Or better put...NGD + NAD = NSD!
1st up, the Moog Lab Series L5, 100W SS 2x12. Gumtree find, original cond - two issues (common for this amp), the compressor circuit is DOA and some of the caps/filter have probably 'dried out' (slight buzzing, rather noticable on clean tone). Apparently both fixable by a competent tech.
Do I like it...? OH HELL YES.
The pro's : It has the sweetest breakup of any SS amp I've yet heard. Joe Bonamassa and BB King are fans and now I am too, this thing really does pack a mean tone. Also very versatile, it has a midrange cut/boost instead of a single midrange knob.
You can dial in a kinda glassy single coil vibe (twin reverb-esque) by boosting a bit in the 4-6k range or cut it a bit for a warmer humbucker vibe. And it's loud...properly valve loud. We had a brief shoot-out between a twin reverb and the L5...it was easily as loud, if not louder =D
The cons : it weighs as much as a small moon, the reverb isn't much to shout about and apparently the stock speakers are so-so.
Would I have it over a Roland JC-120? Everyday and twice on Sundays - does warm cleans AND a sweet dirty/crunch tone.
2nd up, and not as interesting is a SX Thinline Telecaster. A GFSA find, Alan had it up in the classifieds a few months ago. He's done a few things to it (some fretwork, replaced pots, new nut, setup), though the pups are stock.
Do I like it? Hmm, much to my surprise...it's grown on me.
Pro's : I quite like the 14.7 radius neck (quite flat) and it's quite a comfy player overall and -relatively- light.
Cons : I'm not convinced by the look of it, the binding on the fretboard isn't my style at all. It's built to a price...but for the money, overall quality is decent - though Alan did say it was a dog when he got it.
Soundwise...this was the setup I used for this month's ringtone challenge, went for a dirty clean vibe - setting were everything as pictured - no pedals, with a little drive on the amp and a touch of 'verb too. Was my first time micing up a guitar amp and I didn't really get a great representation of what it sounds like in the room, but it's a fair idea.
I'm a Tele noob and hardly a purist - the Tdpri peeps reckon a pup swop is a must on the SX. And the L5 needs some TLC. But, as it is at the moment...it's GrEaT fun!
1st up, the Moog Lab Series L5, 100W SS 2x12. Gumtree find, original cond - two issues (common for this amp), the compressor circuit is DOA and some of the caps/filter have probably 'dried out' (slight buzzing, rather noticable on clean tone). Apparently both fixable by a competent tech.
Do I like it...? OH HELL YES.
The pro's : It has the sweetest breakup of any SS amp I've yet heard. Joe Bonamassa and BB King are fans and now I am too, this thing really does pack a mean tone. Also very versatile, it has a midrange cut/boost instead of a single midrange knob.
You can dial in a kinda glassy single coil vibe (twin reverb-esque) by boosting a bit in the 4-6k range or cut it a bit for a warmer humbucker vibe. And it's loud...properly valve loud. We had a brief shoot-out between a twin reverb and the L5...it was easily as loud, if not louder =D
The cons : it weighs as much as a small moon, the reverb isn't much to shout about and apparently the stock speakers are so-so.
Would I have it over a Roland JC-120? Everyday and twice on Sundays - does warm cleans AND a sweet dirty/crunch tone.
2nd up, and not as interesting is a SX Thinline Telecaster. A GFSA find, Alan had it up in the classifieds a few months ago. He's done a few things to it (some fretwork, replaced pots, new nut, setup), though the pups are stock.
Do I like it? Hmm, much to my surprise...it's grown on me.
Pro's : I quite like the 14.7 radius neck (quite flat) and it's quite a comfy player overall and -relatively- light.
Cons : I'm not convinced by the look of it, the binding on the fretboard isn't my style at all. It's built to a price...but for the money, overall quality is decent - though Alan did say it was a dog when he got it.
Soundwise...this was the setup I used for this month's ringtone challenge, went for a dirty clean vibe - setting were everything as pictured - no pedals, with a little drive on the amp and a touch of 'verb too. Was my first time micing up a guitar amp and I didn't really get a great representation of what it sounds like in the room, but it's a fair idea.
I'm a Tele noob and hardly a purist - the Tdpri peeps reckon a pup swop is a must on the SX. And the L5 needs some TLC. But, as it is at the moment...it's GrEaT fun!
