Single channel vs. channel switching amps

[fjabjr]

I'm sure this has been asked before but a quick search didn't find anything (unless of course I didn't use the right wording in the search field).

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the pros and cons of single channel vs. channel switching amps. I've seen comments from some folks that channel switching amps sometimes sacrifice tone.

Thoughts?

[Billy Penn]

I prefer a non-channel switching amp. Why? Because if you are using a clean amp you can choose or build one with components (including speakers) geared for clean playing. Same goes for an overdrive amp. Some channel switching amps are good though but I prefer each amp to be more specific.

[GCDEF]

I need a lot of variety in my sound. I don't think I'd ever try to gig with a single channel amp again.

[AshlandBump]

To me, I'd rather have a good clean tone. I use a JMJ-30 which has three channels but, right now, I don't switch between the channels with an A/B switch. Even when I do manually switch channels, it's to get a different flavor of the same basic clean/slightly overdriven tone, i.e., from Normal channel to Top Boost to Brilliant. In my mind, a "channel switching" is meant to give a "clean" tone and an overdriven tone. All my base tones are relatively clean, I use a variety of pedals to get the overdrive tone I want. With all the pedal choices available today, I'd rather have a really good clean tone and be able to select what kind of overdrive I want with a pedal, rather than have the overdrive chosen for me by the amp maker.

[beej]

Pro, you get multiple sounds (or gain stages, voicings, etc.) from a single amp. Versatility.

Con, you have a more complicated amp that's subject to failure, and servicing is potentially more difficult.

You can get a great single channel amp and use a pedal. You can get a great channel switcher and stick with just one of the channels if you like.

We don't all have roadies and multiple amp setups, so for most of us this stuff is a tradeoff; it's about what tools you need as a player to get the job done.

[Norjef]

For me, NO pedal sounds/feels as good as a good channel-switcher (like Egnater).
I've owned or tried many OD/distortion pedals - they do work as extra tools.

If you love the clean or slightly dirty sound of your amp, you may find that the best way to dirty and sustain it up a bit is with another channel of the same amp, tho a clean boost pedal can sometimes ALMOST do as well (imho).

If you don't like channel-switchers, mebbe you haven't tried the right one - it's prolly out there.

[forgivenman]

I've owned 1 single channel amp in my life- a Tatoo Flash 50 (JCM 800 clone) and I just couldn't get used to the one channel. I had to set it clean to use pedals to get any type of versatility but I didn't buy it for the clean sound.

Having said that, it was a great sounding amp for what it was.

[Fifthstone]

I prefer the simplicity of a good single channel that has excellent cleans and a good low gain overdrive. The rest is handled with good pedals. I prefer the simplicity, both of the circuit and the knobs / interface. I don't think there are necessarily any inherent shortcomings of multi-channel amps. Just not my bag.

[phillyred79]

First the cons: Most channel switching amps share the same EQ which can be frustrating tonally when going from clean to dirty on the fly. Volume drops or swells can also be tough to even out when switching channels. Single channel amps are limited to one sound at a time unless you are good with your volume/tone knobs on your guitar and can vary your picking style/attack.
Pros: Channel switching amps can be convenient if you know how to dial in the sounds you want for each channel. People who like a definite 'clean' clean channel and need to get dirty quick and like the sound of their amp's OD will like channel switchers. As others have stated that a good single channel amp with solid cleans (Fender Super Reverb etc) can be a great platform for OD pedal use. That being said I've owned both and have no preferences really. A good amp is a good amp is a good amp as long as you like the sounds it gives at the 'ease' of which you get them. Don't be afraid either way!!

[fetishfrog]

I like both as they each serve their own purpose. I have both and use both regularly, depending on the gig. Ii I could only have one...it would be a tough call for me.

[somedude]

I have and use both. I don't generally gig pedals.

Multi-channel amps give me versatility.

Single channel amps don't... but sometimes you can't get the tones you want out of a channel switcher so you gotta do what you gotta do.

