what makes a good pedal platform amp

Players who prefer the customization benefits of pedal distortion. When I hear that term, I think of an amp that has a tone stack that plays well with pedals, especially overdrives. I have always heard this called a, clean pedal platform and to me that means a high head room amp that will stay clean, and that has a good clean sound. And used they can be found for around $400. Wampler makes one very comparable to the Bellaand before that, Brian Wampler himself always used the Port City Pearl. I had an AC10C1 with barely any headroom and my pedals sounded great through it. Pedal platform amps aren't a new thing; only the term is new. Fender Blues Junior IV. For example, from the vast selection of distortion pedals, each distortion pedal brand and model sounds inherently different, varying from aggressive, subtle, smooth, or mimicking the tones of specific amplifier brands. Vibrolux Reverb. But what about their selection of bedroom amps? But what exactly is a pedal platform amp? Oct 17, 2020 #3 swervinbob Friend of Leo's. Brunetti amps for me. These characteristics make them great for taking pedals, particularly overdrive, distortions, and all other effects that commonly go in front of the amp. Before you know it, youll have spent a hefty sum of cash, thanks to your quest for additional tones as an individual pedal can range from. There are videos online of this which I've watched but there doesn't really seem to be a simple answer to this question. We disclose that we earn commissions based on referring traffic and potential customers to these companies. I'm biased, but a LG Jose, ala CCV channel 1 is super flexible. Every guitarist wants to play pedals these days, but the amp theyre plugging into is just as important. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxNh4pGPjPo), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWmMsB0ITOs, Headroom: The Secret of Tone | Low vs High Power Amplifiers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWmMsB0ITOs), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgbffV5fR4Y, FX Loop Explained (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgbffV5fR4Y). Secondly: they're using the wrong amp for their tone. That always has worked out better for me than trying to find amps/speakers that make my overdrive pedal sound better (and I have done that too). Because of this, pedals do not respond as well with solid-state amps. The Fender Jazz Bass has been at the echelon of the rhythmic bass arsenal for over five decades now. Orange Amplifiers! I'm partial to vintage circuits. However, this kinda defeats the object of buying a solid-state amp. Or Kemper Profiler. Revisions? You can use a Fuzz Face with a Marshall Plexi for a similar method. Even a 100-watt solid-state amp clean channel sounds overly compressed and unnatural at high volumes. Gain pedals sound best slightly above unity gain. Good solid state pedal base I keep mine on the "American" side of the ISF and I like the sound but have no idea what the amp is really trying to be. Now, an amp without the FX loop feature cannot route signals away from its pre-amp, meaning that it simply amplifies whatever is sitting in front of it. if i had the money i would get a fuchs clean machine. The Bella is a KILLER amp. For the latter, having a solid pedal platform amp is a must, since they still need a medium to get soundwaves in the air. Technically, yes, you can use any amp as a pedal platform, but results will vary heavily. Mods for using microchamp as pedal platform? Secondly, their lightly colored tone offers a clean voicing for pedals to shine as some amps heavily color the tone with their unique sonic signature. The pre-amp section will color your modulation and time-based effects which is unwanted. For gain pedals such as fuzz, overdrive, and distortion, experiment with how much output you send to the amp. Pedals The effects loop (or FX loop) allows your modulation and time-based effects to bypass the pre-amp stage of your amp. Speaking of the clean channels when determining a good pedal platform, a good place to start is usually the clean channel (if its a dual-channel amp.). What Makes an Amp a "Good Pedal Platform"? The promotion that pedalboards plugged into pedal platform amps sound better is misguided. BF vs SF? with a range of helpful articles from my personal experince. Every setting can define your final tonal outcome. