Category: Amp It Up

The magical beast that turns potential into sheer tone!

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PRS MT 15 Amp Demo

Shawn Tubbs has taken a look at the new PRS MT 15 amp. These were announced at NAMM, and look very interesting indeed.

This is Mark Tremonti’s new signature amp, featuring a Fender-style clean channel with 3 band EQ and a lead channel with melt-your-face levels of aggressive gain. It runs a pair of 6L6s in the power stage – very unusual in a 15 watt amp – and 5 preamp tubes.

Sadly, we don’t get to hear if it takes pedals well. That’s a shame, because this lunchbox head will launch in June for under 500 GBP. There’s nothing from Fender to compete at that price. Pair it with a Marshall Origin, and you could have a dual-amp pedal platform at an amazing price.

Watch the video for more details, and then head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment.

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Era 2 Acoustic Amp Demo

Mary Spender has posted a demo of the Era 2 Acoustic Amp from Hughes & Kettner.

https://youtu.be/W-ZBtGZzwsM

This is a dual-channel amp for anyone who wants to do acoustic gigs and performances. There’s plenty of volume on tap, a line out if you’re playing a venue that has its own PA, and even a kick stand so that you can angle it up to fill the room.

If you’re looking for this kind of amp, this is well worth a look.

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Mary’s video.

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Kemper vs Tube Amp

Camilo Velandia has posted an interesting comparison video. He’s made a Kemper profile of his Indigo Amps El Mariachi, and then put them side by side for comparison.

Have a listen, and see whether you can hear the differences between the two.

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed his video.

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AxeFX III Initial Demos

Camilo Velandia has received his Axe FX III, and has posted several videos to show what it can do at launch. A couple in particular are of general interest, whether you own an Axe FX unit or not.

In the first video, Camilo compares quite a few of the stock amp presets from the new AxeFX III vs the older Axe FX II. To my ears, they’re almost identical.

That’s no sleight on the AxeFX III at all. Folks upgrading from the older unit will want reassurance that the tones they know and love are still there.

https://youtu.be/w5Ymqdetopc

In the second video, Camilo does a straight shootout of the Axe FX III amp models against highly-respected Kemper profiles. It’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, but it does reflect how the two units are used in practice.

The results are a bloodbath.

All the problems of the Kemper’s limited frequency reproduction are front and centre. The Axe FX III has all the body and definition that the Kemper has always lacked. It sounds richer, crisper, and more detailed.

I wonder how many more years Kemper can continue to ship the MK 1 unit? The Kemper’s main defence has always been that you can’t hear most of these differences in a full mix. And, indeed, a recorded Kemper is actually easier to mix that a more accurate tone, in my experience.

Please head over to YouTube to leave likes and supportive comments if you enjoyed Camilo’s videos.

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Fender 59 Twin-Amp Joe Bonamassa Edition

Joe Bonamassa has posted a promo video for his new signature amp: the 59 Twin-Amp from Fender.

Several years ago, Joe famously switched his amp back line to vintage Fender amps. And now Fender has created a limited run of reissue amps, recreating the classic dual twin amp – and its unique tone – in great detail.

It feels like Fender is really on a roll this year, holding the spotlight at a time when arch-rival Gibson is all but invisible and fighting for its very existence. So I did chuckle at seeing Joe play a Les Paul in a promo for a Fender product 🙂

If you want one, they’re only available through Joe Bonamassa’s website. I have to wonder if he financed this limited run. If he did, well done Joe for bringing this reissue to life.

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Joe’s video.

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Pedals Into A Clean Amp vs A Dirty Amp

Brian Wampler has posted a video of what it’s like to run drive pedals into a clean amp, and what it’s like to run the same pedals into a Dirty amp.

He’s picked an Orange Rockerverb 50 Mk 2 for this. It’s an interesting choice, as it isn’t your typical Fender-voiced or Marshall-voiced amp.

If you’re interested in running pedals into an Orange amp, hopefully you’ll find it useful.

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Brian’s video.

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Orange Brent Hinds Terror Amp

Hunter has just posted his demo and thoughts on the Brent Hinds signature Orange Terror amp.

This has a lovely softness to the attack that really appeals to me. Don’t get me wrong – I love crunchy tones. I just like a slightly soft pick attack even more 🙂

One really cool feature about this amp – it has both a built-in attenuator, and a nifty ‘headroom / bedroom’ toggle switch. Together, they allow you to play at home volumes without losing the tone that you bought the amp for in the first place.

Please head over to YuTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Hunter’s video.

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Kemper Profiler Demo

Shane’s been teasing us about the Kemper Profiler that he borrowed from Sky Music of Melbourne … and now we have his thoughts on it.

I’m going to save my thoughts on the Kemper until I’ve had time to sit down and record my own Kemper demos. For now, I agree with what Shane thinks about the Kemper – especially when it comes to pedals – but I have a lot more to share about profiling accuracy soon!

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Shane’s video.

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Leo’s Shuriken / Helix Live Setup

Leo from Frog Leap Studios has posted a demo of his Line 6 Shuriken Variax, and how it enables him to perform his famous metal covers live.

It’s really cool how far the Variax has come from the early days. I had the original Variax – boy was that a long time ago – and it was so bad it ended up in the recycling. I couldn’t even give it away. But the Shuriken – especially paired with the Helix – looks worlds apart. Check out Leo’s video to see just what it can do.

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Leo’s video.

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A Wall Of Marshall Stacks At Home

What would a wall of 100W Marshall heads, with eight 4×12 cabs, sound like at home? Johan Segeborn has found out for us, so that we don’t need to upset the neighbours.

I swear that you can see the camera shaking from the amount of air that these Marshall stacks are moving!

I think it sounds glorious too. The room looks (and sounds) very lively – it’s adding a lot of reflections to the recording, because Johan’s using a room mic to capture this. Treat the room to take some of that away, and it would sound truly immense.

Please head over to YouTube to leave a like and a supportive comment if you enjoyed Johan’s video … or if you’re just jealous that he has somewhere to do this 🙂