Do modeling amps sound like the real deal?
- Thread starter Eddie
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dbrian66
Squier-Axpert
That’s funny!
duceditor
Squier-Axpert
You'll get a million opinions here. And all to be sure are correct! 
I know nothing about metal or chugging. But I've played all sorts of music thru all sorts of amps over the years, and what I have come to think is that the complaints commonly heard about at least the better modeling amps reflect less on the amp's capability as upon the time it takes to learn to effectively use them. -To get out the best they have to offer.
Part of that, I think, is the fault of the makers. They seem to favor "Oh, wow!" sounds in the pre-sets. Ones that they think (are they right?) will catch the ear of the sort of player they expect to try out the amp at a dealer.
TV makers used to do this too. They'd up the colors as set so that they grabbed the eye. Then the dealer would have on a cartoon movie or something similarly unrealistic to further emphasize that quick "wow!" response.
Subtlety and accuracy of color and contrast could be gotten out of them. But only by ditching the colors as set and knowledgeably setting them yourself.
Thes same with many amps. They are quite often capable of a great deal more subtlety than given general credit for. And from my own experience (make of it what you will) they can get almost any sound a player could want, rivaling some of the best old school, tube, amplifiers. But you've got to be able to hear what needs to be reset. No one button answer will do it.
Look around here, however, at how many try this or that guitar, amp or pedal, and how often they write of their disappointment with them. How they didn't live up to the encouraged hopes and promises.
Often the very same thing is at work. The looking for push button answers. We have to get past expecting that. And not just here, but pretty much everywhere in life.
-don
I know nothing about metal or chugging. But I've played all sorts of music thru all sorts of amps over the years, and what I have come to think is that the complaints commonly heard about at least the better modeling amps reflect less on the amp's capability as upon the time it takes to learn to effectively use them. -To get out the best they have to offer.
Part of that, I think, is the fault of the makers. They seem to favor "Oh, wow!" sounds in the pre-sets. Ones that they think (are they right?) will catch the ear of the sort of player they expect to try out the amp at a dealer.
TV makers used to do this too. They'd up the colors as set so that they grabbed the eye. Then the dealer would have on a cartoon movie or something similarly unrealistic to further emphasize that quick "wow!" response.
Subtlety and accuracy of color and contrast could be gotten out of them. But only by ditching the colors as set and knowledgeably setting them yourself.
Thes same with many amps. They are quite often capable of a great deal more subtlety than given general credit for. And from my own experience (make of it what you will) they can get almost any sound a player could want, rivaling some of the best old school, tube, amplifiers. But you've got to be able to hear what needs to be reset. No one button answer will do it.
Look around here, however, at how many try this or that guitar, amp or pedal, and how often they write of their disappointment with them. How they didn't live up to the encouraged hopes and promises.
Often the very same thing is at work. The looking for push button answers. We have to get past expecting that. And not just here, but pretty much everywhere in life.
-don
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RegularJim
Squier-holic
Most of the music I've ever heard has been played by a professional musician, edited, produced, and "engineered" in a soundproof studio, recorded onto some kind of vinyl, magnetic or digital medium, played on some kind of turntable or other device, converted into radio waves, then 50 miles away re-converted into a sound signal in some kind of device sitting on a table or dashboard, and passed through some arrangement of speaker(s).
That's really hard to dupicate in a basement office.
I figure the music we hear on the radio sounds way different then what the musicians heard while recording. This revelation (along with inflation) has helped me stop chasing tone and just playing what I have the best that I can.
For the most part, a digital amp can get the sound I have in my head into my room. It's not an exact match, but can be close enough if you allow it to be.
That's really hard to dupicate in a basement office.
I figure the music we hear on the radio sounds way different then what the musicians heard while recording. This revelation (along with inflation) has helped me stop chasing tone and just playing what I have the best that I can.
For the most part, a digital amp can get the sound I have in my head into my room. It's not an exact match, but can be close enough if you allow it to be.
davidchagrin
Squier-Meister
Consider taking a look at Blackstar's digital amps. I have an id:core 10 v1. It has some excellent metal sounds.
Benlostforyears
Squier-holic
Just buy a good tube amp from GC used. Then you can try it out at home, and if you don't like it, simply return it to the store. You can get a used 5150, Mesa, ENGL, or Friedman for the same price as you were going to spend on another FGN guitar. You spend enough on guitars every month to buy so many incredible amps, but will never be satisfied with a nice guitar and a cheap amp. You recently said you sold $1500 worth of gear - that's more than enough for the amp of your dreams. Also have you considered getting a better cab?
Radiotech
Squier-Axpert
I hesitate to answer to someone who changes gear more often than the seasons… but for myself I can say yes. Although my desire to chug does not come often, I have tailored a couple of presets on my mustang three to do the job. I find for it to be convincing I need move more air, so up the Master volume must come.
For the majority of my other favorite presets, which are mostly Fender, and Vox style amps; once I got really familiar with editing presets (first on the amp, then in Fender fuse, and later in Remuda), I was able to produce chill-inducing replications (to my ear) of the amps I love the best.
If you’re not willing to put the time into really digging deep tweaking a modeler, don’t bother.
…also I don’t know if you have the availability to allow your amp to really move air like that tone you’re looking for needs.
For the majority of my other favorite presets, which are mostly Fender, and Vox style amps; once I got really familiar with editing presets (first on the amp, then in Fender fuse, and later in Remuda), I was able to produce chill-inducing replications (to my ear) of the amps I love the best.
