I recently pulled out my 60's AC30 for a rehearsal after a long time of bedroom playing and think I've finally discovered what 'unforgiving' in an amp means.
Great sounding amp (especially with the ES335), great fun playing all the parts then it was time for a solo.. Man did I sound sloppy! Every pick stroke, every 'bump' in the road highlighted for the world to hear. Of course 'practice harder' is the answer but it was a bit of a wake up call TBH.
It got me thinking though, in my adult playing career I've only really owned a Mesa Boogie Mk3, AC30s and a Yerasov GTA15 which is kinda like a Vox AC15 in some ways (EL84s). Have I never owned a 'forgiving' amp?
Interested in what others would deem forgiving amps or am I wrong about AC30s completely and just p*ss poor at playing these days?!
Comments
If you want to hear what unforgiving sounds like, try playing a Peavey Renown at gig volume...
That's a 160W or 210W - depending on series - 2x12" solid-state amp with highly efficient speakers, and it has probably the hardest and most directly dynamic response of any amp I've ever heard. If you over-play a note, you will feel it in the back of your head.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I think very generally EL84 and 6V6 amps tend to be the most forgiving amps to play.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
They have such a pronounced midrange that nothing is hidden.
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If your AC30 is a Top Boost model, try turning the bass up full - this also cuts the mids, due to the odd way the tone stack works - and set the tone using just the treble and the Cut. That will get you the closest to the BF-type sound.
If it's not a Top Boost - just a single tone control - try jumpering the Normal and Brilliant channels. That will give a softer sound than either alone.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I'm guessing that a forgiving amp or patch would have lots of mids, lots of compression, and so would not reveal unintended variations in tone or volume
Works well with both a tickle and a slap, but you got to tickle and slap it just right.
Yeah mine is without the top boost so will try that jumpering trick. Thanks for that.
Unforgiving means it has a clear, uncompressed sound with dynamics that directly follow the picking strength and which usually sounds harsh when you push it into overdrive, so if you don't play carefully the errors really jump out.
At least, that's what it means to me.
Yes, most valve amps are usually more naturally forgiving than solid-state, especially played loud and at the point of overdrive. This is why most players prefer valve amps, although the difference can be less obvious to a listener than the player.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
..kinda like an early 911 Turbo on a wet road - permanently trying to kill you but it's a lotta fun if it doesn't succeed