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Ah! I know exactly what you are talking about. I have also thought there was a compressor in the system with this amp. While I am overall very happy with the amp, that is one aspect I have not been wild about. For me, it is subtle, but there.
Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer
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09-01-2013 01:46 PM
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Yea, it's subtle... who knows I might end up feeling the same way about the Wholetone. I know it has a built in limiter, but as of yet, I haven't had any kind of funky pumping effects. Fingers crossed! Originally Posted by barrymclark
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I agree. I played one in my local store for a while and I turned it up and it got very loud. The store owner is a cool guy and if you ask him about an amp the first thing he does is cranks it up really loud and plays it, so he doesn't mind if you turn them up! Originally Posted by ah.clem
I thought the Wholetone sounded really nice. Really full, warm tone. I know it's not huge or super heavy...but I would probably get one if it were a little smaller and lighter.
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Maybe pushing a 15" speaker puts a bigger load on that 80w, resulting in less volume than a comparable 1x12 80w combo? I know that an 80w bass amp pushing a 15 isn't going to be very loud.
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I also have one of these and really, really like it. I'd also agree with other posts here regarding the, ahem, interesting relationship between the Gain and Master controls. Then add the EQ into that and it's, well, interesting. But once you dial it in, it's a go. And it's certainly capable of gig-worthy volume, wattage ratings aside, cuz that's what my ears tell me. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
IMO, the onboard auto-limiting circuitry somehow tends to help give a rather even response across all the strings as well as up and down the neck. I especially noticed that my higher positions sounded nice and full and with a certain added presence. YMMV. The same circuitry also seems to mean that this amp doesn't take kindly to pedals at all, although the onboard Reverb is OK when used lightly (the Chorus lacks enough controls, IMO, but is also OK when used lightly).
My recommendation is to definitely try one of these out if you ever get the chance (although they're not normally stocked with jazz being such a 'niche' market. I had to order mine from the Fiend—with a coupon, natch'—and I've never looked back).
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Mine lasted lasted less than a month, then broke.
Much happier with my Fender HRD with Cannabis Rex speaker.....
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This is an interesting comment; I had noticed the same thing and attributed it playing a carved archtop through the amp, but a few weeks ago I had a friend play my JZ3 and Classic Vibe through it and heard the same thing. I hear it with the carved guitar all the time, but that is pretty much the only guitar I play through it (I play the others through a headphone amp). Glad it's not only me; perhaps it *is* an intentional design outcome. Originally Posted by ooglybong
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Has anyone played through this amp in an actual gig? Do you think it's loud enough in a trio or a quartet w/o mic'ing the amp? I've been wanting a 1x15 amp for a while now & am curious about the volume (and durability in a real life situation after hauling it gig after gig, etc.)
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It's pretty light (35# or so); I still use a set of rollers with it. I've used it with a 6 piece band (I played a double bass through it) without a problem. With an acoustic piano in an average size room it is more than enough. In a rehearsal room (24X24) with another guitarist is sounds sweet at a low volume (touch of reverb, no chorus, not a fan of chorus - NB. only 1 input on the amp). That said, I really urge you to try one yourself as only you know how loud you jam and/or perform. It's not a tank but it's well built, IMO. Don't drop it down a flight of stairs. I bought mine on-line figuring I'd suck up the return cost if it didn't work out. It exceeded my expectations (including being a great double bass amp) but again, I was willing to pay to return it (I think I had 45 days or so). They are hard to find to try out; if you are willing to risk the return cost, give it a go, 'cause life is short. I can't imagine buying anything else for gigging, but bars/restaurants are the biggest venues for me, nothing big enough to mike amps or drums through a PA.
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I've had two WT-80's. I'm a tube amp guy, but I've kept these for back-up. I have played a couple gigs with it and it's more volume than any jazz player would ever need, even with multiple horns. It sounds like 80 solid state watts to me! Comparable to a 30 to 40 Watt A/B Tube Amp. The first one I sold on a whim to buy something else, but I missed having it around and bought another. However the second one has been giving me some issues with humming even when the guitar isn't plugged in, I've got it with an amp guy right now. No problems with the first one. I would recommend these 100% for tone and volume, but I'm going to give it a 70% on reliability. To my ears it sounds much more Polytone than Roland Cube. They can normally be found for around $250 used.
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I got one of these amps soon after getting my first ever jazz guitar (Ibanez AFJ 85) because the guitar just didn't sound right when I got it home, playing through clean settings on either a Vox AC-15 or (even worse) a Blackstar HD-1. In the shop they hooked me up to a Roland Cube 30 and that sounded great.