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Furthermore, tube amps are pricey, as they should be. The best settings for a pedal platform amp can be achieved by first getting a great clean sound on it without pedals. I think you might have it backwards (though I understand what you are asking). There seems to be this implied notion that a 6L6 circuit is best for using pedalboards. Thread starter reingarnichts; Start date Oct 17, 2020; Oct 17, 2020 #1 R. Wampler makes a dedicated pedal platform amp. I keep thinking if I repeat saying it, it will turn my stomach less, but it hasn't worked yet. Rely less on the amps natural tone and distortion and more on your pedals to supply your custom sound. My favorite guitar tones are pre pedalboard era. The Singleman and Metropolitan. John Suhr, the founder of JS Technologies Inc, started building guitars in 1974 and created the first Suhr Custom guitar in 1984. Others want enough headroom to get their clean tone to the volume level the need but then want the amp to start breaking up to get the tube sag/compression/grit thing going. While the dirty and clean channels of such an amp can make a decent pedal platform, amps with cascading gain stages are best to avoid. You should avoid any pedal platform amp with dips or humps in its frequency response and excessive highs and lows. Amps with sharp high-end responses also tend to make bad pedal platforms. An amp with a naturally heavy colored signal essentially masks the true sound of your pedals especially gain and distortion-based pedals. Oops, looks like you forgot something. The first is that, where tube amplifiers use valves, solid-state amps use electronic transistors as their amplification source. Some guitarists have been doing this since the 1970s. Yet, a Twin is often promoted as a pedal-friendly amp. Not necessarily pre guitar pedals. Resurgences interstellar intrigue, interpersonal conflicts, and explosive space action hew closer to its source material than any Star Trek game in decades. A 15 watt amp that still has a good amount of clean headroom and is made to be used as a pedal platform is the Blackstar Artist 15. Fender amps still a good pedal platform if youre looking of a clean base tone. That could be a great effect to use at times, but not what you probably expect a distorted guitar with delay should sound like. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. Modern blues players like clean sounds that feel like overdrive, its usually a tube amp with a naturally compressed sound and a good sustain. As more and more players create their sound with pedals, more and more manufacturers are now creating amps specifically designed to work with pedals. Vintage Ampeg combos can make great pedal amps as well, although you have to be careful with the original Jensen speakers they used, which tend to to be underpowered and easily blow due to age. My amp is the best pedal amp I've ever used. A Rivera TBR1-M rackmount. It goes without saying, tube amps are innately more expensive than most solid-state and modeling amps. I'm with you, having access to an amp and some pedals makes that amp a great pedal platform. Best "Pedal Platform" Amp | The Gear Page You are using an out of date browser. Same theory in the Trinitron monitors that used to be in every broadcast control room, or the MDR-7506 headphone, some things are just standards. The number of pedals you can stack on top? We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Before I dig too deep into that, let's discuss what the belief behind a pedal platform amp is. Guitar Amp Settings to Use as Pedal Platform - GearAficionado There are different amps available now on the market, but which type of amps is best-suited for pedals? Therefore, you should choose an amp with the cleanest and purest voiced signal possible. Therefore, a pedal platform amp functions as a platform to build a guitar tone around stompbox pedals, relying less on the amps natural distortion and effects. Sometimes a nice amp with a lovely tone is not a good pedal platform because pedals make it worse. Does someone want to get into a time machine to tell Hendrix he should only plug his Fuzz Face into a clean amp? But, I'm not delusional about where tone comes from for my style. 6 Amps That Are Perfect for Pedals - Sweetwater WebA Pedal platform amp is a term used to describe a guitar amplifier that optimally responds to guitar pedals especially gain-based pedals. Etc. Or, in the worst scenario, shatter the precious tubes as they are made from fragile glass. some will not handle the bass at high volumes and others the high frequencies at high volumes. The volume of an amp is determined by the power amp, which is required to bring the preamp to life, and vice versa. The benefit of a power amp in a pedal, is that you (often) reduce the size of your rig immensely, making it super easy and lightweight to transport. For pedal connoisseurs who love and collect pedals. I do think it's a bit of a farce carried on by obsessive gear heads though (yes, pot kettle). What makes an amp a good or great "pedal platform"? (I do use the JCs reverb and chorus, but most of the effects I use come out of the GP-10. In other words, Its responsible for why all amps sound different from one another. Just like its name implies, a modeling amp is modeled after a pre-existing amp and was built to mimic its tone as truthfully as possible. If you do, you need to setup your amp to be that clean and you can always add some dirt on the top of it. