- Short-cuts : Guitars
This is a straightforward overdrive/distortion pedal. It actually has a mode for both overdrive and distortion. I believe it is digital. It cannot be edit via computer. It has input and output, as well as connector for 9v/dc power supply. It is a floor pedal, so it is not rackable. It has volume, gain, treble, mid, bass, and frequency in stacked knobs.
General configuration is simple. Even though certain knobs are stacked on top of each other, it's not really hard to figure this unit out. This pedal can get a large range of sound or effects and editing is easy. I bought this used, so I don't have a manual. However, if you go on the Marshall website, it has some pretty cool presets that you can set up.
You can get some tones that are fairly close to several Marshall amp models with this unit. For distorted sounds, I have as much as put this through a Fender Twin, and it sounds huge and amazing. It's like having a Marshall amp with the purity and thumping low end of the Fender clean. The distortion mode on this pedal has a ton of bass to it, which I like for solos. However, in order to switch back to rhythm sounds, you would have to bend down and switch the mode to the overdrive mode, which is not very practical in a live setting. The same goes for switching from rhythm in the overdrive mode to playing a solo in the distortion mode. So basically, you need to have another distortion pedal or a dirty amp for playing rhythm, then kick on this pedal in the distortion mode. Or you have to use this pedal on the overdrive mode for rhythm, then have another pedal as a gain booster, such as a DOD YJM 368 when you go into a solo. So it's pretty impractical, when ideally, you should only need this pedal to switch between rhythm and soloing, and back. Since I have a multi-effects pedal as well as my DOD preamp/gain booster, this pedal only gets used for specific applications.
I have been using this pedal (less nowadays) since the beginning of this year. As I said before, I am a little turned off by the lack of functionality when switching between the two modes. However, I can't complain about the tone that comes out of this thing, as it is pure Marshall. I've played numerous distortion pedals both recently and over the course of my music career. I just think that Marshall is one of the best distortions out there, so why not get it in a pedal? In addition, I don't like the Marshall clean that much. So I get an amp with a very nice clean, and then I put this pedal through it to get that trademark Marshall distortion. I think what I paid for this unit is right on the money, no pun intended. The lack of functionality when switching between the two very different modes on this unit really turns me off, though. Especially since my multi-effect pedal can do Marshalls fairly well, I am just keeping this unit for posterity and authentic Marshall sound.
This is a straightforward preamp overdrive. It can be used by itself as an overdrive pedal. (I don't like the sound that much when used in this way.) It can also be used as a gain/preamp booster, i.e. in front of a dirty amp or in front of a distortion/overdrive pedal. I believe it is digital. To my knowledge, it cannot be edited via computer. There is an input and output, as well as an input for 9v/dc power supply. This is a floor pedal, so it is not rackable.
Configuration is very simple, with just two knobs: level and gain. Getting the intended effects is really easy. Turn the gain all the way up, then adjust the level to your liking, and you're done with presets. I think I have the manual, but I don't think it was very useful. Luckily, you don't really need it.
As I said earlier, as an overdrive by itself, I am not so impressed by this pedal. However, when I put it after my noise suppressor and before any distortion pedals, it makes a wonderful, screaming preamp booster. I stomp on this baby primarily for solos, either with a distortion/overdrive pedal already engaged, or when the amp I'm using has it's drive/distortion pedal kicked in. It gives you days and days of endless sustain. I can also do fast,long solos without wasting all of my hard earned energy trying to press the strings so hard to get great tone and sustain. The only things I don't like about this pedal, I fixed by buying additional specialized pedals.
It is very noisy, especially with the gain turned up. A noise suppressor fixes that. I also wish that it would boost volume when engaged, precisely because I use it for solos, but this unit does not give much of a volume boost when engaged. So I bought an equalizer that I can engage along side of it when it's time to solo.
I've had this pedal for about four and a half years. It is still an essential part of my rig, especially when my set calls for a solo or two, or three, or four. I love the sustain it creates. It would be nice if I didn't have to buy a noise suppressor and an equalizer to enhance its capabilities, but I already have. So no harm done, as I need these other two effects anyway. I was given this as a gift, so I didn't try anything else out, but I am very pleased with it. Not sure if there are better preamp boosters out there, and I don't really care to find out...that's how happy I am with it. I was given this as a gift, but if I had to buy one, I don't think the price would break the bank, especially considering the value it provides. This is the best pedal I could have gotten as a gift. Too bad this person doesn't give me gifts anymore, musical or otherwise.
This is a straight noise suppressor with really only one purpose: and that's to suppress noise ! I believe it is digital. It cannot be edited via computer. This is a floor pedal, so it is not rackable. This unit has an input and an output for going from the guitar to the rest of your guitar pedal chain then to the amp. However, it also has additional send and return inputs and outputs, which essentially turns your pedal rig into an effects loop. This unit is definitely most effective when utilized in this way.
The general configuration/setup is simple. Sound/effects editing is easy. It's got two modes: one to mute your signal and the other is the actual noise reduction mode. It's got two knobs, threshold and decay. You need to tweak these two knobs to get the maximum, most effective noise reduction possible without compromising your tone and sustain, which the unit can do if you set the threshold too high. I bought this used, so I don't have a manual. However, I don't think it's necessary.