I am very happy with this amp. I use it most of the time now and I find it produces a nice sound when hooked up to both the Ibanez and my Les Paul. I do find though that it has a tendency to be a bit muddy.
Being a newbie though, I am finding some issues with how best to go about adjusting controls for the best sound. I am having trouble with the EQ controls, particularly the "tone" knob which to my ears does not make much difference. Perhaps I am approaching it wrong.
I have just had a look, and the settings I am using are:
Control Setting (o'clock)
Gain 8
Tone 12
Treble 2
Mid 2
Bass 1
Reverb 7 (off)
Chorus 7 "
Master 5
Any suggestions as to what I should try would be much appreciated.
Cheers
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Tough to answer as everyone has their own idea of a good jazz sound, but I can tell you what I am using when practicing or playing at low levels (it also scales pretty well). Keep in mind this is with a carved guitar with a mini-humbucking floater and flatwounds. IIRC, your guitar has 2 inset pups, and I have no idea if you mix them or not, or what strings you use. Also, I use a Wholetone and you mention a Cube, so that is a bit more confusion. In any case, this is my usual set-up for my guitar and Wholetone:
Guitar (Peerless Imperial with factory added tone control)
Tone - full open
Vol - full open then back just a touch
Amp (Ibanez Wholetone 80)
Gain - 6
Tone - 6/7
Treble - 5
Mid - 5
Bass - 5/6
Reverb - 0/1
Chorus - OFF
Master - 5
Whenever I try out a new amp, I usually find a reasonable volume for testing, then I turn all effects off and set all tone controls to 5. Then I play for a bit (guitar or bass) and make small adjustments to the controls. I find it easier to use a routine than just knob-turning, but both methods are certainly valid. When I try out 2 pup guitars I always turn off the bridge pup and start with the neck pup only, tone and vol open all the way and then back the vol off a smidge (my twitch, or superstition, I guess). If I was advising you, I'd advise that you start with the neck pup only, tone/vol open, effects off on amp, good gain/master mix and center all tones. Then give yourself an hour or so of just making incremental changes and playing quite a bit between them, really listening to the sound. IMO, you'll learn a lot about your amp and how to adjust it to differing venues so you can keep your "signature" hardware sound. Keep in mind that, as you keep playing over the years, your "tone" will be coming more from you than your gear. Just my opinion.
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I'm a little different. The amp won't distort no matter what, but I prefer the feel of the amp when having the gain around 2:00 or so and the volume to taste.
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Thanks very much for that advice ah.Clem! I guess your settings are based on the 1-10 approach which is easier to understand than my clock-face system!
Your settings work better for me. As you can see I had the gain set to min and the master volume maxed out. This is what I do on my Vox AC15 to get the cleanest tone. I guess the same doesn't apply with solid state jazz amps like the Wholtone.
I use the neck pup and flatwound strings. I changed from the factory fitted flatwounds to Tomastik Enfeld ones soon after getting the guitar. It made a big difference.
Cheers and thanks.
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Hi, Melodic. Yeah, sorry, I was using the actual 1-10 numbers, so our gains are about the same. I didn't have my brain engaged on the fact that no10 was using a clock. I always think in the real settings. Originally Posted by Melodic Dreamer
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I am also surprised about the Ibanez Wholetone amp. I use it whith Gibson ES 175 and you will have a good, warm jazz tone, very fat, but not muffled. But it is for jazz only, if you want a creamy blues sound, then better use a fender tube amp. I love this amp also and i wonder - i have also a Peerless Gigmaster Custom Guitar -great jazz sound on this amp, never heard. Often you can buy the Ibanez WT80 used or cheaper by selling action. Good at home but also i have played it with jazz friend on piano. Good harmony in sound with piano and guitar. I will never sell it.
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I have always been intrigued by these. It's just there are a lot of reviews saying they aren't very loud; that they sound more like 25 watts rather 80. That's the main thing that has put me off up till this point. I don't really want a practice amp with a 15" speaker. If it wasn't for that I would have picked one up right away. Have you found it to be too quiet for gigging like with a drummer? Originally Posted by Günter
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It is commonly written that the amplifier does not bring a whopping 80 watts of power. Many opinions confirm this, I think he will be a 40 watt Roland Cube good in the volume. The sound, however, is an entirely different, not as sharp, but rather far and wide. Loud enough with drummers and brass definitely. I play classical fingering on hollowbody guitars with melody chord style, full chords brings the amplifier excellent. I have a cheap Stratocaster copy, this combination is absolutely unsatisfactory, no alternative does not go, really. Here, another amplifier will be the better choice.
The WT80 is a practice amp, no exercise equipment, in proper use (small jazz combo) it releases its job very well with a warm sound.
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