Well, I may be in quite a pickle

RubberChipmunk · 09-03-2006, 04:38 PM

I get all excited over this Hotrod DeVille, and what happens? I may need a different amp. I had been loving the overall tone, but I keep trying and trying and I can't seem to make it sound just the way I need it to for band-related things.

I may need to trade it in for something more high-gain. I'm sad, but I must do what needs to be done.

Any suggestions? Aside from this, I was also looking at B52 for a while. I was thinking of an AT100 head with a B52 4x12 slant cab (LGV12V). It would take an extra $400 to get that setup if I were to get $700 for the DeVille.

I'm starting to lean more and more towards melodic hardcore and post-hardcore as a style.

What should I do? Keep the DeVille, or trade up for a higher-gain amp?

Ryan Freeland · 09-03-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberChipmunk

I get all excited over this Hotrod DeVille, and what happens? I may need a different amp. I had been loving the overall tone, but I keep trying and trying and I can't seem to make it sound just the way I need it to for band-related things.

I may need to trade it in for something more high-gain. I'm sad, but I must do what needs to be done.

Any suggestions? Aside from this, I was also looking at B52 for a while. I was thinking of an AT100 head with a B52 4x12 slant cab (LGV12V). It would take an extra $400 to get that setup if I were to get $700 for the DeVille.

I'm starting to lean more and more towards melodic hardcore and post-hardcore as a style.

What should I do? Keep the DeVille, or trade up for a higher-gain amp?

First of all.. Why a halfstack? Do you really want to carry that beast around? You might want to try putting a distortion pedal in front of the Deville first... I know you have the SD-1, but that's an overdrive pedal meant for just adding a volume boost or a bit more grit. Try that before considering a trade, since you really like the amp.

RubberChipmunk · 09-03-2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Building429_Boy

First of all.. Why a halfstack? Do you really want to carry that beast around? You might want to try putting a distortion pedal in front of the Deville first... I know you have the SD-1, but that's an overdrive pedal meant for just adding a volume boost or a bit more grit. Try that before considering a trade, since you really like the amp.

Halfstacks are heavy, but they're not as awkward for me to carry. First, it is an image thing. I was going to get a cab for the DeVille, anyway. Its not that its really necessary, I've just always wanted one since I started playing.

I really like both amps, I just went with this one. Now my style is changing, and I don't think this DeVille can keep up.

Ax · 09-03-2006, 05:05 PM

mmmm.... i LOVE my B-52... it's like a mesa without the name tag, just keep the reverb down and the low end shaping knob at about 11 O'clock and it sounds wonderful... it even has a really nice clean channel... and you're just as good buying the combo... it has a full working head, you can always add a 412 cab later... the combo is only 50 bucks more at the GC's...

although you might not be as happy with the B52 as you will with the HRDX.. but you'l have a much harder time finding hard rock tones in it...

**thesteve** · 09-03-2006, 07:15 PM

I can see why you'd need a different amp for melodic hardcore, but if you end up going the post hardcore route, it might be perfect. That just depends on which guitar part you're playing though.

Ax · 09-03-2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesteve

I can see why you'd need a different amp for melodic hardcore, but if you end up going the post hardcore route, it might be perfect. That just depends on which guitar part you're playing though.

i have ot disagree... i was until recently in a post-hardcore type band, and i tried getting decent tones out of many amplifiers, mostly cheap ones.. the best ones for P-HXC were rect's and Oranges... though a JCM800s were very nice.. but i didn't have money for these and bought the B52 in my poorness, i could've saved up for the orange, but i think i made the right decision, mainly because i just had to drop 2k on a transmission...

Also the B52 combo has vintage celestions, the cab doesn't...

**thesteve** · 09-03-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

i have ot disagree... i was until recently in a post-hardcore type band, and i tried getting decent tones out of many amplifiers, mostly cheap ones.. the best ones for P-HXC were rect's and Oranges... though a JCM800s were very nice.. but i didn't have money for these and bought the B52 in my poorness, i could've saved up for the orange, but i think i made the right decision, mainly because i just had to drop 2k on a transmission...

The term "post hardcore" spans a huge variety of sound. If by "post hardcore" he means Jimmy Eat World, Jets to Brazil, Sunny Day Real Estate, Get Up Kids, etc., then the amp might still be quite usable. If by "post hardcore" he means Thursday or Further Seems Forever or something along those lines, then yeah, he's going to be out of luck.

Furthermore, I did note, that it depends on which guitar part you're playing. In alot of bands that root themselves in the "post hardcore" scene there are at least two guitarists, one that usually plays all the heavy rhythm parts, and the other who plays alot of cleaner lead and rhythm work. Back when I was really into the San Diego music scene, there were a couple bands I followed for which the Hot Rod amps might've been perfect...but they were playing much louder red-knob Fender Twins.

Third_Day_Rocks · 09-03-2006, 07:49 PM

If you are going to look into other amps, check out the Traynor YCV series. They have to ability to produce "heavy" gains.

thomaspg70 · 09-03-2006, 08:30 PM

Get a distortion pedal.

Ax · 09-03-2006, 09:03 PM

to a degree a disto pedal can work, but there gets a point where you just can't get distorion like amp distortion...

spyrotheleo · 09-03-2006, 09:56 PM

I would get a distortion peddle and wait it out, you might wonder back to liking the hot rod devele again.

**Rainer.** · 09-03-2006, 10:11 PM

If it's an image thing, I'd say get a 2x12 amp, and a 4x12 cab. Take the 2x12 for practices and such, and when you need to look awesome, take the 4x12. My personal choices for hi-gain 2x12s are the Peavey Ultra, Peavey 5150, Carvin MTS or Legacy, or possibly a Marshall, if you can find a JCM2000 for the right price.

Ax · 09-03-2006, 10:41 PM

the B52 fits his price range well, and not many places carry peaveys' and some poeple like me are wary of buying online, especially with something as fragile as a tube amp... though none of those are bad amps... and i'd like you to listen to me play and tell me my B52 isn't high gain... i'd post a clip but i don't have any means of recording...

Casey · 09-03-2006, 10:49 PM

$50 more? At my GC, the head and the 212 combo sell for the same price - $699. If your price is the higher, tell them to call and price check with the guitar center in jacksonville, if you go that route.

BTW, love the B52. Would love to hear it with a nice tube change.

**Wesley7777** · 09-03-2006, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

to a degree a disto pedal can work, but there gets a point where you just can't get distorion like amp distortion...

Actually there is a video on he V.Zex website that shows the pedal the Box Or Rock and does a direct comparison to a dimed marshall and i pretty much could not tell diference between them.