West Coast Blues Thread v. 12.0

[Stringmaster]

Originally Posted by Sweetfinger

I didn't know Buddy played on any of Harman's stuff! Last time I saw Buddy he was on the side of the road kicking his bike. I gave him a lift to a phone. I love that kinda nasty tone that he's got on the George Harmonica Smith/Rocket 88s live disc that just got released.

Can you steer me to the live disc you're talking about?
Thanks

[ES350]

Buddy used to get the rudest tones; didn't matter if he had the LP or the Dano. He had a nice GA40 for awhile and that sounded great too...hope I get to hear him again sometime.

[valcotone]

Originally Posted by nmontz

What amp do you like to gig with Valcotone??

Heh... I thought it would be an interesting topic to hash out with the group here.... thanks for the posts so far!

I still favour my '56 5E9-A Tremolux (thanks Jon!) with Scumback M-75 speaker (recommended by DukeH62) and the simple Dr. Z Brake Lite attenuator. That amp gives me what I've come to associate with my sound... it's the perfect volume for the band, and there have only been a few times when it wasn't loud enough. The tweed deluxe style circuit, robust speaker, and larger Pro-sized cabinet make for a big sound.

For outdoor gigs on bigger stages (which are few and far between, ha!) I'll usually rely on the 5E7 Bandmaster clone I built. It's got 3 of the older Mojo Tone MP10R speakers that sound really nice.

Occasionally, I'll bring out a Valco amp or the Gibson GA-40 (which is like a raunchier and squishier tweed), but usually it's the Tremolux.

[zappafrank]

Originally Posted by sideman

Favorite amp for four-piece band: very basic but interesting question. Of course basic variables are band volume and venue. But let's assume average small/medium club and average modern volume (many clubs seem to frown on levels we enjoyed 10 years ago or more -- they'll deafen you with DJ music, but expect bands to be moderate). Let's also assume that you want a good dose of warm, tube driven overdrive and compression (WC and roots blues, right?). One answer: a 6v6 duet in a larger cabinet than a Deluxe. After years of running exclusively 6L6 amps, suppressing them when needed with stompboxes, attenuators, cathode bias or overdrive switches, cloth or tape on the front, facing them backwards, etc., and still often being too loud, I'm using a Regal II with 6v6s most of the time now. On a stand pointed at my head. The small box 6v6 amps -- like a Deluxe and the GA-20 -- sound great but can get buried (still good when you're miced tho). A larger box, like the Regal and the GA-6, seems to add enough most of the time. And cranked can give great overdrive and compression at moderate volumes. Suppressing a good 6L6 amp usually hurts the tone, I think (used a Klon for years - good but still sucks tone). Unless you like clean or have a loud band, you may want less than a 6L6 and more than a small 6v6. Another option is a 6v6 driving more than one speaker. Didn't care for the Maz 18 2x10, but the Vic Double Deluxe may have something. I love SRs and 5F6As, but they are too much for almost all indoor gigs now. And another option is running both types of amps, using the 6L6 for strong rhythm and mixing in the 6v6 for leads. But I strongly favor a simple set-up with as few parts and wires as possible (occasional reverb tank enough of a pain!). Last note: contributing to the 6L6/6v6 switch for me was a change in perspective on bass. I used to think that I needed the extra power to mate with the bass and lay down a combined wall of lows. Now I think the bass does the bass thing, and I play guitar, which owns the higher spectrum.

I think this observation helps me a lot!-- although, I can sometimes get away with a Vic Tweed deluxe, single 12" (Celestion Blue 15w---what an AMAZING speaker for me!) at small venues, even with kinda loud drummer--- as long as I don't mind a more 'broken up' tone most of the night--- but my Harmony 415 amp w/ 2-12" 'beater' speakers just kills--- especially w/ my trusty old 335. in a small room--- and thats with 2 EL84 power tubes--- interesting stuff!
Two Feets--- you would love a Regal (I have the previous version to the latest one---whatever it's called? I forget the difference!)--- it needs a little work now due to an unfortunate incident (my fault) but it's right in between all this clean vs. dirty talk, I think--- you'd love it. Not cheap, I know---!

[zappafrank]

Valcotone=== an old Tremolux! What a sound! The Vic knockoff sounds INCREDIBLE as well--- still have that fat richness running through my head years after hearing those!

I have those same Mojotone P10R's--- just my fave modern 10's--- too bad they are tricky to find! Sound incredible in super reverbs, and really fine in tweeds as well! You got some keepers, I can tell!
AC

[Sweetfinger]

Originally Posted by Stringmaster

Can you steer me to the live disc you're talking about?
Thanks

http://www.bluebeatmusic.com/product...ducts_id=18880

[pete kanaras]

Pete, we really need to fool around with my RRII....bring yours up next time you come. Dennis said the tubes were fine...but who knows.[/QUOTE]

i used mine and the triple P-90 Kay with Guyger last night and it was nice. the now broken in C12K is the best speaker yet for it so it's gonna stay for awhile. it ain't perfect but it'll do. it was also the first gig since i rewired the Kay from it's old ES-5 style wiring to something more experimental, and i Hated it for all the extra fiddling around i was doing. merde! it's going back to the ES-5 style harness asap. acch, i really need to tell my brain to shut up sometimes and just play....

