Amp questions

[paul525715]

I'm in the process of fine tuning an amp. Can people on here tell me which of these features you consider would be an essential feature if you were looking to buy an amp...

1) "kick" switch - to kick the front end of the amp up a notch or just one setting?
2) "grit" (preamp gain), "grunt" (poweramp gain) and "master volume" controls or just traditional "gain" and "master volume"?
3) Switchable diode clipping (jcm900's have diode clipping) or traditional tubes only (jcm800)?
4) Sweep control (as well as TMB controls) - allows you to alter the amount of "scooping" or just traditional TMB?
5) Plexi / high gain switch or one setting for relatively high gain (i.e. use your guitar volume control!)?
6) A footswitch for all/some of the above options.
7) Forget all the switches and options - give me gain, t, m and b on an amp that sounds good.

Finally... how many people here set their presence control and just leave it in one static position. Or, do you find it a useful tweak?

Thanks in advance. Your advice means a lot. I'd have you all round to try out the amp but I don't think that's feasible

Paul

[korodesu]

In my opinion.

1) not essential - I think players would prefer the versatility of having their own OD/boost pedal to push the front end if they want.

2) "grit"/"grunt" - I've never heard of adding a pot to change poweramp gain but I love amps that have 2 preamp level pots so you can shape the type of distortion. I think a master vol is absolutely essential.

3) Many people would probably frown upon the amp and call it garbage just because of diodes, but this would really be dependent on the flavor that you're going for; be it high gain monster or low-med gain crunch.

4) Might be cool but I have no experience with one. I'm assuming you mean the mesa-esq mid-scooping-control.

5) If you mean something along the lines of a switchable extra gain stage then YES. I love single channel amps with a switchable gain stages.

6) Footswitches are always nice, but I've never played an amp with one :P

7) Straight up plexi will appeal to a certain crowd, probably not everyone.

I LOVE presence contols and I find them absolutely required.

[helocene]

I'm making some assumptions as to how you are thinking of doing some of this so correct me if I'm barking up the wrong tree.

1) They are cool, but I'd agree with korodesu, not essential.
2) Grit and Grunt, especially if it's a single channel amp. It gives the ability to fine tune distortion. Transparent MVs like the LarMar are really indispensable as well.
3) I like this, one of my favorite amps has this. It's a shame when people get all up in arms about putting a pedal IN an amp but have no problems putting one in front of it.
How about tube diode clipping use a 6AL5 and/or a 6AV6 using the triode for recovery? You couldn't do a full wave bridge with a diode on the side like the 900 as they share the cathode but I bet it would sound smooth. There's probably a dual diode tube that has independent cathodes out there.
4) Replace the slope resistor with a pot? Makes the TMB much more versatile!
5) Mixed stages vs cascade? Both work well using the guitar volume so I'd say switch for this makes for a well rounded amp.
6) Depends if it's a gigging or studio amp.
7) Again, depends if it's a gigging or studio amp. Studio magic can do anything. Live, it's the amp and guitar, the amp needs to do more in my opinion.

I do small tweaks to the presence depending on the amp settings/channel. But it's pretty much set and forget. However, when I go somewhere else to play I dial it in for the room so yeah it's a must.