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. Using a clean high headroom amp is just one option. As tube/valve amps specifically react super well to pedals, it highlights their dynamics and tonal qualities. You may be home, ready to replace the broken part at a moments notice, or you may be playing the gig of your life, hoping that wont be the case. Before I have to yell at some kids to get off my lawn, I'll sum the article up with this: We have three major equipment stages of guitar tone. Its pretty simple. Therefore, assembling an army of pedals plus getting hold of a decent tube amp is an expensive investment compared to this solid-state and modeling amps as an all-in-one solution. Clean amps can stay clean as you turn them up and stay clean until cranked. The purpose of this blog is to help guitarists with the best free information on tone tips, gear advice, and general music topics. Some of my favorite tones are Jimmy Page, Mick Ronson, The Beatles, and Muddy Waters, just to name a few. Hence, the ideal pedal platform amp typically has a wattage of 40-100 watts of tube power. Squier Lines Explained: Which Is Best for You? Vibrolux Reverb. I've had guitarists come to me inquiring why their tone is thin. link to Fender Jazz Bass Controls (Explained), link to The 7 Best Orange Amps for Home Use (Review Post), The reason I created Tone topics, was to infrom and educate all players out there. What are your guys' experiences with your crazy pedal setups and finding an amp that "clicks" with it, or vice versa? If you are happy, then go for mids. The best guitar amplifiers to buy in 2023: 11 best pedal platform amps Not cheap for a solid state, but takes pedals better than most tube amps I've owned, and is way more versatile, for both home or out in gigs. Pedal Platform Amps brings together our picks for hiking up your headroom without giving up your sound. But what characteristics make an ideal pedal platform? Do guitar pedals sound best into a clean amp? The takeaway is he got all his gain from his pedal combination. With that said, modulation and time-based effects sound better with a clear and transparent signal flowing through them, allowing them to project a more organic and truer tone. (Gibson QC issues). Should you send your effects through the input or the FX loop? Do they sound best into a dirty amp? So what is a pedal platform? WebOverall, the 1970RK is a fantastic amp that will make your effects pedals shine. Better still, each model of drive pedals brings forward a different spin and sonic signature. No matter what guitar and pedals you use, you have to pair with the right amp, Which is whyI have so many pedals. Hey! 60's or 70's. JavaScript is disabled. WebA good pedal platform amp & a great r" SCI Pedals / Sam Christ Innovation on Instagram: "@threechordsanalog SCW Nighthawk 15 british style tube amp. What Are Pedal Platform Amps Complete Guide 2022 A Hiwatt, or clone thereof. However, the age-old problem with a pedalboard crammed full of pedals is that efficiently switching to different tones requires some tap dancing. So what is the cleanest sound youre looking for in your songs or your sets? That means it doesnt color your tone too much, allowing you to sculpt your sound using your pedals. WebMy own experience with this is limited unfortunately, I own a blackstar series one 10 watt with a KT88 in it (which I guess gives it a lot of headroom for the wattage?) 11 Ways to Save Your Settings in a Guitar Pedal. As a side note, I believe beginners should choose digital effects due to the vast tonal diversity. If I just wanted almost-clean and quite-distorted the VOX would be just fine (weight aside..!). Most of these guitarists got the bulk of their tone from the guitar and the amp. But once you settled down on a great pedal platform, it comes the time to start tweaking it. You play your modeling pedal or amp in a box through it. This translates to less unwanted color, resulting in a more organic and pure representation of the pedals tone. The FX loop serves a very simple purpose: to transform an amp that would otherwise be a terrible pedal platform amp into one fit for the job of allowing your pedals to flourish. Here we bring you the top-rated options from Strymon, Blackstar and more Included in this guide: 1 Strymon Iridium Check Price 2 Universal Audio Woodrow 55 Check Price 3 But dumble sss #002 or #005 style amps are one of the best pedal platforms. I have been playing guitar for over 15 years. WebTo me, a pedal platform is something that gonna be very loud, with at least 100 watts because high-wattage amps offer huge power and clean headroom; qualities that give pedals that are routed through them more room to breath. Germino club 40 sounds tits with pedals driving it. JavaScript is disabled. For those with an ensemble cast of a pedalboard, having an amp that can handle all those effects while maintaining tone is a must-have. It may not display this or other websites correctly. My personal favorite clean amp/pedal platform is a vintage Ampeg V4. The clean channel of my Marshall JVM 210 is also a great pedal platform (though - why use a dirt pedal with amp gain that nice ?) Rather than hit "like" for every response thus far, I will say that I appreciate them all. