Huggy Love
Vintage member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2015
- Messages
- 2,764
Honestly, even if the amp sounded perfect in a situation I’d never use it, making mods to have it work outside it’s design envelope seems like you’re trying too hard. If it’s not right, it’s not right. Makers like Fargen made entire product lines designed to do what cranked big amps do at bedroom whisper volume. I doubt that’s what Mark Tremonti was shooting for. Personally, I’d crank the beast up and the neighbors/wife/baby be damned!
If it were a quick fix slap in & go kinda thing it wouldn't be trying too hard but from the research I've got so far that most likely won't do the trick. It's looking like the often repeated mantra of "U gotta crank it dude!!" to get a tube *powered* amp to sound right might end up being the case. Still need to research with another contact about this but it's looking towards that way.
I also say that because I gigged for years with a tube preamp and solid state power amp and I was always able to get a decent low volume tone. It's just a more compressed, flat and less dynamic sound than an all tube powered amp.
Those boutique tube recording amps like Fargen are sweet, there a few makers out there, I just can't go there when it comes to amps. I don't mind spending over a couple grand for an HB, but even when I was gigging I invested in a Recto 50w instead of an SLO cause it was almost twice the price. .... and Soldano is my fav for that sound.
These days, I'm just not a retired dentist so I gotta watch my budget.