My favorite recordings never seem to contain the halfstack or stack I assumed.

[popinvasion]

I retired from my career in music several years back. While I toured and recorded I also had big rigs like bogners, marshalls, hiwatts, harryjoyce, orange, mesa.

I always frowned in the studio when the producer brought out a little dinky amp.

I was naive. I was young and dumb.

Now I look back and realize all of my favorite stuff was done on small obscure little amps. Interesting. Music is just a hobby for me and I have dug full face in to the small amps, but lately I have been wondering why I don't own the stack anymore?

But I have no justification to having one. I don't need the volume, I don't like attenuators, I am not touring, and my favorite records were done on cool stuff like tweed deluxes, champs, supros, princetons, etc.

I also was never a van halen shredder type of fan.

I am just surprised that 17 years into playing the guitar I finally understand stuff that I was so resistant towards. I keep getting stunned that my favorite rock song was not done on a marshall or something big but done on something seemingly unconventional.

[the fat one]

+1

Although, your sentiment can apply to us "van halen shredder" types, also. My gigantic amps are gone because even if I didn't realize the '70s are over, the sound guys at the venues do.

[Dunnej]

You don't wanna be that guy that shows up to the studio to lay down some tracks with a Marshall full stack. Everyone there will roll their eyes at you and probably put earplugs in. I mean, Jimmy Page did two albums with a little tiny Supro and that still sounds bigger than just about anything. Tiny amp, big hall way, studio magic. Great stuff.

[suparsonic]

Originally Posted by Dunnej

You don't wanna be that guy that shows up to the studio to lay down some tracks with a Marshall full stack. Everyone there will roll their eyes at you and probably put earplugs in. I mean, Jimmy Page did two albums with a little tiny Supro and that still sounds bigger than just about anything. Tiny amp, big hall way, studio magic. Great stuff.

Didn't JImmy Page also use a Tele in the studio? Not sure he used a LP at all.

[Ishouldbeking]

Originally Posted by suparsonic

Didn't JImmy Page also use a Tele in the studio? Not sure he used a LP at all.

tele early on, LP later on. and other stuff presumably.

[guitarfish]

Interesting thread. For a little while there I thought a Marshall half stack would be on my "someday" list, even though it would be in my house 99% of the time, I mean, why not? I'm extremely passionate about playing, it made sense to me. Eventually I realized it would be very under utilized and really isn't necessary. I have 2 nice smaller tube amps now, and may add a third one day, all of which will get a lot more use and just makes a lot more practical sense.

[Demo]

That's not necessarily accurate. Cream, for instance, went into the studios with full stack Marshalls. I believe Hendrix did too. But that was yesterday, . . . ?

[LPMojoGL]

I don't know what your fav recordings are, OP, but I know a lot of mine were recorded with big stacks. And little amps. And straight to the board. And so manipulated that they could never be reproduced live.

That's the magic of the studio!
There are no rules.
I once went in with my band to record at this guy's "studio". He wanted me to go direct to board with a Digitech RP5. I told him he was crazy. He and the rest of the band didn't like that. I still ended up micing an amp. And it sounded way better than it would have if that dude got his way.
If stacks turn ur crank, light em up.
Life is too short to not have the amp you want.

[LPVM]

[sixesandsevens]

Originally Posted by LPMojoGL

I don't know what your fav recordings are, OP, but I know a lot of mine were recorded with big stacks. And little amps. And straight to the board. And so manipulated that they could never be reproduced live.

That's the magic of the studio!
There are no rules.
I once went in with my band to record at this guy's "studio". He wanted me to go direct to board with a Digitech RP5. I told him he was crazy. He and the rest of the band didn't like that. I still ended up micing an amp. And it sounded way better than it would have if that dude got his way.
If stacks turn ur crank, light em up.
Life is too short to not have the amp you want.

Testify!

While many awesome recordings may have been done with tiny amps, playing a tiny amp and playing a giant amp are very different experiences. Neither is universally better or worse, but they're definitely not identical.

If standing in front of a 100" speaker like Marty McFly is your therapy, have at it.

Just do yourself a favor and wear hearing protection!

[LPVM]

There are a ton of classic recordings that were done on small obscure amps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIp0mvwg3B0

Little tube amps rock!

[Dave_C]

All true, but it's also true that plenty of guys have recorded iconic, historic tones with big amps and 4x12s in the studio. Eric Johnson and AC/DC come to mind. Plus, there's still nothing like the sound of a 4x12, no matter WHERE you're using it. I have 1x12s, 2x12s and a 4x12 and feel thay all have a purpose, even though the 70s have passed. This is a stage you'll get to after 40 years of playing guitar and you've become an old fart at 52, like me. And, I'm sure there are plenty of stages for me left to go through as well! We all keep evolving and developing and/or changing our beliefs. Point is, all tools are valid and useful. It all depends on when, where, how and whom. There aren't many absolutes in the arts and music is definitely one of them.

[ethompson]

I agree with LMojoGL and Dave C they all serve a different purpose and life is too short to not use what gear you like (if you can afford it etc..) because of what other ppl think.

[gsf]

Let's not forget the recording of live albums.
Band of Gypsies---signature tones Marshall
Live at Leeds ---- Hiwatt
Crossroads--the primal version of what alot of builders shoot for
I am a fan of the small amps, but an occasional stack unveils the girth of big iron.

[Coldacre]

Originally Posted by Dunnej

I mean, Jimmy Page did two albums with a little tiny Supro and that still sounds bigger than just about anything.

Led Zep I & what was the second album?