getting a bigger sound...

[Will]

at practice, lately i've been running thru 2 amps simultaniously..

for those of you playing guitar who havent tried this, beware, you may break out in a silly grin!..


the amps im using are pretty nasty.. a marshall mg something and a line 6 somethingelse!?!..

i usually set em to get a decent enough clean, and use a pedal to get some drive tones, rolling back on the volume on the guitar for my cleans.. (im used to a single channel orange tiny terror!)





what im wondering is.. what ways can i achieve this bigger sound?


1. mic the amp
2. use 2 amps either side of the stage
3. use a 2nd cab over the other side of the stage
4. use a 2nd cab over the other side of the stage with a different speaker to get a more complex tone from 1 amp
5. what are you talkin about fool!


those are ideas ive come up with..

if anyones tried them.. can you give me an idea as to which 1 may work the best!

..im the only guitarist in the band.. we are looking to add one, but only for when songs need 2 different parts.. most of the time, it'll be just 1 guitar!



cheers for any help!

Will

[rattleanddrummusic]

What exact amps are you running? ie: how many Watts etc? Some people think that if you run cabs though it will be louder, it wont, but it will give the impression of volume as its covering a wider area, more speakers moves more air.

There is no substiute though for a good valve amp and cab. My own setup includes a Fender 112 40watt Hot Rod Amp with a 112 Hot Rod Extension cab. The amp on its own if perfectly fine and plenty loud enough to cope with any gig when mic'd up. If a venue does not mic amps up, then I break the cab out and run it either side of me to give it more presence. Also worth noting, a Valve amp appears approx 2.5 - 3 times louder than a solid state equivalant because of the tone it adds, more harmonics, and drive from the tubes. Its a bit like cars, it can have the same BHP but one may be alot faster, its how it puts that power into use.

If your not being mic'd up Will, try running a cab either side of the stage.

Andy.

[Will]

nice 1!..

yeah, im running an orange tiny terror at the moment.. thru the vintage 30 loaded 1x12...

its not extra volume i seek.. its more a case of moving more air i believe.. gigs we play, im usually mic'd as i insist on it!..

i'm trying to work out, wether its 2 amps makeing the difference - with the different tonal charictoristics giving me a more complex and fuller sound.. or if another cab would do the trick.. and would the other cab give a better range of tones if it had a different speaker in it?..


oh, the ppc112 is also closed back- if i get another, i may open the back on one of them..

[Will]

ok!.. new ppc112 aquired.. will report back when ive given it a go!..

looks like i'll need to sort me out a LONG speaker lead!..

[Will]

ok!.. so practice this week, i looked into micing the amp, vs. using 2 amps..

micing works, getting more air moving with the addition of extra speakers.. (the pa..)..

i play in a band with keys, and obviously they come thru the pa.. so thier very present in the mix..


using 2 amps though, you get the tonal charictoristics of them both, and it deffinately equates to a bigger sound.. perfect scenario, 2 amps.. both mic'd!...



on another note, the new ppc112 is in perfect condision (unlike the 1 in foulds - ripped tolex!).. and i got it for 130 quid... i dont think foulds would have given me a 70 quid discount on thiers.. fantastic!

[Will]

took the orange to practice this week.. it sounds bigger and better than the than the amps uni provide.. the addition of the 2nd cab works wonders.. the only issue was it was very directional.. stand infront, the high's were quite harsh stand to the side and the sound wasnt very crisp..

so today ive taken the back off the top cab.. built a triangle outa plywood to mount a jack on.. and ordered a jack socket..


i think now, it'll fill a room more, moving more air with the 2nd cab, but also not being so directional with the open back on the 2nd cab!..

got me a cool looking mini stack..

if i need more volume/ spread.. i can always mic it up too!

[Will]

heres the pic of the now open back'd cab..