|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 8, 2006 20:41:09 GMT -7
My GAWD this amp sounded good tonight. I had a benefit for the first bass player with Blues Alliance, Doug Fulcher (he's the guy on our CD). He has pancreatic cancer so the band put together a three-band benefit today. So I went back and played with Blues Alliance again. But for the very first time, I took only the Stingray and my pedal board. Holy crap! Once I got the BB preamp dialed in, it just flat smoked! And the Grosh Tele sounded absolutely stunning through the Stingray when running clean. Got several compliments afterwards, from other guitarists mostly, but also from the keyboard player and the drummer.
I'm all smiles tonight... ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Oct 9, 2006 7:35:59 GMT -7
My GAWD this amp sounded good tonight. I had a benefit for the first bass player with Blues Alliance, Doug Fulcher (he's the guy on our CD). He has pancreatic cancer so the band put together a three-band benefit today. So I went back and played with Blues Alliance again. But for the very first time, I took only the Stingray and my pedal board. Holy crap! Once I got the BB preamp dialed in, it just flat smoked! And the Grosh Tele sounded absolutely stunning through the Stingray when running clean. Got several compliments afterwards, from other guitarists mostly, but also from the keyboard player and the drummer. I'm all smiles tonight... ;D ;D ;D I guess it's time for another 'Ray appreciation thread...couldn't agree more with your post bentop! ;D I'm in a VERY happy place now...tele> Keeley comp> Keeley BD2> Keeley Katana> RC Booster> STINGRAY. I'm gonna have to pick up and try the BB. Had the AC for a while, but it's gone now. The 'Ray is the only amp I continue to be infatuated with. Love all the Z's I've been fortunate enough to own, including the current Rt 66...but the the 'Ray is only amp I fire up and play everyday. With the right pedals it does the ultimate clean/drive tone IMHO! It's weird because I feel I should be scouting another amp by now...but realistically can't get past the lofty status of the 'Ray, so it's like, why even bother! Lately I've been to guitar jams, rehearsals, gigs...rock, blues, country...the Stingray goes to 'em all. Good luck to your bandmate...I'm participating in a benefit next month for a friend suffering from colon cancer, and we just did another in September. It's a fine way to raise some funds & help out, getting musicians and people together for an afternoon of good will & music.
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Oct 9, 2006 7:44:56 GMT -7
Ray still puts big smiles on my face after all these time.It's the love affair that is going to last for along time. ;D ;D
I am so sorry to hear about the bass player.Hope he is doing fine.
dock66
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 9, 2006 9:10:51 GMT -7
Yeah, we're starting to sound like a broken record, aren't we? But this amp really shines, especially with a good Tele. Holy cow! Never thought I'd be happy again with a fairly clean amp and use pedals for grit, but the Xotic pedals are doing a really nice job there. And of course, if the clean sound is crap, the pedals don't have anything to work with, so there it is. With the Stingray, the pedals just shine too. Of course I have all the other good stuff too - great Tele, and even great cabling. You just can't beat it.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Oct 9, 2006 10:06:13 GMT -7
Sorry about your buddy. Hope he makes a turnaraound. The Ray is a beautiful thing!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 9, 2006 12:52:30 GMT -7
Sorry about your buddy. Hope he makes a turnaraound. The Ray is a beautiful thing! Thanks Billy - I hope he does too. Pancratic is about the worst you can have, and he has other organs involved too, so in reality, I'm afraid the benefit was for his wife. Sad, but it is what it is. He still holds hope though, and as long as he's fighting, I'm in his camp all the way. There is a slim chance of recovery, and we're all clinging to that. I'd like to get the chance to play with this guy again - he is easily the best bass player I've ever played with. When he left our band, I went through a month or two of grieving! Never did fully recover from that. So I hope he gets better and we do a tune or two down the road.
|
|
|
Post by sonicgator on Oct 9, 2006 16:18:59 GMT -7
Sorry to hear about your friend.
Seriously, you guys need to stop gushing about this amp. I haven't even taken delivery of my first Z (january) and you have me GASSING for another Z! Of course, torturing myself by playing every one of the Stang's I'm in front of doesn't help either!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 9, 2006 17:36:22 GMT -7
Well I can stop gushing just as soon as the amp stops sounding like it does...
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Oct 9, 2006 18:13:22 GMT -7
Tonight I spent some quality time at RMC comparing a Stangray head/ 2x12 cab, and a Stangray combo. For some reason, the head/cab sounded...better. Even had my son and an RMC associate stand by and listen...YEP, the one sounds noticeably fuller and punchier with the exact settings. Weird. If I'd had the cash, I'd have bought the Stangray head on the spot, sounded killer & with no pedals to boot! Don't know if it was a tube thing or what?? I think I'll take my head over there and plug into the cabinet and see if there is any difference. If it sounds better than my head thru the same cabinet, I'll chock it up to a freak amp that someone should buy quick...maybe I could sell a few things.
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 9, 2006 18:28:51 GMT -7
Tonight I spent some quality time at RMC comparing a Stangray head/ 2x12 cab, and a Stangray combo. For some reason, the head/cab sounded...better. Even had my son and an RMC associate stand by and listen...YEP, the one sounds noticeably fuller and punchier with the exact settings. Weird. If I'd had the cash, I'd have bought the Stangray head on the spot, sounded killer & with no pedals to boot! Don't know if it was a tube thing or what?? I think I'll take my head over there and plug into the cabinet and see if there is any difference. If it sounds better than my head thru the same cabinet, I'll chock it up to a freak amp that someone should buy quick...maybe I could sell a few things. Yeah, tubes make a difference, but also cab volume makes a difference. And those Alinco Blues - if you're not using those, get them fast.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Oct 22, 2006 1:00:44 GMT -7
I'd love to gush about my 'Ray, but I've been "ray-less" for almost 3 wks now, and it's gonna be a little longer until it arrives here in Honolulu.
