Amp Techniques - Am I doing it all wrong?

[Maton]

Hi all,
So in my search for a new fuzz friendly amp (http://ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php?f=14 ... 6&start=15) I've discovered that most of you seem to use your amp clean when using fuzz which makes a lot of sense. I currently have a VOX AC15 which I run on the top boost channel and dialed for a great over driven sound. Without the ability to switch to the normal channel (without a ABY switch), the poor little fella hasn't seen clean in quite some time (which until now was fine by me).

So my question now is, do most of you have an amp that you can switch between normal / overdrive easily, switching to normal channel (clean) before you hit on your fuzz resulting in some manner of Michael Flatley esque foot work each time you want to go between your fuzz sound and your over drive sound?

Or is it a simple approach of always leaving the amp on clean and using O/D pedals to push the amp into overdrive and fuzz pedals to push it to fuzzy goodness? If that is the case, then the over drive section of the amp essentially becomes obsolete and you're just using a pedal to push the clean channels tubes, is that correct?

Love to hear everyone's approach on this!

[AxAxSxS]

I go for big powerful clean amps and speakers that compliment that. All my dirt and effects are fed into that.

[kbit]

Or is it a simple approach of always leaving the amp on clean and using O/D pedals to push the amp into overdrive and fuzz pedals to push it to fuzzy goodness? If that is the case, then the over drive section of the amp essentially becomes obsolete and you're just using a pedal to push the clean channels tubes, is that correct?

This is what I've noticed a lot of people do 'round here.
I always go into a clean / almost clean amp myself so the character of the dirt will shine through.

[goroth]

Or is it a simple approach of always leaving the amp on clean and using O/D pedals to push the amp into overdrive and fuzz pedals to push it to fuzzy goodness? If that is the case, then the over drive section of the amp essentially becomes obsolete and you're just using a pedal to push the clean channels tubes, is that correct?

This is what I've noticed a lot of people do 'round here.
I always go into a clean / almost clean amp myself so the character of the dirt will shine through.

+1

[Officer Bukowski]

I'm in the same boat. I run a dirty ac30 and I love the sound straight into my amp but it sounds bad with most fuzz.


What I did is just try different fuzzes until I found one that works with my amp. I'm not into overdrive pedals with a clean amp so that wasn't really an option

What I've found is that it will work much better with less saturated fuzzes. Big Muffs are a no go, but my Maestro FZ-1 clone sounds amazing. A Fuzz Face type pedal with your guitar volume slightly backed off is perfect. So some Fuzz Face type with a pregain control is great

[Psyre]

I use clean clean amps and drive it with pedals, if I want more dirt on top of my fuzz I'll use a dirty boost infront of it.

[Bassboar]

Wait, clean? Wazzat?
I have my set for dirt, then blast the hell out of it with od and fuzz.
YMMV though.

[Doctor X]

yes, i wish there were more options for single channel clean amps (that play well with drive/fuzz pedals)
would just like a small 12inch combo, with weight and money saved by having it single channel, no reverb etc

[MEC]

I use single channel amps set to where they just start breaking up (could be a little speaker break going on too?) and
then add OD and Fuzz.

It' more versatile for me that way because it gives me 3 "channels".
Cleanish, dirty and fuzzy.

[skullservant]

Loud clean amps for me here. They have the capability of breaking up, but I set them to be loud and clean instead

[12XU2A3X3]

I've got a Sunn Sentura I which is a 2x EL34 arrangement modeled (copied) off a hifi amp. Since it's designed to have really high headroom it will get really loud with out a lot of distortion which is ideal for me since i run 5-6 fuzzes in front of it. The added benefit of it not breaking up is that it's a non-master volume that doesn't overdrive at a reasonable volume and thus keeps blooze lawyers and such out of the market.

[D.o.S.]

Loud and clean here, too.

[patrick]

Or is it a simple approach of always leaving the amp on clean and using O/D pedals to push the amp into overdrive and fuzz pedals to push it to fuzzy goodness? If that is the case, then the over drive section of the amp essentially becomes obsolete and you're just using a pedal to push the clean channels tubes, is that correct?

In my case, yeah. The only tube amps I've used have been a Peavey Valve King 112 and a Music Man HD130 212, but I never liked the overdrive section on either. I mostly use clean tones to begin with, but my Music Man sounds BEASTLY with my EQD White Light.

[xrleroyx]

Wait, clean? Wazzat?
I have my set for dirt, then blast the hell out of it with od and fuzz.
YMMV though.

Yep. I blow up my Orange with fuzz if I ever need it.

[O Drones]

Loudnclean))))