Tech 21 Blonde pedal

[ajouffa]

I am using the v1 of the Blonde SansAmp pedal in front of a vintage ’57 Fender Tweed Champ amp (5E1).

My goal is to obtain exactly the same sound than when is amp is cranked, but at lower volume (using the Champ at "3" – wich is ok for apartment use).

The Blonde pedal does the job tonewise, but I don't have the same playing dynamics than with the amp at fuller volume… It's sounds more compressed.

Does the new version of the Blonde pedal (with the speaker simulation turned off) would sound more natural for my use with the champ ?

[tech21nyc]

Originally Posted by ajouffa

I am using the v1 of the Blonde SansAmp pedal in front of a vintage ’57 Fender Tweed Champ amp (5E1).

My goal is to obtain exactly the same sound than when is amp is cranked, but at lower volume (using the Champ at "3" – wich is ok for apartment use).

The Blonde pedal does the job tonewise, but I don't have the same playing dynamics than with the amp at fuller volume… It's sounds more compressed.

Does the new version of the Blonde pedal (with the speaker simulation turned off) would sound more natural for my use with the champ ?

The speaker sim switch will not be the answer for what you are trying to accomplish. You could try reducing the drive of the pedal somewhat to make it compress a bit less. The dynamics of the amp have a lot to do with the physics of the sound in the room and how your guitar responds. When your amp is up loud you will instinctively play softer because of that volume and you won't be hitting the front end of your amp as hard. If you were to take that same low wattage amp and play on a big stage with a loud drummer, bass player and another guitarist with a 100 watt head and 412 stack your champ wouldn't be able to keep up and you would start playing much harder and guess what. The amp would sound compressed. This is part of the reason guys tend not to like attenuators. They don't see the cause and effect of playing loudly versus playing softly.

[forgivenman]

Originally Posted by Aslan

Anyway, I never thought I would consider not taking a amp or two to a gig but the sound and the "feel" of these pedals are amazing. I liked it so much that I bought California pedal and again it sound just like the Boogie amps I've owned in the past. Has anyone else had this experience or have I just gone over to the dark side and don't know it?????

I gig almost exclusively with the Liverpool and my pedals now. Fantastic pedal(s). I don't miss lugging my tube amps around at all. The mix often sounds better also.