Goodsell 17 & OD/Fuzz Pedals - do they get along well and a couple other questions

[packermann]

I have been reading about the Goodsell 17 amp with interest. I also spoke with Richard a couple of times on the phone about potentially buying a Goodsell 17 head (he was very nice as others have mentioned). I have listened to the sound clips on his web site and am very pleased with the clean and slightly driven tones his amps produce. I play blues and some fusion and use a pedal to get my lead tones since the three piece I play with doesn't play at loud volume levels. Here is what I have on my pedal board:

Fulltone 69
Tubescreamer
Tube King

Here are my questions:

1. How does this amp interact with overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals?

2. How loud you need to crank the amp up before it starts to grind some? If it isn't too loud I may be able to use those pedals more sparingly in the future. I have a variety of speaker cabinets so that offers some flexibilty for this as well.

3. Anyone have a Goodsell 17 combo with reverb? If so, how do you like the reverb?

Thanks for your thoughts - Pete

[mkg]

Hi, Pete...

1. I've used a Barber Small Fry with mine, works out well.
2. You can leave the master low and crank the gain to get some good low volume drive.
3. Mine doesn't have reverb, so I can't help you there.

Mark G.

[ryhlick]

Bump this topic, I am interested.

[brads]

[quote=packermann]

Here are my questions:

1. How does this amp interact with overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals?

I've only used a Timmy (LM1458 chip and assymetrical clipping). It can sound just like the amp (but louder) or very smooth gain.

2. How loud you need to crank the amp up before it starts to grind some? If it isn't too loud I may be able to use those pedals more sparingly in the future. I have a variety of speaker cabinets so that offers some flexibilty for this as well.

Master halfway, gain 1/3, tone dimed gives very nice mild breakup. That's sort of on the loud side at home, but certainly not at a club. If you put a 5Y3 rectifier and a lower efficiency speaker in it, you'll get there quicker.

3. Anyone have a Goodsell 17 combo with reverb? If so, how do you like the reverb?

Reverb is lush and spacious, but can be taken out of the picture by turning it all the way down.

[TwangAndGab]

Here are my questions:

1. How does this amp interact with overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals?

*** I swear by a Blackstone which is always the perfect accompaniment for the likes of old Fenders, but seems to get in the way of the natural OD of the S17. (see below...)

2. How loud you need to crank the amp up before it starts to grind some? If it isn't too loud I may be able to use those pedals more sparingly in the future. I have a variety of speaker cabinets so that offers some flexibilty for this as well.

*** As you've probably already picked up, there is a surprising amount of shaping available in those three knobs. The tone control is particularly deceiving, ain't just for highs. There's a lot of folks who call this a clean amp, dime the master, and adjust gain/tone to taste. Then you might take advantage of an OD pedal, but I find jacking up the preamp, setting the master to the room, and then work off the guitar volume and tone knobs works exceedingly well. And, don't underestimate the use of that guitar tone knob, because the amp has lots of high end.

3. Anyone have a Goodsell 17 combo with reverb? If so, how do you like the reverb?

*** I've always been a big verb head, and was concerned about the lack on the amp, especially for those lonesome train songs we do. You don't need the verb for providing that 3D detail, because it's there in spades already. I do have a Line 6 reverb pedal I use sometimes, really more as an effect, and that works pretty good, better than the Holy Grail for sure. In a nutshell, you don't have to have it, not like you would on a DR or such.

Thanks for your thoughts - Pete

*** The amp is just the sweetest thing to play. Plugging straight in and go is a reality.

Chris

[davros]

1. Mine loves a Lovepedal Eternity and AC Booster. I tried a Zendrive but didn't like it as much - probably should try it again.

2. +1 with Twang above.

If possible I prefer to dime Master, Tone and Volume controls for an awesome lead tone and back off the volume on the guitar for chords. However where that's too loud setting the amp for your chord sound and using a pedal for leads is pretty damm good too.

