IvanP wrote:

JONPAUL wrote:

OK, let's get super geeky...what year AC30?

2001, Made in the UK, Korg-era.

Any mods?

Nope.

What speakers?

Celestion Blues - the ONLY speakers fit for an AC-30! Seriously, no others will do. Those speakers and that amp are a match made in heaven.

What Echo?

Yamaha MagicStomp loaded with Echoes from the Past - but I've been playing it a lot lately with my old Korg Dynamic Echo, too, and it also sounds great.

Sound samples?

Well, that was basically my recording set up for Twilight on Tribal Fires (though I used my Shoreline Gold '62 reissue Strat, and my Zoom RFX-2000 echo unit loaded with Echoes from the Past). There are also some live videos of the Troubadours on YouTube. Here's one, from Oxford Battle of Surfing Bands in '11 (bunch of others on YouTube, too, just look up 'The Troubadours Oxford'):

Love the old guy rapidly playing rhythm guitar on the strat!

IvanP wrote:

However, I just looked up the Peavey Delta Blues model, and it has 4 EL-84 tubes in class A configuration, and is rated at 30 watts - all exactly like an AC-30. The big difference obviously is the 1x15 vs. 2x12 speaker config - and I'm sure there are other design differences (the Vox has a tube rectifier, for example), but still, I knew I was hearing something Vox-like in Michael's tone! So, it may not have been exactly a Vox, but an amp very much based on the Vox design.

Ivan, first a heartfelt thanks for all the contributions and the dialogue generated in this thread; keep coming back to it.

As you mention about the Peavey (great amp) I wonder sometimes if folks discount the role the power section has; not that these little ones are an AC30 but I think those EL-84's play a big role. I'd bought a Blues Jr used cheap (but near mint) knowing up front it was going to get its tone stack modded. After that & many months of playing around with it I realized it hadn't done anything (for me) in terms of moving toward someone's idea of a magical classic Fender sound & was never meant to be. In contrast - it is actually somewhat "Vox-y" which I love.

So I run some analog delay, then the tank and, with advice from members here on settings it gets pretty neat. I run the 2nd output from the delay to a small Fender amp basically functioning as a powered extension with a tone stack. In my multi-million-penny studio called a house, this gets a pretty big sound. But never really got there until I stopped trying to balance pre- with master, and just turned the master up to around 9-10 and use it like a non-Master amp using the pre-amp to keep the tone stack happy. I think those EL-84's definitely contribute their own sound.

The bride of 30+yrs has Apache as one of her all-time favorite tunes and after I added a budget echo where I could tap the rhythm of that she finally yelled upstairs, "That's IT!" Too much fun.

All best to your Dad as well; can enjoy the Troubadours & Sonic Cataclysm is getting much use in the car, dang that's a great album. I need to figure out a way to rip the audio from your '03 Shadowmania performance, but there's probably some plug-in or something I've got to install. (If there's already a CD for sale of that point me to it.) That's a great sound you all get.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Hi all
I just read this thread, interesting stuff and thanks Ivan for your support. A final (?) word on the Delta Blues. I have followed couple of threads about the amp in different guitar forums; the general opinion is that it sounds great IF you use the clean channel and stay away from the boost-switch. I did the opposite when using the amp. Used the gain channel and the boost activated. I almost always used the neck pickup and the treble on the amp had to be almost maxed. I was on the lower limit all the time treble-wise and had to put on new strings every gig. I really liked the 15" speaker though. Nowadays I use the amp for playing rock, classic rock´n´roll and also for lap steel and pedal steel. I use two Fender Deluxe Reverbs for my surf sound.
Michael/Langhorns

bigtikidude wrote:

Welcome Michael,
Great to see you here on SG101.
Some of us here are big fans.

Here, here! Welcome Michael!!!

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

Welcome Michael to SG101! I just picked up the self-titled album & Mission Exotica. Going to give them a listen this weekend.
This is cool, what a place.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum! Great to have you here!

Thanks for your explanations with your sound. Very interesting.
I guess especially your first album is a modern milestone for many here!
For me it is! (I even liked the shark game a lot!!!!!!)
Thanks for this release! (and the others! : ) )

Looking forward for new Langhorns stuff!!!!!!
Go Go!!!

Twang cheers!

Ralf Kilauea

www.kilaueas.de

https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien

Well, come back to Berlin!

I didn't have the luck to see you till now, but I'm also very much into the first Langhorns album (still have to get my hands on the others). I especially like "Tierro del Fuego", "Buccaneer", "The Sinner" and "Knuckleduster".

And I have a question: there seems to be little (or any) reverb on the album, more echo. Am I right? What echo did you use?

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

Thanks again Ivan, I will do my best for sure.
Simon - During that time when we recorded the first album, I didn't have a vintage backline. I played through the Delta Blues and the onboard reverb. The reverb on that amp is quite weak. Then I had lots of slap echo from a Boss DD-3. (When I listen to that album now I realise I had huge amounts of echo.) That's it. Nothing more. I'm into my third dd-3 now, two have been worn out.
I remember doing an interview in Germany on at festival where the journalist seemed quite disappointed when he asked about my rig and got the answer, a Japanese 90's strat, the Delta Blues and a Boss DD-3. LOL
I have some vintage amps now and I alter guitars and amps a lot now.

/Michael

Completely by coincidence I just came across the entire Langhorns' 3rd album on YouTube. (Michael, did you know that was there?) 26,000 views so far! This album is much more electronica-influenced and less trad than the first two, but it's still great, and for any Langhorns novices, you should check it out.

Ivan
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The Madeira Channel on YouTube

Welcome, Michael and The Langhorns.

I was living under a rock for some time and looking for new bands to listen to. Mike (morphball) and Fady highly recommended I check out "The Langhorns". The first album I could find and purchase was "Mission Exotica", and it quickly became one of my go-to records for inspiration, as well as simply enjoying.

I especially love the variety of styles on this record and the way it's not afraid to incorporate other genres of music. Or maybe more accurately, not afraid to infuse other genres with The Langhorn's own surf vibe. This certainly makes repeated listenings in close proximity to other family members possible.

I've had the first Langhorns CD on back order at Amazon for months now. Anyone have a source?

-murph

http://www.reverbnation.com/elmiragesurf
http://www.reverbnation.com/aminorconspiracy

"I knew I was in trouble when the Coco-Loco tasted like water!" -- morphball