Amplifier FAQ

[Meeeoww]

A couple of those links were downright falsified fabrications.

Which ones?

While he has probably dabbled in using a different amp once or twice, THE Gilmour sound is an echo-drenched Strat through a Hiwatt hooked up to WEM and leslie cabs.

I'm not trying to start an argument, I just have yet to see anywhere that says such a thing. Everything I Can see points to him recording and performing large with a wide variety of equipment. Provide me something that says otherwise and I'll gladly change it.

edit: I should say, rather, that I need to add a Hiwatt section. I'm not denying Gilmour used or favored Hiwatts, I'm only asking for further proof that the Marshall/Boogie sources I'm citing are false. I don't have a Hiwatt section, because I know nothing about Hiwatts - and further, I don't consider them all that legendary in the same sense that a Marshall, Fender, or Boogie is. So, yeah... just clarifying.

The eHow link or whatever was clearly wrong...it states that Gilmour is known for his use of wah, which is only used on 2 songs at most. It also states that getting "his sound" requires Marshalls...I'm sure you've listened to Pink Floyd, and that is definitely NOT the sound of Marshalls. Nothing about his sound remotely resembles Marshall amps; in fact they are almost opposites. Hiwatts have crystal clear highs and thumping lows, with untouched cleans at ridiculous volumes: all characteristics that rule out Marshalls, at least to that extent. Another thing to consider is that every single eHow article I've read has been horribly off with just about any subject, both musical and non-musical. I knew wikipedia had questionable credibility, but eHow is so much worse that it shouldn't even be a valid source.

I wouldn't consider the Mesa site valid either. I'm sure at MOST David purchased one of their products, but that doesn't mean he used it for his famous work with Pink Floyd. Jimi Hendrix owned a couple Gibsons, but does that mean you would recommend a Gibson for a person who wanted "THE Hendrix sound?" Would you recommend a strat for THE Zeppelin sound, just because Jimmy Page has been using strats more and more lately?

Based on everything I've read, David worked closely with Dave Reeves and glorified his amplifiers. His later years involved a ridiculous pedal chain that simply would not have worked on a Marshall or Mesa amp; it was something that could only sound that organic through the famous pedal-friendly Hiwatts.

Have you ever been to Gilmourish.com? It's considered the most respectable site concerning Gilmour's guitar equipment, all cited and confirmed either with photographs or by the man himself.

I'm not trying to argue over something so minute either, but I just think it's a bit ridiculous to associate Gilmour with Marshalls or Mesas with no mention of Hiwatts, since David and that one guy from The Who are the two players who made Reeve's products famous.

[AKA Ninja]

A couple of those links were downright falsified fabrications.

Which ones?

While he has probably dabbled in using a different amp once or twice, THE Gilmour sound is an echo-drenched Strat through a Hiwatt hooked up to WEM and leslie cabs.

I'm not trying to start an argument, I just have yet to see anywhere that says such a thing. Everything I Can see points to him recording and performing large with a wide variety of equipment. Provide me something that says otherwise and I'll gladly change it.

edit: I should say, rather, that I need to add a Hiwatt section. I'm not denying Gilmour used or favored Hiwatts, I'm only asking for further proof that the Marshall/Boogie sources I'm citing are false. I don't have a Hiwatt section, because I know nothing about Hiwatts - and further, I don't consider them all that legendary in the same sense that a Marshall, Fender, or Boogie is. So, yeah... just clarifying.

The eHow link or whatever was clearly wrong...it states that Gilmour is known for his use of wah, which is only used on 2 songs at most. It also states that getting "his sound" requires Marshalls...I'm sure you've listened to Pink Floyd, and that is definitely NOT the sound of Marshalls. Nothing about his sound remotely resembles Marshall amps; in fact they are almost opposites. Hiwatts have crystal clear highs and thumping lows, with untouched cleans at ridiculous volumes: all characteristics that rule out Marshalls, at least to that extent. Another thing to consider is that every single eHow article I've read has been horribly off with just about any subject, both musical and non-musical. I knew wikipedia had questionable credibility, but eHow is so much worse that it shouldn't even be a valid source.

I wouldn't consider the Mesa site valid either. I'm sure at MOST David purchased one of their products, but that doesn't mean he used it for his famous work with Pink Floyd. Jimi Hendrix owned a couple Gibsons, but does that mean you would recommend a Gibson for a person who wanted "THE Hendrix sound?" Would you recommend a strat for THE Zeppelin sound, just because Jimmy Page has been using strats more and more lately?

Based on everything I've read, David worked closely with Dave Reeves and glorified his amplifiers. His later years involved a ridiculous pedal chain that simply would not have worked on a Marshall or Mesa amp; it was something that could only sound that organic through the famous pedal-friendly Hiwatts.