For gigging purposes I'd rather bring one channel switcher and plug strait in than use a pedalboard full of effects. It's simpler, easier, and there's less that can go wrong. It also generally sounds better too, since I've yet to find a pedal that'll outdo a good tube amp.

My single channel amp also gets plugged strait into, and I use the guitar to control the clean/dirty and gain levels. I use it because no channel switcher sounds like it. If one did, I'd probably get it. It's not that I don't like single channel amps... I've used more single channel amps than multi-channel and in a way I feel more comfortable with them, I just don't see a need to avoid versatility when I don't need to.

[riffmeister]

I use a clean-to-mild OD single channel amp + pedals and a s/s/h Strat type guitar. Lots of sonic variety with that combo.

YMMV

[cbguy]

another channel = another option

[telelion]

This is for my style of gigging but as far as "owning" I can see both as you can never have too many amps.

It depends on whether you need the great clean or not. I do. But I don't understand the Fender BF crowd plus pedals over a channel switcher as long as the channel switcher has a great Fender BF clean channel which still gives you the pedal options. Then in addition you have an OD channel which likely will have much more gain than the "organic"(to use the cliche) one channel amp. Then you try and fill that gap(organic-in between) with pedals which is one of their better uses.

But the one channel "organic" amp would fit the player not needing the pristine high headroom clean who fiddles with the guitar volume knob and will achieve better in between grittier sounds than pedals most likely if that is your priority. Or the one channel amp that needs no clean and is high gain like a Marshall clone or something.

Also, some like two channel amps not because they have two channels but because they live on the OD channel despite the clean channel being mediocre like some Bogners or an SLO for instance to name a few. To them it is a one channel amp.

[fjabjr]

I'm loving all this input...thanks! There are pros and cons to both style amps...obviously depending on your situation. Currently, at church, I play through an Orange Tiny Terror. I generally keep the settings clean with just a tiny bit of gain so when I play hard it breaks up a little bit. Then get all my OD/distortion from pedals. I've been wanting to get a channel switcher so I don't have to rely heavily on the pedals. But, it is at church and an amp with enough power to give me the clean headroom I like is probably to much wattage.

For now, I think I'll try turning up the gain and using the guitar's volume controls to clean it up...that is something I'm not used to doing but if it works, I'll give it a shot.

[rhinocaster]

I've played gobs? gaggles? boatloads? of channel switching amps, and they're really no better to my ear that a great overdrive into the front of a big clean tone (that already has a bit of hair on it when the volume on the guitar is all the way up).

Clean plus boxes gives me exactly what I'm looking for, and I get to decide for myself what my overdrive sound is going to be.

I'm not a modern high gain player. Their needs may be different than mine.

[telelion]

I'm loving all this input...thanks! There are pros and cons to both style amps...obviously depending on your situation. Currently, at church, I play through an Orange Tiny Terror. I generally keep the settings clean with just a tiny bit of gain so when I play hard it breaks up a little bit. Then get all my OD/distortion from pedals. I've been wanting to get a channel switcher so I don't have to rely heavily on the pedals. But, it is at church and an amp with enough power to give me the clean headroom I like is probably to much wattage.

For now, I think I'll try turning up the gain and using the guitar's volume controls to clean it up...that is something I'm not used to doing but if it works, I'll give it a shot.

You don't have to worry about too much wattage on most channel switchers because they have master volumes which usually work well. You often hear players saying about many of them that they are great bedroom amps. It's the one channel amps that you have to worry about the volume on usually.

I have one major gripe about channel switchers. Why can't they just have the clean channel with a volume control and forget the gain or master volume. Especially as I said in the previous post if you are just looking for Fender BF clean in channel one just like if you went the Fender route with pedals, why complicate it? Then use the pedals for a little grit instead of switching two knobs around all the time and then back to get to clean. Or if you want more versatility out of it-builders- make it channel two(exactly the same as channel one) but now with a volume and gain and have channel three as it would be, a high gain channel with individual EQ. But they all have to put that damn extra knob on the clean channel. The benchmark of clean tone, BF Fenders have one volume control and no gain. To me the best cleans have one volume control.

