My amp SUCKSSS!!

[njrocker]

I have the Hot Rod Deluxe. I've started to do more clean stuff with my band. I don't mind that it overdrives a little at the volumes we play, but when it starts to overdrive the low end is MUDDY, FARTY, FLATULATING CRAP. It was always a bit muddy, but since I'd mostly been using a distortion pedal in front if the amp I didn't notice it that much. But now that I usually have nothing between the guitar and amp, this is a huge problem. Do I have to just deal with this crap or is there something I can do?

 

P.S. I don't have this problem through any other amp. The ol' Strat sounds better through my Champ 30 than the deluxe.

[mstreck]

Yep. The Champ is a nice little amp! Very under-rated IMHO.

 

Maybe you could post this to Myles's thread?

 

Mike

[A String]

Just a guess, but could your speaker be ripped?

[Werewolf by Night]

-Hmmn, on the one hand, it could be that the output-tubes and phase-inverter tube are worn and need replacing, and/or the filter capacitors, too (their condition affects the performance of the power-supply in general, and the low-end "tightness" and "oomph" in particular). The speaker also comes to mind, perhaps a replacement would make the difference.

 

-But on the other hand, I don't want to tell you to start pouring money into the amp, when it just might not be the amp for the job...

 

Maybe you could try plugging it in to several other speakers, beginning with the one in your Champ 30? (Be careful not to overpower and damage the speaker in the Champ 30, I don't know off the top of my head what its speaker is rated for.) See if the problem clears up with other speakers. Also, plug the Champ 30 into the Hot Rod Deluxe's speaker, and see if its low end is instantly "MUDDY, FARTY, FLATULATING CRAP". If so, perhaps the problem is the speaker.

 

I also highly suggest that you see what Myles Rose has to say, on the "Feel free to ask Myles"-thread here on the Guitar Forum.

[NMcGuitar]

Whatever you find out, can you let us (okay, me) know?

I'm thinking about getting a Hot Rod Deluxe. I've played it a couple of times (at band rehearsals) and really liked both the clean and overdrive tones. I haven't noticed the muddiness you mention, but maybe I'm just not cranking it enough for that. I've been playing it pretty loud, but I'm still not getting the clean channel over about 3-4 (and I keep my guitar volume rolled down a little except when soloing).

 

Thanks!

[synthetic]

Hopefully you're not using a lot of preamp distortion, because the preamp (volume) overdrive isn't that great on this amp. (I have a Blues Jr, which I think is similar.) I've gotten better results using an overdrive/boost pedal (Fulldrive 2) in front of the amp and turning the Master volume up for overdrive. I also leave the Fat switch off, this tends to be muddy. Finally, the speaker seems to be very directional. I was getting a murky sound until I tilted the amp up so it was pointed towards me, then it sounds great. Close-micing the amp gets the same effect. Oh, and putting it right against the wall (since it's an open back cab) is not as good as moving it a foot or so away.

 

My 2 pesos, -jl

[njrocker]

OK, well, I fixed the problem. I was playin through the Champ, and I noticed that my tone knob wasn't doin anything. It wasn't doin anything through the Deluxe either, but I figured it was the amp's fault. I changed my pickguard not to long ago, so I thought I might have messed somthin up when I put everything back together. I don't know what I did wrong, but the tone was somehow "stuck" on 1. I put it back together a little more carefully this time, and it's fine now. It's still kinda muddy, but, eh, you get what you pay for.

[Guitar Geezer]

Originally posted by njrocker:

OK, well, I fixed the problem. I was playin through the Champ, and I noticed that my tone knob wasn't doin anything. It wasn't doin anything through the Deluxe either, but I figured it was the amp's fault. I changed my pickguard not to long ago, so I thought I might have messed somthin up when I put everything back together. I don't know what I did wrong, but the tone was somehow "stuck" on 1. I put it back together a little more carefully this time, and it's fine now. It's still kinda muddy, but, eh, you get what you pay for.

to quote Homer S

"WOO-HOOOOOO!"

 

BTW....great comment about getting an amp "of the ground" makes a diff no matter what brand (IMHO).

