JTM45 still practical ?

[STRATDELUXER97]

I also use my 40 watt Pro Reverb Fender and have to run pedals through that also for my overdriven/distorted tones..Still a pretty loud amp also...I have been using either my Marshall or my Fender for almost 20 years...In a really small place,I have used my little Roland Cube 20X...

I use the darker(modded)side of my Marshall 50 watter...The tone is probably closer to a JTM 45 actually and it's perfect because these amps are just too bright otherwise and especially if you leave the bright caps on the volume controls in these amps!

[the guy who invented fire]

I have been using my JMP 50 watter into a 2x12 cab and some nice pedals for years and always get great tone...I don't run the volume up too high on the amp...It's doable if a guy knows how to get the tone and things setup right..

Sure but I don't like having to rely on pedals for the core of my tone...I did that for a long time but that's just not the way I want to do it these days.

A 50 watt amp set clean and used as a canvas for a distortion pedal is not the same to me as a 20 watt amp set on the verge of breakup and hit with an OD pedal with the volume on the pedal jacked up for a boost...to me the latter simply works better.

The thing to remember in all this is that there is no right or wrong...if it works for you then roll with it however cranking a 50 watt, non master amp ion most clubs will get you in a crack with the sound man and likely clear the 50+ feet in front of the stage.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Sure but I don't like having to rely on pedals for the core of my tone...I did that for a long time but that's just not the way I want to do it these days.

A 50 watt amp set clean and used as a canvas for a distortion pedal is not the same to me as a 20 watt amp set on the verge of breakup and hit with an OD pedal with the volume on the pedal jacked up for a boost...to me the latter simply works better.

The thing to remember in all this is that there is no right or wrong.

Exactly and what works for me,may not work for you...Totally agree! Not to be a smarta$$ but I don't have any issues getting great tone...I've been doing this a long time and it comes pretty easy for me! ;o)

I'm no louder with the 50 watt head than with any other setup..We have to get above the drummer normally anyway(stage volume)...Lol

[STRATDELUXER97]

Some of these lower wattage amps(20 watts etc) are still loud amps...It's the loss of clean headroom in the wattage area that you lose with "some" of these lower wattage amps...But...loud is loud and irregardless of the wattage rating of the amp...My buddy uses a Soldano/Yamaha 100 watt head and we know he's 3 db.louder than my 50 watter,but who cares,cause I don't crank my amp up to 10 and don't need to...Alot of guys don't know how to eq their setup and don't realize how much midrange plays into getting the right cut/mix in the band...When you know how to setup and get stuff dialed in,it's easy to do with great gear(Period)!

[xxxplorer]

One thing I learned from Glassman is to put an 12au7 in the phase inverter of my JCM800 2204. It lets me get the master volume up a lot more and the amp sounds better at a bit of a reduced volume.

I have a 12ax7 around for biasing though as you can't bias properly with the 12au7 in there.

Bottom end fills in sooner and the gain is much smoother quicker on the master. Awesome lil trick.

[STRATDELUXER97]

One thing I learned from Glassman is to put an 12au7 in the phase inverter of my JCM800 2204. It lets me get the master volume up a lot more and the amp sounds better at a bit of a reduced volume.

I have a 12ax7 around for biasing though as you can't bias properly with the 12au7 in there.

Bottom end fills in sooner and the gain is much smoother quicker on the master. Awesome lil trick.

Yep lowers the overall preamp gain...I gigged with a marshall JCM 800 4104 50 watt 2x12 for several years before switching over to the NMV 50 watter that I prefer...

That little Blackstar 20 watt head still intriques me! I think with maybe 2 pedals in the loop,I could get by with it's clean/overdriven tones it offers...I have my eyes/ears on it.. ;o)

[STRATDELUXER97]

One thing I learned from Glassman is to put an 12au7 in the phase inverter of my JCM800 2204. It lets me get the master volume up a lot more and the amp sounds better at a bit of a reduced volume.

I have a 12ax7 around for biasing though as you can't bias properly with the 12au7 in there.

Bottom end fills in sooner and the gain is much smoother quicker on the master. Awesome lil trick.

Preamp tubes self bias...Are you saying you can't bias the output tubes by using the lower gain preamp tube? Never heard of that but guess it makes sense because of the lower overall gain from the PI tube change? Never tryed it?

[the guy who invented fire]

Some of these lower wattage amps(20 watts etc) are still loud amps...It's the loss of clean headroom in the wattage area that you lose with "some" of these lower wattage amps...But...loud is loud and irregardless of the wattage rating of the amp...My buddy uses a Soldano/Yamaha 100 watt head and we know he's 3 db.louder than my 50 watter,but who cares,cause I don't crank my amp up to 10 and don't need to...Alot of guys don't know how to eq their setup and don't realize how much midrange plays into getting the right cut/mix in the band...When you know how to setup and get stuff dialed in,it's easy to do with great gear(Period)!