[Ed DeGenaro]

I'm sure this has been asked before but a quick search didn't find anything (unless of course I didn't use the right wording in the search field).

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the pros and cons of single channel vs. channel switching amps. I've seen comments from some folks that channel switching amps sometimes sacrifice tone.

Thoughts?
In a nutshell for me I end up using one channel on a channel switcher or a single channel...dunh.

[Ed DeGenaro]

I've played gobs? gaggles? boatloads? of channel switching amps, and they're really no better to my ear that a great overdrive into the front of a big clean tone (that already has a bit of hair on it when the volume on the guitar is all the way up).

Clean plus boxes gives me exactly what I'm looking for, and I get to decide for myself what my overdrive sound is going to be.

I'm not a modern high gain player. Their needs may be different than mine.
I'm so there with you.

[FenderBigot]

When it comes to amps... I go both ways! LOL

I find that my mood changes from gig to gig. There are times I love having the option of stepping to the other channel to boost or add gain. There are other times I just want to rely on my pedal setting and simplify a little.

[telelion]

I've played gobs? gaggles? boatloads? of channel switching amps, and they're really no better to my ear that a great overdrive into the front of a big clean tone (that already has a bit of hair on it when the volume on the guitar is all the way up).

Clean plus boxes gives me exactly what I'm looking for, and I get to decide for myself what my overdrive sound is going to be.

I'm not a modern high gain player. Their needs may be different than mine.

I'm not a modern high gain player either but your method wouldn't work for me because you said a "big clean tone" but then with a little hair on it. For me big clean tone means no hair and I want that option. Then a pedal is not as effective as what you are doing, at least for certain things. That's why I ranted before, give me channel two which is the same as channel one where I do have a little hair(gain knob) and then perhaps I would add a pedal to it just like you. Channel three is classic OD but in reality it is only a two channel amp. More like an Egnater module with two modes of the same channel. But of course they(Egnater) like everyone else puts a gain on the clean channel of the Twin module despite the second half of the module being the one you should be getting the hair from. Why do they do this?

[rhinocaster]

I'm not a modern high gain player either but your method wouldn't work for me because you said a "big clean tone" but then with a little hair on it. For me big clean tone means no hair and I want that option. Then a pedal is not as effective as what you are doing, at least for certain things. That's why I ranted before, give me channel two which is the same as channel one where I do have a little hair(gain knob) and then perhaps I would add a pedal to it just like you. Channel three is classic OD but in reality it is only a two channel amp. More like an Egnater module with two modes of the same channel. But of course they(Egnater) like everyone else puts a gain on the clean channel of the Twin module despite the second half of the module being the one you should be getting the hair from. Why do they do this?

We do all have different needs. My big, clean sound is when the guitar volume is on 8 or so, and the hair comes on when I roll the volume all the way up.

With channel switchers, I'm invariably locked into an overdriven sound that I'm not interested in. The extra channel becomes pointless.

On top of THAT, I just really enjoy grabbing a few pedals when I head out for a gig. Sometimes it depends on my mood, sometimes I'm just trying to stay in my big fat comfort zone and sometimes I want to see how I feel working a great fuzz tone for all my driven sounds in an evening.

For me, one channel and pedals is just where it's at!

[voojo]

Clean plus boxes gives me exactly what I'm looking for, and I get to decide for myself what my overdrive sound is going to be.

This. With a two channel amp you're basically stuck with the voicing of the channels, which may or may not be versatile.

Keep in mind that even though you're using pedals, your still squeezing them through tubes, both preamp and power amp, so if your slamming the tubes your going to cause them to distort.

In the scheme of things I don't think you're going to have people coming up to you after a gig saying "Man I wish you would have used a dirty channel instead of a pedal."

[zachman]

I'm sure this has been asked before but a quick search didn't find anything (unless of course I didn't use the right wording in the search field).

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the pros and cons of single channel vs. channel switching amps. I've seen comments from some folks that channel switching amps sometimes sacrifice tone.

Thoughts?

