end of love with my polytone

**gianluca** · 09-27-2012, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by kawa

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...html#post76082

thanks, kawa, a very helpful thread

**gianluca** · 09-27-2012, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Why exactly do you need a second amp?

(I discovered myself thinking too much before answer to this question...)

for home study...
for rehearsals...
for small gigs...
I often play drumless with a singer an a bass... but, to be sincere, often there are small pub gig where I play with drums and 22W could be not enough...

I'm a bit confused
... I go to sleep ...
goodnight

**jorgemg1984** · 09-27-2012, 06:54 PM

Tube-Tone Amplifiers

Something like this would perfect: fender sound, loud enough for most small gigs, small, light... good luck fiinding someone who makes this in Europe

I am going to sleep too, keep us posted on your quest!

**Anandbhat** · 09-27-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote: Gianluca

scxd?

Fender Super Champ XD !

**IbanezAS100** · 09-28-2012, 02:36 AM

Ciao Gianluca,

How about supporting your local economy with one of these:

Brunetti amplification tubes - Guitar Amps

You could go for the 35w version with a lower power setting for home use, it's under 20 kgs and reasonably priced (1000-1100 euros new). Definitely a Fender overall vibe (kind of Vibrolux like but 1x 12).You might even find a second hand one if you're lucky. I was looking into these myself although they're hard to find in the UK-they're one of the nicest tube amp designs I've seen for Jazz use. I have played a Maranello which sounded great but was more Mesa Boogie-ish (and was lucky to find a used Alessandro Rottweiler in the end).

Loads of videos/reviews on Youtube (but I'm at work so can't post links).

Some more info here:

Please help preselecting a giggable tuby amp

**Jonathan0996** · 09-28-2012, 11:32 AM

One solution might be to get a Deluxe Reverb and use it in combination with the Polytone. See the other thread about using two amps. Lots of people do that with good results, and often one amp can make up for the weaknesses of the other. I read somewhere that Benson sometimes uses a Polytone with a tube amp, so that might just be your sound.

By the way, I agree with Jim about EQ pedals. They're great for some things, but I don't think they can be expected to fundamentally change the sound of an amp you don't like. I've never had any luck with that.

**jorgemg1984** · 09-28-2012, 03:41 PM

Another option - using the Polytone with controls at 5 (flat frequency I think) and a Barber Barb EQ in blackface mode in front of it... it might work, Jack Zucker does that with the Henriksen and it sounds great.

**medblues** · 09-29-2012, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Another option - using the Polytone with controls at 5 (flat frequency I think) and a Barber Barb EQ in blackface mode in front of it... it might work, Jack Zucker does that with the Henriksen and it sounds great.

Or go directly into the power amp by plugging preamp pedal of choice into effect loop return of the Polytone ? Until I bought tube amps, I used a Damage Control Womanizer pedal into the Polytone power section.

**jorgemg1984** · 09-29-2012, 02:52 PM

You're right - because the Henriksen has no fx loop Jack uses it in front but it's clever to just avoid the preamp. Not sure if the Barber is prepared to be used in an fx loop but I suppose so.

**medblues** · 09-29-2012, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

You're right - because the Henriksen has no fx loop Jack uses it in front but it's clever to just avoid the preamp. Not sure if the Barber is prepared to be used in an fx loop but I suppose so.

I looked up the Barber, it looks very interesting and may fit well with the analog SS amp, the PT speaker still remains an issue though since it is definitely part of the characteristics of the sound ( many people replace it with JBL E120-like speakers from Weber, Beyma etc)

**Spook410** · 09-29-2012, 03:11 PM

Hmm.. this amp, that amp. Maybe it's time for a technology change.

How many players plug their acoustic guitars into an electric guitar amp? Assuming you've matched the impedence properly, you lose your acoustic sound. That applies not only to piezo's but the better magnetic acoustic pickups. It's all mid's. No high end shimmer.

With a humbucker your not going to be getting a lot of that acoustic sound anyway, but what you are getting isn't going to make it out of the front of the amp. You can make it sound tinny, but you can't make it sound airy and lifelike. (all these technical tone terms..

)

If you want a full range sound, you need a full range speaker and amplification. You can mix an amp simulator with dry or even mic'd and search out the mix of acoustic and amplified you're looking for. Then, when you ditch the flat wounds for BeBops and use a bright pick, you'll hear the additional acoustic content.

Of course there's a whole different discussion that goes with pickups to get more high end out of the L5 in the first place. And there's the discussion that says you're shooting for Wes, not Lage. But I would propose that if you can do Lage, you can subtract to get to Wes.

Just some opinions based on very limited experience sitting here in a room full of gear.

**jorgemg1984** · 09-29-2012, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by medblues

I looked up the Barber, it looks very interesting and may fit well with the analog SS amp, the PT speaker still remains an issue though since it is definitely part of the characteristics of the sound ( many people replace it with JBL E120-like speakers from Weber, Beyma etc)

Yeah, an amp with an fx loop but with a more neutral speaker (I enjoy an EV more than the JBL) would be perfect for the Barber I guess.

Still an option with the Poly - say a 4 ohms Jensen Tornado and a Barber Barb EQ would be in the 250€ ballpark and one would probably end with a light ss amp with a Fender sound. Specially if the reverb on the Poly works and sounds good.

**jorgemg1984** · 10-02-2012, 06:22 AM

Gianluca check this

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...od-deluxe.html

**medblues** · 10-02-2012, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Yeah, an amp with an fx loop but with a more neutral speaker (I enjoy an EV more than the JBL) would be perfect for the Barber I guess.

Still an option with the Poly - say a 4 ohms Jensen Tornado and a Barber Barb EQ would be in the 250€ ballpark and one would probably end with a light ss amp with a Fender sound. Specially if the reverb on the Poly works and sounds good.

Yes that sounds good, I wish I could A/B it with Line 6 Pod 2.0 (which I already own).

**jorgemg1984** · 10-02-2012, 06:17 PM

Yeah - I would love to see an A / B between the Barb Eq and a modeler!

**gianluca** · 10-03-2012, 04:47 AM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Gianluca check this

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...od-deluxe.html

I WANT ONE

**medblues** · 10-03-2012, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Yeah - I would love to see an A / B between the Barb Eq and a modeler!

I put the Barb Eq on my list. But regardless, I think, for recorded clean sounds, 95% of musicians cannot blindly tell what is what if they are EQed to sound similar,e.g. you can get a single coil pickup to sound more like a humbucker by adjusting EQ and most everybody can be fooled.

**jorgemg1984** · 10-03-2012, 09:22 AM

Never tried it but you're probably right... EQ can make a hige difference for clean sounds.

**Jazz_175** · 10-03-2012, 09:34 AM

In august this year I played in a trio setting (guitar, organ, drums) and quartet (guitar, piano, drums, double bass) just outside a pub, using a 22 Watt Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue and a 335.
The drummer has a reputation of playing quite loud but I didn't have any problems.
In some cases you might be on the edge of a slight distortion, but that was not a problem for me either.
I put a Xotic RC booster (the white one) in front of the amp always On for clean jazz sound together with a Xotic Ac booster/overdrive (the yellow one) to be used for funky stuff. When playing with the overdrive the Deluxe Reverb can be quite loud.