[RickyKing]

Originally Posted by pete kanaras

Pete, we really need to fool around with my RRII....bring yours up next time you come. Dennis said the tubes were fine...but who knows.

i used mine and the triple P-90 Kay with Guyger last night and it was nice. the now broken in C12K is the best speaker yet for it so it's gonna stay for awhile. it ain't perfect but it'll do. it was also the first gig since i rewired the Kay from it's old ES-5 style wiring to something more experimental, and i Hated it for all the extra fiddling around i was doing. merde! it's going back to the ES-5 style harness asap. acch, i really need to tell my brain to shut up sometimes and just play....[/QUOTE]

Hey, on the RR thing,
Used mine w/ Celestion last night,had it up 3/4ths , sounded great, really liked the nice highs...

[rhartt1234]

RRII...

I've got the stock speaker in mine and I want just a wee bit of earlier break up.
Any suggestions?

[valcotone]

OK... another related question... for bigger gigs, do you guys prefer to use the same smaller amp you'd normally use in a smaller place, and have it mic'd with some in the monitors, or a larger amp that you can hear clearly on stage?

So far, I've always taken a bigger amp as for me it's more predictable to be able to set my volume and tone with the amp itself... having rely on hearing yourself in the monitor is a gamble and never sounds right to me.

[RickyKing]

Originally Posted by rhartt1234

RRII...

I've got the stock speaker in mine and I want just a wee bit of earlier break up.
Any suggestions?

I have a Jensen RI Alnico you could try...
BTW just dropped a quick $ at Bluebeat...easy to do

[pete kanaras]

Originally Posted by valcotone

OK... another related question... for bigger gigs, do you guys prefer to use the same smaller amp you'd normally use in a smaller place, and have it mic'd with some in the monitors, or a larger amp that you can hear clearly on stage?

So far, I've always taken a bigger amp as for me it's more predictable to be able to set my volume and tone with the amp itself... having rely on hearing yourself in the monitor is a gamble and never sounds right to me.

in clubs i generally like a smaller mic'd up amp but nothing at all in the wedge, i prefer to hear it in the mains only. last saturday that reverberocket with a strat and a tele mic'd up with a 57 sounded incredible coming thru the house. it's a big treat hearing yourself thru the mains rather than knowing you're not in the mix because you're too loud onstage. took me a long time to learn that one

[schultzvil]

Originally Posted by pete kanaras

in clubs i generally like a smaller mic'd up amp but nothing at all in the wedge, i prefer to hear it in the mains only. last saturday that reverberocket with a strat and a tele mic'd up with a 57 sounded incredible coming thru the house. it's a big treat hearing yourself thru the mains rather than knowing you're not in the mix because you're too loud onstage. took me a long time to learn that one

ain't that the truth! Nothing like hearing/ feeling your guitar in the mains.
Hey kids, your reporter in euro-land, tonite from Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel, Holland. Arrived at the hotel today and found myself hanging with Alex Peterssen, Vidar Busk, Lazy Lester, Mark Hummell, Jim Suhler, RJ Mischo, and then the kicker was I finished my dinner and sat while Charlie Baty had his, we talked for a long time- he's so open these days. He told me some things he'd never told me before... we discussed a lot of things about concepts, harmonic ideas, lines, Little Walter, Charlie Parker and great tricks of the road. It's really exciting and fascinating to sit with Mr. Baty and hear his take on things. I played tonight with Big Pete, with a great band of Dutch & Belgian players, the cream of the euro-crop. I'm hanging' tomorrow, where I'll get up with Hummell's harp show, which features himself, Lazy Lester and Charlie playing guitar most of the night until HE picks up the harp, at which point your reporter will be deputized on gtr. Then comes Jimmie Vaughan & Tilt A Whirl.
Man, I guess this is what I live for ;-) just wanted to share it with you guys- Lex

[Stringmaster]

Originally Posted by schultzvil

ain't that the truth! Nothing like hearing/ feeling your guitar in the mains.
Hey kids, your reporter in euro-land, tonite from Moulin Blues Festival, Ospel, Holland. Arrived at the hotel today and found myself hanging with Alex Peterssen, Vidar Busk, Lazy Lester, Mark Hummell, Jim Suhler, RJ Mischo, and then the kicker was I finished my dinner and sat while Charlie Baty had his, we talked for a long time- he's so open these days. He told me some things he'd never told me before... we discussed a lot of things about concepts, harmonic ideas, lines, Little Walter, Charlie Parker and great tricks of the road. It's really exciting and fascinating to sit with Mr. Baty and hear his take on things. I played tonight with Big Pete, with a great band of Dutch & Belgian players, the cream of the euro-crop. I'm hanging' tomorrow, where I'll get up with Hummell's harp show, which features himself, Lazy Lester and Charlie playing guitar most of the night until HE picks up the harp, at which point your reporter will be deputized on gtr. Then comes Jimmie Vaughan & Tilt A Whirl.
Man, I guess this is what I live for ;-) just wanted to share it with you guys- Lex

Man, wish I was there--or you were here! So awesome!!

[valcotone]

Thanks for the report Alex... sounds like an amazing event!