[BillWelcome Home Studios]

It might also help to dial back the mids, if there is a mid control on the amp. I do it all the time when faced with a newer Marshall to open things up and loose some of the mud.

 

Bill

[TeleCarlos]

Well... since we are on the subject...

 

My amp also sucks!

 

It is an Ampeg Reverborocket 2x12. Had for quite a while, it was the most modically priced tube combo at the time. The clean channel is very sparkly and sounds nice for the ultra clean sounds, but with Overdrive or a fuzz in front, it just gets lost.

 

The gain channel is very midrangy, totaly different from the clean channel, very drastic change. It has no "clang" or snap. It does handle effects way better than the other channel thou.

 

Anyway, it was made by Crate. I'll just get a new one soon. Gunning for mission amps kit.

 

Just to let you know..

[ricknbokkerv2.0]

Sounds to me like an overall EQ problem... as is the case in a lot of these problems.

 

Tone... mid... Bass... highs... use 'em all!! They put 'em there for a reason.

 

Ricky

[TulsaBand]

I used to have that problem with my old Fender Pro-Reverb. I sold it & got a TopHat. My problems are now solved forever. You might check them out. I've had mine for almost 2 years & love it. I am also recently a dealer for them & have the best prices. I have on eon ebay right now. Check it out.

 

Chris

[Teahead]

I had similar troubles with my Deville. It was a great amp when we rehearsed in a small room, but as we got a bigger place I grew increasingly dissatisfied with it.

 

I tried a Hotplate thinking that I was experiencing crappy pedal overdrive, but the mush was still there even when it was pure amp being attenuated. Also, it was more evident with humbuckers than singles coils for some reason. I then tried Yellow Jackets, they helped to "tighten" the sound a little. But that just whetted my appetite for EL84s and drove me to a Vox.

 

Yeah, that's the answer, get a new amp!

Sorry I couldn't be any more help.

Tea.

[Werewolf by Night]

Originally posted by TulsaBand:

I used to have that problem with my old Fender Pro-Reverb. I sold it & got a TopHat. My problems are now solved forever. You might check them out. I've had mine for almost 2 years & love it. I am also recently a dealer for them & have the best prices. I have on eon ebay right now. Check it out.

 

Chris

"Mah problemz are solved ferever! I have tha best pricez! Yuk yuk!"

 

@$$h0l3.

 

How many fake cheesey spam-posts is that now? Five out of six, or so? What a crock.

 

Cease and desist this spammy being fulla $h!t!!

[TulsaBand]

Sorry if I irritate you. It is not my intent. Although you're the only one that seems to have a problem with me. Be that as it may, I will no long "pitch" anything. I do it with the desire to help fellow musicians get the best deal & of course sell great products to people looking for them. I post only when people are looking for something specific. I give them my opinion & the information of where they can get it. What's wrong with that? RELAX!!

[Darklava]

Originally posted by TulsaBand:

Sorry if I irritate you. It is not my intent. Although you're the only one that seems to have a problem with me. Be that as it may, I will no long "pitch" anything. I do it with the desire to help fellow musicians get the best deal & of course sell great products to people looking for them. I post only when people are looking for something specific. I give them my opinion & the information of where they can get it. What's wrong with that? RELAX!!

Make up to us and give us a free wonder body pedal

[PBBPaul]

Originally posted by TulsaBand:

Sorry if I irritate you. It is not my intent. Although you're the only one that seems to have a problem with me. Be that as it may, I will no long "pitch" anything. I do it with the desire to help fellow musicians get the best deal & of course sell great products to people looking for them. I post only when people are looking for something specific. I give them my opinion & the information of where they can get it. What's wrong with that? RELAX!!

Instead of just saying that the 'Top Hat changed my life forever' how about telling us exactly what makes the Top Hat so special and so much better than every other amp that's out there. Try to do it without spamming for yourself. We're easily insulted around here by every other new member showing up just to get into our wallets.

