Re: Amps and Mics and Stuff

[randyl@xxxxxxxxxx (Randy Lilleston)]

> 	Hmm... I don't know much about new fender amps, but I can say
> that distortion/overdrive/crunch whatever delivered at low volume on a 
> fender amp is impure.  Fo' this reason.  The distortion you're getting 
> with a "master-volume" is intentional, and reminiscent of a 
> super-champ/super-trasher metal pedal or what have you, but it's not 
> power tube distortion.  Power tube distortion is _much_ warmer, and much 
> shaggier, a looser less fuzzy distortion pedal fuzz or master-volumes.  

Absolutely right. The distortion from a mastervolume or gain channel 
comes from the pre-amp, not the power amp, and it doesn't sound as good. 
However, at low volumes, this is the *only* way to get distortion from a 
big amp, short of a pre-amp pedal like a Tube Screamer that does the same 
thing with solid-state circuitry.
 That's why having a high-gain channel can be useful, particularly when 
you're playing at home. And note that it's a *channel* - it can be 
switched right out and you can crank the amp and get that good ol power 
amp distortion (which I also prefer - I do several things when I gig out 
to make sure my power amp can be nice and cranked without moving into the 
Dreaded Feedback Zone).
 On Saturday, my band played in a tiny, tiny bar - a place too small for 
my Bassman reissue. I used a Fender Super 60 tube head and a 2X10 cabinet 
with some old Jensens in it....and I used the high-gain channel to get a 
little edge, because I had to keep the amp cranked down or I would have 
murderized some of the patrons :)