Have you ever been to Gilmourish.com? It's considered the most respectable site concerning Gilmour's guitar equipment, all cited and confirmed either with photographs or by the man himself.

I'm not trying to argue over something so minute either, but I just think it's a bit ridiculous to associate Gilmour with Marshalls or Mesas with no mention of Hiwatts, since David and that one guy from The Who are the two players who made Reeve's products famous.

I'll check out Gilmourish.com today and correct appropriately.

Care to write me up a Hiwatt section? Give all the same info as for the rest of the legendary amps and I'll gladly plug it in. I know Hiwatts were very popular in Europe, though they didn't make it (popularity-wise) to the US until the 80s, I think. i dunno. Like I said I know next to nothing about them, but I do know they have a spot in amp history.

[AKA Ninja]

Added a "Class A vs Class AB" section to explain the difference in the common tube amp types.

Anybody know if Solid State amps are Class A or Class AB or what?!

[AKA Ninja]

Also corrected data on David Gilmour re: the data on Gimourish.com, as requested. Removed him from the Marshall sections, as I can't find any other corroborating evidence of him using them. However it's important to note that he most likely DID experiment with them - but we have no proof of him using them for even a single song on any of his famous works, so I concede that issue.

Added Gilmour's name to the Bassman as a famous user. Apparently he used Bassmans, Twins, and Champs at several points.

[AKA Ninja]

Added notation to each of the tube amps listed for Class A/Class AB. Listed the AC30 as a Class AB amplifier, with a link to an article regarding the dissection of the AC30's circuit, explaining why it sounds like a Class A, and is commonly referred to as Class A, but is NOT genuinely Class A.

[ten left thumbs]

Apologies if this has been asked before.

What kind of amp for busking with no access to mains? I have a mini-amp that runs off a 9 volt battery and gives a fairly grotty sound.

Can I do better? What do proper buskers do? (Apart from 'buy an acoustic')

[AKA Ninja]

Apologies if this has been asked before.

What kind of amp for busking with no access to mains? I have a mini-amp that runs off a 9 volt battery and gives a fairly grotty sound.

Can I do better? What do proper buskers do? (Apart from 'buy an acoustic')

The Roland Cube series (covered in the FAQ) has a amp in it which is battery powered and made for busking. "Roland Street Cube". Check it out:

http://www.music123.com/Roland-Cube-Street-CUBE-ST-5W-2x6-5-Battery-Powered-Guitar-Combo-Amp-481658-i1380061.Music123

The "pignose" is fairly legendary as well, though I'd recommend the Street Cube.

http://www.music123.com/Pignose-Legendary-7-100-Portable-Guitar-Amp-489050-i1146143.Music123

[ten left thumbs]

Great, thanks.

[rcross7]

A couple of questions about solid state vs tube. If you are a bedroom musician, use headphones alot, is it worth the extra money for a tube amp? I am in headphones 90% of the time and I don't play loud at all when not using the head phones. I have a Peavey Vypyr 30 and was thinking of upgrading to a Vypyr 60 Tube. It's a hybrid amp, I guess, my question is two fold, based on the volume level I am using, is it worth getting a tube amp, and are the hybrid amps with tubes good and worth the extra cash as well? Thanks!

[AKA Ninja]

A couple of questions about solid state vs tube. If you are a bedroom musician, use headphones alot, is it worth the extra money for a tube amp? I am in headphones 90% of the time and I don't play loud at all when not using the head phones. I have a Peavey Vypyr 30 and was thinking of upgrading to a Vypyr 60 Tube. It's a hybrid amp, I guess, my question is two fold, based on the volume level I am using, is it worth getting a tube amp, and are the hybrid amps with tubes good and worth the extra cash as well? Thanks!

If you play mostly through headphones, don't bother with a tube amp. Get a good solid state modeling amp with a headphone output like the Roland Cube. the Vox AT series have also gotten good reviews.

[LeeRain]

You are my hero Andrew .... Can you explain pickups 




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[Apopholis]

You are my hero Andrew .... Can you explain pickups 

Try this. 

http://guitarforum.net/guitarist/index.php/topic,13641.msg164138.html#msg164138

[GPW]

   Guys , check out this new Wattkins Dominator re-issue ...  This amp sounds "KILLER"... British , don't ya' know ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8hspPJLKTc&feature=youtu.be

  and a lefty for James...

[GPW]

   It's true !!!  Nobody reads this ...  

[Apopholis]

   It's true !!!  Nobody reads this ...  

 

I love the Dominator, great, clear sound.