[Gifthorse]

for a rock amp, i think the peavey classic is the best choice for the money. i have a classic 100 watt head and a 4/12 and it sounds excellent. i like it better than a marshall and it is about $600 cheaper. the only think i dont like about it is that when you crank it up it compresses on the low end. i also have a resistor in my volume pot on my guitar. it is really neat. when i turn my volume down it hads a bit more presence and cleans it up a bit. this makes it so when you use your volume knob to tone down your distortion it doesn't get all muddy and shitty sounding but it cleans it up nicely. i havent heard of many guys using this but it is really effective and it only cost about $25 to install.

[TulsaBand]

My favorite qualilties about my TopHat(which is a 212 Club Royale) is how it stays clean at high volumes. My Pro Reverb wopuld always break up when I got above 3 & I had to at least have it there to get a decent sound. I'm sure you all know what I'm saying about those old amps & their volume knobs...they're either off or too loud. Anyway, I was playing a smooth jazz gig at the time & needed my clean to be crystal clear & was not able to do that with my Fender. A guitar player friend had just gotten his Club Royale & was preaching the gospel loud & proud. I checked it out against his Matchless & other amps...even cheaper amps..& was blown away by how clean it stayed. I'm also very pleased with the tones I get running my stomp boxes through it. Now TopHat has come out with the Super deluxe which is 33watts as aposed to my 20watts. It stays even cleaner & is loaded with 6L6's to keep it that way, you can also switch them out with EL34's to get a more Fender sound without rebiasing the amp. Anyway, let me know what you guys think. I hope to have a much better relationship with everyone from now on. Have a great day.

[Werewolf by Night]

Tulsaband- that's cool. A lot of us have sort of the opposite problem- that is, trying to get the amp to overdrive (pleasingly and musically) without being skull-splittlingly LOUD.

 

Seriously, are there any Top Hat models that do that? I suppose I had erroneously assumed that that kind of tube-overdrive was what they were all about! Or is it all in how you set the controls, and how you play 'em?

 

But I also can appreciate a good clean tube-amp sound (and the confident and consistent feel that comes with a lot of clean headroom). No matter what style of music you're playing, there's almost always a time when a good pristine-clean tone is just perfect.

 

By the way, I do wish you success, and sales; it's just that, if you come off like a sales-guy in a string of posts, it's like crashing a party, or getting interrupted by a telemarketing call. We get very defensive and even offensive around here in such matters, to hopefully keep the Forum from becoming clogged up as a bulletin-board full of free advertising. Many folks here do have music-related businesses, and it's generally accepted as a protocol to include some mention of it in your automatically posted signature-line (see the "My Profile"-section if you want to edit-in such a tag-line). Often enough such folks even wind up discussing there guitars, amps, pedals, picks, what have you that they build or work on or sell in topical threads; but, that's after they've kind of established a friendly rapport with other folks here, and done so not so much as a sales-pitch, but in a "colleagues-talking-shop-in-a-pub" manner.

 

(Case in point- these two recent posters from China: they've mentioned that they are beginning their own business designing and building amps and effects, but it was more in conversation than a "you can order here for the best prices"-approach... And if you do have "the best prices", good on ya, more power to you! Cool! But let's not focus on sales here, PLEASE... thanks.)

 

Stick around, become a "regular" (even if that means your schedule only permits a post once in a blue moon; folks'll remember you), and get in on other topics on different threads now and then. Who knows, we might even become friends! (If you can get past my having jumped in your $h!t so!)

[TulsaBand]

Caevan O'Shite - I completely understand & appreciate the advice. I'll be taking it. Regarding wanting to get a good breakup out of your amp, You can do that with the TopHat "Club Royale" which is 20watts & breaks up as you choose to crank the preamp volume as apposed to the Master(power tube section) volume. But, having both the pre & master volumes allows you to choose between a super clean tone or a Fender-type break up. Also, TopHat just came out with the "Super Deluxe" which is 33watts & very clean. You can get a little break up the same was as the Club but not as much gain, as the Club is loaded with EL88's & the Super has 6l6's. However, you can switch the tubes in the Super to EL84's without rebiasing the amp to get it much dirtier. Hope this helps.

[Werewolf by Night]

The Club Royale and the Super Deluxe both sound like great amps; very interesting!

