Getting tired of my amp (finaly it's not the amp)

[sylnau]

Ok, it's one of these days where I hate my tone and I want to change everything.

My amp at the moment is a Bogner Duende 1 X 12.

The controls on the clean channel (the only one I use) are Gain, Treble, Bass, Volume and there's a master EQ with Air and Body.

At the moment I feel like the amp lack in the mid and bass and I miss that jazzy feel (fuller round cleans).

Any recommendations on a very good small amp where you can play home?

Carr? Swart? 65 Amp? Which model... what else?

Amp like the Carr Sportsman and some 65 Amp have some kine atenuator built in.

What's your though?

[alasdair limbocunt]

take a nap!

[fever606]

If I was looking for small, single (clean) channel and "jazzy" I would probably get a Dr. Z Maz 18 with reverb and call it a day...

[Chankgeez]

take a nap!

[sylnau]

Yeah I should just go to sleep.
But I'm really unhappy with my tone since a while.
Maybe due for a change.

[rustywire]

Try swapping in some old (or even new) tubes into v1.....my #1 rec would be a British-made Mullard 12ax7/ecc83.
You can get one lightly used/equipment pull for ~30 bucks, if you don't already have one.

Also, what're the status of your strings...and is your guitar in tune/intonated? Sometimes I have *off* days that can be traced to one of those 2.

Edit: could also be time for new power tubes...

[sylnau]

All the tubes has been tested last summer.
Most are still 90% good.

Edit: It has a nice kind of tweed sound. But the Eq is boring (I'm veru tired this week, that may not help).

[Chankgeez]

... or a new amp?

Syl, go try to play some small amps in stores. Are there any shops that carry the brands you're looking for anywhere near you?

[sylnau]

Here in Quebec City??? I might find some other Bogner or a 65 Amp.
Other than that there's only the regular stuff... Mesa, Fender, Marshall, Orange.

I will go visit some store on saturday. Need to try some guitar too.

Maybe I'm just too tired... and my ears are affected.

[John]

Dude, I gave up on amps a couple of years ago. Solid state power amp and pick a preamp you like. Fuck, pick seven. Combos, fuck a combo, it's just a box made to shake the shit out of your amplifier components until it falls apart. Too many parts in one package that you have to commit to. Heads are expensive and most have features you will never use. Shit be fussy, shit be not liking certain pedals, shit be sounding like one thing at home and another in a venue. Fuck amps. Amps are no good. They will always let you down.

[sylnau]

I just listened to the audio clips on the Bogner website.
This amp sound great.

That means... I shouldnt have wrote this thread.
I had a big week at work and I'm tired.

[rustywire]

... or a new amp?

Syl, go try to play some small amps in stores. Are there any shops that carry the brands you're looking for anywhere near you?

I always recommend trying the cheap/easy fixes first. That's a $2500+ amp!

I just listened to the audio clips on the Bogner website.
This amp sound great.

That means... I shouldnt have wrote this thread.
I had a big week at work and I'm tired.

Don't play it until Sunday. I bet it sounds extra good then. Also check your axes.


@John.....AMPS RULE. K.I.S.S. But yeah I'm with you on combos. Head+cab 4L.

[Tristan]

The old Bogner Duende is a pretty great amp man.
Personally I didn't like the 65 Amps, Carr or Dr. Z amps I tried at all.
No punch, no balls, they're either weak or ugly sounding amps, in my opinion they just have a bad eq and shitty response.
Swart sounds really great to me though but it is picky with drive pedals.
Maybe try a Fender Greta with a good 1x12 cab, a Fender Excelsior Pro or a Fender Princeton Reverb Reissue, they're cheaper and I think they sound better too for what you want to do (less polite and clinical).

[sylnau]

Everything is allright with the amp.
I'm just too tired these days and my playing feel crappy.
A new guitar would be a better choice... the amp is great!

[tuj]

Fender Silverface Champ. Can still be found fairly cheap, vintage all-tube amp, good cleans, not that loud (I play in my apartment with the volume on 2).

Or get a new pedal; sometimes that is enough to breathe new life into an amp.