Amptweaker by James Brown

[amptweaker]

hey james - could you share with us more of the pedals and odd's and ends stuff you have worked on or helped design? this is really cool and im curious

Well, my first amp at Peavey was the VTM tube amp. And I was the head engineer for probably 100 different models over time, including the TransTube amps, Classic series, Stereo Chorus 212, 5150 models, Ultra's and Triumphs, Bravo, just a ton of amps. My last project was the JSX with Joe Satriani.

As for pedals, while I was at Peavey I designed a dual distortion pedal called the Dirty Dog..based on the TransTube design(which I was a co-author on the patent of) and I worked with our digital design engineers to help them tweak the DeltaStomp. I also worked on the TubeFex, TransTubeFex and Max100 products which were all digitally controlled analog preamps and pedals.

At Kustom I haven't had much opportunity to work on pedals, but I did the 36 and 72 Coupe amps, and the new Double Cross tube head. The 72 Coupe has a really awesome tremolo/vibrato circuit in it that's across between the original Kustom trem/vib and a leslie tone. I'm really proud of that one.

Anyway, I'm still doing amps at Kustom....but this new thing is my own personal side-project and I'm super excited about the chance to work with consumers on the same level that I've always worked with major artists. In my opinion, the 'regular' musicians should have the same opportunity for getting their own tones tweaked as the 'big shot' artists do.


Thanks,
James Brown
http://www.amptweaker.com

 

[SFW]

Welcome James! I've abused a lot of your amps over the years. Good to have you here!

 

[Superunknown]

Welcome Mr. Brown!!!!

 

[mentoneman]

Jimmy B

welcome brotato soup!

Classic 50 tweed clean and blues channels ala Dan huff/ brent mason, with a rockmaster lead channel and built in valverb tremolo-- would be a combination of the best things peavey ever did.

Oh and EVH brown sound somewhere in there, not what he thinks is his round now, which is a mix of olive green and neon maroon, but how you think it should sound.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I can't submit, it won't take my e-mail address for some reason?

 

[glpg80]

hey james - could you share with us more of the pedals and odd's and ends stuff you have worked on or helped design? this is really cool and im curious

Well, my first amp at Peavey was the VTM tube amp. And I was the head engineer for probably 100 different models over time, including the TransTube amps, Classic series, Stereo Chorus 212, 5150 models, Ultra's and Triumphs, Bravo, just a ton of amps. My last project was the JSX with Joe Satriani.

As for pedals, while I was at Peavey I designed a dual distortion pedal called the Dirty Dog..based on the TransTube design(which I was a co-author on the patent of) and I worked with our digital design engineers to help them tweak the DeltaStomp. I also worked on the TubeFex, TransTubeFex and Max100 products which were all digitally controlled analog preamps and pedals.

At Kustom I haven't had much opportunity to work on pedals, but I did the 36 and 72 Coupe amps, and the new Double Cross tube head. The 72 Coupe has a really awesome tremolo/vibrato circuit in it that's across between the original Kustom trem/vib and a leslie tone. I'm really proud of that one.

Anyway, I'm still doing amps at Kustom....but this new thing is my own personal side-project and I'm super excited about the chance to work with consumers on the same level that I've always worked with major artists. In my opinion, the 'regular' musicians should have the same opportunity for getting their own tones tweaked as the 'big shot' artists do.


Thanks,
James Brown
http://www.amptweaker.com

Thank you very much Mr Brown - its awsome to have you here at RT and i cant wait to see the products you roll out

-Matt

 

[Anonymous]

LOL!!!!..Hi James and Welcome!!! You may not remember but...I used to bug the shit outta you when I was working at Southbound Sound...Anyways once again..Welcome aboard!
Kurt Newman

 

[Wayniac]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Gainfreak]

Welcome James! This is a must see to be a Rig-talk regular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlrkUmMk3U4

 

[FortinAmps]

Welcome James! This is a must see to be a Rig-talk regular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlrkUmMk3U4

.....and also with you.....

Welcome James

 

[SkyhighRocks]

Welcome James...I actually spoke to you once years ago about my 5150

I'm filling out your form right now. Thanks for joining us

 

[jabps]

Welcome James...I use to rock a 5150 for many years. Loved them for many years. But I think my favorite Peavey amps was the JSX...w/ 6L6's it sounded great.

Some questions, if you can answer...what happened with Lynch and the XXX? And why did Ed leave? I'd heard his deal was one of the sweetest industry. And lastly, how do you Ed's new amp stacks up to the old ones? I understand if you don't want to answer.

 

[glpg80]

Welcome James...I use to rock a 5150 for many years. Loved them for many years. But I think my favorite Peavey amps was the JSX...w/ 6L6's it sounded great.

Some questions, if you can answer...what happened with Lynch and the XXX? And why did Ed leave? I'd heard his deal was one of the sweetest industry. And lastly, how do you Ed's new amp stacks up to the old ones? I understand if you don't want to answer.

i would be glad to answer the 5150, 5150II, 5150 III comparison if you would like - i can send you a PM

 

[amptweaker]

hey james - could you share with us more of the pedals and odd's and ends stuff you have worked on or helped design? this is really cool and im curious

Well, my first amp at Peavey was the VTM tube amp. And I was the head engineer for probably 100 different models over time, including the TransTube amps, Classic series, Stereo Chorus 212, 5150 models, Ultra's and Triumphs, Bravo, just a ton of amps. My last project was the JSX with Joe Satriani.

