Brundelfly
Joined: Aug 09, 2015
Posts: 3
|
Posted on Aug 12 2015 10:26 AM
Just curious on this one. I recently started learning surf guitar. I currently play in a mostly '80's rock cover band (Van Halen, Journey, etc) . I recently bought my first Strat and a Fender Blues Jr to get close to the surf sound without using a large amp because it is just for home use for now. If I did this right you can see a pic of my work in progress Surfboard Pedal Board.
The reason for my question on the Mark V is that I have on that I use as one of my live amps, and I figure it can getintthe surf sound ballpark, but there are so many damn switches and knobs. I am looking for some recommendations on where to start. Thanks!
|
Brundelfly
Joined: Aug 09, 2015
Posts: 3
|
Posted on Aug 12 2015 10:43 AM
|
GuitarMuk
Joined: Jun 10, 2015
Posts: 172
Cleveland, Ohio
|
Posted on Aug 12 2015 07:17 PM
No experience with the Mark V, sorry, but the board is GREAT!!
What a cool idea!
Last edited: Aug 12, 2015 19:17:56
|
JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
|
Posted on Aug 12 2015 07:31 PM
I used to play a Son of a Boogie and it could make good sounds at any volume. I assume MkV is just more complicated but same basic architecture. Turn up master to 10 and keep preamps from distorting. Get an outboard spring reverb. If you can use a soldering iron build a Surfy Bear FET Reverb unit. Play a guitar with single coils and whammy bar. String with flats if you like. Use a pick that will allow a lot of fast down picking without flexing too much. There ya go!
— Squink Out!
|
Brundelfly
Joined: Aug 09, 2015
Posts: 3
|
Posted on Aug 12 2015 10:02 PM
Thanks. I still have yet to try the Strat with the Boogie, but I will take your advice as a starting point. I love the sound and feel of the Blues Junior so much that I haven't bothered yet. If I start to get better and more confident with surf I will definitely try the outboard reverb tank. I'm not crazy about the reverb on the Boogie. I like the reverb on the Fender better.
A funny thing about that reverb.I have the NOS version of the Jr, and I read that you should buy a tank made by a company called MOD because it sounds more 60's authentic. I took the stock tank out and realized that it was the same as the MOD, except the brand name was Ruby (the tube company) . I contacted MOD and they confirmed that they don't make their tanks
GuitarMuk-The board is made from a bamboo cutting board that I bought through Amazon. I just added stickers, velcro and rubber feet. . I am going to raise it on an angle to accommodate the power supply that I have coming in. I refuse to buy pedal boards!
|
JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
|
Posted on Aug 13 2015 12:01 AM
Good on you that you eschew store-bought stuff you can make yourself.
Same goes for Reverb - there is no substitute for a Fender-style outboard 'tank' and until now there have been few substitutes for a real Fender one. Check the threads about the Surfy Bear and build one yourself. I 'cheated' and used an old toolbox as an enclosure for a garage look.
As for reverb tanks inside combo amps, they will never get that drip sound because they place the effect into the signal chain after the input stage of the amp, and cannot be turned up to the dwell levels an outboard unit uses, as they would feed back. With a Surfy Bear, the specific reverb tank makes a different acoustic sound, but you can switch them out until you find the one you like best.
— Squink Out!
|
Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
|
Posted on Aug 13 2015 06:32 AM
Brundelfly wrote:
A funny thing about that reverb.I have the NOS version of the Jr, and I read that you should buy a tank made by a company called MOD because it sounds more 60's authentic. I took the stock tank out and realized that it was the same as the MOD, except the brand name was Ruby (the tube company) . I contacted MOD and they confirmed that they don't make their tanks
Replacing the pan, which on the standard BJr is not a MOD pan, is common on the regular BJr. What really helps is an audio-taper pot for the control; but if you like yours on the NOS version then drive on.
BTW, if you want to use the BJr to play around with instro sounds instead of the Mesa, JOBeast's advice applies in spades to the BJr. Turn up the Master output, and then drive it as a traditional amp with the Volume. Avoid the "FAT" switch, and just balance the tone controls to taste and you can "almost" get it to sound a little Vox-y. It uses EL-84's in the output stage also; it won't ever sound like a "traditional" Fender amp so it doesn't pay to try to make it into one.
— 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.
|
JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
|
Posted on Aug 26 2015 09:33 PM
For what it's worth I played a Mesa .22 Cal at Timewarp in Mar Vista and it made every guitar sound terrible. Then I plugged into a Twin and recalled that I can actually play a little guitar. For some kinds of music, small (amp) is definitely NOT beautiful.
— Squink Out!
|
April Birthdays 