It's the application (bedroom, studio, or live performances) where the channel switching function/feature can be relevant or not.

re: the possible tone/tones of a given amp-- (channel switching or not)-- they will either provide the tone platform or they won't.

[dk123123dk]

There are just too many factors to discuss. I think for the situation the OP described a cleaner amp would suit you well. Perhaps a Dr. Z of some sort? A Pro Junior? Reeves? etc.

I use a primitive channel switching amp, that can switch channels, or combine channels for a bit of a boost. Its an old Peavey with the Automix. I like to run into the combined channel with the guitar volume full out for leads, and rolled back to about 5-7 for rhythm. Sometimes I will hit this channel with a fuzz, and again roll back for cleans. This works the best for my situation as the sole guitarist in a 4 piece Classic Rock band. Can pretty much get most of the tones we cover with that simple setup. We are adding a few newer songs for the younger crowds, so I am going to have to add a high gain dist for those sounds.

I find the single channels are great for a more country/bluesy/roots/classic rock sound. Add a few pedals, get an amp that you can crank up a bit and you should be set.

If you tend to play with hi gain most of the time, and rootsy, bluesy sounds are less of a priority, channel switchers are more suited for this style player.

This is just a generalization though. There are plenty of people who use both, or can work with either.

dk

[TommiK]

At the moment my only amp is a Fryette D60. It's a single channel amp, and even though I've mostly played channel switchers before, I'm enjoying the D60 a lot more.

I love the challenge and interaction of plugging straight in. It forces me to concentrate more on my playing. If I sound too dirty I'm either picking too hard or have the volume pot too high, if it's too clean I need to pick harder or turn the gain up. I find that interaction very rewarding.

Of course, that only works in some situations, if I need more variety, I'll set the amp clean and run my pedalboard into it. Lots of more options that way, but it's not quite as interactive and not as rewarding for me. On the other hand, I'm less likely to sound like crap. On a bad day, plugging straight in can make you feel pretty naked. Especially if it's a loud and reverbless, unforgiving higain amp like the Deliverance.

[VaughnC]

I've yet to play a channel switcher that delivers the type of cleans & OD that I like so I prefer to build my gigging rig on an amp that has a big, full clean sound because you just can't "fix" bad cleans with a pedal...but there are tons of OD pedal flavors out there.

[StudioRat320]

I'm "biampual"

That said, the only channel switcher I've found that really does it for me is the Diezel Herbert. Every channel is useful to me and when I'm limited to one amp, but need variety, this is it.

When space allows, I also enjoy multiple, single channel amp setups. Nothing better than a Fender for big, huge clean. A Vox for that chimy clean and sweet OD. And a raging Marshall for crunch, grind and searing leads.

Add a few choice pedals to either setup and you have variety for days.

Another alternative is to use multiple, low to med watt amps such as, Rebel 20, Blackstar MT-5, Vox Night Train, Orange Tiny Terror, etc. 3 of these little amps, setup for various tones and 1x10 or 1x12 cabs will do a great job. Mic them up and go.

Lots of choices these days.

[nosignal]

I have a couple channel switching amps but i use them as a single channel amp where i get a nice dirty sound then roll my volume back to get a clean sound when needed. In my experience I've always found that the clean, or first, channel on a multiple channel amp always sound fuller than the distortion channel. Maybe I haven't been playing the right channel switchers but that has been my experience. With that being said, different strokes for different folks there's no right or wrong answer here, if you can find the tone you want with a single channel amp go for it, same goes for the channel switchers.

[Alistair6]

i have also owned both and recently sold a jcm 800 head because i needed a channel switcher. i was able to get by with the 800 winding back volume, switching from my bridge to neck pickup but it just wasnt the same. i found myself compensating too much due to the amp i was using. I am now back with a 2 channel that has a great clean and an excellent drive. I can dial in a very nice clean sound that I can always push with a pedal if need be but at the hit of a footswitch i have that gain channel on tap for what i need in terms of my drive sound.
In all honesty for me I use the drive channel 90% of the time with my cover band so i needed a good drive before a good clean so it made sense to hunt down something and focus on the drive.

