evanjames's Reviews

see, with a real ac30 or matchless you would not have that EQ problem... you can't get a bad sound, clean or dirty, from the real stuff.... however, this is a 2 channel so try this trick:

get an A/B box, set the clean channel up the way you want and the dirty channel up the way you want and make it a virtual channel switcher. There will be a big volume difference, but whining about that is lame. Louder dirty sound? That's a good thing if you ask anyone from my generation.

Or go one ofmy 2 routes and run the amp flat out with EQ settings for dirty. then use your guitar volume and pickup selector. AC30s compress so heavily as they enter break up that the volume differential won't be great as long as you have good touch on the guitar and you're okay with 'rock n roll clean' that has a little hair around some chords. My other solution is 2 use 2 voxes, or even 3. The 3 amp set-up is intense, but worth it if you want a wide and complex sound. You will want an ac4 for full on dirt, an ac15 or matchless (read: bugera using gain channel) in 1/2 power and an ac30 top boost (read: a 2nd bugera using the top boost channel) at full power. split your signal with a nice splitter to all 3 amps. Get a head switcher and run your 30 watter and AC4 into a head switcher so they share the 2x12 combo cab. Dime the AC4 and get your ideal clean tone at a balanced level through the 30 watter. Those are your 2 main sounds. Your 15 watt amp will be responsible for clean with hair and ltos of hamonics and wills tay on all the time. It doesn't need to level match the other 2 amps precisely. Probably 3 or 4 on the channel volume should be just right for the 15 watter. This 'always on' amp will add a lot of width to your sound on stage and in the room. Your clean sound will have more dimension and complexity and your overdriven sound will get a little clarity (and voxes are already the cleanest dirty amps out there). It will also give an FOH mixer the potential to mix you in stereo if you are in a power trio. If he knows his business he will put a slight delay and maybe a subtle digital pitch warble on your 15 watter through the PA to really widen things and create the illusion of a 2nd dude doubling you. If you are being put through the PA I suggest you aim the 15 watter toward your drummer as a monitor and point the 2x12 that has the amp switcher setup off-stage completely. You won't look as cool but you will be doing everyone, especially FOH, a favor by not beaming a directional 2x12 right at the man's left or right ear so he can't balance your sound. NEVER turn down for the guy mixing you, just move your speakers away from his ears.

WARNING: 3 tube amps will be loud! If you are unused to playing theaters it will surprise you how much stage volume and ambience a pair of open back 2x12s creates even pointed off-stage.