D
dxjxrose
Member
What to expect and can it do metal
1
1big1
New member
i used to own one of those. it is partially responsible for some of my hearing loss. 
seriously.. these are one loud amp! can it do metal? not without something in front of it. they're a 70's based british amp that stuns small animals and will result in calls to the police if turned up to their sweet spot. 
seriously.. these are one loud amp! can it do metal? not without something in front of it. they're a 70's based british amp that stuns small animals and will result in calls to the police if turned up to their sweet spot.
D
dxjxrose
Member
Right but with a boost can it get into metal realm
JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
if it's what i think it is, it's a precursor to hiwatt. loud and clean. sure it can do metal, depends on what your boosting it with.
not a bedroom amp at all. is it the pa head or guitar head? 6 power tubes and quite a few pre's. 6 or 7. not sure if it has the active tone controls. i know those seem to be less desirable.
not a bedroom amp at all. is it the pa head or guitar head? 6 power tubes and quite a few pre's. 6 or 7. not sure if it has the active tone controls. i know those seem to be less desirable.
JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
did i say it was loud as fuck?
D
dxjxrose
Member
It's the guitar head not the pa one
JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
get it. probably be a great mod platform later.
1
1big1
New member
yeah.. you'll need a pedal to get into metal territory. they were mil spec wired and came with mullards irrc. loud and clean. by the time you got to power tube saturation your pant legs were flapping.
FortinAmps
New member
Killer, drive it with an OD pedal and if you have an attenuator 
1
1big1
New member
+1 on the attenuator. you'll need it.
D
dxjxrose
Member
Cool so I thought they had jcm 800 type gain
Stramm8
Active member
I did a bit of research on these a while back and from what I recall they are supposed to be very loud and very clean. Definately NOT JCM 800 territory. They also are not a good platform for modding due to the way the EQ is designed. I think it's active or one of those deals where if you have all the eq controls at 0 no sound will be heard. I would try to read up on them or play one before buying...Just my opinion of course.
1
1big1
New member
the sound city doesn't have anywhere near the gain of an 800 nor the voicing either. that doesn't mean it isn't a great amp on it's own. you can use an od in front and it will pretty much give you an uncolored version of the pedal. it does have a bit of emphasis on the low mids more than anything.. but doesn't have the upper mid emphasis of a marshall. it's real forte is clean power. great amp for pedals in front. power up the yang. match it with the right cab and speakers and you're as close to hiwatt land as you're likely to get on a budget.
D
dxjxrose
Member
Head and cab for cheap
1
1big1
New member
i'd be all over that like white on rice. these were not budget amps back then. is it for you? i don't know. i will say that it's not an amp that easily forgives you for mistakes you make.
D
dxjxrose
Member
Just wish I could find a good 800 on the cheap right now
1
1big1
New member
did anyone mention that it was loud?
nikki-k
Member
I owned a Sound City L120. Sold it in December '08 (for $375 
).
As has been stated.. LOUD. Like, Ampeg V4 LOUD, and then some.
Definitely not 800-like at all. It can be a cool playground for mods (do so, and you will hear the screams from purists, lol). For instance, you could do a Gilmour-ish HiWatt mod.
Be careful.. some have been raped for parts, others used for learning purposes (failed/hack mods).
).As has been stated.. LOUD. Like, Ampeg V4 LOUD, and then some.
Definitely not 800-like at all. It can be a cool playground for mods (do so, and you will hear the screams from purists, lol). For instance, you could do a Gilmour-ish HiWatt mod.
Be careful.. some have been raped for parts, others used for learning purposes (failed/hack mods).
1
1big1
New member
the second amp that killed my hearing was a nmv v-4. pa's and monitors pretty much sucked back then.. so you needed an amp with clean headroom that went KEEERANGGG.. or you got lost in the mix.