Adjusting to the island is a challenge, but it's nice. Adjusting to a missing Stang Ray is IMPOSSIBLE!!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 22, 2006 1:06:21 GMT -7
I'd love to gush about my 'Ray, but I've been "ray-less" for almost 3 wks now, and it's gonna be a little longer until it arrives here in Honolulu. Adjusting to the island is a challenge, but it's nice. Adjusting to a missing Stang Ray is IMPOSSIBLE!! Oh man! Karma for being 'ray-less! Played mine again tonight on a gig and I though the bass player was going to try to hump my leg - he was all ABOUT that Stingray. 'Course it helps to have a great Tele plugged in to her...
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Oct 24, 2006 19:27:22 GMT -7
'Ray arrives Thursay! YAY!! Cab comes later, so all I'll have for now is the 1x12 EVM, which isn't too bad...
jh
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Oct 25, 2006 7:42:30 GMT -7
Hohn,
Ahh,finally the good news,you can't hardly wait for Ray to come home,I bet.Congrats.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Oct 29, 2006 2:12:50 GMT -7
It's here! And it's magnificent!!
I'd forgotten just how amazing this amp is in 1) tone, and 2) volume. I'm wondering if I don't actually prefer the pristine sound of the EVMs with this amp. Definitely a little different sound than the Blues. The blues are much better with a OD tone, but for loud spanky clean, the EVM is exceptionally great with this amp. Just one EVM is all it takes (makes the pack out nice and simple, too).
The cool thing is that my peavey 1x12 cab has the exact same length and width as the 'Ray head, making it look like a mini-stack that's just meant to be. Too bad the tolex and tweed clash....
My 2x12 is going in the storage closet when it arrives-- this ministack is perfect for at home use (only it's like 10 times too loud:)
The clean sound of the SR with some clean boost into that little EVM is just unbelievably great-- the best clean I've ever heard in person.
You ever have one of those times when you're playing where you're subconsciously just thinking "that sounds so good, it CAN'T be me playing this!"? I get that lately. The playing isn't so hot, but the tone is incredible, if I may brag on this amp a little bit.
justin
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 29, 2006 9:50:09 GMT -7
It's here! And it's magnificent!! I'd forgotten just how amazing this amp is in 1) tone, and 2) volume. I'm wondering if I don't actually prefer the pristine sound of the EVMs with this amp. Definitely a little different sound than the Blues. The blues are much better with a OD tone, but for loud spanky clean, the EVM is exceptionally great with this amp. Just one EVM is all it takes (makes the pack out nice and simple, too). The cool thing is that my peavey 1x12 cab has the exact same length and width as the 'Ray head, making it look like a mini-stack that's just meant to be. Too bad the tolex and tweed clash.... My 2x12 is going in the storage closet when it arrives-- this ministack is perfect for at home use (only it's like 10 times too loud:) The clean sound of the SR with some clean boost into that little EVM is just unbelievably great-- the best clean I've ever heard in person. You ever have one of those times when you're playing where you're subconsciously just thinking "that sounds so good, it CAN'T be me playing this!"? I get that lately. The playing isn't so hot, but the tone is incredible, if I may brag on this amp a little bit. justin I get that about every time I plug in. The 'ray just has a sound like no other amp. I used mine again last night and the lead singer came over and commented how great my tone was! I didn't think he even knew there was music behind him!
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Oct 29, 2006 10:38:52 GMT -7
It's here! And it's magnificent!! I'd forgotten just how amazing this amp is in 1) tone, and 2) volume. I'm wondering if I don't actually prefer the pristine sound of the EVMs with this amp. Definitely a little different sound than the Blues. The blues are much better with a OD tone, but for loud spanky clean, the EVM is exceptionally great with this amp. Just one EVM is all it takes (makes the pack out nice and simple, too). The cool thing is that my peavey 1x12 cab has the exact same length and width as the 'Ray head, making it look like a mini-stack that's just meant to be. Too bad the tolex and tweed clash.... My 2x12 is going in the storage closet when it arrives-- this ministack is perfect for at home use (only it's like 10 times too loud:) The clean sound of the SR with some clean boost into that little EVM is just unbelievably great-- the best clean I've ever heard in person. You ever have one of those times when you're playing where you're subconsciously just thinking "that sounds so good, it CAN'T be me playing this!"? I get that lately. The playing isn't so hot, but the tone is incredible, if I may brag on this amp a little bit. justin Very cool, Justin...I know the feeling! Been doing the 1x12/ 'Ray thing for quite awhile now and just reached the point (volume wise) that I need to move to a louder speaker than the Weber Blue dog. I stuck my old Tonker in for now, and have a Cannabis Rex on the way...figured it's time to try a good ceramic/clean/loud hemp speaker. ;D
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 12, 2006 3:02:26 GMT -7
Well here I sit after another gig and I'm dumbstruck AGAIN! I'm beginning to realize that this amp is changing the way I play, and changing what I listen for while I'm playing. I played almost everything tonight on either the bridge pup or the bridge/neck combo. And boy was it sweet. I had my H&K Rotosphere in the loop and MAN that thing sounds great through the 'ray. Had a failure on my pedal board tonight half way through the first set. So I yanked my cord out and plugged straight in to the Stingray. With a bit of twiddling of the Airbrake and volume knob, I found the sweet spot - volume at around 2 o'clock and the compression is just about right. So rather than debug the whole pedal board, I yanked the BB off there and just ran the guitar through that for the rest of the night. Worked just amazingly well. Now I'm rethinking my pedal board too...
|
|