Amps for our Digitech guitarist

[Garry Sharp]

Our guitar player needs a new amp, and we'd appreciate some input. Our line up is a drummer with a loud Sonor kit, bass with a 400W ProFet IV driving a 210, keys with a 200W Roland Combo, various vox. FOH all through the PA, but we're mostly playing smaller venues (100 - 500 people) so spill off the stage has proved to be an issue.

Guitar man uses mostly a Les Paul into a Digitech GNX3 multi pedal, which he is deeply into and uses well. He needs a big range of sounds, which the pedal giives him. Therefore my argument is that the most important influence on his sound is the Digi, which effectively replaces the pre, and then a good speaker cab coupled with a clean power amp. His amp is if course always mic'd when we play live.

Was wondering about Tech21 stuff, which I understand is designed for the Digitech sort of signal, or any comments or ideas you may have. I suspect a really good cab and clean amplification is the answer, but you might have better ideas. He could drown the entire band out with his 70W Peavey so I guess there's no need for more watts that that, but again open to input.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[foo]

The processor is going to be the sound he's getting, so the best option is super clean (as you said).

My vote would be for a second hand Roland JC-120. About as clean a sound as you can find, and the two twelves will give you good coverage.

My personal choice would be something with tubes (valves) in it, but as he's already using a digital processor I'm guessing he likes the digital sound.

 

[cstockdale]

Before I even saw Foo's post, I was going to say a Roland JC120. One really nice feature with it is that the effects loop is in parallel, so you can blend as much of the GNX tone with the clean amp tone as you like, you can even run the two signals (clean and effected) into separate speakers in the cabinet from what I understand.

 

[Gidge]

get a good keyboard amp and disable the tweeter......

 

[Garry Sharp]

Thanks guys.

He's looking at the JC120. It's very expensive tho!! (Guess that's why you said 2nd hand)

 

[cstockdale]

Yeah, it isn't a cheap amp new. But a part of that attests to the fact that is a great amp for its niche. They can be found for $500 US second hand or even less, I have seen them at $400 CDN ($300US), and if he has a little patience, he should be able to track one down in a few weeks.


New right now they are $700US at Zzounds, Samedaymusic, Muzikland, Music123, and several other retailers, so don't get caught paying list price of $1K for it.


Another solution would be to just get a very clean power amp and connect it to a large cabinet.

 

[Garry Sharp]

Another solution would be to just get a very clean power amp and connect it to a large cabinet.

Yes, I was thinking that - a Marshall 2x12 or something, with a 100W power amp.

After the earlier post he's now talking about a Roland 2x10 65W combo he's found, although I can't see such a thing on their site.

UK prices are rather higher - the JC90 is £649 (over $1,000) so heaven knows what the 120 would cost.

 

[7evin]

get a good keyboard amp and disable the tweeter......

VERY MUCH AGREED. I have a GNX3, and they just don't make a good enough guitar amp for the poorer people (like me). The GNX3 is a amp / cab modeler, so you need to have a full range speaker, a keyboard amp works great becuase there is a level of compression as well. It will sound very nice!

 

[grinder]

How about a stereo tube power amp and 2- 2x12 cabs.

 

[Garry Sharp]

Definitely see the logic in the keyboard amp. Also have been looking at used Marshall tube power amps - the GNX is a good pedal but slightly clinical. I understand that the way a guitar cab response drops off over 5khz is a critical part of the sound (hence the GNX sounds awful plugged straight into a PA) and was also thinking of a (not two!) Marshall 2x12.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[Garry Sharp]

Right, we're sorted. Budget was more of an issue than I'd realised but today we found a used Marshall 112 100W clean trannie combo for £160, got a good trade in on his old amp.

Will need to get an extension cab, if only for stage presence, but it's plenty loud enough and has a good speaker.

Was wondering why the GNX3 sounded like crap thro' a PA, then remembered that there are two output settings - one for going into a guitar amp, the other for full range line output (which presumably cuts the highs); it defaults to the former on switch on and I'd completely forgotten about the alternative.

Thanks again for your help.

Garry

 

[tf5_bassist]

get a good keyboard amp and disable the tweeter......

Hence why i've opted to use my bass amp for my guitar work now.

Aside from the fact that I sold my 70s Princeton Reverb about 4 months ago. *sobs*