As for pedals, while I was at Peavey I designed a dual distortion pedal called the Dirty Dog..based on the TransTube design(which I was a co-author on the patent of) and I worked with our digital design engineers to help them tweak the DeltaStomp. I also worked on the TubeFex, TransTubeFex and Max100 products which were all digitally controlled analog preamps and pedals.

At Kustom I haven't had much opportunity to work on pedals, but I did the 36 and 72 Coupe amps, and the new Double Cross tube head. The 72 Coupe has a really awesome tremolo/vibrato circuit in it that's across between the original Kustom trem/vib and a leslie tone. I'm really proud of that one.

Anyway, I'm still doing amps at Kustom....but this new thing is my own personal side-project and I'm super excited about the chance to work with consumers on the same level that I've always worked with major artists. In my opinion, the 'regular' musicians should have the same opportunity for getting their own tones tweaked as the 'big shot' artists do.


Thanks,
James Brown
http://www.amptweaker.com

Thank you very much Mr Brown - its awsome to have you here at RT and i cant wait to see the products you roll out

-Matt

One thing I should say about this, I plan to focus on pedals for right now....since they're a little quicker to get out....so I can help finance my long range idea of building fully customized Fine-Tuned Amps. I'm working on that idea too, but it's a much longer project.

I've gotten a lot of great pedal ideas, even just some ideas for a certain feature or a particular problem people need solved, and I'll be sure to post something back out if I have any questions for you guys about some detail I'm unsure of.

Thanks for the support,
James
http://www.amptweaker.com

 

[amptweaker]

Welcome James...I use to rock a 5150 for many years. Loved them for many years. But I think my favorite Peavey amps was the JSX...w/ 6L6's it sounded great.

Some questions, if you can answer...what happened with Lynch and the XXX? And why did Ed leave? I'd heard his deal was one of the sweetest industry. And lastly, how do you Ed's new amp stacks up to the old ones? I understand if you don't want to answer.

Thanks for the compliments....I also dug the JSX, which was based on an amp line that I tweaked for my own liking through the years. It started with the Triumph amps which later became the Ultra, then the Ultra Plus...which is what I tweaked for George to create the XXX. Then of course that XXX was what I modded for Joe to make the original JSX amp. I kept using the different versions of these amps until I left, and now I use a 36 Coupe all the time and DI to the mixer. I really dig the Double Cross too, but I'm too old to carry around a half stack! Just kidding, I'm too lazy.

You know, I've always tried to stay out of the business side of things at Peavey and at Kustom. There's always multiple sides to issues like those, and you hate to see relationships go sour. I don't really know all the details of why it didn't work out with George or why Eddie left, and I'd rather not speculate if you don't mind.

I did play one of the 5150III's at the Fender booth last year when the new EVH guitar came out, and I thought it sounded very similar. To me it seemed like it was a little less gain overall, but Eddie never used the gain on the lead above 6.5 anyway. I thought the amp sounded really good though and played real easily. It was maybe not as tight as the 5150II I did, but not as loose as the original 5150 either. That's one of those things that is real tweaky about amps, how tight the attack is. I've spent a lot of time with all those guys adjusting that very thing on amps to get it just right for their particular style and guitar/pickup combination.

James

 

[rupe]

Jump back and kiss myself...heeeeyyyy!

Welcome aboard!!!

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Cool thread.

 

[MARK1970]

Welcome James! This is a must see to be a Rig-Talk regular:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlrkUmMk3U4

Damn you sucka, that is the third time I fell for that. Once I clicked the link, I already knew what it was, but It was too late.

 

[MARK1970]

Welcome aboard!

 

[jabps]

Welcome James...I use to rock a 5150 for many years. Loved them for many years. But I think my favorite Peavey amps was the JSX...w/ 6L6's it sounded great.

Some questions, if you can answer...what happened with Lynch and the XXX? And why did Ed leave? I'd heard his deal was one of the sweetest industry. And lastly, how do you Ed's new amp stacks up to the old ones? I understand if you don't want to answer.

Thanks for the compliments....I also dug the JSX, which was based on an amp line that I tweaked for my own liking through the years. It started with the Triumph amps which later became the Ultra, then the Ultra Plus...which is what I tweaked for George to create the XXX. Then of course that XXX was what I modded for Joe to make the original JSX amp. I kept using the different versions of these amps until I left, and now I use a 36 Coupe all the time and DI to the mixer. I really dig the Double Cross too, but I'm too old to carry around a half stack! Just kidding, I'm too lazy.

You know, I've always tried to stay out of the business side of things at Peavey and at Kustom. There's always multiple sides to issues like those, and you hate to see relationships go sour. I don't really know all the details of why it didn't work out with George or why Eddie left, and I'd rather not speculate if you don't mind.

I did play one of the 5150III's at the Fender booth last year when the new EVH guitar came out, and I thought it sounded very similar. To me it seemed like it was a little less gain overall, but Eddie never used the gain on the lead above 6.5 anyway. I thought the amp sounded really good though and played real easily. It was maybe not as tight as the 5150II I did, but not as loose as the original 5150 either. That's one of those things that is real tweaky about amps, how tight the attack is. I've spent a lot of time with all those guys adjusting that very thing on amps to get it just right for their particular style and guitar/pickup combination.

James

Thanks James!! Yes the XXX was interesting as I could have sworn I saw an add for it, and a poster w/ George on it at one of the summer NAMM shows in Nashville and then nada...Lynch was off onto something else. Oh btw/ apologies for the first post's grammar...seems I left some words out of those sentences lol, glad you could understand what I was saying.