Hi to everyone.
Can someone explain me the concept of voicing one amp?
I know that every amp sounds different to a good ear, and it's due to the difference (tolerances) in the used components.
So my question is... what do you check/change in voicing and amp? caps or even resistors?
as of today I tested only some caps in the signal path (just 2 differnt brands) and settled the bias
voicing an amp
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: voicing an amp
Short answer...
Choice of power tubes and output power are first. This is probably the biggest thing that alters amp tone.
Second, Gain and EQ are tailored, which really means preamp topology and choice of component values (not tollerances). A fender sounds very different from a marshall becuase of where the tone stack is located, for example. EQ before distortion and then after distortion are important...
The devil is all in the details, which is why there are a gazzilion amp forums these days.
Choice of power tubes and output power are first. This is probably the biggest thing that alters amp tone.
Second, Gain and EQ are tailored, which really means preamp topology and choice of component values (not tollerances). A fender sounds very different from a marshall becuase of where the tone stack is located, for example. EQ before distortion and then after distortion are important...
The devil is all in the details, which is why there are a gazzilion amp forums these days.
Re: voicing an amp
Dear Paul,
thank you for your short answer. I wrote my question in a bad way... I was speaking about voicing or tweaking after the amp is done in order to take the best sound out of it.
For example I build my express clone and changed the pre according to Mr. Abbot variation. Ok my amp sound fine, but what can now do in order to have the best from it (logically respect to music the music I play - guitar - cab )? As of now I settled the bias and changed one cap with a different brand but same value
So the real base question is: when a professional man set up an amp trying to reach the best sound he has in mind, what is the tuning process? changing caps and resistors keeping the same virtual value (due to the tolerances in these things) or even replace them with different values?
With the 1st possibility when you open 2 amps you find the same values and brads but they sound different, with the second possibility you can change completely the amp structure.
thank you for your short answer. I wrote my question in a bad way... I was speaking about voicing or tweaking after the amp is done in order to take the best sound out of it.
For example I build my express clone and changed the pre according to Mr. Abbot variation. Ok my amp sound fine, but what can now do in order to have the best from it (logically respect to music the music I play - guitar - cab )? As of now I settled the bias and changed one cap with a different brand but same value
So the real base question is: when a professional man set up an amp trying to reach the best sound he has in mind, what is the tuning process? changing caps and resistors keeping the same virtual value (due to the tolerances in these things) or even replace them with different values?
With the 1st possibility when you open 2 amps you find the same values and brads but they sound different, with the second possibility you can change completely the amp structure.
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Fischerman
- Posts: 819
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:47 pm
- Location: Georgia
Re: voicing an amp
castor,
Just think of what you learned by tweeking your amp. Now imagine somebody doing that to a bazillion different amps (or a bazillion mods to the same amp) and then taking all the knowledge gained from that...and then tweeking. There is no short-cut...no easy to follow recipe. Like Paul said...the devil is in the details.
Disclaimer: I don't have most of these answers...but I feel I know enough to know how much I don't know...which is part of the learning process.
Just think of what you learned by tweeking your amp. Now imagine somebody doing that to a bazillion different amps (or a bazillion mods to the same amp) and then taking all the knowledge gained from that...and then tweeking. There is no short-cut...no easy to follow recipe. Like Paul said...the devil is in the details.
Disclaimer: I don't have most of these answers...but I feel I know enough to know how much I don't know...which is part of the learning process.
-
Fischerman
- Posts: 819
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:47 pm
- Location: Georgia
Re: voicing an amp
castor,
Just think of what you learned by tweeking your amp. Now imagine somebody doing that to a bazillion different amps (or a bazillion mods to the same amp) and then taking all the knowledge gained from that...and then tweeking. There is no short-cut...no easy to follow recipe. Like Paul said...the devil is in the details.
Disclaimer: I don't have most of these answers...but I feel I know enough to know how much I don't know...which is part of the learning process.
Just think of what you learned by tweeking your amp. Now imagine somebody doing that to a bazillion different amps (or a bazillion mods to the same amp) and then taking all the knowledge gained from that...and then tweeking. There is no short-cut...no easy to follow recipe. Like Paul said...the devil is in the details.
Disclaimer: I don't have most of these answers...but I feel I know enough to know how much I don't know...which is part of the learning process.
-
Fischerman
- Posts: 819
- Joined: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:47 pm
- Location: Georgia
Re: voicing an amp
castor,
Just think of what you learned by tweeking your amp. Now imagine somebody doing that to a bazillion different amps (or a bazillion mods to the same amp) and then taking all the knowledge gained from that...and then tweeking. There is no short-cut...no easy to follow recipe. Like Paul said...the devil is in the details.
Disclaimer: I don't have most of these answers...but I feel I know enough to know how much I don't know...which is part of the learning process.
Just think of what you learned by tweeking your amp. Now imagine somebody doing that to a bazillion different amps (or a bazillion mods to the same amp) and then taking all the knowledge gained from that...and then tweeking. There is no short-cut...no easy to follow recipe. Like Paul said...the devil is in the details.
Disclaimer: I don't have most of these answers...but I feel I know enough to know how much I don't know...which is part of the learning process.