poll: which amp should i use?

[Fragle]

hi all

as you might know, i currently own an engl blackmore head as well as a marshall jcm800 2210. both are killer amps. that's exactly why i can't decide which one i should use for the next gig [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
it's gonna be a large open air show (volume is definitely NOT an issue), hopefully there will be a few thousand people (it's the party.san open air in germany). as i've said a hundred times, my lead guitar player uses a marshall tsl 100 head. our bassist is a loud son of a bitch, using an ampeg svt4 pro (same amp as alex webster is using)
the marshall is much more raw sounding, less gain, less bottom end, but that classic marshall crunch and in your face character that only a marshall has. the engl is more clear and defined, with more gain and bottom end, and a very bright sound. the blackmore is also much louder than the marshall (for some strange reason [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] )

so...please tell me, what would you use?

[jgcable]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

2210. I think the Blackmore will be too bright. I also don't like alot of bottom end on the guitars, especially in a 2 guitar band. 2 guitars with big bottom tend to mud up the sound and they step on the bass player and drummer too much. Stay in the middle of the mix.. 2210 baby.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

Both...

[Matt Crooks]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

[ QUOTE ]
Both...

[/ QUOTE ]

+1 [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[StarRider]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

jcm800 2210 Like you said, it has that sound only a Marshall can give you.

[Fragle]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

bringing both is definitely NOT an option [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] although i'd love to....A/B/Y box into 2210 and blackmore going through one 1960 cab each in stereo...that's gotta be tone heaven [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

well, atm i'm alone in da house...so i could crank the marshall (and try out my new akg wireless - that thing is great btw. cuts some highs and adds some noise, so it definitely isn't 100% transparent, but the range is amazing...amp is in the second floor, and i was sitting in the basement, no prob), and it's surely a great amp. can get quite harsh, but also very smooth. just lacks gain for lead playing :/

by the way, i was always saying that my 2210 doesn't have that bleedthrough thing....i was WRONG [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] i didn't notice it because i have the clean volume set to like 0,5. crank it up and it will be noticeable.

[aldog1330]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

Both! And take clips if you do!

[shadowcat]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

I'd say the ENGL, just because this is the chance to turn it up loud and hit the sweet spot. And maybe because I like ENGLs... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Honestly, I don't know... I have no experience with either the 2210 or the large open air. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Rupe]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

I'd use the one I thought sounded and felt better with whatever guitar I was going to use. Who gives a shit what we all think, tone is subjective. Use the one YOU like the most and it will most likely reflect in your playing. Either amp is going to sound cool so you really can't lose by going with what feels best. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[Firebird V]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

Bring the one you can tweak easy. Bring the one you use the most and feel more comfortable with. Send the other one to me. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Fragle]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

alrighty, i ended up using my trusty 2210. had to use a stinkin' marshall 1960AX [img]/images/graemlins/refuse.gif[/img] so it was still a bit bright sounding (the other cab was a 1960B and that one had a great sound)....boy did i play loud [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] can you imagine a jcm800 cranked to 7 on the master and 8,5 on the channel volume?
could still use a little more bottom end chunk and a slightly warmer/smoother edge to it, but other than that i had the feeling i slayed pretty much all the other bands when it came to guitar sounds...except pat o'briens triple rectifier rig, that one sounded amazing.

next gig will be similar sized, or even bigger (08/18/05), and i guess i'll bring the engl this time.


and by the way: i finally know why bill and john hate the jcm2000 series that much: it get's all nasty and fuzzy at super high volume. i mean, i was playing louder than the other guitar player, but he had his master around 5 and was pretty much buried in fuzz, i couldn't believe my ears. i still think that a lower gig volume (=the volume most of us can use for a normal gig) it sounds almost as good as the 800. just not loud [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Inearthed]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

So, I take it the gig went well then? What's your band name?

Also, who did Cannibal Corpse have on second guitar? Was it Rob Barrett?

[Fragle]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

i'm playing in a german thrash band called final breath.
well, we were the very first band on the second day (around 2 pm), but for this time (and considering the crowd already had 2 days of partying behind them) the response was quite good. i personally think i've played much better shows than this one (playing-wise), but i can't complain. was a pretty good feeling, though...more than 1000 people.

jeremy turner is the second guitar player of cannibal corpse. check out my review in the artist&gear section. rob would have been very cool though...

[Mordor]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

Imo it depends from the sounds you want to achieve.Jcm800 if you want an old style bay area sound,Engl if you want a swedish thrash sound...

[Fragle]

Re: poll: which amp should i use?

atm i'm digging the sweed thrash sound quite a bit more than the bay area one. the other guitar player has quite an old school bay area sound (although slightly modernized - tsl100, remember? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ), and i figured that those two sounds mixed together should crush live. not totally different, but different enough to make it easy for the soundguy to get a clear division.

anyways, i just came back from the other open air, where i used the engl blackmore head through 2 412 hiwatt cabs.
first of all, i was once again playing LOUD...had the master around noon i think. this time i ended up using the contour switch set to on (which adds a shitload of mids, really) all the time. our soundguy (quite an experienced one, i might add) thought it sounded a whole lot better if that switch is engaged. strangely, i had to turn the treble waaay down (even more than without the contour switch) as it was REALLY bright on stage (maybe due to the hiwatt cabs?), which eventually made the soundguy add some highs as he thought the miced signal was too dark.
overall, i think the jcm800 performs better in an open air situation. i've yet to play the blackmore indoors (played it on 5 open airs now), but i KNOW the jcm800 performs GREAT in a club situation. so basically, i think i prefer the less in your face character of the marshall (which, by the way, sounds pretty much exactly like exodus - pleasures of the flesh, except it's a little chunkier), as it is also easier to get the jcm into poweramp clipping.

seems like the engl is soon to be gone. a pity, as it's an awesome low volume amp. just way out of control in terms of volume and brightness to get a crushing live sound which i'm all about.

any suggestions what i should try out next? mesa mark III? 5150? rectifier?