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Comments
So right about the guitar. I used to have an early 80's The Strat and on the more humbucky positions it sounded closer than the Les Paul.
I can’t really see Knopfler using a Pro Linebacker Twin... although they’re surprisingly good-sounding amps.
"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
Anyway, none the wiser about the Laney.
So before I bought anything I had a rummage around and tried some kit that I had:
Marshall MS-2. I connected the headphone output to my amp. In order for it to work, I had to withdraw the jack plug about 6 mm from full in. This gave a reasonably close approximation of the sound I was looking for, closer than using the guitar straight in to the amp, so this is one possible solution. I would need to make a ring to set the jack plug in the 'right' place for it to work. The Marshall adds a nice darkened quality to the sound with the OD maxed out
Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive. I have always considered this to be a clean boost but it too gives a reasonably close approximation of MK guitar sound when the Drive is maxed out. My wife thought it was 'better' than the Marshall and it is easier to setup and use. So the Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive is the chosen one for the time being. I intend to spend some time in Waltons [music shop in Dublin] soon trying out other distortion pedals but the Sparkle Drive does the job and will be used unless something better is found.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
95% there....
PA Hire and Event Management
Btw, thank you to all those very kind souls who posted that they liked my vid clip...you're all very kind, and very forgiving! ...And yes, I was indeed in deep do-do with Mrs Voxman at the end! ...be afraid, be very afraid!! Lol
Without digging out the hard copy, my recollection is LP Junior into cranked Crate valve amplifier, probably with the guitar’s tone control rolled back. Microphone placement and room reverberations were part of the formula.
Constructive criticism welcome!
https://youtu.be/xJT_SiIbYDE
Knopfler was actually using quite high-gain amps then, he had a Mesa Caliber Series and then a Soldano SLO100... the AOR100 would fit right into that slot, like the SLO it’s also a Marshall-derived circuit with extra gain stages.
I worked for a shop with a Laney dealership around then, by the way - not actually in 1985, but from about 1987 onwards. I remember the ranges quite clearly - they were not perceived as cool or high quality either, so it’s a bit of a surprise to find someone like Knopfler using one.
"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 have to say I have no idea why they seem to have something of a following/value now - they were shit then, and they still are. Dreadful build quality from the flimsy PCBs to the chipboard cabinets and horrible tolex, unreliable and really not great sounding. How Knopfler managed to get the MFN tone out of one, even with a wah, random mic placement and pure luck, is a mystery to me...
[/sneaking in deliberate Dire Straits reference]
If I had to choose between one and a Linebacker, I would take the Linebacker - really.
"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