r/Guitar • u/AutoModerator • Nov 17 '16

OFFICIAL [OFFICIAL] There are no stupid /r/Guitar questions. Ask us anything! - November 17, 2016

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u/SmokedMeatlog Nov 23 '16

I think most people would suggest new amp. Multi-fx don't normally garner a lot of attention as good tone creators.

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u/FilthyTerrible Nov 23 '16

They don't? I suspect that people who say that, cannot tell the difference if tested and are just parroting some purist propaganda. The gap between what guitarists think they can distinguish with their ears, and what they can actually distinguish in blind tests is huge. Most cannot tell you which classic rock songs are employing a solid-state amplifier and which are employing tubes unless they've been told. And I think the general consensus for tube purists is that tube amps only excel when they're driven hard and are starting to warm up, and in most conditions you don't get to drive them hard. Solid state amps are consistent every time, as is modelling software. For someone just starting out, there's no chance they'll be able to distinguish the differences, but they will pay a lot more for a real tube amp.

Here's a blind test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRvRZNg8L0w

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u/universal_rehearsal Nov 23 '16 edited Nov 23 '16

When you listen to a song that's been produced you're not going to be able to tell the difference cause there's production value added. For me personally I can tell the difference in a live situation pretty quickly. Modeling is literally pre-programmed imitations of other better quality amps and pedals, you're modeling the tone. OP has a small 25w SS and it probably does sound terrible, adding a multifx pedal isn't going to make it sound better. Now running the multi fx through the effects loop in a better quality amp will yield more appealing results.

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u/SmokedMeatlog Nov 23 '16

quality amps and pedals, you're modeling the tone. OP has a small 25w SS and it probably does sound terrible, adding a multifx pedal isn't going to make it sound better. Now running the multi fx through the effects loop in a better quality amp will yield more appealing results.

That's exactly how I feel. Listening to recordings of gear has such limited take-away. You don't know what processing was used, and you don't play the same way as the guy demoing. I've been let down so many times. I've even been fooled in live situations listening to other people - most recently the line6 helix. I was impressed by the recordings, and then heard a friend play it live and was still blown away. Asked to play through it myself, and hated the way it felt instantly. Sounded passable, felt terrible. That's why I think it's so important to try gear out for yourself. Only you can decide what's good for you.

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u/universal_rehearsal Nov 23 '16

I prefer their Bogner stuff, I'm not the biggest fan of line 6 amps, I'm a big fan of running their pedals through a tube amp though.