 

Hmmmnn... lemmee guess... the Super Deluxe uses four EL84 tubes, and is cathode-biased, right? Probably Class-A, too.

 

So, what do you think of these two Tone King amps? I absolutely love their sounds, especially their clean and low/medium gain tones. Very present, with lots of harmonic "swirl", even with dark, hot humbuckers. Like a big sparkly "blackface" Deluxe Reverb with the "more of everything good"-knob cranked up, descending down from Heaven!

[TulsaBand]

Actually, The Super deluxe uses 6L6's & the Club Royale uses EL84's, & yes...they are both class'A. I've never heard of Tone King Amps. I am interested however. Do they have a wesite?

[Werewolf by Night]

Yhup, TulsaBand, here's a link to the Tone King website . This is the current 'site info; it's a little strangely layed-out, but once you figure out which scroll-buttons to use, you're set.

 

Then there's the now discontinued Comet 40 B (link) model from the Tone King Comet series, the predecessor to the current Meteor line. (Be sure to read up on the parallel output sections and switching features... you can footswitch from a "clean/blackface/rhythm" channel 2x12 with four 6V6s at 40 watts to an "overdriven/tweed/lead" 1x12 with two 6V6s at 20 watts... !!) I played through one of those, and absolutely loved it; the "clean" channel alone would be worth the price of the amp, and will overdrive nicely if desired.

 

The Comet 40 B and the Meteor series have many very uncommon and even unique features, although any of these amps could have been produced in the 1950s; the basic technology is extremely retro but innovatively applied.

 

I really long to one day have either a Comet 40 B, or to get Mark Bartell to build me a custom Meteor 40 B (no such animal, yet).

[Guitarzan]

i have a problem with my amp, two days ago i played through a "pre gibson" Trace Elliot speedtwin c100 with dual celestions. now i am blown away!! mother of god this amp sounded nice. it had the borderline breakup down pat and the gain available was nothing short of stupendous. 2 channels with 3 band eq per side. there was a pentode/ triode switch. and the option of 4 12ax7 or 5 12ax7 operation on the crunch side. this is built like a tank and i want it. it has never left the guys living room and he only wants 850 for it!!!!! damn damn damn. how the hell do i find 850 bucks?

[Werewolf by Night]

Man, those amps are a steal for what you get, especially compared to the brand-new prices of some of the "new" Gibson-versions that are basically the same as some of the Trace E's.

 

I hope you can get it, Guitarzan! Maybe he'll let you pay gradual installments on it, and not sell it to someone else?

 

Did you play your own guitar through it?

[Guitarzan]

i played the LG through it!! had to use p90's!!!! i also tried his brian moore i9.

he has a nice pile of gear to move. i may try and see if he will work a payment plan out for me. i can't believe he only wants 850 for an amp like this!!! its practically new. and i doulbt it has been used more than a couple of hours. and talk about classy looking!

http://www.moline.ru/equip/instr/combo/trace/pict/speedtwinc100.jpg

this does not do it justice!

[phaeton]

The problem was wiring in the guitar? How come that didn't affect both amps?

 

If i may say, once i was amp shopping, and a salesd00d set a Peavey Classic (50 or 60, whichever it is, the big'un), and the fender hot rod right next to each other and let me A/B them. He recommended the peavey over the hotrod, as he had both and said basically "the fender is great clean, but distorted all i could get it to do was fart". Mind you these two amps were both priced the same (i htink the fender was used) so he didn't really have any ulterior motive to pitch one over the other.

 

On another note, my gf took me to a music store in Madison, where i played through this itty-bitty lil fender amp- probably had a single 10" speaker, just had a volume and tone knob on the top, and a power switch. One channel, (probably) old as dirt, not very powerful, beat up and ugly, but boy did it have a SWEET sound to it for a practice amp. I keep considering whether i should go back and get it or not. I have no idea what model it was or anything (all nomenclature was stripped off it, i just know it is a fender because of the shape of the 1 knob it had left and the back of the chassis said "Fender Musical Instruments" or something.)

 

Great lil device. All tubes too. Sure beats out my Peavey Pacer SS-100.

[TulsaBand]

Thanks for the info Caevan O'Shite. I'll check them out.