Amps in 2 Guitar Bands?

[peckhart]

Whats the concensus on both guitar players using the same exact amp? Anyone doing that? Bad idea?

 

I currently use a Tremoverb but have been kicking around the idea of getting a 3ch Dual Rec. The other guitar player in my band is walking out of GC with a new Dual Rec today though cuz his Marshall JMP1 took a crap on him.

[Shellpink]

The Tremoverb is a great amp, the last one I liked from Mesa, until they made the Stiletto and the Lone Star. No need to buy a Recto, imho.

[Lee Flier]

Well, one of my favorite records ever (and one of the records responsible for me learning to play electric guitar) is the Stones' Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out which was recorded live during their 1969 tour. Keith Richards and Mick Taylor were both using Ampeg V4 heads with SVT cabinets, and it was about the most amazing twin guitar sound I'd ever heard. Still is. So, I guess it depends - if the amps don't suck and the guitarists don't suck, too much of a good thing can be great. Usually it sounds better if the two guitarists have very different sounds, but sometimes style alone can take care of that.

 

Do whatever works for your band! And it's nice if you and/or the other guitarist have a couple of different amps so that one or both of you can swap out sometimes for different gigs. Keeps things fresh.

[one4rich]

I hope that you don't use guitars that sound alike too! I would say it's okay to use the same amp, as long as one guy uses a Les Paul and the other uses a Strat.

 

Personally, I prefer different amps, EQs, guitars, everything. On top of that we have completely different playing styles, too.

[pilk]

Playing good is way more important than the brand name on the amps. With that in mind,..

 

Slightly different guitar sounds for both guitar players might make it more interesting, if you play at a volume level where tone is discernable.

 

thoughts only,there is no correct way to do it.

[doubleR]

Originally posted by peckhart Whats the concensus on both guitar players using the same exact amp? Anyone doing that? Bad idea? I currently use a Tremoverb but have been kicking around the idea of getting a 3ch Dual Rec. The other guitar player in my band is walking out of GC with a new Dual Rec today though cuz his Marshall JMP1 took a crap on him.

 

 

C'mon...admit it. You're just looking for our approval so you can justify the purchase of a new amp.

 

[Lee Flier]

Originally posted by pilk ... if you play at a volume level where tone is discernable.

 

HAHAHA!! Priceless.

[HuskerDude]

One of the guitarists in my band and I use the same amp, a Peavey Classic 30. He actually borrowed mine for a few months and fell in love with it. He went out and got one eventually, and now I'm using mine. I'm using it for pedal steel and keys, primarily, so similar tone isn't an issue.

[sideswipedv]

My lead player does the dual humbucker to marshall 4 x 12 100watt head thing and i play a frankenstrat into a Fender Hotrod deluxe, or an accoustic with a martin gold p/u direct for rythm. It seems a bit backwards when i use my strat for rythm but i really like the way it shapes our sound.

[Scafeets]

I play in a two-guitar band and we use completely different stuff. My setup is a Carvin Nomad or Fender Princeton w/ EBMM Axis, Parker 20 and Taylor T5. His is a Marshall w/ Avatar 2-12s, Strat, Tele and Les Paul. Why would we want to look and/or sound the same?

[peckhart]

We do use different guitars. I use a PRS, EBMM Axis or LP Custom while the other guitarist has an SG and a Tele w/humbucker in the bridge.

It is not a matter of wanting to look and sound the same. I have had my Tverb since I joined the band and now he needed a new amp and went with the Dual. I am hooked on Mesa at the moment and although I like the Tverb, it does lack some versatility I was thinking of picking up a Dual to cover. The biggest issue I have is the lack of Solo feature on the Tverb. I have tried different ways to volume boost for leads, but have not had the results I want. There are a bunch of Mesas that have that now though.

 

From most of the responses here though it sounds like seperation in amp tones is preferred. And I agree. Practice on Monday will be the first time the Dual and Tverb are together. It will be interesting to see how they work together.

[bonscottvocals]

I've played in many two guitar bands, and it's highly unlikely that the two of you have a playing style close enough that even if you had exactly the same rig that you'd sound alike, even to an untrained player. I currently play in a band where we're two Strats through Fender tube amps. I tend to play with a Brit-bluesy feel where the other guy plays closer to the Texas blues sound. We don't even come close in our choice of voicing and phrasing.

[GreyMartyr]

In Divided Sky, we both use the Mesa Triaxis into a Mesa Simulclass 2:90. Our tones sound nothing alike and actually compliment each other rather well.

 

Rich (other guitar player) uses an Ibanez Universe while I prefer Parker guitars. He uses Mesa cabs while I currently use a Genz Benz G-Flex (my custom Ear Candy cabs are on the way as we speak: go to www.earcandycabs.com/crisden.htm and take a peek)

 

Even if two guitarists use the same amps and the same settings, they will still sound rather different due to playing style, guitar, strings, picks etc. Although in a smoke filled dive bar with a drunken tonedeaf soundman, who knows the difference anyhow?