Wattage has almost nothing to do with volume and everything to do with headroom and headroom will always be changed by changing the wattage...lower watter will always be lower headroom.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Volume has almost nothing to do with volume and everything to do with headroom and headroom will always be changed by changing the wattage...lower watter will always be lower headroom.

I may have to rephrase the post,but you got the jist of it I know....I do actually know what I'm talking about! ;o)

I don't follow what you mean about volume having nothing to do with volume? I said loud is loud...I can get that 20 watt amp just as loud as my 50 watter or not as loud...

I already stated that the lower wattage amp gives up "clean" headroom compared to the higher wattage amp,but only if we are talking "clean" tones...

[STRATDELUXER97]

Volume has almost nothing to do with volume and everything to do with headroom and headroom will always be changed by changing the wattage...lower watter will always be lower headroom.

I sound great,get great tone,and luckily I always sound like "me" whatever I plug into...Though I do favor plugging into nice gear and prefer not to try to sound like me through crappy gear! Lol...

[STRATDELUXER97]

Anyway...To TGWIF....

I don't post as much on the forums lately and these days I also don't really like any pissing matches or tit for tat stuff...I will say this though...

I started playing guitar at age 12 and it was an on and off thing until I got married...We both know our stuff and I'd bet if we were together in person,we'd get along great and we share alot of things in common...If we were to see/hear each other play somewhere,I know without a doubt,we'd both dig it..

The more I Post on the forums about these subjective topics,the more I find that it really doesn't matter...What matters,is only what works for me...Just happier these days posting where people need info,help etc..and not these back and forth(who's smarter)postings...I'm happy in knowing that I have a solid knowledge base and experience that allows me to get what "I feel" is good or maybe even great tone? ;o)

Anyway....working the ER tonight,so need to get ready for that and maybe an interesting night?! ;o) Later Christian...

[the guy who invented fire]

Who's in a pissing match??

Not me.

[STRATDELUXER97]

Who's in a pissing match??

Not me.

Ok good..... ;o) Have a great 4th!

[xxxplorer]

In the PI possition it doesn't really lower the preamp gain at all. If anything it feels likd a slight boost. It's a lower gain tube from what I understand, but it draws more voltage compaired toa 12ax7 so it somehow works out. Glassman could explain it a lot better than me I'm sure. With the 12au7 in the pi you just can't bias right for some reason. Again, Glassman is the guy to talk too. All I know is it works GREAT for me getting a more cranked sound at a reasonable Volume. I still love to put a 12ax7 and crank the master to 10 and the pre to 6 from time to time just to shake my garage and knock crap off the shelves and make the car alarms in the neighborhood go off. It's fun.

[xxxplorer]

These kinda discussions are actually my favorite! I like getting opinions and recomendations from people with a lot more real world experience than me. TGWIF, SD, RID and a few others are usually my favorite threads to learn from, even if some of it gets misconstrued. I've learned so much from this forum it's not even funny!

[SirJackdeFuzz]

You need to explore the volume knob on your guitar.
But yeah, things have "changed". In 1964, you could barely carry the singer with the available PA. Now you can mic a 2 watt amp to 20 thousand people.
There will always be a trade-off when you turn a knob, but a happy compromise can usually be found. Amps are tools of the trade. No carpenter has just ONE of anything. Amps are more expensive than hammers, to be sure. But you can buy some great low powered gear these days. Is it this forum that has an Ibanez post.?
Here is another.
best
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho....php?t=1105940

Funny that you should mention the Ibanez 15W amp.
Just saw the smaller 5watt version of that amp in my local store today.

[STRATDELUXER97]

These kinda discussions are actually my favorite! I like getting opinions and recomendations from people with a lot more real world experience than me. TGWIF, SD, RID and a few others are usually my favorite threads to learn from, even if some of it gets misconstrued. I've learned so much from this forum it's not even funny!

I've learned alot from alot of forum members and probably helped just as many...I just don't like the post topic to turn into a debate over wording or who's right,who's wrong...That was my only point in my last postings..

[JBG]

Where do you play and how far is "up till I think it sounds good"?

A few places in and around Philly area. I jump the channels and go fiddle till it feels right. Usually around 5-7. I've always figured if Clapton could do it then there was no reason I couldn't. I use the JTM45 into a BluesBreaker style 2x12 cab loaded with mojotone bv-h30 speakers.

[MetalManiac]

Who's in a pissing match??

.

ME ME! I'm in the Pissing match!

[MetalManiac]

45 watts impratical? . Bull****!
I dont play live, but if you do, and 45 watts NMV is too much , and according to you guys it may well be, then I pity you.