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Post by telejas on Apr 29, 2007 11:29:43 GMT -7
I know the Stangray is based off a non-TB AC30....... And I played a real AC30 (not one of the CC's) last night the last 2 sets of our show... I liked it alot, but it felt pretty "stiff" when compared to my RX-ES.
Is a Stangray less "stiff" than an AC30? Or are they about the same?
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Post by Danny on Apr 29, 2007 12:34:34 GMT -7
Can you be a bit more precise about what you mean by 'stiff'?
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Post by telejas on Apr 29, 2007 14:23:22 GMT -7
Can you be a bit more precise about what you mean by 'stiff'? I was afraid I'd have to explain that.... It's hard to explain, it's almost like the RX-ES was more "expressive" and the strings on my guitar feel spongy when I really dig in to them.... the AC30 just makes my strings feel stiff and kind of cold (but not like a Marshall). Lots of trying to explain what I'm talking about, but I just can't find the right words or correct way to explain it?
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Post by Hohn on Apr 29, 2007 15:59:22 GMT -7
I think I know what you are trying to describe, but I could be totally off, so I'm just taking a stab at this..
IMO, the Stang Ray has a hint of that "stiffness" also, but not nearly to the same degree. The Stang is very expressive (non-compressed) which makes it respond very well to every nuance in playing.
But one thing that helps an amp feel "softer" is that compression and sag that happens as the volume climbs. ills I've noticed that the Stang loses its "stiffness" at higher levels and loses that stiffness. But the amp is LOUD when this happens.
One thing that makes an amp feel "stiff" to me is just a lack of response-- where the amp sounds the same whether you barely feather a string or really thwack it hard. My Stang does NOT do this-- it's VERY responsive, with hammer-like percussiveness that just floors me.
So on one hand, the Stang is "stiff" in that it has a tons of clean headroom, but on the other, it's very UNcompressed.
Another culprit can be the speakers. If they are "stiff" then the amp is struggling against that...
Does this make any sense?
Jason-- if you're still on the fence about a Stang Ray, don't be. It's a very ALIVE amp-- which may be the opposive of "stiff" as you mean it.
You can always sell a Stang for pretty much what you paid, since there's a backlog of them if you're ordering one.
JMO
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Post by prsnstrat on May 3, 2007 7:25:52 GMT -7
Hohn and Jason, I think I know what you mean as well. I had a Boogie Dual Rec that was that way...no matter how hard I hit the string it sounded alot the same. Also that little bit of 'give' that a Dr Z amp has is to me very sweet and sounds better as the night goes on. You can almost feel what you are hearing.
Anyway, the Stangray has that 'give' too...just needs to be pushed a little bit. Like hohn said, the more you open it up the better it sounds and more sag it has. Back off the volume and the chime is still there. THat's what I really dig about the 'Ray ... and it is just plain fat as all get out!
That being said, I a/b'd my ray with an RxES that I had for a short time and I thought the 'Ray had more expressiveness and was less 'stiff'....if that makes any sense.
Hope that helps.
Brandon
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Post by rockstok on May 9, 2007 7:38:05 GMT -7
I know what you're saying about "sag" . I don't know if it's the same "sag" that people talk about in terms of tube amps but what it does provide is a lot of give to the notes you play. The Stang is loaded with it. Almost like playing with 12 gauge strings tuned down but not having to.
I played my 1x12 combo with the Gold out for the first time this past weekend and the volume never got above 9:00. The strings were alive even at a low volume. Tones just jumped outta that thing. I used a Strat both nights and the typical Strat settings were more prominent than with other amps. Neck setting more more SRV like the bridge setting less piercing, and the other three very distinctive. It was almost heresy to use a distortion pedal because the sound was so sweet without one.
I now have two Stang Rays and have half heartedly tried to sell the head but I am fine keeping it. I have noticed a rash of SR sales on the Gear Page lately. Gotta chalk that up to people just wanting a change or "not getting it".
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Post by billyguitar on May 9, 2007 11:15:17 GMT -7
Also a lot of people are used to amps with a lot of gain. When they don't hear that but they do hear every little thing they do they choke up when they play. The Ray will also let you hear your guitar better than most amps. If you don't have that tweaked to sound good then the perception is once again that they won't like the amp. The more you're used to playing without the crutch of distortion the more you'll like a Ray.
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Post by Bill on May 9, 2007 14:33:45 GMT -7
;D I It was almost heresy to use a distortion pedal because the sound was so sweet without one. That's why you need the RC Booster, Bill! ;D I do believe it's on your list, right? PS...will catch you at Innsbrook tonight, looking forward to it!
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Post by Hohn on May 9, 2007 15:00:02 GMT -7
Also a lot of people are used to amps with a lot of gain. When they don't hear that but they do hear every little thing they do they choke up when they play. The Ray will also let you hear your guitar better than most amps. If you don't have that tweaked to sound good then the perception is once again that they won't like the amp. The more you're used to playing without the crutch of distortion the more you'll like a Ray. Bingo! The Stang has made me a much better player-- if for no other reason than the amp lies it all out for everyone to hear. There's no hiding! Once I cleaned up my playing a little more, I found myself totally just loving the amp's cleans even for leads. I've NEVER done that before. The clean is just so musical and wonderful that you find yourself getting lost in all the nuance of expression-- even with no pedals on at all! I love this amp.
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Post by rockstok on May 19, 2007 14:48:38 GMT -7
Well said Hohn
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Post by telejas on Jul 24, 2007 12:28:20 GMT -7
Here's another answer to my own post..... Yes, the Stang *feels* much better to play and has that "Sag" or "compression" to it that lets the strings just feel like rubber bands when playing..... (that's meant in a good way).
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jul 24, 2007 14:12:27 GMT -7
Something tells me we have a new Stang Ray fan on the site. ;D
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