Amp talk

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:01 am

Thought it deserved its own thread apart from guitar talk.

I've got an older KMD 1x12 solid state amp. All made in the UK, even the small electronic bits inside. I really like the clean sound, and the amp gets good and loud. I'm completely customizing the it right now, and I've been taking pictures as I progress.

Main tasks:

Fix gain channel's post knob (completely non-functional)
Replace speaker (ripped cone on celestion, replacing with carvin

)
Completely reupholster the cabinet

I've already made some good progress, and I'm having a lot of fun. Can't wait to do it on a better amp someday. I'll post pictures when I'm all done.

Paco Del Stinko · Post by **Paco Del Stinko** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:27 pm

I use three different amps for recording and home use.

Tophat Portly Cadet - Articulate and most commonly used.
late 70's/early 80's wooden Crate w/ a 12" - Flat and good as 2nd amp in a stereo set up. I believe the speaker is an Eminance.
Pignose portable - Skanka-rific. So ugly it's sweet and can sound huge on a recording.

I mix them up or plug in whatever feels right for each song, but the Tophat is great: only a volume knob and a couple of boost switches.

I enjoy emulators and what-not, but I believe that most of the best electric guitar sounds typically come from an amp. Overdrive, flange, crstal clear, whatever.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Fri May 05, 2006 6:59 pm

Took me about 8 hours if you include the misc. repairs done. The new speaker sounds great, the lead post works again, and it happens to be the coolest amp ever.

It's good that I went with the fuzzy fabric, because it's very forgiving if your measurements aren't exact. Had I gone with tweed or something, it would have been an awful mess.

If you've got an afternoon to burn, $20 in your pocket, and an ugly-ass amp, give this a shot.

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:04 pm

looks like a big hairy hole to me.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:08 pm

So does your FACE, JACK.

(

)

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:12 pm

true. i need a shave and when i open my mouth, i can see the similarities.

anyways, i'm just pullin yer chain sober. i admire your motivation, however misguided it might be

j$ · Post by j$ » Fri May 05, 2006 7:13 pm

Sober? Large pictures? Will he never learn?

*sharpens axe*

catch · Post by **catch** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:34 pm

Few men posses the funkiness required to wield The Fuzzy Amp. I applaud your efforts.

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:41 pm

you need a mullet to play out of that amp. a full on vince neil style mullet.

smell the glove.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:42 pm

600x450 is large? Do you have a 12" monitor or something?

j$ · Post by j$ » Fri May 05, 2006 7:50 pm

it's too large for pictures of amps. Muso.

Bjam · Post by **Bjam** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:56 pm

Not even I would play with a furry amp, and I play a damn sparkley guitar.

catch · Post by **catch** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:25 pm

If I had the choice, I'd play sparkly guitars through fuzzy amps exclusively.

In all likelihood, this would lead to crimefighting and changing my name to a symbol.

jack · Post by **jack** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:44 pm

amps aren't fashion accessories. they are to play extremely loud music out of.

function over fashion. otherwise, it's just window dressing.

Paco Del Stinko · Post by **Paco Del Stinko** » Sat May 06, 2006 6:25 am

I should stop stroking myself (with my I've got a this and what not) and give that amp a goog petting. Nicely done. Do your shoes match it also?

UnDesirable · Post by **UnDesirable** » Sat May 06, 2006 9:06 am

My daughters Birthday was this week and I got her this for her birthday.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=482624

Its not a bad little practice amp and she is really getting into the built in effects.

Smalltown Mike · Post by **Smalltown Mike** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:31 am

Paco Del Stinko wrote:Nicely done. Do your shoes match it also?

That's actually really coolâ€”the thought of having a furry amp and furry shoes to match. Sweet.

Sober · Post by **Sober** » Sat May 06, 2006 10:57 am

UnDesirable wrote:My daughters Birthday was this week and I got her this for her birthday.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=482624

Its not a bad little practice amp and she is really getting into the built in effects.

Looks like a Microcube.

/ducks
//or geese

UnDesirable · Post by **UnDesirable** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:05 am

The Sober Irishman wrote:
UnDesirable wrote:My daughters Birthday was this week and I got her this for her birthday.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=482624

Its not a bad little practice amp and she is really getting into the built in effects.
Looks like a Microcube.

/ducks
//or geese

I was looking at the Microcube to and also some of the small Marshall amps. I went with the Vox because I liked it had all the built in effects and figured that would keep her out of my stomp box collection for awhile. She is 11 and has been taking lessons since November, so she is pretty much happy just having an amp of her own to run her guitar through.

jack · Post by **jack** » Sat May 06, 2006 12:38 pm

i just think it's so cool you have an 11 year old daughter that wants to rock. produce her in a songfight dude. the novelty factor alone would carry the vote. plus your production is well, sublime to say the least so i'd love to hear what you could do with her.

UnDesirable · Post by **UnDesirable** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:17 pm

Jack, here is an interesting thing I have notice while I sit in the waiting area where my daughter gets her lessons, there are alot more girls coming in and out taking guitar and bass lessons than guys. This was not the case back in the middle-ages when I first started taking lute lessons. This means in about 5 or 10 years there are going to be a bunch of hot rocker girls on MTV.

Eric Y. · Post by **Eric Y.** » Sat May 06, 2006 2:54 pm

UnDesirable wrote:there are alot more girls coming in and out taking guitar and bass lessons than guys.

my daughter (age 7) has not come out and said anything explicitly, but i'm starting to detect a keen interest in drums. she really likes when i listen to songs that have a lot of drumming, and i always hear her hitting the sides of her booster seat in the car, in time with the music.

it makes me slightly hopeful for the future.