I did try out a Dr Z maz combo with a pedal in front but to me it just didnt sound the same.
Its all application and personal preference though

[gainiac]

For me, NO pedal sounds/feels as good as a good channel-switcher (like Egnater).
I've owned or tried many OD/distortion pedals - they do work as extra tools.

If you love the clean or slightly dirty sound of your amp, you may find that the best way to dirty and sustain it up a bit is with another channel of the same amp, tho a clean boost pedal can sometimes ALMOST do as well (imho).

If you don't like channel-switchers, mebbe you haven't tried the right one - it's prolly out there.

I agree completely. VHT and Elmwood make superb channel switchers. I'd say the Elmwood is a little more "classic" and the VHT (Fryette now...) brings a whole other tone to the table. Nothing like a VHT's single note voicing. What beautiful sounding amps.

[harryjmic]

I prefer channel switchers, I have owned all kinds of amps and it seems like pretty much every pedal fails horribly with higher gain, not insane just sustained with some bite (think JCM800).

Another problem is single channel amps also seem to be guitar dependent, they definitely tend to have a voice that is normally not as maliable to changes.

The entire your stuck with one overdrive sound or eq option holds no water as there are all kinds of two channel amps that do not use a shared eq. On top of that you can also change the eq on the lead channel in a far more profound way then you can when comparing it to a standard overdrive with a tone knob...give me a frickin break please.:facepalm

Lastly, if you really wanted to you get a high powered channel switcher and run a pedal through the clean side of the amp and use the lead side at a later date should your needs change.

I now have two channel switchers, Bogner Shiva and a Bad Cat Hot Cat, both these amps have a killer clean tone, independent eq's, great lead channels, basically indestructable and they are among some of the best in terms of overall function...this is hardly a sacrifice. :)

[somedude]

The entire your stuck with one overdrive sound or eq option holds no water as there are all kinds of two channel amps that do not use a shared eq. On top of that you can also change the eq on the lead channel in a far more profound way then you can when comparing it to a standard overdrive with a tone knob...give me a frickin break please.:facepalm

Not to mention that all the pedals that you can use to mold a single channel can also be used to similar effect with a multi-channel amp.

[rhinocaster]

Not to mention that all the pedals that you can use to mold a single channel can also be used to similar effect with a multi-channel amp.

Still, there are those of us that have found that a simple amplifier circuit that's hit with different pedals can work much better than a more complex amp driven with those same pedals.

I don't think that one is better than the other for everyone, but clean + pedals is MUCH better for me.

[ejecta]

We do all have different needs. My big, clean sound is when the guitar volume is on 8 or so, and the hair comes on when I roll the volume all the way up.

With channel switchers, I'm invariably locked into an overdriven sound that I'm not interested in. The extra channel becomes pointless.

On top of THAT, I just really enjoy grabbing a few pedals when I head out for a gig. Sometimes it depends on my mood, sometimes I'm just trying to stay in my big fat comfort zone and sometimes I want to see how I feel working a great fuzz tone for all my driven sounds in an evening.

For me, one channel and pedals is just where it's at!

After more channel switchers than I can count.... this is exactly where my mind is at.

At the moment my only amp is a Fryette D60. It's a single channel amp, and even though I've mostly played channel switchers before, I'm enjoying the D60 a lot more.

I love the challenge and interaction of plugging straight in. It forces me to concentrate more on my playing. If I sound too dirty I'm either picking too hard or have the volume pot too high, if it's too clean I need to pick harder or turn the gain up. I find that interaction very rewarding.

Of course, that only works in some situations, if I need more variety, I'll set the amp clean and run my pedalboard into it. Lots of more options that way, but it's not quite as interactive and not as rewarding for me. On the other hand, I'm less likely to sound like crap. On a bad day, plugging straight in can make you feel pretty naked. Especially if it's a loud and reverbless, unforgiving higain amp like the Deliverance.

