Go small or go big?

[rsm]

I went small for several years, using tube and digital combos, modelers direct into FRFR (powered PA cabs).

Staying small...several months ago, found a good deal on a new Marshall Origin 50C (1x12 combo) and was very impressed with the tones I was getting, not quite JTM/45 not quite Super Lead Plexi, but it reminds me of both. The power scaling works great.

Going bigger...I ended up getting the Origin 50H full stack (2 x 4x12 Origin Cabs).


And big again...had my Engl rack half stack (E530 tube preamp; E850/100 tube power amp; 2 x PRO E212VHB cabs) up for sale, and just cancelled the ad. Spending time with it reminds of why I got it in the first place, and why I kept it all these years: the best pristine tube cleans, great crunch tones, more hi gain saturation than I'd ever need, and with a dual 100W tube power amp, more power than I can typically use. (pic attached)

I was considering an Engl E651 Artist Edition 100, but I'm getting tones I dig from what I have; so now I'm considering adding an Engl E412VGB (straight, standard, V30) cab (can only find slant cabs for sale).

After years of downsizing and going small, I'm enjoying going big again. There's something about 50+ tube watts in the room that I can't achieve any other way.

Anyone else find themselves going bigger (again)?

If you got this far; thanks for reading my meandering, relatively pointless post.

 

[Racerxrated]

I think this happens with most players who sell tube amps to go digital; they regret it later and come back.
Which is why I’d never sell a fav tube amp for anything digital. I’d just bide my time and save up to add a modeler to my amp collection.

 

[Clig Herdunkachuk]

I don’t think you meandered or were pointless at all.

I love my JVM 410 HJS. I have learned to get decent tones at lower volumes. But that amp really comes into its own with volume. Lots of volume. Like “paint peeling”, ear damaging volume.

I also love my Axe FX III. FRFR speakers also open up with volume IMO. But the Axe has so many tones and since I no longer gig they are good enough.

What I did was this: due to the number of inputs and outputs on the Axe III I integrated the JVM and the Axe. I have both the front of the JVM and the JVM FX loop connected to the Axe. I also ran a MIDI cable between the Axe and the JVM.

I can control the entire setup from Axe III presets now using an FC-12. I can switch channels, mode, recall stored presets, etc on the JVM using MIDI from my Axe FX.

I can have a preset that is pure Axe FX with no JVM.

I can send my signal straight from the Axe FX to the JVM and use the Axe as nothing more than the point my guitar is connected to.

I can insert effects from the Axe before the JVM and/or in the effects loop.

A really interesting thing this opened up was mixing and matching JVM and Axe components.

I have presets that use the Marshall pre-amp stage without an amp model but goes the the Axe for an IR and to play out of my XiTone speaker.

I have presets that use an Axe FX amp model which then goes to the JVM FX loop return and plays though the JVM output stage and my 1960TV.

I have some presets where both rigs run in parallel as a stereo rig.

TLDR; I don’t view this as an either/or decision. To have both and particularly to integrate them can expand your tonal arsenal considerably.

 

[rsm]

I don’t think you meandered or were pointless at all.

I love my JVM 410 HJS. I have learned to get decent tones at lower volumes. But that amp really comes into its own with volume. Lots of volume. Like “paint peeling”, ear damaging volume.

I also love my Axe FX III. FRFR speakers also open up with volume IMO. But the Axe has so many tones and since I no longer gig they are good enough.

What I did was this: due to the number of inputs and outputs on the Axe III I integrated the JVM and the Axe. I have both the front of the JVM and the JVM FX loop connected to the Axe. I also ran a MIDI cable between the Axe and the JVM.

I can control the entire setup from Axe III presets now using an FC-12. I can switch channels, mode, recall stored presets, etc on the JVM using MIDI from my Axe FX.

I can have a preset that is pure Axe FX with no JVM.

I can send my signal straight from the Axe FX to the JVM and use the Axe as nothing more than the point my guitar is connected to.

I can insert effects from the Axe before the JVM and/or in the effects loop.

A really interesting thing this opened up was mixing and matching JVM and Axe components.

I have presets that use the Marshall pre-amp stage without an amp model but go the the Axe for an IR and play out of my XiTone speaker.

I have presets that use an Axe FX amp model the go to the JVM FX loop return and play though the JVM output stage and my 1960TV.

I have some presets where both rigs run in parallel as a stereo rig.

TLDR; I don’t view this as an either/or decision. To have both and to integrate them can expand your tonal arsenal considerably.

Yes having many options is great. Combining big iron tube amps and modelers like your JVM410 and Axe FX III is a great versatile option.

I still have a modeler, and a small modeling rig, but I find myself playing my Origin full stack more frequently lately; I can max the power section and use the power scaling to get power amp girth - mid-70s hard rock tones which is my goal these days; still loud but manageable volume.

My main modeler currently is a Boss SY-1000, though I have keyboard-based synths (and too many organs!), into a small stereo line mixer to powered PA - the line mixer lets me route the guitar out and synth out to separate channels, and I EQ guitar and synth channels differently inside the SY-1000.

My small modeling rig is comprised of a Line 6 HX Effects + Catalyst 100 using 4CM and MIDI to switch amp channels and turn the amp channel boost on/off. Works great, sounds great IMO.

With all these options, the Engl is on another level, and I don't have an attenuator yet; the crunch, hi gain saturation and raw power is visceral and hard to beat when I get a chance to open it up...and why adding a 4x12 is getting closer to the top of my GAS list.

Cheers!

 

[rsm]

I think this happens with most players who sell tube amps to go digital; they regret it later and come back.
Which is why I’d never sell a fav tube amp for anything digital. I’d just bide my time and save up to add a modeler to my amp collection.

Yes, I try to keep most of my gear and remember why I bought it in the first place. I've sold many items that I eventually regret selling. Now I try to keep at least three types of rigs: direct modeling; hybrid modeling and tube amps. The Origin got me to revisit my Engl, and thankful it didn't sell, and thinking about expanding the Engl, with either an Artist Edition or 4x12, maybe both eventually.

Cheers!

 

[RockyStar]

I am a fan of more is always better.

 

[glpg80]

I never went small to begin with.

Could I sell it all and play just fine on my 20W mini? Sure. But my playing would suffer long term. Playing the big stuff has a different feel and fills the room and is arguably more challenging.

Likewise, I enjoy modding and building tube amps. The big stuff just flat out sounds better.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in 2022 is that life is way too damn short to sacrifice. Fuck the sound guys wanting a quiet stage - I’d rather not play at all.

 

[japetus]

If there’s anything I’ve learned in 2022 is that life is way too damn short to sacrifice. Fuck the sound guys wanting a quiet stage - I’d rather not play at all.

I found out if the place is packed and they are selling a ton of beer, the soundguys opinion matters not.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have owned and gigged with everything from 1 watt solid state amps to a full tube stack. I will never go too big ever again because I've had two hernia surgeries, have aging knees, and other issues that come and go. A great compromise from the solid state and huge tube tones for me is a tube amp thru easy to carry 1x12 cabs.