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!
