Which would result in the closest surf tone? Any thoughts?
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Reverb unit w/ss amp or tube amp w/onboard reverb?
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Joined: Sep 08, 2007 Posts: 77 Long Beach, Washington 
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Posted on Jun 29 2008 04:07 AM
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Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 1062 Berlin, Germany 
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Posted on Jun 29 2008 06:23 AM
Unit and solid state amp. The reverb unit creates a good clean pre-amp tube sound. You'd be more than halfway there and can have as much reverb as you ever need for surf. —The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy. |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle 
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Posted on Jun 29 2008 09:59 AM
Fender tube amp with onboard reverb. Solid State amp won't get you there, I used to be unfortunate enough to only own a solid state amp and reverb unit. I concede there might be some good solid state amps out there. However, if you only want to spend a set amount, you are not going to be able to afford a reverb unit and a decent solid state amp. I would suggest a used Deluxe Reverb or used Twin Reverb off ebay, craigslist, etc... You are going to need a tube amp anyways someday, why not buy it first and save up for the cheaper reverb unit next. This way you are not stuck with a solid state amp. |
Joined: Jun 17, 2006 Posts: 1010 Bay City, Michigan
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Posted on Jun 29 2008 10:56 AM
i would choose a solid state amp with an outboard reverb. although a solid state that would be good enough would be around the same price as a tube amp... i sometimes play my jag and reverb unit through a Peavy solid state that shaun has and there honestly isnt much difference between that and my all-tube amp. it would probably make a huge difference if i were to actually turn that peavy up, but i always play through it pretty quietly. — |
Joined: Mar 13, 2006 Posts: 108 Flemington, NJ |
Posted on Jun 29 2008 12:16 PM
Although I use a '64 Bandmaster with a RI reverb unit on stage, and love the sound, I use a Kustom Dart for rehersals and practice and other than volume and bass response (because of speaker size) I would doubt that I could tell the difference at lower volumes between the two with a blindfold on. Granted, this may be the result of 40 plus years of standing in front of Super Beatles and Dual Showmans using feedback for hearing tests, but the signature surf sound was always "clean", and at higher volumes SS amps stay cleaner. Most players, other than surf, like the lower wattage tube amps for natural break-up that you can't get from SS amps. At an outside benefit lately I used my reverb unit thru a Roland JC-120 and the sound was great......every bit as clean as as my tube amp with more headroom. A reverb unit will do MUCH more for a surf sound than an amp, whether tube or solid state. |
Joined: Mar 17, 2007 Posts: 839 United Kingdom
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Posted on Jun 29 2008 02:27 PM
It's worth remembering that there is more than one surf sound. If it's the super-clean one you are after then I'd agree that Outboard tank and SS amp is a better way to go. However, if you like the edgier sound that you hear on say, Bambi Molesters tracks - then the valve amp will be more important. Like a lot of people here, I mostly use valves but I also have a Solid-State Crate Powerblock that I use for backup/rehearsal. It can sound pretty surfy with the tank. Don't forget that the choice of speakers plays a huge part too. Valve breakup is a funny thing because the sound you like will happen when your amp is at a certain level and that may not be the right volume for the gig or venue. If you push a 40w valve amp past a certain point you will end up with a sound that may be great but certainly isn't surf, whereas a 100w valve amp will stay clean till it's deafening - and be very heavy to cart about too. I've had numerous amps of both types and although I love the valve sound and usually use it - I'd have to admit that it's easier to get a consistent sound at a variety of venues and volumes with a big solid state amp unless you are always mic'd through the PA —http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery. |
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