|
Post by guitguy67 on Sept 15, 2006 19:29:59 GMT -7
Hi all, I think I need a Route 66 . Been reading up on these amps as I'm on a quest for a new rig I had the pleasure of trying out a Route 66 and Zbest 2x12 yesterday at Long and McQuade in Markham, Ontario. Wonderful amp! I do gigs ranging from pop, classic rock, R+B and blues to some jazz. I'm looking for something with a nice sustaining clean tone that I can dress up with pedals as needed and also something I can wind out to get a 'Hendrix like' clean>overdriven tone. How's that for a standard (lame!) description of a great sound;-) Really, my first point of reference for great tone is the Hendrix catalog. And the 66 seemed to conjure that up for me. Wow. Does anyone know if Doyle Bramhall II used a 66 on his "Smokestack" album? Would consider either an Air-Brake or perhaps "Power Scaling" by London Power here up north. May need to tone it down in smaller venues. My current rig is a Hot Rod Deville 4x10 with usually a strat or an SG and a very standard pedal board (ts-10, dod chorus, cry baby, Line 6 dd4). Had the Deville for nearly ten years. Before that I spent almost as many years with a Boogie Mk. III head and half back 4x12s.Never owned my dream rig. Not even sure what it is. Is this it? If anyone feels like typing, I'd love for someone to talk me into buying one of these! Tell me whatever you think will sell me on this amp and perhaps the array of tones you're able to get in reference to recognizable classic rock and blues music. Thanks. Cheers! GuitGuy
|
|
|
Post by yinielin on Sept 15, 2006 19:45:51 GMT -7
Maybe check out the Z-28? Seems from ur description that would be closest atleast in my opinion to what ur lookin for.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Sept 15, 2006 20:02:21 GMT -7
The Route 66 is about as far from the Fender as you can get. If you like the Route 66 sound I'm surprised you could play the Fender that long. To me they are really night and day.
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Sept 15, 2006 20:03:57 GMT -7
I think your spot on with the 66, just do it !
I have my 3rd 66.
|
|
|
Post by guitguy67 on Sept 16, 2006 10:07:02 GMT -7
Hi Folks, Thanks for the replies.
To 'yinielin', I went back and looked into the Z-28 on the Dr. Z website and also Harmony Central. You may be onto something. I don't know. Ya ever notice how everyone uses the same adjectives and 'guitar speak' catch phrases? It's maddening sometimes. They could all be talking about the same amp! ;-) The Z-28 sounds real nice too, but just because I've run a Fender for so long doesn't mean that I need to have that Fender tone.
To Billyguitar, you can like more than one tone, can't ya? To be honest, in the time that I've had the Deville, I've quite often just made do with it. I've gone through periods of musical inactivity and then have gotten a lot busier in the past 4 years. It's only in the past couple that I've gotten some better tones from it by just turning it up. I'm becoming more discerning as far as my tone goes. Even though I've gotten a fairly good sound by just pushing the clean channel, there is always something missing when it counts. Doesn't much matter when you're playing a duo gig with a keyboard player at a small pub, but doing a blues gig in a fair size club and being the only guitar player, that's when I yearn for something so much better.
We all know what the Fenders do and it's cool. I plugged a Strat into a Super Reverb RI a couple of years ago and loved it compared to what the Deville could do. That being said, it is a very typical tone and I' think I'd prefer something different. I'd like to get an old Marshall type tone remenicent of Hendrix when it's possible to crank it up. That would be what I'd like to have for my own kind of fun. For gigging, just a nice consistent clean tone that I can feel under my fretting fingers( sustain which the Deville lacks until quite loud) and that I can shape as needed with a few of the billion or so pedals out there. That;s it in a nutshell, maybe that's a little simplistic to those with more experince with many different amps. I'm trying to educate myself on tubes and tone.
To tele62, I've read your posts and it's obvious that you have the 66 'fever' ! I would have expected no less of your reply. Thanks!
Anyone else? Appreciate the replies so far...good food for thought.
Cheers,
Guitguy
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Sept 16, 2006 11:03:46 GMT -7
Of course you can like more than one tone. I'm crazy about my Zs but I feel the same about my Fender Tweeds and my Evans JE150. Those are three different sounds totally. Sorry to diss on the DeVille. The 4x10 one is probably the best but none of those amps move me. I played a 2x12 on once with the clean channel on about 6 and boosted it with a compressor for solos. I know you'll like a Z much better!
|
|
|
Post by guitguy67 on Sept 16, 2006 11:48:09 GMT -7
Hey billyguitar,
No worries about dissin' the Deville. I've been doin' it for years! It's never really moved me either. It has and continues to serve me fairly well and has been tossed around a lot and stood up to it. I'm just over due for a step up. I'm drawn to the Route 66 because of it's vintage vibe, nice tone (as far as I could tell after a 15 minute ride in a music store) and ease of operation. I like the 3 knob approach. I'm still recovering from my Boogie experience!
Thanks.
guitguy
|
|
|
Post by taswegian on Sept 16, 2006 19:50:37 GMT -7
The lead singer in the band I was in in the 90's needed a rig to play second guitar on a few tunes and we went out and got the Blues DeVille. That amp sounded pretty good and actually I'd say there is something in the mids that is a little similar to the 66. Of course it's half the amp the 66 is. Unfortunately it caught on fire twice and I think he abandoned it. Guitguy, I think the 66 sounds perfect for what your saying. I often play covers in small clubs with the 66 and Zbest with the 3 knobs on 10 oclock with pedals and I still pull a great sound. Crank it up and you are in leaning toward vintage marshall heaven but it also has it's own thing going on which I absolutely love. With a Grosh Set Neck and the Route 66 I feel I have something a little unique going on in the tone field which sets me apart from all the usual tones, especially in today's ultra gain rectified modern rock tones. good luck
|
|
|
Post by guitguy67 on Sept 17, 2006 1:14:24 GMT -7
Hey tas,
Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it. I've checked out some of your clips. Nice work!
I guess I'm asking to be preached to by the converted yet I may already be one! ha ha ha
When I turned 18 I received some moneys from a hit and run car accident I was involved in as a child and at the time I was so sick of playing through a lame 1x12 combo, I was determined to have a full stack to stand in front of. I had my choice of gear and really wanted to stand apart from the crowd (1985!). I chose a Boogie Mark III with 2 open back 4x12s. It was certainly a unique rig in my neck of the woods. It was really cool at the time but it was certainly an 80's rig. The coolest sound I ever got was plugging that head into 2 old grey front Marshall 16 ohm 4x12s. It was a lovely but short lived sound as it was a mismatched load and would blow fuses quite quickly.
In 97, I was recruited ( after a period of inactivity) to go on the road with a blues/funky r+b band. I carried the Boogie head and one 4x12 for the first tour and came back and promptly went shopping for something more portable and more appropriate for the material. Bought the Deville in a hurry on a recommendation and have been working with it ever since.
Anyways, blah blah blah...I don't think I'd out grow a 66 any time soon...if and when I take the plunge, I'm sure there will be posts of joy resounding on this forum...watch for it..;-)
Thanks tas. Cheers!
guitguy
...any more converted want to preach to the converted...just for practice...;-)
|
|
|
Post by rcrecelius on Sept 18, 2006 7:27:41 GMT -7
Go for the 66, I dont think you would regret it. The Z28 is great too though...I now have both and I think I'll be able to use them both and not get tired of either one...Z28 is a combo so it might get the call more often for small jobs or 1 nighters...the 66 for bigger stuff or on multiple night jobs(1 setup)...or for outdoor stuff, take em both!
|
|