Need an advice on Amp choice for Ibanez AF84E Archtop
iBenez
I recently bought Ibanez AF84E Archtop guitar. I've played it through
the computer using the software amps for the time being, while
searching for a physical Amp. I couldn't find any software amps that
were any good for jazz. I'm a totally new to Jazz. I was recommended a
book "Jazz Theory" by Mark Levine that I'm currently reading (with
difficulty because I don't know notes too well). So something probably
will have to be done about that...
I wanted to buy a good amp for personal use. From what I've heard
though, practice amps aren't just low in volume but also usually low
in sound quality. So I guess I need something bigger than that. But
I'm not really sure what to get. I suppose the Amp should be
versatile, but I'm not going to play death metal on it, so distortion
is not important. I occasionally see that clean/pure sound is
emphasized by some jazz players describing a particular amp, still, I
like the warmth that tubes offer. I need something that's meant for
jazz and blues and can use the potential of an archtop guitar.
Any recommendations would be appreciated!
kagejs
Image line, the AER amps that many are using, and then there are amps
like Rivera. Personally, I have an Acoustic Image Clarus 1 (this
particular model no longer in production) playing through a Raezer's
Edge Sealth 12 cabinet.
There are also JazzKat, Ultrasound, and of course amps like Fender that
may be good for you.
Keith Freeman
can pick them up secondhand. For a bit of tube warmth you can use a tube
preamp such as the PreSonus.
A lot of professional players use the old Polytone.
If you're not on a budget, the Goldtone is a fantastic tube amp. I was
lucky to find myself a German-made 30W class A combo at half the price
which I'm very happy with.
-Keith
Portable Changes, tips etc. at http://home.wanadoo.nl/keith.freeman/
e-mail only to keith DOT freeman AT wanadoo DOT nl
Keith Freeman
its sweet spot.
dunlop212
end boom, feedback, etc. that you get from an archtop guitar, and
selectively boost frequencies that give you the sound you want. I have
an Evans right now that does all that really well. The one amp without
sophisticated EQ that works well for me is the tweed bassman style; it
was originally intended as a bass amp, has a midrange control, so it
does a real good job of handling low end (especially if you can get one
with a pine cabinet).
mr.lurke...@gmail.com
iBenez wrote:
> Any recommendations would be appreciated!
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/480023/
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/481368/
oasysco
There are so many amp choices out there - both tube and SS - that you
need to try some out and see what works for you. I could tell you what
I prefer, but you don't know if my tastes coincide with yours or
whether I'm even at your level of play. So without a way for you to
valdiate my opinion, you'd be much better off taking your archtop to a
store and trying various amps.
Once you've done that and still don't find what you are looking for,
you can come back and say I tried this, but it didn't do whatever well;
and this amp was OK, but it didn't do this. That way, folks here can
narrow down choices for you.
Greg
Eugel Yeo
Not expensive , surprisingly good.
"iBenez" <iBe...@hommmm.com> wrote in message
news:6p75q1pkb96d95069...@4ax.com...
Derek
JC sound well.
LegatoGuitars @ RoadRunner
dropped.
Peace,
/bf/
"kagejs" <w.sa...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1134732736....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Norm K
> Any recommendations would be appreciated!
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/480...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/4...
**************************************************************************************
And cheaper yet...
http://www.music123.com/Peavey-TransTube-R--Studio-Pro-R--II-i25267.music
I've been using this for almost two years and love it.
Norm
Stan Fong
oasysco wrote:
> iBenez,
>
> There are so many amp choices out there - both tube and SS - that you
> need to try some out and see what works for you. I could tell you what
> I prefer, but you don't know if my tastes coincide with yours or
> whether I'm even at your level of play. So without a way for you to
> valdiate my opinion, you'd be much better off taking your archtop to a
> store and trying various amps.
>
>
Great advice Greg. I with you all the way.
Stan
iBenez
wrote:
Thank you for your comment guys! I went to the store today in
Manhattan "guitar world" I think it's called near Union Sq. I tried a
few tube amps there and even found Fender Deluxe that sounded really
great but more for blues. Tried a few other high-end tube amps like
Gibsons. I kept an opened mind. I wasn't really looking to match some
particular sound exactly but more looking for a special sound that
would be best for my ears. So after about 10 mins of playing, I
decided not to get tube amps because that's not what I'm looking for
it turns out.
So next, I went to search for solid states. They were out of Roland
CUBE 60, and never had 30. And they didn't have Peavey TransTube
either. Loads of Marshall everywhere though! So as I was about to walk
out, I see this JC120 standing next to this wall, all lonely by
itself. I remembered reading some positive things about it so I
started playing it for a while and though it was not absolutely quiet
in the store and I couldn't figure out how to make the amp louder
(turned the volume to max still wasn't loud enough.. could be a defect
or maybe I was doing something wrong) So I was playing it for about 10
mins and I think I like it! Tried it on 1st chan, then switched the
chorus on and chorus effect is very nice too. Only down side is, the
darn thing costs $800! I suppose I could find used one on eBay though.
What do you think about this amp? Is it "almost as good as [model name
here]" or is it great in itself? I liked the amp, so my only concern
is that there's another amp out there that's somewhat better at what
JC120 is already doing, but that's not different in price by much. Any
thoughts on that? Thanks!
iBenez
Oh another thing I've been reading few people say it has "some noise",
a hissing sound. Any comments on that?
iBenez
How does these compare? I know the 60 has some "amp modeling" but if
you were to compare only the jazz qualities of these amps, which wold
be better? Thanks!
jazzgeetar
channel on it is clean analog (the JC channel maybe) and the other
channel is digtial modeling of a number of different amps?
Keep in mind that there is a bunch of Roland JC sizes, not just the
120. There's the 90, 77, 55, 50 and maybe a couple more. Actually, at
some point, I might pickup an old used JC50 which is the 1x12 combo.
-Dan
oasysco
>What do you think about this amp?
Can't go wrong with a Roland JC-120 or the JC-90. I wouldn't pay $800
for a JC-120, though, I think that's what they cost.
If you liek the JC-90, you'll probably liek the Cube 60 with DSP
effects and it costs way, way less.
Musicians Friend has new fender Cyber champs for $299 (list is $640;
reg price is $450)
Greg
iBenez
wrote:
From what I've read Cube 60 seemed to be a lesser version of JC-120
(if you ignore all the emulated amps it's got and just compare the
clean sound). And since I couldn't find it in any store and I had an
offer to get a used JC-120 for $400... So I got JC-120 and was playing
with it for the past several hours. The more I play the more I seem to
like it. My Ibanez archtop sounds great, and I even hooked up RD-100
(electric piano) and it sounds pretty good too, very jazzy. I used
Paradigm speakers with a Yamaha receiver for the piano before. Not
gonna use that setup again certainly :)
This seems to be an older model JC-120, made in USA. It doesn't have
Effects Loop, and has old-style switches.
Looks like this (googled images):
http://www.garagebandguitars.com/images/JC120Front.JPG
http://www.garagebandguitars.com/images/jc120rear.jpg
I wasn't able to find out which year it was made though, and the
roland doesn't seem to have the manual on their site for it either. So
if anyone has any info let me know. Thanks