Equipment

[MattMonroe]

Hey,

I was wondering what kind of amps you guys use. I heard somewhere that you guys use Marshall JCM2000's. If this is true, what kind do you use exactly (i.e. DSL, TSL). I was just wondering because you guys have an awesome guitar sound and Dan had an awesome guitar sound on the Craig's Brother album. I heard that Pete had a Mesa Triple Rectifier too. Anyways, just want to have a similiar sound and trying to get rid of my old head, just wanted to know what kind to go for next. Also, you guys think tube or solid state is better?

[i12matt]

DO NOT GET A SOLID STATE AMP OR I WILL KILL YOU! No, seriously, tube's are so much better in every single way... if you want tone, you should get tubes. For the record, I think Dan and Pete used a combination of a JCM 2000 and Triple Recto...I personally don't really like either one of these amps that much... I like the JCM somewhat but I prefer older Marshall's like a Plexi and I don't like the Rectifier's... they're too metally for me. For my tone, I use a Mesa-Boogie Nomad 100 watt head, a Diezel Herbert, and a 1965 Fender Twin with an assortment of pedals. If you can afford it and want a BIG sound, the Diezel is the only way to go, but they are expensive as hell. I've tried lots of amps and they all sound good, but it's all about what you're going for. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] if you have any questions about amps, etc... I've done so much research on this sort of thing. Don't buy a Soldano SLO 100... those things suck... I sold mine. If you're looking to get a boutique amp that's not factory made crap, www.tonemerchants.com is a good place to start. Let me know if I can be of any help. Later.

[i12dan]

Be careful. Matt really will kill you.

[thedude15]

I was wondering what type of piano Pete uses. I have a Yamaha Upright piano and its amazing. How exactly do you amplify a piano?

Also, I was wondering if its possible to record piano in my house, and how I could get it to be good quality. I've tried to record to tape player but it didn't sound good. Would you need to go to a recording studio or could you record at home?

Jason

[i12dude14]

If you can get the right equipment to record,then do it at home. Your best chances are to go to a local store that sells guitars and other kinds of musical instruments and equipment.Ask somebody there,they should know.I do all my recording at home for guitar and piano,it doesn't come out all that good,but i dont use the best equipment.

[i12matt]

You would need two farely high quality microphones like a Neumann TLM103 or a Shure KSM32 to be able to accuarately reproduce the sound of the piano. If you don't own an mics, you could look into a piano pickup. They are great for live situations, but do not sound as good as mics do for getting a piano sound. Here's a company that makes piano pickups: www.helpinstill.com/

Hope that helps. You're doing the right thing by not getting a crappy digital keyboard. They'll never sound as good. By the way, I have a Yamaha Upright piano also. Later.

[Russ]

get some over head condensor mics, they sounds great on a piano. or if you've got the bucks AKGC414

[i12matt]

I don't know how well overhead condensors would work on an upright piano... you'd get the ambient sounds, but you wouldn't really hear the attack of the strings unless you got the mics down into the sound chamber of the piano. But it might work...

[thedude15]

Thanks for the suggestions! I actually have a digital keyboard but the keys are so light weighted so I make a lot of mistakes. I recorded a song I wrote on this keyboard and it took so long...I keep on messing up lol. (I'm thinking of buyinbg a chord hookup from keyboard to computer so I can put the song on computer). If you put it into touch sensitive mode it sounds so soft and you have to push the keys hard to play loud...lol I think you get the point. Its just so much easier to play with an upright piano - it sounds so much more natural. I'll look at that website, thanks!

[i12pete]

dan and i both play through ampeg bass rigs...SVT classic head and the 8x10 cab...recently i started using mesa boogie bass stuff cause they gave a good deal and it actually has nice tones to it...its a big block 750. i gave my triple rectifier to Ryan to use because yellowcardr actually plays the huge capacity venues that you would need a 150 watt amp at. Dan has a jcm 2000...Im telling you things matt already told you. the rectifiers are a little bit too heavy metal...but i was able to get a pretty rad low gain AC/DC rock tone out of it....but they were built for people like korn. i use a yamaha upright on stage...in the studio I play whatever 9' steinway & sons they have there. i want my triple recto back cause ryan never paid me for it...BASTARD!

[i12matt]

Hey Pete, if you read this, check your AOL mail account and write me back or call me. Later.

[spcymonkey]

If any of you frequent the Craig's Brother message board (I'm sure plenty of you do) I posted a very lengthy article months back about affording a budget tube amp, and what to look for in certain price ranges. Could hop over there and check it out. Yeah Matt's right btw, solid state = the suck. If you want my secret stash of amp knowledge, here is is. Mesa DC-3 or DC-5 tube head. Seriously, play one if you get the chance. Sounds better then a nomad, at half the price these days.

[i12matt]

They don't even make the Dual Caliber amps anymore, do they? I thought those amps turned into the F series.... I've never tried one of those, but I like my Nomad alot. Especially after I put Groove Tubes 6L6 S #7's in the power section and Groove Tubes Mullard Reissue 12AX7's in the preamp, it sounds awesome. The reason my Nomad sounds so good is because I use very little of the amp's distortion and never use the third channel at all. I get most of my gain from Tube Screamer's which are the best in my opinion. I'll have to check out one of those Dual Caliber amps, or I guess the F series as they're called now. Later.

[Russ]

i12matt said:

I don't know how well overhead condensors would work on an upright piano... you'd get the ambient sounds, but you wouldn't really hear the attack of the strings unless you got the mics down into the sound chamber of the piano. But it might work...

when I was doing a recording for danny conners we used over heads, just as room mics and they came out really nice. Admittedly not much punch, that's why I suggested the 414 to stick up the piano's ass.

[spcymonkey]

Yeah they haven't made the DC series for a long time, but they were still phenominal amps. The F-Series are slightly differently obviously, but they do have a lot in common with the DC. However, its much cheaper to go find a DC then an F series these days. Nomads aren't bad either, I think Mesa always makes quality amps, its just that they get overshadowed by the Rectifier series.
However, I think the DC series, next to the Mark III and its cousins, is the best amp Mesa made. Definitely check them out if you ever get the chance.