's build quality is not on par (and the best are signatures, which some dislike). The first of the S2 line was almost there, but now with the studio you have a proper swiss army knife American PRS that you don't have to worry about as much - perfect for session/functions work- I think i'll pick one up next year - https://www.gearnews.com/prs-s2-series-studio-stra...
Big news at this year's NAMM is that Fender have discontinued their American Vintage series, which they've been making since 1985 (although this was leaked a week or so ago).
Its replacement is called the American Original series but the number of models has dropped significantly. For example whereas previously there was a 56, 59, 62 and 65 Strat, there is now just a 50s and a 60s, Same with the Tele and presumably the basses, Jaguar, Jazzmaster etc. They do have a few more modern features, one being a flatter 9.5 inch neck radius. There seem to be more colours available now though.
I'm going to have my work cut out resisting the 50s Strat in Aztec Gold.
Its replacement is called the American Original series but the number of models has dropped significantly. For example whereas previously there was a 56, 59, 62 and 65 Strat, there is now just a 50s and a 60s, Same with the Tele and presumably the basses, Jaguar, Jazzmaster etc. They do have a few more modern features, one being a flatter 9.5 inch neck radius. There seem to be more colours available now though.
I'm going to have my work cut out resisting the 50s Strat in Aztec Gold.
I've been toying with the idea of trading in my Classic 50s (Lacquer) Telecaster for an AV58, but if they are going obsolete (and most places only stocked them to order anyway), then it'll save me the cost if the replacement has a 9.5" radius: I just can't adjust to that radius after years of 7.25" which the AV58 did have.
To be honest, the AV58/it's replacement is probably a much better guitar than I really need anyway...
To be honest, the AV58/it's replacement is probably a much better guitar than I really need anyway...
Very exciting, I have a handmade Strat on order from a Luthier in the north west. I've never been into 'relic'd', however when I saw what this guy can do I had to have one, so incoming is a 'heavy relic' swamp ash body, 9.5" rosewood board with jumbo 6100 frets on a modern C neck, custom wound pickups. Will update with pics as and when I get them.
Edit: Oh and it's blue, sort of
Edit: Oh and it's blue, sort of
rsbmw said:
Very exciting, I have a handmade Strat on order from a Luthier in the north west. I've never been into 'relic'd', however when I saw what this guy can do I had to have one, so incoming is a 'heavy relic' swamp ash body, 9.5" rosewood board with jumbo 6100 frets on a modern C neck, custom wound pickups. Will update with pics as and when I get them.
Edit: Oh and it's blue, sort of
Do you want to name the Luthier ?Edit: Oh and it's blue, sort of
Using this today. It’s a 53’ - have to say, it’s not actually that nice sounding. It’s all right - it’s a bit like driving a car from 1953, if you see what I mean.
Somebody had bashed the bridge about. Took quite a bit of faffing to get it just so!
Edited by W124 on Tuesday 23 January 22:42
Somebody had bashed the bridge about. Took quite a bit of faffing to get it just so!
Edited by W124 on Tuesday 23 January 22:43
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