rdsmith3 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Reading about everyone modifying pickups, pots, etc. has got me thinking about making changes, even though I just got my Dot. However, am I correct in thinking that it makes more sense for me to upgrade my lousy amp before I change pickups or anything like that? I have a cheap Line 6 Spyder III 15 w amp. I would really like to save up for a tube amp to get the best sound out of my Dot. In other words, why change a pickup to get a better sound if it is still going through an amp that cannot really deliver that sound? Does that seem like the right priority? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Reading about everyone modifying pickups' date=' pots, etc. has got me thinking about making changes, even though I just got my Dot. However, am I correct in thinking that it makes more sense for me to upgrade my lousy amp before I change pickups or anything like that? I have a cheap Line 6 Spyder III 15 w amp. I would really like to save up for a tube amp to get the best sound out of my Dot. In other words, why change a pickup to get a better sound if it is still going through an amp that cannot really deliver that sound? Does that seem like the right priority? [/quote'] Yes it does .... to me, anyways. My Epi LP sounds a LOT better through a tube amp.... and the guitars controls actually seem to have a wider range (may be in my head, dunno...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamm7215 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 The only thing to modify on my IBJL Casino would be the tuners, maybe go to actual Klusons instead of the E stamped copies on it, otherwise you are correct in getting your gear in order, I feel. I play through a Blues Jr. with a Little Muff Pi and Tokai overdrive in front. I have a Boss GT-8 for effects, etc. but rarely use it anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrap_Iron Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Yes! Bring your guitar out and try some amps, it will make you smile[biggrin] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Yup. Get a descent amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Amp first, then mods. Try a Blackheart Handsome Devil, Epi Valve Senior, Fender Blues Junior... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicfox Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Definitely get a good amp. Tubes are sweet and you will get more tonal variation as I notice when I play on my PC speakers the guitars tone knobs barely function to the ears but in a good amp a much more desired effect. Good guitar amps have the right frequency response and usually larger and better quality speakers . Tube amps seem to breath more it's difficult to describe, a natural compression effect when cranked even with solid state rectifier circuits found on many on modern amps. (Tube rectifiers=more compression due to voltage sag) Consider a good quality amp of lower wattage unless you're a Metalhead or Droner and need sheer volume. My 15 watt tube amp never gets above 5 or so (12 on dial) live performing and starts to break up real nice then. A 100 watt amp wouldn't break up and sound sweeter naturally until your and your neighbors ears are bleeding. A 15 watt amp is about 50% as powerful as a 100 watt or something like that. Its not 6.5 times louder as one might guess. There is a scale for this. And tube watts seem to be more honest and effective when the chips are down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Absolutely!! Great amps, can make even modest guitars sound wonderful. A great guitar, will sound like a cheap POS, through a bad amp. Definitely...Get the AMP, first. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Amp first. You may find that a more sensitive and responsive amp helps you improve or change your playing, too. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strumbone Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 A 15 watt amp is about 50% as powerful as a 100 watt or something like that. Its not 6.5 times louder as one might guess. There is a scale for this. And tube watts seem to be more honest and effective when the chips are down. Yes sir, it's logarithmic (sp?), and that's why sound levels are measured in decibels. (decimal = power of 10). So, a 10 watt amp is perceived to be half as loud as a 100 watt amp, and a 1 watt amp is half as loud as a 10 watt amp. When building my amp, I had options for 20 watt, 5 watt, or 1 watt, and subsequently chose the 1 watt option...glad I did! I can overdrive the preamp with the gain, while keeping overall volume low, overdrive the output section while keeping the gain low, or anywhere in between! It won't peel the paint off the walls, but suits my needs perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Amp first' date=' then mods. Try a Blackheart Handsome Devil, Epi Valve Senior, Fender Blues Junior...[/quote'] and if you're only going to use it for practice/recording, definitely try out a Blackstar HT-5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesomeagle1 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I'll put my 2 cents in for the Vox AC4TV. What a difference a decent amp can make. Plus with the Vox no mods are necessary. Quality tubes and a celestion speaker. All for about $200 Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 I'll put my 2 cents in for the Vox AC4TV.What a difference a decent amp can make. Plus with the Vox no mods are necessary. Quality tubes and a celestion speaker. All for about $200 Pete That looks really nice for my needs (practice/play at home). Best price I saw was $250. