From: fullerto@tortoise.cis.ohio-state.edu (timothy dwight fullerton)
Subject: Re: Guitar Setup [help!]
Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 20:39:00 GMT

>fpeabody@nyx.cs.du.edu (Darren Jacobson) writes:

>> 
>>     Can anyone lead me in a general direction?  What amps or guitars might
>> fulfill my needs?  I play almost all styles of music [blues, jazz, heavy
>> metal] so versatility is a key.
>> 
>>     Thanks in advance for all replies...  a

	Darren,

	You have a difficult question which has many dependent variables.
Since you have  broad taste, it would be expensive to get equipment which
addresses it all. Also, it would be a pain to haul a huge rig with you 
wherever you play. and set it up. I do not know the depth of your 
willingness to inconvenience yourself in these areas, so I will address
every level.

	For the absolute best tone, it will need to come from the 
underpinnings--namely, your technique; your choice of guitars and
pickups; and your amps. All of these are dependent on each other. You
can not sound good, even with the best equipment in the universe,
if your technique sucks. Conversely, a terrible (or inappropriate) guitar 
and amp can drag great technique to hell. It would be difficult to
explain technique with text, but if you want me to try, write me.

	Anyway, let's explore the first option which assumes you have
money or credit. It is: Shop around and buy guitars and amps which
address the needs of each of the genres which you play individually.
Pure and simple. 

	This means that if you are running multiple heads, you will need to 
rig a channel switching box to get between them. In addition, if you want 
to run stereo effects, you will not only need a stereo power amp, but you 
will need to run each of the power amps from the heads themselves 
into a dry speaker or speaker emulator. If you do not, you will ruin them.

	By the way, if you do go stereo you will never go back.

	Somewhat better on your back and on your wallet is the level
where I am, an amp with several discrete channels. The best that I
know of is the Mesa Boogie Mark IV. Unfortunately, if you want stereo 
effects, you still need the stereo power amp and the dry channel.

	I, myself, am using a quad preamp. It provides several discrete
channels and allows for stereo effects, but has no power amp so it
does not require the dry channel.

	By the way, I say "discrete channels" to distinguish between
amps that CLAIM to be channel switching, but merely add or remove
overdrive on one signal path with one eq setting. In an amp with dis-
crete channels, there is an equalizer for each channel.

	Lately, preamps have been put out that are midi controlled and
change the eq settings for you when you go to a particular patch.
The Mesa Boogie triaxis preamp is like this. I look forward to hearing
it.

	Anyway, cheaper still is the option that has been mentioned
in other articles, use a combo that is, in and of itself capable
of good clean and distorted tones, and supplement it with effects.
When I am at gigs where the huge rig would be inappropriate, I use
a Fender Princeton Chorus and an Ibanez Tube Screamer.

	Also, no matter what you buy, reconcile yourself to the fact that
you will eventually outgrow it (as you grow as a musician, so should 
your tone). But don't worry, it sounds good long after the computer you
own now becomes obsolete (smile).

				Happy Shopping,
					Tim F.
					fullerto@cis.ohio-state.edu
Newsgroups: alt.guitar