I'm using a D60 too. I run my gain at a heavy crunch... going to my neck single and turning my guitar down to 8 gives me a great clean expecially if I lighten my pick hand..... dig in and get some hair on the tone, switch to bridge bucker and full volume and I'm pretty heavy..... hit my Holy Fire set to just a bit of boost and I have as much sustain as I'd ever need for solos. My M13 also gives me some very cool lead tones with some of its fuzzes and the gains set low. I've found having this set up gives me way more variety than I ever had with a channel swither and I have better tone because I start with a better base tone that IMHO only a single channel can give.

[tennisplayer]

Great thread. One thing that seems to happen I've found is: you find a channel switcher with a great clean channel with a little grit and you want that same tone now with fully overdriven tubes. You chit channel 2 and it sounds like a completely different amp! Ugh!

Now I'm missing my Black Pearl. You could get it gritty, back off the volume knob for a cleaner tone, hit the boost to make that grit even more saturated, and then hit an od pedal for more. Darn, I'm heading over to the darn emporium right now.

[harryjmic]

Great thread. One thing that seems to happen I've found is: you find a channel switcher with a great clean channel with a little grit and you want that same tone now with fully overdriven tubes. You chit channel 2 and it sounds like a completely different amp! Ugh!

Now I'm missing my Black Pearl. You could get it gritty, back off the volume knob for a cleaner tone, hit the boost to make that grit even more saturated, and then hit an od pedal for more. Darn, I'm heading over to the darn emporium right now.

Buy a great clean boost - RC, Timmy, Fatboost and set that to use for your clean channel. You now have three distinct sounds.

[somedude]

Still, there are those of us that have found that a simple amplifier circuit that's hit with different pedals can work much better than a more complex amp driven with those same pedals.

I don't think that one is better than the other for everyone, but clean + pedals is MUCH better for me.

I agree. In the end it all depends on the context and what the final results are that you want to achieve.

I think that if you're going to make heavy use of pedals that it's easier to work with a consistant amp tone. The problem with a channel switcher is that it's whole purpose in life is to change your amp tone.

[somedude]

Great thread. One thing that seems to happen I've found is: you find a channel switcher with a great clean channel with a little grit and you want that same tone now with fully overdriven tubes. You chit channel 2 and it sounds like a completely different amp! Ugh!

Mesa Lonestar.

Both channels are identical. The only difference is the taper of the gain and MV pots, so your gain/MV knobs will be about 35 degrees off from each other when set to sound the same. Some people will mod channel 2's pots so that they're literally identical as it takes the guess work out of dialing in similar tones.

Channel 2 also has the addition of two extra gain stages should you choose to add them into the circuit. This turns channel 2 from a Deluxe circuit to a Mark I circuit. It adds two extra gain stages to the front of the Deluxe preamp to slam the amp like an overdrive pedal would. It also includes a volume knob to set how hard it hits channel 2, and a voice switch to EQ the "overdrive"... from a natural overdrive that's more or less a higher gain version of the amp's natural tone, to a thicker "overdrive" that's classic Boogie lead tone. There's also a third tone that's somewhere between the two... little more crunch and not quite as fat as thicker.

I generally use mine similar to what you're talking about, but with the extra gain on channel 2. So channel 1 is dialed in for overdriven cleans on channel 1 with my guitar volume as the gain control. Channel 2 is set up with a low to moderate gain boost on the natural voice. I dial them in reasonably similar; they're a tad different as I want each to sound their best but I don't want a tone shift when switching channels.

Probably the most awesome feature on this amp is the solo boost. It lets me set a separate master volume setting for solos. So I can be rocking out on the clean channel, then step on the button and have a 10db VOLUME boost for a clean solo. I don't think it's possible to overstate how good this sounds. It opens up your amp in the same way adding volume opens up any amp... thicker tone, more sustain, you added no extra gain so your cleans are still clean, and you just stepped out of the pocket with an extra 10db of VOLUME. It makes using boosts/overdrives sound wimpy in comparison.

Anyway... can you tell I love this amp? It's like Randy Smith was asking Fender users what they wish their Fender amps would do, then went and built it.

