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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Shure Vocal Master for guitar

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I'm curious, anyone use the VM for guitar other than vocals?

Ok so it's not the first thing you'd think of in the search for tone, but neither were the little carboard Sears amps until people discovered them. I know I'm just fueling the fire for the increase in prices for vintage gear, which happened to the Silvertone amps, but if you haven't tried the vocalmaster, you're missing out.

Since I'm a vintage junkie, I got the VM for vocals in the first place. Then curiosity led my guitars into it and man...cranked up it roars with Cream-era Clapton tone (gotta crank it though) and can cause serious hearing damage, and when I tried the reverb, oh boy, DRIP-GALOR! The reverb is pretty damn good IMO, and a lot different than my twin reverb. Seriously, it could make a pretty good surf rig! Heavy as hell speakers, and it's solid state, but if you want something that will stand out from the typical Fender setup, take a look at a vintage Vocal Master (if you can find one, of course). My apologies for driving eBay prices up! lol

Last edited: Apr 04, 2012 21:39:24

Yeah, I've got two Vocal Masters. If you run a pair of the short VA301-S columns the output drops to 50 watts- as those cabs are 32 ohms each. These half-columns were intended to be used as monitors and have large rheostats on the back panels. A guy could turn these down and crank the head to get your Clapton/Cream tone at a very civilized volume level. Arranging two VA301-S cab's with the mixer on top might make a novel Surf Stack.

Dusty Twangdude

I've got a mint Vocalmaster that I got at a church yard sale, but it's dead in the water...
Bummer...

Has the covers, and looks pristine, but not working...

Maybe this will inspire me to get it up and running..... Smile

Download (for free!) "Overhead At Darrington"--fiddle tunes arranged for surf-style electric mandolin--by Bruce Harvie and The Sandfleas here...

I read where Leslie West of Mountain was sent a Sunn PA head by mistake from the factory in an endorsement deal. He plugged into a channel and cranked the gain. Bingo his sound was born.

I can see a Vocalmaster getting the job done. Built in spring reverb and a funky retro look.

http://www.reverbnation.com/thegreasemonkeyz

The Fender tubed PAs make killer guitar amps....

Download (for free!) "Overhead At Darrington"--fiddle tunes arranged for surf-style electric mandolin--by Bruce Harvie and The Sandfleas here...

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