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Topic: How to try an amp out in a store |
Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 30 Mar 2006 7:00 am |
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I have one problem (OK, I have many but let's focus on this one for now) when I try out amps in a store. You see, since I don't play steel, or even guitar, but an instrument that only has a soprano range, and since I want a clean tone with not too much treble at a very, very moderate volume most amps in the store will be able to produce this if I work with them long enough.
Would it perhaps be better to focus on other things? Size, price, features, that sort of stuff. One thing I try from time to time is to turn everything up halfway and see how that sounds.
Anyone here in a similar situation that has a working strategy? |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 30 Mar 2006 9:42 am
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What instrument do you play? If possible, talk to someone that uses an amp with that instrument,listen to what they sound like, and go from that point.
BF |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 30 Mar 2006 12:08 pm
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All those issues are important; you still need to play the amp with your instrument to make sure it will do a respectable job of creating the sound you wish for. It helps if the store has a return policy that allows you a couple of days to try the item in your environment, that way you can hear it where it will get used, and determine if it is acceptable. If you can't do that, make sure to do the following;
1. Turn the amp on about 10 minutes before you start to play through it for test purposes. Especially if it is a tube amp; tubes need time to warm up. It even helps sometimes with SS amps as when certain circuits warm up they can act differently.
2. Try the amp in a relatively quiet environment. You can't hear any subtleties in a loud room full of people playing whatever the new "Smoke On The Water" song is these days. Listen for hiss, rattles, use the footswitch to see if it pops, turn all the pots a few times to see if they are scratchy...
3. Make sure the amp doesn't have a lot of features you have no use for. The simpler the better, less chance of maintenance problems and devaluation in the future.
Impulse buys can bite you so make sure that you look it over carefully and get what you really want, especially if there is no return policy in place. |
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Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 30 Mar 2006 10:30 pm
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I play elelctric balalajka, so unfortunately there is nobody I can talk to about what amp they use. Good suggestion otherwise.
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 31 Mar 2006 4:28 am
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| Go to David Lindley's website and send him an email. You probably won't get a FAST response, but I bet he would love to talk about his similar instruments and how he amplifies them. His sound is very natural and he plays about a half dozen instruments with very unusual timbre. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 31 Mar 2006 5:01 am
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My bandmate just purchased a new DR Z...
$1800
they let him take it home, take it to a gig..and gave him the option of returning it within 72 hours unblemished.
He did return it, but for a different model with a bit more zing to it..
they gave him the same offer the second time as well, except the offer lasted a full week.
Thats how we SHOULD be checking out amps..
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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 31 Mar 2006 7:40 am
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When I started drooling over a Mesa/Boogie Maverick Prototype at Zone Music, the store owner said "Why don't you try it on your gig tonight? Bring it back tomorrow." I tried it, but didn't bring it back. Brought a credit card instead. 
It's really hard to know what an amp will do by testing it in a store. Factory showrooms are good, if you're near the company who makes the amp. But the best test is on a gig.
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 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog |
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