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted January 13, 2010 Author Share Posted January 13, 2010 and if you're only going to use it for practice/recording' date=' definitely try out a Blackstar HT-5[/quote'] That looks nice but $500 is a little out of my budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chemurgy Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Yes a tube amp will change your life. I bought a Epiphone Les Paul Standard in 1998 with a Zoom multi effect pedal and a cheap solid state amp. I didn't play that much. I wasn't inspired. Later I bought a used Fender Hotrod Deluxe and I was playing hours every day! No effects nothing! There is some sonic magic that happens. Except if you play metal stuff. My only advice would be to go with a tube amp that has a 12" speaker in it to get some bass reponse. The littles tubes amps (Fender Champion 600, Epiphone Valve Junior, etc.) they all sound boxy unless you crank them up. And even then... Try to find a used Fender Blues Junior, a Peavey Classic 30 or something similar. It's going to be a more durable purchase. Usually buying cheap = buying again later. Wait to have sufficiant money and do the move. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mud guy Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I think you have a unanimous decision here. I started with a solid state then upgraded to a 50 watt all tube combo...I shopped around quite a bit for an amp...was settled on a blues jr., then found a used Traynor (canadian made) that I couldn't pass up for the price. My buddy who I play with just got a Blues Jr. and it keeps up well with my 50 wt. He plays a tele and the distinct tonal differences between the tele and my dot really sound sweet through two tube amps (if only our playing would improve). I vowed never to be a tube snob, but I've compared apples to apples and there is a major difference...less harsh and more organic. The only thing I would change on my dot for now would be a new bridge (Gotoh?) that would give me some more playing room for intonation, or a new nut. -Cal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 It doesn't have to be an expensive tube amp!!!!! Don't want to ruin your day, but it is a lot harder than just going out and buying a top tube amp. Yes, as all the responses here agree, an amp is the real key to your guitar more than modifying pickups. But here's the interesting (and also daunting) part -- it can be ANY amp that gives you that great sound you seek. I have three amps: - VOX AC30 - Fender Princeton - Crate Taos acoustic (a cheap $200 amp) My top guitar is a White Falcon and it plays best in my cheapo Crate. This combination gives me the perfect tone. I have no idea why. Great guitar, cheapo amp equals superb tone for me. I am sure all here will agree that certain guitars play better in certain amps. Guitar A sounds perfect in Amp A, but same guitar sounds like crap in Amp B. That's a scary scenario for anyone seeking great tone. Basically you have to try your guitar out in many, many amps. Don't look at the price, the brand name...just use your ears. A cheap $200 Crate acoustic is the key to my White Falcon tone. Who woulda thunk it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesomeagle1 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 That looks really nice for my needs (practice/play at home). Best price I saw was $250. The 10" is 250 , the 8" is 199 you can add a 12" cabinet later if you want . I have to say that I played the 600 Champ and the VJ but the Vox blew them out of the water pure stock. Really brought out the tone of my 56 Goldtop's p90's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 I did get a new amp. I got a good deal on a new Fender Vibro Champ XD -- $170 at Guitar Center with a coupon. I like it, but to be honest, it lacks bass. I understand it only has an 8" speaker, but my Line 6 Spyder III 15W also has an 8" speaker, and that puts out more bass. The funny thing is that on the Acoustic voice (16) there is bass, but not on the other voices. strange. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 The small Fender solid state amps arent really all that great. With Fender amps, any speaker smaller than a 10" is probably going to leave someting to be desired. And even with a 10" speaker you are probably going to want an amp that has two of them in it, like the Princeton Chorus. Remember, with Fender you are paying for the name first and foremost. You probably should have went with the Blackheart, Vox or a small tube amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxHart85231281734137 Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 was your old amp closed back, I know that fenders are mostly open back, you might want to make a closed back for the amp, should give you more thump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Im gassing for this... £167!!!!!! http://www.thomann.de/gb/vht_special_6_bundle.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 was your old amp closed back' date=' I know that fenders are mostly open back, you might want to make a closed back for the amp, should give you more thump[/quote'] I have it against a wall, which I thought would help get more bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MykWiz Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have it against a wall' date=' which I thought would help get more bass. [/quote'] On the floor? Or on a stand? I've heard people notice a tonal difference (for the better) having an amp on the floor. ~MW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 On the floor? Or on a stand? I've heard people notice a tonal difference (for the better) having an amp on the floor. ~MW It's on top of a bookcase. I will try the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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