Seems Like No One Has Ampfests Any More

[scottosan]

It's probably been 15 years since we had on in Dallas. They were pretty fun, but I haven't seen had anywhere in a long time.

 

[BYTOR]

they are all playing modelers.....

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

Ouch..lol

 

[Rayneman]

This is true. I had one at my house quite a few years ago...during the HCAF days. Bogners, Diezels, VHT, etc...and some gentleman brought this CRAZY new box called Axe FX. Met someone who has since become one of my best buddies.

 

[rottingcorpse]

I used to have them in Arlington a couple of times a year,around the time I joined this forum. Had so many amps and cabs we had to use several rooms,and still had several bathrooms stuffed with run-off heads and cabs. Pretty sure Juggy Mike has pics somewhere. That's when the infamous Krankenstein in the bathroom pic happened. Used to have lots of people over to blast out amps for a few hours.

Most of my gear is now scattered to the 4 corners of DFW since I don't have a house anymore. Now I am a sad panda.

 

[SpiderWars]

I went to one a long, long time ago in Tampa, hosted by a Reverend that I can't remember his name. Just remember he was super cool, good player, and had some awesome vintage AC30s. Also met a dude that had some awesome old Marshalls (also good player) that I've run into a couple times since (Paul maybe?). Damn I'm terrible with names lol. But it was a lot of fun and met some cool...apparently nameless... people.

 

[stephen sawall]

I went to a amp fest in Tampa last summer. There is a other one there in a few weeks. Guys over at TGP are setting it up.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t-24331915

 

[SpiderWars]

I went to a amp fest in Tampa last summer. There is a other one there in a few weeks. Guys over at TGP are setting it up.

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... t-24331915

Cool, thanks for the tip. Other than the occasional Emporium drive-by, I'm pretty much never on TGP.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

Nick Champlin is probably the guy in Tampa, here's his FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/nickchamplin

Great guy, player, but he hosted those amp fests at his church, IIRC.

The problem with amp fests is that you have so much to listen to, try out
and think about, that you get tone overload, then make a decision and
don't need to go to one again...for...ahem...awhile. I guess that's why they
had them once or twice a year. LOL

 

[SpiderWars]

Nick Champlin is probably the guy in Tampa, here's his FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/nickchamplin

Great guy, player, but he hosted those amp fests at his church, IIRC.

The problem with amp fests is that you have so much to listen to, try out
and think about, that you get tone overload, then make a decision and
don't need to go to one again...for...ahem...awhile. I guess that's why they
had them once or twice a year. LOL

That's him Jim! Thanks. I think the one I went to was the first one and it was in back of a music store in Clearwater IIRC. You're right about overload...and talk about ear fatigue.

 

[stephen sawall]

The church we played in in Tampa last year sounded great. If I was in Florida I would go this year.

 

[JerEvil]

A few of us that are here but also another forum have them annually all around the US actually...

 

[Chester Nimitz]

AXE-FEST 2018 ...

 

[Scumback Speakers]

That's him Jim! Thanks. I think the one I went to was the first one and it was in back of a music store in Clearwater IIRC. You're right about overload...and talk about ear fatigue.

One problem at those fests is they crank the amps every chance they get, which is fine, but how many can you do that with in a row?

I found that having the right wattage amp for the size venue you do is the key to avoiding master volume amps, attenuators and ear fatigue.

 

[glassjaw7]

My buddy (and fellow forum member) has one a couple times a year but we're way the hell up here in the upper peninsula of MI. Would be cool if we were a bit more centralized. Good times, tons of high gain amps and good beer!

Expanding on Jim's post above, it's crazy how ear fatigue can sort of make most modern high gain amps sound similar after awhile when they're cranked. I mean there are obvious differences with some but after about 5 hours of ear shredding madness, Diezels, Fryette, Peters, all started to sound somewhat similar while others had a very unique sound no matter what like Mark series for instance. I'm not stating that the other amps aren't uniquely voiced because they are but that insane volume can play tricks on the ears after awhile.

The other big takeaway from these fests for me at least, and it's a BIG one: speakers make more difference than any other factor, period. I play 30+ amps at these with 14 different 412 cabs. Take almost any 5 amps and play them into a Cameron 412 with H30s and for the most part they all sound somewhat similar with just minor differences but plug the same head into a Splawn with small blocks or a Mesa with V30s or whatever and it drastically changes the sound and feel.

 

[JerEvil]

My buddy (and fellow forum member) has one a couple times a year but we're way the hell up here in the upper peninsula of MI. Would be cool if we were a bit more centralized. Good times, tons of high gain amps and good beer!

Expanding on Jim's post above, it's crazy how ear fatigue can sort of make most modern high gain amps sound similar after awhile when they're cranked. I mean there are obvious differences with some but after about 5 hours of ear shredding madness, Diezels, Fryette, Peters, all started to sound somewhat similar while others had a very unique sound no matter what like Mark series for instance. I'm not stating that the other amps aren't uniquely voiced because they are but that insane volume can play tricks on the ears after awhile.

The other big takeaway from these fests for me at least, and it's a BIG one: speakers make more difference than any other factor, period. I play 30+ amps at these with 14 different 412 cabs. Take almost any 5 amps and play them into a Cameron 412 with H30s and for the most part they all sound somewhat similar with just minor differences but plug the same head into a Splawn with small blocks or a Mesa with V30s or whatever and it drastically changes the sound and feel.

And this is why the Kemper started losing it's shine for me. After a while most high gain amps through a Mesa Recto cab or Marshall 1960 sound too damn similar.

 

[stephen sawall]

If it was all highgain stuff and loud 3 or 4 hours max. I rather see a variety of different types of amps. All highgain stuff or all of any style would not be for most people for extended periods or high volume.

 

[DET1973]

If it was all highgain stuff and loud 3 or 4 hours max. I rather see a variety of different types of amps. All highgain stuff or all of any style would not be for most people for extended periods or high volume.

Is it just me or do all the "High Gain Guys" Buy & sell more often? I'm really Guilty of it myself. I've had a ton of high gain amps....except for the ones that were way out of my price range. The funny thing is, when i identified that i only REALLY needed 1 channel it changed everything for me.

 

[Blackbird]

Is it just me or do all the "High Gain Guys" Buy & sell more often?

Chasing the Dragon.

 

[stephen sawall]

If it was all highgain stuff and loud 3 or 4 hours max. I rather see a variety of different types of amps. All highgain stuff or all of any style would not be for most people for extended periods or high volume.

Is it just me or do all the "High Gain Guys" Buy & sell more often? I'm really Guilty of it myself. I've had a ton of high gain amps....except for the ones that were way out of my price range. The funny thing is, when i identified that i only REALLY needed 1 channel it changed everything for me.

Seems like I see all kinds of players do this.... But it might be. I don't see too many metal players that use pedals with a clean amp to get their main sound. Every other style has lots of players that use a clean amp and pedals.