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. I hate to trash talk, but this advice is ridiculous. Nevertheless, a pedal switcher is a separate device that essentially syncs with all of your individual stompbox pedals. When I was looking for a good "pedal platform" I was looking for an amp that seemed to bring out the best of a wide variety of pedals, and was also really versatile. Should get more attention here than it does. It usually takes years of experimenting before you can form a picture of what your pedalboard should look like. It's usually those oversized trannies that make an amp sound big. At no extra cost to you, any purchases you make through any of these links will earn me a commission. I really like it with a Timmy pushing it. Is there a poor pedal platform? Therefore, a pedal platform amp functions as a platform to build a guitar tone around stompbox pedals, relying less on the amps natural distortion and effects. I have a couple and they handle pedals really well. Im obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. Therefore, I have an awesome post detailing the pros and cons of multi-effect pedalboards and individual stompbox pedals. Do more pedals pair with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe then a Vox AC30? I'm rarely in a situation where I can turn up loud enough for my tubes to really get cooking, even when I play live, so my dirt comes from almost entirely from pedals. And some people like to use the amps gain instead of boost and overdrive pedals, so they can run their time-based effects in the effects loop. They are designed to imitate the sounds of tube amps and are mostly equipped with tons of effects which makes them more reliable for providing different sounds and tones. I'd second the Suhr Bella if budget isn't a huge issue. Try to match their levels with the one you got from the amp, and also, for units with tone knobs, or individual EQ parameters, look for the most neutral setup, or the one that comes closest to the tone you have in your head. Web"Pedal platform" has been somewhat overused, to be honest. I have an AC15C1 and a JC-40. JavaScript is disabled. Your fingers, of course. Its actually a term recently coined by players to describe an amp (new & old) as the perfect platform to craft a unique sound using stompbox pedals. It can clean up plus 1 diode setting the let you get the mild breakup that pedals like Klons and Tube Screamer like to kick in the nuts. 40W-50W or so. How Nikola Jokic became the NBAs version of Tom Brady We can define headroom as space before your tone hits its head on the proverbial ceiling. Consequentially, when this happens, the amp begins distorting and breaking up, like a child would on such an occasion. Of course, you can get great sounds with these interactions, but those are unique explorations and not pedal platforms. Phone: +1 786-755-8158. There is a careful dance of gain staging when pairing your pedalboard with an amp. + Allows your rig to completely speak for itself tonally. Whats the budget? Skyhook and Cam Oct 9, 2022 #2 8bit Tele-Meister Joined Aug 9, 2021 Posts 123 And I just can't roll with the new Supro line. Not at a volume that won't blow out your ears in most circumstances. However, while it has it's own great thing going on in terms of the amp's own dirt that didn't work well for our set listI needed a good clean for certain songs and it wasn't sounding great when I heard recordings of our gigs. Best amps for pedals 2023 | Guitar World While attempted to copy the achievements of their contemporaries decades ago by using similar parts, modern-day technology and advancements in digital realms have made modeling amps so authentic that its frightening. If theres excess supply of a certain amp model and the dealers need to move more units just say its a good pedal platform. Now even if you get an amp that will do that you must consider the type of speakers you are using not all speakers are made for high volume clean sounds some will start breaking up before you get to the very high volume point. Players that dont like the core sound of most solid-state amps. This ultimate guide is your resource to pedal platform amps. A 15 watt amp that still has a good amount of clean headroom and is made to be used as a pedal platform is the Blackstar Artist 15. As these effects sound better with a clean and colorless signal. We do this by linking to products and services we highly recommend. And unlike multi-channel amp users, you can opt to change just a single pedal - rather than the entire amp - when you tire of your main gain sound! The Suhr Bella is a killer pedal platform. In my ignorance, it always seemed that one could put a string of pedals between any guitar and any amp. Thats because an amp that break-ups and clips will essentially blend with your pedals, blunting their true frequencies.. You see, for tones that are crafted exclusively with pedals, its better to get an amp with a transparent sound. High wattage is typically the clearest indicator of a good pedal platform amp. But I don't think there's a consensus on that last bit. link to What Makes Suhr Guitars Different from Fender Guitars. I have a Fender Pro Junior, a volume control and a tone control, nothing else. Most often, it's a clean amp. The S is 6V6 and the Metro is EL84. Every amp ever made is a good pedal platform. I would encourage guitarists to spend some time with very few pedals and an amp that can break up. Disclaimer: for some players, a clean amp with pedals is a perfect pairing, and they get a great sound. I'll go along with the liassez-faire approach here and say that any amp is a pedal platform if your pedal sounds good through that amp to your ears. Like the cleanest prettiest tone you should get first. For one: they're running their gain pedals below unity gain. Tube amps work harder when their pre-amp tubes are driven with either drive pedals or more volume. The go-to recommendation generally seems to be a Twin Reverb, or, if you're on a budget a Hot Rod Deville. Reeves Custom 50, or a vintage Hiwatt DR504. So far, weve seen a universal truth borne out: guitar amps with a not-too-hot front end tend to make good pedal platforms. