Hi Guys- Am getting back to playing music more seriously again, and would LOVE to hear input from you guys on what ya'll are running your guitars through.
I'm looking for basically a bedroom amp; something I can take to "Living room jam sessions", nothing too large or serious at this point. On a tight budget, so looking for the best value per sound quality I can find.
Something that will deliver a good "Byrds jangle"; I'm playing a Ricky Carl Wilson 12 string with the Janglebox enroute. ALSO; what about amps w/onboard modelling vs. an economy multi effects pedal, and what kind of multi effects are good ones for the money??
Les Fradkin mentioned to me, that for recording, he goes straight to the board, with the Janglebox and Vox Tone Lab pedal enroute. This does seem to be the standard for recording Ricky-12's; I believe this is how Roger has done it since at least "Back from Rio"?
But yeah; need something that I can play around on, that's going to sound reasonable. Don't need to make a ton of racket, or fill up Carnegie Hall, etc.
In "Old school terms", something between a Fender Champ, and a Twin Reverb, I'm thinking.
Been out of the loop for so long, there is so much to look at it!
And something that will also do justice for "Six string twang & rock" as well. If I plug in an Epiphone Casino, Tele, ES-335, etc, still get a "Justice" sound.
A good, all-around reasonable, not too large amp.
Don't ask me what I'm playing through right now, as I'm far too embarrassed to tell you.
Thanks in advance,
Christian
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Im playing through a Vox Ad50vt 2x12 great little amp very versitle and does the job nice clean tones too! Its got enough grunt to upset your neighbours and can easily soar above a drumkit.
Ps As im typing this the Editors are playing on Johnathan Ross and its Rickenbacker agogo Jetglow style.
I saw McGuinn use the Roland 120, and it captured the Byrds sound. Below is a portion of an interview with McGuinn.
The trademark chiming, jingle jangle sound of Roger McGuinn and the Byrds stems from the way in which he uses his trusty Rickenbacker 370 electric 12-string guitar. "The trick to getting that sound is putting a lot of compression on the guitar," McGuinn points out. "It really doesn't sustain too well all by itself. For an amp, I like using the Roland JC120. Put a good balance of bass and mid-range on it, and you'll get a really clean, full sound
If you want the sound of old Byrds stuff with a RIC12, then you should get a Fender tube amp. Something like a Twin Reverb, Super Reverb, Showman, Bassman, etc would be fine. Get what you need for the volume you need, and any of the Blackface stuff should work fine. Silverface stuff will be ok too but not as good. Modern Fender will get you in the ballpark but again the BF tone is where it is at when trying to nail old Byrds stuff. Tweed Fender tone isn't quite right for it but it will work. You can get somewhat close with the Vox sounds, though those are more suited for nailing Beatles 12 string tones. A good compressor is a requirement too.
This thread moved me to try my newish 660-12 MB and Janglebox thru my Pathfinder 15R and I got an acceptable jangly tone quickly wuithout a lot of fiddling.I think it would suit you well for a reasonably priced bedroom/living room amp.
It certainly has more than enough volume for practice.
Steve,
I mentioned on the Ric corporate forum, that I get real close to the Byrds with my 360/12 or my 370/12, my Janglebox AND either my silver-faced Deluxe Reverb, or my re-issue '65 Deluxe Reverb. In fact, I turned a few heads at the music store when I "auditioned" the 360 on a Byrds tune with a Deluxe Reverb they had there, prior to my buying of the guitar.
It seems like it could be a match made in heaven, even though I am hesitant to use money and floor space on something with such limited functionality. Of course, many of us would love a tube amp that could produce wonderful chimey clean sounds with our Ric 12-string, then, with a flip of channel switch, produce massive super-crackle overdrive with our SG. Dream on ...
Jim, I had a simular experiance at the store when I tried the deluxe reverb ri with my 360-12. The first notes HAD to be the Tamborineman intro. This place did not sell Rics so everyone was extra-impressed
I use a Fender Hot Rod Deville Amp with 4-10" speaker and a little compression with my Rickenbacker 360-12 and I get pretty close to that "Byrds Sound" according to most that have heard the set up. -BC
Welcome Buddy. I too love the sound of the 4 X 10 Fender Hot Rod Deville. What is it about a 4 X 10 Combo that provides a very different tone compared to the 2 X 12?
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