If you’re not willing to put the time into really digging deep tweaking a modeler, don’t bother.
…also I don’t know if you have the availability to allow your amp to really move air like that tone you’re looking for needs.
Robb
The guitar Coroner
Ha ha ha , couldnt have shown it better buddy
Dumpster Chicken
Squier-Nut
Of course not.
Jim Belaye
Squier-holic
Jim Belaye
Squier-holic
dtsreiuqs
Squier-Nut
Do modeling amps sound like the real deal?
For me, they sound like a disposable deal.
D
For me, they sound like a disposable deal.
D
Caline Tantrum. It's the heaviest distortion I've found in the front end. Made me sell off my other distortion pedals including MXR and Boss. It's even more heavy with an EQ.
Yes, this is definitely a consideration. I'd rather buy new from GC with a return policy in case it's not what I want. Too many used purchases have gone to waste. Yep, $1500 in gear since the new year, and I think I have almost another grand up on FBM for sale. The experimentations have drawn me far and wide ... and $$$.
howserx
Squier-holic
Maybe you need an amp with a good output section and try some Pre-Amp pedals into the effects loop. Also remember some of these sounds off of records have been futzed with in post production. Maybe not as much as current records, but some of those tonez may be unobtainable. I've stopped my tone search, now i ask myself "Do I like this sound?" if no Tweak, if yes Play.
Modelers for me are awesome as as a platform. Cleans can sound perfect to me. I've had less luck with higher gain tones. But really what I don't like about them is that they are a time sink. I can spend an hour dickin around with 15 different chorus effects just to end up using the one I already was using. I've had some modelers for as long as I've had some tube amps with less maintenance too. It's a crap shoot, some tube amps are crap some are great, same goes for SS and digital amps.
Modelers for me are awesome as as a platform. Cleans can sound perfect to me. I've had less luck with higher gain tones. But really what I don't like about them is that they are a time sink. I can spend an hour dickin around with 15 different chorus effects just to end up using the one I already was using. I've had some modelers for as long as I've had some tube amps with less maintenance too. It's a crap shoot, some tube amps are crap some are great, same goes for SS and digital amps.
grizzlewulf
Squier-holic
This is how I feel. I mean, I don't play a lot of covers, so maybe my perspective is different, but even still...seems like a nearly impossible exercise to try replicating a famous guitarist's tone, particularly a guitarist whose budget and access to things is way beyond your own. And even if you get it right, I'm not even sure what the point is. Great, you made "Master of Puppets" sound exactly like the album. Shrug.
Don't get me wrong, to each their own, if replicating your heroes makes you happy, rock on. I guess I just hate to see someone stressing about it when they're not getting it to sound exactly right, because that really is so much harder than just creating your own sound that's cool and good in its own right
The thing I realized is everything I have recorded could be done on my original Yamaha and Peavey Bandit with the old zoom 505.
I love new gear but Chasing tone is expensive and exhausting.
I’m guilty of buying gear though just added pedals to my board yesterday. But I’m happy with my amps and guitars now. Few I’d like to have but I want to work on music now. Been in a slump I’m working my way out though.
I love new gear but Chasing tone is expensive and exhausting.
I’m guilty of buying gear though just added pedals to my board yesterday. But I’m happy with my amps and guitars now. Few I’d like to have but I want to work on music now. Been in a slump I’m working my way out though.
I had a Line 6 Spider modeling amp. It was the only piece of working gear that I just gave away. I didn’t have a cold enough heart to sell it to anybody. I almost feel guilty even after giving it away. It shoulda just been put down.
Having said that, I’m sure there are awesome modeling amps out there now but I’m just not into that. I don’t need to replicate someone else’s tone. A nice Fender or Vox for tubes, and maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus, and my tonal needs are met. Period.
Assuming I DID want to chase someone else’s tone, however, I have a computer and DAW and plug-ins with infinitely more possibilities than the best modeling amp. As usual, the computer has changed everything. So, if modeling tones is your thing, then the computer is your ticket - more, better, and less expensive. Save your amp money for a real amp.
Having said that, I’m sure there are awesome modeling amps out there now but I’m just not into that. I don’t need to replicate someone else’s tone. A nice Fender or Vox for tubes, and maybe a Roland Jazz Chorus, and my tonal needs are met. Period.
Assuming I DID want to chase someone else’s tone, however, I have a computer and DAW and plug-ins with infinitely more possibilities than the best modeling amp. As usual, the computer has changed everything. So, if modeling tones is your thing, then the computer is your ticket - more, better, and less expensive. Save your amp money for a real amp.
Someone is selling a G5 Infinium in Nothern NJ for $160. I wanted to jump on it this morning, but hard for me to get to NJ ... plus $30 in tolls and gas. Argh.
One of these days, I want to try one of those multi-pedal units. But the only thing is that I don't need so many tones. I want two tones ... Chug and Clean.
In all seriousness, have you checked out things like the Hotone Djent? I'm not knowledgeable of Metal, so maybe it's a stupid suggestion, but the jungle site is selling them cheaper at the moment.
And also, DOD Boneshaker. Yes I know this is an amp thread and I've mentioned 2 pedals.
And also, DOD Boneshaker. Yes I know this is an amp thread and I've mentioned 2 pedals.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KZ0ENLG/?tag=squiertalk-20
Ok, for $35, I'll give it a try.
Thanks for the recommendation.
What's the jungle site? Cheaper than Amazon?
Gracias.
