Grateful Dead Music Forum

But seriously folks, I'm wondering how my tone/rig stands up to folks who've gone all the way with Mac power amps and such.

Its a simple rig at heart, just a 73 Vibrolux - which gets a bit of an edge at lower volumes (I set at 3-4) and an always on vintage MXR Micro-amp - to push those tubes just a bit harder. And PRS seems to really benefit from Mike's UGB pre-amp.

I've got a whole bag of tricks with the fractal Ultra but in this vid I think I'm mostly just through the map with no effects and when I use the Ultra it is for just effects - and it runs into the non-verb channel of the vibrolux. Those weird keys sounds just before the drummers kick in, that's just a stock Ultra patch.

So what would that Mac do for me anyways at this point in the game?

Peace,

James

I think the Vibrolux is a splendid amp, and you're playing is great. JBL? Are you using a touch of compression?

You're tone is near-crispy at the high end, but just a bit warm in the mids & lows, and differently warm than a Mc. It seems you're playing pretty loud, but I don't hear any amp break. I guess that compression could be the micro-amp causing preamp distortion. Too many factors to guess at. It could be the shorter scale of the PRS. It's a beautiful tone and Jerry-esque but different in both sparkle and round-ness.

I have a Deluxe with a D-120, which obviously breaks earlier than the Vibro. But the Deluxe is brattier, and to my ears Jerry-er. NOS tubes in mind, and it's loud at 4 with the JBL. If I get it too loud it get's too creamy, but at small jam volume it's great. I have a '67 Twin Head in the stable. That's too loud for my needs. I also have the SMS>Mc combo. That is epic, but I usually carry the Deluxe. I have played out with the Mc rig. It's splendid because it's just so versatile. But I need to break my toys out of the the 1/2 rack. Just too heavy to haul with just me.

My 2c. Not criticism, just observations from my ears after a cocktail.
Peace
M

I really wanted a deluxe. I used to have one. It was my first amp, bought new in 78 or 79. Sold it in my 30's when I was playing more acoustic and not as much. But I saw Max Creek in Costa Rica and got talking with Scott M and got sold on the Vibrolux. Then this amp sat on CL coming down $100/day. Got it for $700.

I think your observations are spot on as just after posting this I put on some 82 dead and Jerry's tone is just that much more fat and electric.

I loath compression but it could very well be the micro-amp. I'm still wrestling with the highs and I think it may be the tone pot in the PRS that should be upgraded, to eliminate that nasally ice pick tone I get once in a while.

Yep my 73 twin was traded for a stratocatser. Too much headroom and too thin sounding.

I switched guitars for Dark Star and Morning Dew in the second set and went with a fender scale thru neck axe. Just for fun I'll post that clip as well. Its a very interesting contrast.

Peace,

James