Disclaimer! I realize that no matter what method or approach I took to do this shootout, I am going to get people telling me that my approach was incorrect. So, I did this video exactly how I wanted to. It is more of a reference for me to see how my amps sound in the context of a track, and also soloed. I hope you guys can also benefit from it!
Here are the details:
This is a high gain amp shootout. I am choosing one channel per amp. The style is hard rock. The music is a portion of my band Atma Weapon’s song, ‘Clear Blue Skies’. I literally took the two original DI tracks from the album sessions, and re-amped each track though each amp.
Initially, you will hear the amp in the context of the song. That is, double-tracked guitars panned hard left and right. Towards the end of the clip, the drums and 2nd guitar track cut out, leaving a single centered guitar track. I want to show how the amp sounds in context of a recording, and how the amp sounds miked by itself. This will show you guys both ways.
Aside from the high gain amps. I’m also including a few lower gain amps like my Marshall 2203, 2204, and Soldano Aromic 16. ‘But you said this was a ‘high gain’ shootout!?’ Yes, it is! Back in the 80’s people boosted their Marshalls to get a high gain tones! That was the original high gain tone. Plus, I wanted to do a shootout with ALL of my amps, so there. For the low gain amps, I’m adding an Ibanez TS-9 Tubescreamer to boost them. Why a TS9? Because almost everyone knows about the TS-9, and they are easy to get a hold of. And aside from the Boss DS-1, this was the way it was done.
I’m setting every amp to how I like it. You will be able to see exactly how I set up each amp in the video. Just look at the pics of each amp while the demo rolls.
To mike the amp, I’m using a single Shure SM57 on a Celestion Vintage 30 for each track. Industry standard. The cab is a Mesa Boogie Traditional 4×12.
Anyway, let me know which amp was your favorite!
Music by: Atma Weapon
www.atmaweaponnc.bandcamp.com
