Blues

paul · Post by **paul** » Wed Nov 21, 2001 6:38 pm

Where I live there's a bunch of 24 hour music channels on digital satellite TV called Galaxie. One is a blues channel. This is great for playing along, and for hearing a lot of new music. Luther Allison, Stevie Ray Vaughn and the Koko Taylor band are some of the artists I've been sitting in with lately. I'd like to get a dirtier, bluesy sound out of the Rick, and I'm sure it can step up when asked. My pint-sized Fender amp is likely the weak link. However, if anyone has some suggestions on guitar/amp settings to try, I'd be obliged. Also, I'm going to replace this amp sometime soon. Given the kind of music I like, what might be a good combination with the 360/6?

corey · Post by **corey** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 3:58 am

Paul,

When I got my 360/6, I had my blues playing friend come over to check it out with his chops. He got some great blues tones just out of my Vox Cambridge 30 Reverb. I'd suggest maybe taking your guitar into a store that sells Line 6 amps. They've got lots of settings you can mess around with for hours. Good luck.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 5:02 am

After years of gigging with either Fender or Boogie amps (plus being a tube tone fiend) I was loaned a Flextone II for a month by a friend.

I went out and bought one !

I love all my Fender and my Mark II boogie ...but they gather dust at home (well sort of ) and the Line 6 get the abuse.

It is not 100% there in tone ,but it has caused the other guitar player in the band to rethink his Boogie(s) ....Great tone ,but with the sinking in quality of tubes and the END of tubes coming in our lifetime....there had to be an answer.

As this technology is in it's infancy,give it a check ,test drive it .As a desert island type of unit ......it sold me .It is close and getting closer.

aladams · Post by **aladams** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 6:16 am

You all may think this to be a bit queer, but me 330 pushing a Tube Works "rock & roll" footswitch thru my tweed bandmaster K I L L S!!!!! I think that even a Fender Champ (tube of course) pushed with this pedal will perform in ways that would make "Stevey Ray" do a double take!!! Have fun! The single coils on Rics are the best!!! I've proven it to myself!!! AL A.

miked · Post by **miked** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 8:27 am

Hello Paul. I'm playing a Rick 360/6 (hi-gains) through an old Fender Princeton Reverb. It's 12 watts RMS (tubes) pushing a Jensen 10" speaker, so I can turn it up and dirty it up without a pedal. It's wonderful! But it's still a loud amp. However, to get that bluesy sound and play along with the radio (and keep the neighbors at bay,) I have to consider Corey's and Mark's opinions here. The modelling amps might just be the way to go these days. They certainly offer a fuller, more convenient tonal palette at reasonable volumes, if not the "true tone" we all crave. When I can really turn it up I like to play through a new '65 Fender DeLuxe Reverb Reissue, or my old '66 Fender Twin Reverb if I need a lot of clean headroom. I've always been a Fender Reverb Amp (tubes) guy. I rarely use any other effects than the reverb and vibrato that are built into the amps, with the exception of a distortion pedal sometimes with the Twin Reverb because that monster is nothing but loud and clean. My advice is to go the music store and play through everything, and get at least 25 watts because when you play with a band you'll be glad to have the extra power. Good luck.

360dave660 · Post by **360dave660** » Thu Nov 22, 2001 11:53 pm

Let me pipe in with another plug for Tech 21's Trademark (10,60 & 120 watt) line of analogue replicating amps that are based on Tech 21's SansAmps pedals of the 90's. While S/S, its design really hits the major amps and active circuitry is great for getting the most out the fender, marshall and mesa settings for blues. I can even get a vox/beatle sound with the "british/clean" setting and cutting the drive to zero and the main level to 9 o'clock, boosting the treble and maxing my volume controls on the guitars (ric or gretsch)
I play a 660/6 a 360/6 hi-gain, a revamped telecustom & a gretsch sparkle jet with it. I sold my vox pathfinder which could not compare to the made in usa trademark 10. There are over 50 reviews in harmony central. I have had mine for a year; I love it. It has satisfied my craving for tube emulation with out the tube price/hassel for a tool-shedder like myself (< $300). Also, Trademark's technology and plethora of jacks allow for direct link to sound board or a PA system. Also, to get more wattage it can be plugged into any cabinet at 8 ohms.

If one can live with out the tubes, some can't, this a versitile solution that often better replicates the sound than digital amps.

I hope this is helpful, good luck.

david lopes

paul · Post by **paul** » Fri Nov 23, 2001 6:42 am

Thanks everyone for these great suggestions. You've given me lots of new ideas. Steve's Music down the road has a Line 6 Flextone II that I can try. Another store has the Vox Cambridge amp. I'll find others and try them. There are a couple of Tech 21s on ebay. I've had good luck buying high-quality items on ebay -- it's the people that sell the little things that seem to give the most trouble. I'll keep you posted.

I'll tell you, getting this guitar was the best decision I've made in a while.

Paul