Neil-Nitro
Hey fellow guitar freaks!
So I'm posting this pretty late and I have no idea if this is even the right place to post it!(If not I do apologize)
I would like to hear your guys' opinion on guitars and amps that are great in church or maybe at an all out youth concert?
I personally have played solid state amplifiers for about 6 years now and I have come to find that you just don't get that oh so desirable and expressive tone from them.
Basically I would like some advice from you guys as to what gear to look at buying.
I have been a Les paul player for most of the time but I have really come to like the sound of Fender style guitars, though for a student like me much of those are a little pricey.
I have been looking at Squier guitars and found a lot of blogs and threads of people modding these babies into decent players guitars.
Is this a good option or are there other brands to recommend?
Also advice on a good valve combo or head that won't break the bank would be much appreciated!
Thanks for your feedback.
peterleroux
Welcome!
There is a great sticky thread in the gear forum about selecting gear in general, so I recommend you read that.
As far as worship goes, there are a lot of people (deliriou5?, Hillsong, Jesus Culture, Passion) playing telecasters these days. They're pretty versatile, specially if you put a humbucker in the neck or get a four way switch mod that gives you both series and parallel options for the two pickup position. I have a Squier Classic Vibe Tele that I'm pretty happy with. As far as amps go, the little tube screamer amps seem pretty good, one of our guitarists has one that sounds great withhos Strat. Check with your sound guy, a 30 watt tube amp may well be too loud for your sanctuary - bearing in mind that the 'tube sound' is really at its best when the amp is running flat out. A one watt or five watt tube amp that can be mic'd up may be better than an AC30 that never gets the cobwebs shaken out of it.
Neil-Nitro
That is true! I was looking around 10 to 15 watts. Also the TSA head is pretty great sounding and it is one of the heads I might possibly get. Just have to sell off my Line 6 1st. :?
TomCat
A Tele, Laney Cub 10 and a decent (not necessarily large) pedalboard....FTW...... ? ?
StefStoep
The TSA and Vox AC4 works well for a church set up, since you don't need/want volume, if you are looking at a head/cab. If you are looking at a combo the Laney Cub will be more than you need with it's 15w. Carrying a guitar, a pedal board and a amp convinced me to go for a small combo that is easy to move, I have a Fender Blues Junior that I use, the Laney is a very similar amp to it, but for a much cheaper price. I have seen them going for round about R3k second hand.
As with the guitar, it is personal choice what you want to use, I use to play a Strat but bought a Gibson SG to have the option of either the single coil or the humbucker tone, after i realized i use the SG more and more I sold the Strat. I prefer the humbucker tone and the shorter scale length of the Gibsons.
I've seen Jesus Culture, Hillsong, Planetshakers, etc. Use anything from Gretsch, Rickenbacker to Strats, teles, to Les Pauls, SG. It is all about what you prefer or if you have 20 axes what serves the song the best.
I think a lot of guys currently play on teles as Teles are quite popular now, almost the "trendy" guitar. There are quite a bit of popular bands that use them now.
My advice see what you want to spend on a amp/guitar and go play as many as possible that you can find in that price range and decide what will suit you best and what do you prefer.
Neil-Nitro
Thanks guys! The vox ac4 is a 5w amp right? Won't you hve trouble hearing 5w over a drummer and stage volume?
TomCat
I have a 8W SE amp that easily keeps up with live drums at our church....and stays relatively clean.
Neil-Nitro
StefStoep now that you mention Rickenbacker, does anyone know if you can get those in SA? I've always quite liked the look of it.
studmissile
How big is your church? or youth hall?
guidothepimmp
Easy mate
Jackson warrior through a splawn nitro 8)
Kidding... what I'm trying to say isany guitar and amp should do the trick..
For the smaller amps, laney and blackstar make great kit.. I'd look between the 10 to 18w range personally
Neil-Nitro
Its about a 1000 seats.
aja
Im going to go against the grain and say get something a little louder. A Laney VC15 will give you many different sounds from just one amp while still being really portable. Check it out if you can:
http://www.laney.co.uk/products/product_details/137
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A 10Watt or more amp will let you play with a drummer without any PA system, but is still not that loud for bedroom practice.
The way I look at it is that a 5 watt amp will still annoy the neighbours so you may as well go get a 15 or 20 watt.
In terms of guitar I would agree that a Tele is a great option. Especially the models with a humbucker in the neck (I like the 3/4 mini humbuckers especially) -- That will give you jazz, rock, country and just about anything except metal.
AlanRatcliffe
I agree you're going to need at least 15W in a venue that size - in fact, I'd probably be looking at least in the 25/30W range, depending on amp (an AC30 would cut it, but a Deluxe Reverb would not). However, it's going to depend on the stage volume/monitoring setup. Often in a worship situation, the sound guy (and other band members), will prefer to keep the stage sound levels down and let the PA do all the heavy lifting and use the foldback (monitor) system to get any extra volume or coverage needed on stage.
So speak to your sound engineer and include his input in your considerations.
Neil-Nitro
Thanks for all the feedback guys and kudos to guidothepimmp for your heavy metal church idea haha! I would also like your guys' input on the whole modding more affordable guitars thing? I know basically you need a neck you like the feel of and a good tonewood body.
Neil-Nitro
I just checked out the laney VC15 and I'm really digging the bright switch on there. So many good little valve amps each with their own unique feature. Choices choices!
Chocklit_Thunda
aja wrote:
The way I look at it is that a 5 watt amp will still annoy the neighbours so you may as well go get a 15 or 20 watt.
(Not directed only at Aja but more a general question)
Where on earth do all you people live that your neighbours can't stand the noise from a 5W amp?? ???
AlanRatcliffe
Chocklit_Thunda wrote:
(Not directed only at Aja but more a general question)
Where on earth do all you people live that your neighbours can't stand the noise from a 5W amp?? ???
A 5W is only about 1/2 the volume of a similar 50W amp and only 1.5 x the volume of a 1W amp. And valve wattage is roughly twice as loud as solid-state. So anyone with a flat or semi-detached (or even just a small plot) can have a problem with a 5W valve amp and neighbours.
aja
Chocklit_Thunda wrote:
aja wrote:
The way I look at it is that a 5 watt amp will still annoy the neighbours so you may as well go get a 15 or 20 watt.
(Not directed only at Aja but more a general question)
Where on earth do all you people live that your neighbours can't stand the noise from a 5W amp?? ???
My neighbours have never complained about a cranked 20watt Laney, but I don't play that often either.
The people who complain the most seem to be those living in complexes/townhouses.
TomCat
My 8W in the lounge is pretty loud...Ask Atilla......
stompie
I heard the new blackstar 5w valve amp, that thing amazed me. That amp can get unfriendly neighbours to complain ?