3. Reverb is good - not as lush as the best I've heard but no complaints at all.

D

[packermann]

Thanks to all for the feedback. I am on the fence on buying another amp period and the choice will be difficult. The only other amp I am considering vs the Goodsell Super 17 is the Suhr Badger and that isn't out yet. I have the following amps:

1. DRRI - great black face cleans, but a little too quick in the response and stiff until you turn it up past half way. Just too loud for me most of the time. I have left this stock as it seems just fine the way it is.

2. Emery Stagebaby - very nice in low power mode with lots of tube swapping flexibility. Current favorite tube is Mullard reissue EL34.

3. Groove Tubes Solo-Single - another great amp that you can swap out tubes in. Just discovered the 6V6 in this amp and ordered a variety from Groove tubes.

4. Blues Jr. - a nice Fender tone that is powered just right for smaller venues. This has been left stock as well. I am pleased with the tone as is.

Adding a Goodsell 17 would be a luxury and from what I understand, this is amp is kind of a cross between a Vox and a Marshall. The quest for tone keeps me coming back to the sound clips on their site. It just sounds like a great Strat amp.

Pete

[tonedrip]

Just tried a Zvex BOR with my Clairmont Classic today. Wow ! I was so impressed I bought it on the spot. The voicing of this pedal really suits this amp to my ears. Warm organic Marshallesque tones that clean up beautifully with guitar volume knob. In fact that clean tone seemed to warm up the highs on the Goodsell.

I find my Super 17 a tad bright...if I dial the tone much past 9:00 , the highs are somewhat piercing. (with Strat /Fralin VHs) Anyone else notice this, and will the highs mellow after speaker breaks in ? I'm also a little new to EL84s , perhaps this is a characteristic.

sorry for going off topic somewhat

[TwangAndGab]

I'm one of those that dimes the volume, then sets gain low and tone a bit higher. So you're saying jack the gain way up when you say jack the preamp? Then use the master to control volume. Ok, just did it. I see what you're saying. Obviously much cleaner, but with a little edge, on my settings. On yours, more gain certainly. Very nice gain with the tone up at 3PM, volume back in the early AM, gain dimed. Nice indeed.

In general, I'm not a preamp od kinda guy, but it works well on this amp. What swayed me were the Joe Davies clips on the Goodsell site... that was the kind of sound I was after, and that is pretty much all amp/preamp od I believe.

However... ymmv. A friend told me once "ya know, my clean is your dirty".

[TwangAndGab]

I find my Super 17 a tad bright...if I dial the tone much past 9:00 , the highs are somewhat piercing. (with Strat /Fralin VHs) Anyone else notice this, and will the highs mellow after speaker breaks in ? I'm also a little new to EL84s , perhaps this is a characteristic.

It will mellow with speaker break in. However, the amp is on the bright side but I have found that the treble is modulated very nicely with the guitar tone control. Depending on the desired effect, that could be as low as 3-4.

[Mikey Likes It]

I'm using an OCD and a Keely Kataana boost through mine and it loves them both!

And I agree, the amp can be bright, which better than not being able to be bright - you can always back down on tone controls, but you can't add sparkle that's not there to begin with. It really should mellow with breaking-in. What speaker config do you have?

[tonedrip]

I'm using an OCD and a Keely Kataana boost through mine and it loves them both!

And I agree, the amp can be bright, which better than not being able to be bright - you can always back down on tone controls, but you can't add sparkle that's not there to begin with. It really should mellow with breaking-in. What speaker config do you have?



I have the G12H anniversary in mine. Apparantly notorius for longer break-in period vs other speakers. I logged several hours of CD through the amp over the last couple of days, and a few gigs coming up later this week. That should help.

I've discovered there's a nice mellow clean tone when the gain is up and your guitar volume is down...another option to tame some of the brightness. I also get the same result throuh the vexter BOR , when the amp set for more headroom. Lot's of options for a 3 knob amp. As Richard said himself , "very guitar knob friendly " .

[BadAssBill]

The Super 17 combo, IMHO, is one of the best grab and go amps around (I know you were looking at the head). I know it's all about particular taste, but I don't think this amp needs a single pedal. Almost all of these botique amps on TGP have voices that are meant to be heard and don't need pedals. The S17 is no exception.