Do you practice with your "live" rig?

[lynchfan6]

Yeah, I use the full gear for practice. Of course, we don't gig anymore and just work on originals now, and to top it off, we practice in my basement! So I've got no excuses. For playing around the kitchen, etc....I use my old Crate G60 xl from back in the late 80's. Believe it or not, at "bedroom" volumes it sounds amazing.......just singing sustain. It still inspires me like it did in my early teens. As you turn it up it sounds progressively crappier though. ....but I will never get rid of it. It rocks at quiet levels.

[jgcable]

Yeah, I use the full gear for practice. Of course, we don't gig anymore and just work on originals now, and to top it off, we practice in my basement! So I've got no excuses. For playing around the kitchen, etc....I use my old Crate G60 xl from back in the late 80's. Believe it or not, at "bedroom" volumes it sounds amazing.......just singing sustain. It still inspires me like it did in my early teens. As you turn it up it sounds progressively crappier though. ....but I will never get rid of it. It rocks at quiet levels.

Thats the same amp that Malmsteen used to rehearse backstage with in the 80's. They sound great at low volumes.

[Spivonious]

My experience with tubes:

Power amp tubes will gradually wear down. It's so gradual that you won't notice until one day when you say to yourself, "Man this amp used to sound a lot better." Then you pop in a set of new tubes and say "Wow, what a difference new tubes make!" If the gear isn't being moved often, and only a few hours a week, then you shouldn't have to replace them more often than once a year or so unless you're really driving the power amp section. If you are, then I'd say every 6 months or so. If you put the new tubes in and don't notice a difference, put the old ones back and wait another few months. I'd spend about $40-$50 for a matched pair. It might seem a little expensive, but in my experience the nicer tubes just plain sound better.

Preamp tubes generally last forever unless one malfunctions. If one goes microphonic, you may as well replace them all, since sooner or later they will all go microphonic. Preamp tubes are much cheaper, usually $10 or so for a good one.

For other tube advice:
Stay away from relabeled tubes such as GrooveTube. All they do is buy other tubes, test them, and slap their label on. All this for a nice price increase. I recommend www.thetubestore.com . I've always had good, quick service from them.

[Chad]

Stay away from relabeled tubes such as GrooveTube. All they do is buy other tubes, test them, and slap their label on. All this for a nice price increase. I recommend www.thetubestore.com . I've always had good, quick service from them.

That's old school talk. Groove Tubes does some of their own stuff these days. Here's a different opinion on The Tube Store:

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/thetubestore.html

[Spivonious]

That's old school talk. Groove Tubes does some of their own stuff these days. Here's a different opinion on The Tube Store:

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinti...tubestore.html

About the Tube Store, YMMV I guess

It's nice to know that GT bought the old RCA plants and now makes some of their own tubes. You learn something everyday I guess

[Roidster]

i practice with my live rig with the band,then when im at home jamming out some riffs i use my 10 watt marshall,but i also live in a high rise,my live rig would get me evicted

[Robotechnology]

Of course... all my rigs have master volumes

[Rupe]

Live rig with band practice, Mesa Studio .22+ for home practice.

[TrendkillDBD]

ya, the bands that I'm in, everyone's got big amps, so in turn, I need a big amp... gotta make everything sound good for a show.