It just occurred to me that I haven’t gotten any new gear lately. Okay, I just got a new PRS SE Soapbar II guitar a couple of weeks ago. But the thing that struck me was that I wasn’t really even in the market for a guitar when I got it – I wasn’t even thinking about getting a new guitar! The opportunity just kind of presented itself, and I acquired it.
My approach to guitar gear lately has been much like the graphic to the left. Think of the signs being different pieces of gear that point the way to different paths in a journey for tone. I’m at a huge fork in the road right now, and don’t quite know which path to take.
But maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Come to think of it, I’m pretty happy with my tone right now. Unless something mind-blowing comes along, I’m probably not going to be looking to get any new pedals for my rig. I would still like to get a new amp; especially one that has a tube rectifier in it because I love the voltage sag you get from a tube rectifier and the reverb-like tone it can give you. But I can live with what I’ve got for probably years to come.
All that said, I think I’m in a good place with respect to gear, and you know what? I’m actually okay with coming to this fork in the road. It’s a bit liberating because unlike the picture, I’m not really scratching my head trying to figure out which way I want to go tonally. I’ve got my sound, so all things being equal, any path is good – at least for now.
But ever one that has dreams of attaining gear, here are some things completely beyond my current budget that I’m dreaming of getting one day (not necessarily in order of acquisition):
- Either a Victoria Double Deluxe or a Victoria Victorilux
- King Amplification Uptown 33 (Kenny Neal plays one and it SCREAMS!)
- Vox Virage
- Gibson Les Paul Double Cutaway (this actually is not too far out of reach, but it would be tough now).
- Vox AC30 (I dig that tone!)
Man I have been longing for an AC30 since I was a kid and found out Brian May used them. You are indeed in a good place. You aren’t chasing the tone so you don’t feel like you need something. You will find something that grabs your ear soon enough.
Scott
Hey dawg, I would have to agree w/Scott . . you’re in a great place. As time changes (Not Our Ages ) so do our tastes. I used to love that Mesa/Boogie “high gain” stuff. Now, I run the gain on my small boogie at about 3 . . . Lol. Once we define our “style” or our “sound” then there will always be something that grabs our ear. I do believe however , A solid Instrument is definately a major part of the equation . Anywho . . just my take . CRASH
I think what has contributed to this is that I’ve finally gotten over the fear of working on my gear myself. Plus, my technique and musicality has really advanced over the past couple of years, and I’m more interested now in squeezing out as much expressiveness from the instruments I have than getting more gear to try to accomplish that.
I still want a Victoria amp, though…. 🙂
Go for the Vicky’s!!! Man, you will not regret it one bit. I own a 35210T and a 35310T. Mark Baier at Victoria is the best amp builder on the planet IMHO. You really need to just open the back of one and stare in awe of the artwork that most people call wiring… All high-end caps, allen-bradley carbon comp resisters…. You cannot get a bad sound out of ’em. No fluff to interfere with the tweed circuitry. I’ve played a double deluxe – they break up real early and would be a very cool and expressive instrument in the hands of the right bluesman looking for a signature tone. I needed just a bit more jangle in my tone. The 210 has a bit more of an attitude than the 310. The 310 is the perfect gigging amp for a guy who needs versitility in tone with a bit more headroom. I never tried a Victorilux, but on paper they look like the perfect amp.
PS. I thought I was “gassed out” until last week when I had the opportunity to score a mint ’65 vibrolux reverb…no, I didnt have the money…yes, I took out a loan. I told myself I may never have another opportunity to find the quitessential “blackface” amp in this condition ever again…I still think there is something magic about the 2-10 combination in the right amp.
To get back to the crux of your article. Gear is not something you can attain overnight. I own two Vickys because of many years of saving and trading up with other amps. I traded a Boogie Mark 4 on my first one and an old Boogie Mark 2 on the second one….they both served me well in the 80s and 90s and as Crash indicated, tastes change with time. But nothing can revive GAS better than running into a nice vintage piece of gear you realize you may never have another opportunity of purchasing…you know, the kind of gear which you would do just about anything to add to your arsenal – even if you dont have the money in your checking account….Over my 35 years of playing, this only happened about 3 or 4 times- so I guess it isnt all that crazy.
I spoke with Mark very shortly last year, and expressed my love for his amps. 🙂 I happened to have found a local shop in San Francisco when I was working up there who carried Victoria amps. You’re right: They’re some of the most well-made amps on the planet. I fell in love with the Double Deluxe that day, and have wanted one since.
Dawg- There’s a used double deluxe with a V-front (cooler than cool) at Dave’s guitar right now….. I had my eye on that one for a while- up until Dave sold me the Vibrolux before it even made it to his museum that he calls a guitar shop. It may be the best deal on a double deluxe out there right now. I’m also sure you could talk him down a bit, too. If you love the blues, the double deluxe is your ticket to tone. They’re just really a pleasure to play with the smooth creamy breakup and the harmonics flying out of that thing. It would be very fun to own, no doubt. One caution, if you like to play loud and clean, this may not be your bag, but seeing as you tried one, you know exactly what Im talking about. Mark Baier’s shop is about four hours from my home, and a lot of people I know buy from him directly also – he loves to do custom tailoring of amps specifically to what you want. He’ll even track down NOS speakers and tubes if thats your bag. Like I say, the guy is the best. Caution, if you check out that V-front deluxe, guaranteed GAS will insue.
Oh NO!!! You’re a very evil man, Tweed! But I mean that in the very best way possible. 🙂
I’ll check out Dave’s Guitars now… I’m gonna be in a lot of trouble, if it’s a price I can afford…
If you’re ever in the upper midwest, ANY guitar/gearhead owe’s it to themselves to make the pilgramage to the second floor of Dave’s shop…it’s the Mecca of american guitars and fender amps. Perfect examples of every fender amp made up until the silverface era. A mint ’59 LP Standard, ’59 Flying V, ’59 Explorer, gretch’s, Rics, tons of custom color early strats, black-guard teles, old goldtop LPs, Dot neck 335s…… Not for the faint of heart. Last fall PRS himself spent the day hanging out there and I was able to pick his brain a bit and also got him to sign the back of my headstock on my old Annapolis-era Custom 24. Very cool.
One more thing… I noticed four of the five pieces of gear on your wish list are amps. Maybe this is another topic for another column, but for me – I think I’m the same way when it comes to tone. I would much rather have an average guitar and a GREAT amp, than a great guitar and an average amp….food for thought – I think a great amp is the most important component of the tone chain. Too many worry too much about just aquiring that great Les Paul or that great Strat.
I’ve come to realize the same. The only really expensive guitar I have is my Gibson ES-335. All my other guitars were purchased for way under $1000. I just make sure they’re set up really well, and let my fingers do the talking. And like you, I want to have the best quality presentation – a great-sounding amp.