Sales pitch over... I got way carried away in my reply, but I find it hard to contain my excitement with this amp. It's neither new, nor my number 1, but the amp is perfect for what I need it to do. My appologies to those who had to read it.:drink

[Austinrocks]

Single cnannel if you can find a good OD pedal, Fender custom Vibralux with a Mesa V-Twin, great combination, and better than my mark iv tone wise, however finding a good OD pedal, the mesa is tubed, most are not, and the pedal has switches, so it not like your avoiding switches, just moving them around, and the switches in the amps generally better than those used my a pedal manufacturer.

the thing with the channel switchers is getting one with a range of tones that you want, gennerally the clean tone is the limiting factor. My mark iv frustrated me until I put the 6v6s in, finally a great clean tone, not a lot of amps have that much range of options, and finding the one you want can take time.

[blackba]

I have both single channel and channeling switching amps. For me it depends on what I am doing. If I am playing clean and low gain stuff mainly, I will use a single channel amp with pedals. If I am going to hard rock or metal I use a multichannel amp.

So it depends on your focus, is your main sound high gain. If so than look for a channel switcher. Is your main sound clean/low gain, than a single channel may be the way to go.

One thing I like about my single channel amps is that they all have a 2nd channel. I have used this channel for a solo boost, different sound, or when I switch between differently voiced guitars. I just find the extra channel really handy and use my AB box all the time.

[Crikey]

( . . . ) One thing I like about my single channel amps is that they all have a 2nd channel. ( . . . )

I laughed when I read this. Of course, I get what you mean. It's interesting that most of us probably think of tweed and blackface Fenders and plexi-panel Marshalls as "single-channel amps", though most of them have two channels.

I like both non-switching and channel-switching amps. I've played way too many dirt pedals and not been able to match the mojo of a good drive channel (like the Zinky Mofo's). And pedals are even farther from matching the mojo of a simple tube amp turned way up. But there are a lot of cool pedals out now that do their own things, which can be worthwhile. I like them best when I remember that they are "effects".

My favorite tones tend to be simple amps cranked up, but options are cool.

Crikey

[blueblazes]

Until recently I always used channel switching amps or lots of pedals with a clean single channel amp. Invariably with channel switched amps I end up on the dirty channel most of the time and just roll the volume down to clean it up as the clean channel is just too clean. Master volumes don't work that well except in limited situations because they rely on pre-amp distortion instead of the juicy power amp kind. The exception is the type that controls the voltage to the tubes (power scaling). I am currently using a power scaled 18 watter and it does everything I need with just the guitar's volume and tone controls. Of course if I need more power then that is another issue. I believe that channel switching still has potential for me, it is just that I have not found (or built) the amp where both channels are equally useful.

[stratzrus]

I have both single channel and channeling switching amps. For me it depends on what I am doing. If I am playing clean and low gain stuff mainly, I will use a single channel amp with pedals. If I am going to hard rock or metal I use a multichannel amp.Agreed.

I do the same thing except if I'm playing a large hall I take my Sig:X no matter what. The cleans are great, it's pedal friendly, and with a little delay or reverb it sounds just as good (although different) as my Fender combos.

I agree completely. VHT and Elmwood make superb channel switchers. I'd say the Elmwood is a little more "classic" and the VHT (Fryette now...) brings a whole other tone to the table. Nothing like a VHT's single note voicing. What beautiful sounding amps.Agreed big time. The Sig:X is one spectacular channel switcher and it has independent eq for all three channels. Astoundingly, all three channels have a good clean tone.

Not to mention that all the pedals that you can use to mold a single channel can also be used to similar effect with a multi-channel amp.Absolutely.

In order to sound as good as a great single channel amp with pedals you need a great channel switcher, but the Sig:X sounds fantastic with my Zendrive. No complaints whatsoever.

[Flyin' Brian]

I love simple and single with pedals. My three favorite amps ever are Carr Rambler, Victoria Regal II and Dr Z Carmen Ghia.

They're all single channel amps, very touch sensitive and great pedal platforms. They can all be driven to a sweet spot without blowing the back walls off of the room. They're all portable and reasonably priced.