[Singin' Dave]

Shouldn't be a problem - styles, EQ settings, guitars will likely be different.

 

Indeed, in my gujitar band (we doi use different amps), we still try to cut through the mix by EQ'ing ourselves differently (one guy mid-heavy, one guy slightly scooped etc.) and using different PUPs (one guy neck, one guy bridge, etc.)

[surfsteve]

Originally posted by Lee Flier Well, one of my favorite records ever (and one of the records responsible for me learning to play electric guitar) is the Stones' Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out which was recorded live during their 1969 tour. Keith Richards and Mick Taylor were both using Ampeg V4 heads with SVT cabinets, and it was about the most amazing twin guitar sound I'd ever heard. Still is. So, I guess it depends - if the amps don't suck and the guitarists don't suck, too much of a good thing can be great. Usually it sounds better if the two guitarists have very different sounds, but sometimes style alone can take care of that. Do whatever works for your band! And it's nice if you and/or the other guitarist have a couple of different amps so that one or both of you can swap out sometimes for different gigs. Keeps things fresh.

 

First album I ever owned. Probably had 5 copies over the years. I think it sounds great in the basement with Gibby LP Custom straight to Marshall DSL-201. I'm not in a band, though. Was that you in the gals and guitars thread. I recognize the LP w/ 90's in the avatar from somewhere. Sweet axe.

[Kid Klash]

 

Originally posted by one4rich I hope that you don't use guitars that sound alike too! I would say it's okay to use the same amp, as long as one guy uses a Les Paul and the other uses a Strat. Personally, I prefer different amps, EQs, guitars, everything. On top of that we have completely different playing styles, too.

 

 

+1

[b-lance]

my band:

 

 

me - epiphone allycat (little jazz style guitar) through bassman copy into 2x12 cab

 

other dude - fender strat into marshall 2x12 combo.

[kayak]

Unless you use identical guitars (at least identical electronically), set the guitar controls identically, and set the amp controls identically, you probably won't sound identical coming out of the speakers of identical amps.

 

In other words, even with identical amps, there is PLENTY of room for each of you to come up with your own sound that (hopefully) compliments the other's sound.

[THX1138]

Personal opinion here... its ALL in the fingers.

 

While recording our recently released cd, both our guitar players occasionally dinked around on the same guitar through the same signal chain.

 

I bet a million I couldda told you which one was playing at any given time without seeing them just by the sound.

[dazed1]

I use a Genz Benze El Diablo C100 with a closed back and a strat. My other guitarist uses a Peavy Classic 50 open back with a Jackson Soloist. Regardless of the amps, we sound like night and day when we play together whatever equipment. The difference in amps and guitars just makes it that much more prevelant. I really like being able to hear each intrument distinctly where you know instantly who is playing what. It really allows more dynamics to shine through and makes the phrasing on solos really pop regardless of who is playing them.

[daddymack]

seems to me it didn't cause Duane and Dickey any issues using matched Les Pauls and Marshalls...or Angus and Malcolm using SGs...your sound should not be defined by the gear, but how you use it.

[THX1138]

Originally posted by daddymack seems to me it didn't cause Duane and Dickey any issues using matched Les Pauls and Marshalls...or Angus and Malcolm using SGs...your sound should not be defined by the gear, but how you use it.

 

Not to nit pick, but doesn't Malcom use a Gretsch with the neck PU removed?

 

 

Edit: Yes.... yes he does.

 

[daddymack]

Originally posted by THX1138 Not to nit pick, but doesn't Malcom use a Gretsch with the neck PU removed? Edit: Yes.... yes he does.

 

sorry, my error, he does indeed use the Gretsch Jet with only a bridge filtertron....but both use Marshall stacks.

[ChihliDog]

I think it depends on the sound you're going for. I'm in a 2-guitar band, and for the longest time we used different amps. It was very difficult to mix it to where it sounded good to US. Nobody else complained, but it lacked that "THING" we were seeking.

 

Now we're both using 5150's and Metal Zones, though they're EQ'ed differently and he uses a Charvel and I use my LP. Sounds different enough to be distinct, but the sound blends nicely for when we're both playing heavy chunk rhythm parts.

[droge]

when I used to play w/ my two-guitar cover band, we both had different rigs--I had my 3-channel Dual Recto and the other guitarist had a Hughes & Kettner Triamp--for the most part, it worked out pretty well, since we had our own individual sounds and styles. Having the same rig (like 2 DRS) can cancel out each other, and make it sound like mush UNLESS the 2 guitarists make an effort to sound unlike each other--that's the key, really!!!