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This page: Testing Strategies; Know the Alternatives; Mix and Match
'As with any amp, the ideal way to evaluate a modeling unit is with your own guitars in hand.'
Testing Strategies
Okay, you've hocked every piece of tube gear you own -- including your toothpaste, tires, and tuba -- and you're ready to go digital. Now what?
Before going to the store, visit some websites and, where possible, download the owner's manual of each amp you're considering. Not only will you learn about the features and specs of the amp, you'll get a handle on how to work the thing when you get to the store. This gives you more control over the evaluation process.
As with any amp, the ideal way to evaluate a modeling unit is with your own guitars in hand. If you can, bring two dissimilar guitars -- say a Strat and a Les Paul -- and see how well the character of each instrument translates through the amp. Do they sound distinct or the same? How well do your dynamic playing techniques come through? If you have some favorite stomp boxes, bring them along too. See how they interact with the modeling amp.
The first thing you'll want to do is run through the presets. And while this is a good way to check out the sonic range of the amp and to hear how the designers think your guitar should sound, its not the best way to see how the amp will suit your needs. Once you've gone through the presets and found a few you like, start manipulating the controls. (It's generally a good idea to eliminate or at least reduce the level of any effects while you do this. Focus your ears on the core tone.)
Modeling amps come in all configurations. Here's a Line 6 Flextone head |
One method that works well is to EQ a preset to your taste, then, without changing presets, call up a different model setting. Listen to how the EQ and gain controls affect this new model. Do you feel like you're playing a different amp? Switch guitars and try the same exercise again. If you have a tube amp at home (you didn't really hock it, did you?), call up the model that is closest to your own amp. How does the model compare to the original?
Turn the amp up loud and see if it retains its sonic character. Can the speakers handle the volume you plan to use at your gig? How does the guitar feel in your hands? Are you getting the response from the instrument you expect?
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Telecaster through Marshall MP3 (65.1 KB) |
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Hamer Duo Tone through Marshall MP3 (64.9 KB) |
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Instrumental Influence: Unlike some guitar processors, a good modeling amp lets the personality of your guitar come through; note the contrast between the humbucker-equipped Hamer Duo Tone and the stock Fender Telecaster playing through a J-Station Marshall model |
Know the Alternatives
Spend time with a conventional tube amp while you're at the store. Compare the tone and response of that to what you're hearing and feeling from the modeling amp. Many players I've worked with claim that the feel of the tube amp is different from that of the modeling amp, even if the sound is very similar. But for many, any compromise in feel is worth the added flexibility the modeling unit provides. The "feel" of modeling amps has improved over the years, and it's worth noting that an amp that has fewer bells and whistles might feel better to play through.
Remember to keep the application in mind when you're testing. If you're looking for a preamp for direct recording, test it through a mixer and a set of studio monitors. If you're looking a performance amp, test it at stage volume.
Mix and Match
Recording and performing applications are not mutually exclusive. If you're focused on a preamp for recording but think you might also like to use it on stage, test it with a typical stage amp by feeding the preamp's line output to the guitar amp's effects return (or power amp input). If you already like the sound of your old amp, a modeling preamp can be a cost-effective way to add versatility to your existing stage rig.
Next Page: User Interface; Controls Behave Differently; Final Thoughts....
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