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Lets take another example, the sound of an amps core distortion is pretty much set-in stone and rigid in customization. I set my amp to be incredibly clean almost like a clean jazz sound. 17 Age 28 Location Texas Hi everyone, I'm shopping for a new or used amp. Best pedal amps 2023 | Guitar World My personal choice would be a redplate truverb or a suhr bella, but there are so many good choices out there. Get a good amp tone, then get pedals that add the variety you need. You have to know the requirements of the gig or session to answer these questions. Tone Topics is a member of multiple affiliate advertising programs designed to earn us fees that support the growth and future of the website. link to Where the Highest Quality Fender Guitars are Made. Theres a myriad of reasons why tube amps are uncontested when it comes to the perfect base for a pedal platform amp. Learn More. So, what are the best settings for a pedal platform amp? So for a guitarist that likes to push the front end of their amp, a Twin Reverb is rarely the right match. As stompbox pedals are excitingly evolving and becoming a firm staple in rig setups, it makes sense to know if an amplifier takes pedals well; hence the term pedal platform was born. 4,562 Location Ole Virginny I often read in reviews that an amplifier is a "great pedal platform." Although this can sometimes be an excellent sound for certain circumstances, it is my opinion that it doesn't sound as good as pairing pedals with an overdriven amp. Find a cab you like. Headroom. Jimi Hendrix is an excellent example of a fuzz pedal into a dirty amp combination. Start tweaking your amp until you find a clean tone you are comfortable with. Something that will provide a nice, clear and articulate clean sound and provide a great canvas for pedals. What are the best settings for a pedal platform amp? A good pedal platform amp & a great rock machine. I think when most players talk about a "great pedal platform" they are talking about an amp with a great basic clean tone and enough headroom to keep that clean tone at band volume. This post will delve into Orange's catalog Hey, Adam here! High wattage is typically the clearest indicator of a good pedal platform amp. And it is just an opinion. Since there is no universal definition for 'best', I will say Mesa LSS. What are some alternatives to a pedal platform amp? David Gilmore is an example of a guitarist who used a Hiwatt amp very clean and added gain with a Big Muff. I tried many, many amps, and for that purpose my favorite was a Two Rock Studio Pro 35. Buffered vs True Bypass Tuner: Which You Should Get? Unfortunately, they make poor pedal platform amps for a few reasons. The secret is a high headroom clean amp, which has been available since the early 1960s. The pedal platform concept is using a clean amp as a PA for your pedalboard. Some guitarists have been doing this since the 1970s. Spoiler alert: it won't sound like a Marshall Plexi! You won't read the recipe for peach cobbler if you're looking to make Eggs Benedict, would you? Every amp ever made is a good pedal platform. Etc. Hello there, my name is Ramiro and Ive been playing guitar for almost 20 years. love my twin but have to crank the mids to make it pedal friendly (unless one uses a tube screamer or similar). The secret is a high headroom clean amp, which has been available since the early 1960s. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I will say, though, that every pedal ever made sounds good through a Princeton Reverb, not because of some inherent magic in the PR, just because every pedal maker has a PR on the test bench somewhere. Its like a blank slate for your pedals. No. The familiar observation is that pedals tend to sound unreactive, lacking a frequency response, and are somewhat flat. Guitar & Bass Amps, discuss, share, and learn about amplifiers! My Reeves Custom 50 excels at pedals. I bought the Dr. Z Max 18 about 6 years ago, on recommendations here. But it sounds like for you a lower wattage amp might be in order. Because the two are very much not the same it ends up being really confusing. I'll take the AC30 every time. Allowing you to create patches of your pedal, which compresses all of your complicated pedal changes into one single pedal switch. It's always good to try pedals with your guitar and amp.
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