[Chutley]

Hi There,

Let me start by saying this is my first post, and I am just blown away by this forum. The knowledge is incredible, but yet it is spread in a way that is clearly for the greater good, and that seems to be hard to find these days. So thanks to all of you for allowing the rest of the world to see this incredible information!

I have been spending lots of time searching through these forums, trying to learn as much as I can from what has already been posted. The good news is that I think I am starting to get a decent handle on what I am looking to do thanks to previous posts, but probably still need a little help. Thought I would just run what I am thinking by you guys, and if anyone had a minute to provide their thoughts I would greatly appreciate it!

I have a guitar on the way in the near future with an OBEL, unity-gain buffer,and a Tiger pickup config. My goal is to start building a rig to go around it.... Will definitely wait to get the guitar first, but can't help but try to lay out what the rig might look like. The key for me is that most playing will be at home in a practice area, or maybe a small room. So, lower volume, but still hoping for some of the JG tone/characteristics. I know that I could go with some of the recommendations already provided for a low power combo amp in previous posts, but I would really like to start building a rig that starts with a SMS Classic if possible..... Just seems like when you start with an SMS Classic pre-amp, you really have the best building block for a rig built for the future, whatever your power requirements might be.

So, spent a lot of time reading, and here is what I am thinking:

Pre-amp: SMS Classic (I just love everything I have heard about this....)
Power amp: Here is where I am really struggling.... Mc2505? I am guessing 50W is too much.....
Speakers/Cab: Maybe a 1X12 (or 2X12?) HT-like cab with JBL K110s or D123 as mentioned by Brad in a recent post

So - thoughts?
Any better power amp ideas?
The reason I am hoping to go forward in this direction is that if my volume/power needs go up, I would already have the pre-amp and could upgrade the components down the line. Do you guys agree or am I way off base with this?

Thanks again for a fantastic forum.

[brutusbuck45]

Hi there! Welcome aboard.

You have certainly come to the right place for all things JG/GD tone. There is such great info already posted here for you to draw upon. It sounds like you have already been reading past threads and finding some good information.

I am no expert but an avid reader and occasional poster. But your requirement of "Low Volume and Expandable" sounds like a conundrum. Especially with the foundation that you proposing. Brad Sarno's SMS Classic is THE ultimate foundation for a live rig (barring that you don't have access to Fender Twin). And the McIntosh is also a strong place for a live rig where you need gobs of power and headroom. Neither of which you will require for a small practice space. You will never reach that essential clipping at home/practice volumes with those components. My advice from one home studio player to another, think smaller. A 5 to 15 watt amp is a better place to start. At least something in that range will allow you push the amp harder at lower volumes. If you are trying to get close to a Garcia tone, putting what's was between the fretboard and his fingers aside, he played mostly clean but achieved that overdrive or sparkle from how hard he pushed the pre and power amps. Let the experts correct me where I am wrong, but it seems like you need to look smaller, friend.

Again, welcome and enjoy!

~Brutus

[Chutley]

Brutus,

Thanks for the welcome and the response!

Yes, I am sure I am missing some basic fundamentals here (learning, though...). I have played a simple setup for years, just going into a princeton chorus. I guess I was kinda hoping I could start building up a rack with an SMS Classic going into some kind of low power amp into a low power 1X12 cab that I could play at home and small rooms. The thought there was that if I got to ever needing a 2X12, I would have the sweet SMS preamp and rack, and could just upgrade the power amp and the 2X12..... (lets face it - just seems like a GREAT piece of equipment to play with.... ) In any case, that was the hope.... Maybe not a great plan....

[Chutley]

So after thinking about this more, maybe my question really is:

Is it possible to run an SMS Classic into a lower volume configuration?

[JonnyBoy]

Welcome and yes this is the best forum for ANY live musician to search out a fine tone. Jerry was a student, a pioneer, and inventive when it came to his tone. His tone can be applied to any style music with exceptional results, especially Dead covers. With that said, Brutus is right. Low volume is always a variable that hinders a replica of Jerry's rig. Many people have posted great ideas, sometimes posted in different topics about the issue. I would say take your time, maybe a month or so reading through things and participating in the Gear forum and A LOT will reveal itself to you.
I can tell you what has worked for me, and a little of what I have learned from others here and abroad. If bedroom volume is what you seek, and you will most likely never play with others or very loud, consider a small 8" practice modeling amp. Fender makes a suitable one, actually it is excellent at copying the Blackface amps at low volumes. it can crank loud enough for people to ask you to turn it down around the house too. Plus it has practice loops for Solo/chord practice and a built in tuner and effects like a Phaser, delay, reverb, chorus, Flanger and distortion. I have come to find it is one of the best sounding Jerry amps I have. It's a Gdec practice amp, the smaler version, about $120.
If you are looking for versatility and a little more oomph... a Blues Jr. is a great amp. The speaker can be swapped and upgrades made to really dial in a louder Jerry tone that sounds authentic. It can get loud enough for a jam session with other guitarists, even a drummer.... Some have claimed to gig with them.
Also at the same level, would be another Blackface tube Fender Amp like a Twin Reverb or A Deluxe Reverb. Other amps along the same line can be dialed in well. Jerry had so many tones from era to era and you can nail the classic years will all of the above with a good guitar and just the amp...
With your new guitar you will be able to hit all the years.... The buffer will give you that twang that Jerry is know for with Tiger to Bolt. Once you become a customer of Brad and Waldo I am sure they will steer you right to the golden egg. Their products will instantly give you what you are looking for. Brad can help you dial in your SMS to what you want it to do.
I am making a low volume rig for small bar room applications, and I used a Peavey Black Widdow speaker 12" 150 watt in an open back cab with a 120 watt SS amp with a twin reverb preamp. It s voiced much like a K120 but half the price. A K120 is not a bad purchase though, I am sure it will retain value. Once you have the classic you can really use whatever solid state amp you want, and clip the preamp to get your "Transparent Dirt" we all love to have. pedals like the LPB1 by EHX can give you instant true bypassed transparent Dirt, there are many others people swear by too...
With a style and sound that requires more technique than gear, your best bet is not to purchase more than you need. We all suffer from gear hound addiction, so we understand and sympathize with your desires. I am working on getting sound clips of my Gdec loaded for y'all to hear, I still stand by it, especially after I got a super II split on my guitar!!!

Most of All..... Have fun and know we're all here to help!! Remember the vibe of the lot and show floor, we're all the same guys and gals...but most of us have less hair now..


Peace, Jboy

[Chutley]

Jboy,

Thanks VERY much for the detailed response! Yes, have been spending lots of time pouring through old posts, and find something new almost every time...... And thanks very much for the welcome as well - this is a fantastic group, and I thank everyone for the valuable information that is spread all over this site. I'm going to continue to study, and see if there still isn't perhaps a way that I can incorporate a classic into my rig somehow..... Will also be researching the amps and setups you mentioned.

Thanks again!