As said, this effect is for one thing and one thing alone. It is for noise suppression. It does what it does very well. It reduces hum, feedback, and other noise very well. I own a DOD Yngwie Malmsteen preamp overdrive pedal, and Yngwie himself will tell you that that little unit is noisy. When you put this pedal before the DOD in your chain, utilize the effects loop function. You can hear the wonderful sustain from the DOD without the annoying noise, as long as you don't set the threshold too high, thanks to the Boss Noise Suppressor.
I've been using this unit since the beginning of this year. I love it's noise suppressing capabilities. It's not the most glamorous pedal, but I feel it is an essential component of one's pedal chain. I don't know what I did before I bought this unit. The only thing I don't like about it is that it kills your sustain if you set your threshold too high. This is unfortunate, because the higher you can set your threshold, the better the noise suppressor effect. If you can be successful at finding a happy medium between these two factors, you will also be happy with the unit. I checked out rocktron's version, but nobody swears by their noise suppressors as much as people do with their Boss noise suppressor. The pedal is kind of pricey in my opinion, but since it is so essential to your rig, it is money well spent. I have no regrets about buying this unit. I needed it, plain and simple, and it does its job well.
This guitar was made in China. It has 22 frets and is a straight acoustic guitar. (i.e. no electrical components.) The bridge is stock plastic (?) bridge. No setting controls, as it is a straight acoustic. It has a mahogany neck and a rosewood fretboard.
The back of the neck on this guitar is nice and smooth and let's your hand slide easily up and down the neck. Because the guitar needs a set-up, the action is not that great. So I use this guitar as a practice guitar to strengthen my hands and improve my picking and fretting accuracy. As with most dreadnought style acoustics, it is difficult to get to the top notes/last frets of this guitar. I guess if you want to play high note acoustic solos, you need to get an electric acoustic with a cutaway. This guitar is light and easy to move around with. It's not so big that it's not cumbersome to play, which is great. At this price point, this acoustic sounds great. When playing chords, the sound coming out of the sound-hole is big, full and bright. It sounds better than a few thousand dollar acoustic guitars that I've played, in my opinion.
I play for a worship service, and sometimes we play some acoustic tunes. I haven't used this acoustic on stage yet, but I think it would sound great either miked or if I get a pickup for it. Like I said, I love the sound of chords coming out of this thing. Because of the action, playing single notes don't sound that great. You've got to focus on fretting properly instead of zoning in on your vibrato, etc.
I've had this acoustic since the beginning of the year, and it has served its purpose so far. It's good enough to play on stage with, and that is amazing considering how much I spent for this guitar. And since I got such a great deal on this guitar, I really can't complain about the semi cheap bridge and tuners. Getting the guitar set up is up to me as well. I tried ibanez's, martins, gibsons, ovations, and a couple other brands. This is the one I could afford. For the price, it is good enough and does the trick. I wish I could have waited and purchased an acoustic-electric for a few dollars more, but that was not guaranteed. Knowing that I wouldn't be guaranteed to find a great deal on an acoustic-electric anytime soon, I had the chance to purchase this great deal, and I took it. No regrets.
Made in Mexico. It has 21 frets with two single coil configuration. The bridge is a fixed stock Fender bridge. One control for volume and one control for tone. Has a three-way selector switch. Not sure what the neck is made of, but it doesn't feel like an expensive wood. The action is OK, mine needs a good set up.
The neck is OK. It doesn't play well since the strings are old and it is time to have it set up. With the double cutaways, it is easy to access the top notes. Unfortunately, with only 21 frets, you don't get much range. Being a smaller scale and what I consider a beginner guitar, this one is very light. It's your typical strat style design in a smaller, more 60's or 70's design. When this guitar was younger, it actually sounded decent, especially through a Fender Twin. It needs some TLC now, but I am unsure if that will even make it better for me than my beginner Ibanez. There simply aren't enough frets, and the guitar needs to be bigger for a bigger sound.
This guitar can do in a pinch if I break a string on my main guitar. Not exactly a metal guitar or even a shred guitar. It's nice for smooth, slow solos. It's also easier on the hands as it is a smaller scale, but that doesn't really help one's development and hand strength. I used to plug straight into whatever amp I was using at the time. Since I don't use this guitar much, it doesn't get plugged in to my current setup much. Like I said, it's not that great for metal or hard rock. But it can work for that jangly 60's and even 70's sound. I guess you could play Santana, or David Gilmour with it. There is a cool sustained harmonic that automatically appears when you play the 5th fret of the 3rd string, without having to pinch the string or purposefully attempt to create a harmonic. It is probably the coolest signature of this guitar. This is good, because I don't feel it has too many other cool features.
I bought this guitar to gig with my college band in the 90's. I haven't really used it much since. I just lug it around as a spare guitar, but usually I just keep on playing even with a broken string on my Ibanez rather than pick this guitar up and play. I like it's convenience, but it's playability and tone is barely adequate for me. I didn't try many other guitars at the time I bought this, because the price was right, and it's a Fender. If they had my Ibanez for the $200 purchase price of this guitar, I probably would have bought it instead. However, I have seen that these things go for $300 on ebay, which is $100 more than I paid, so they appear to be appreciating ! So I figure I can hang on to it so I can let it appreciate more so I can have more bargaining posture when I get my next guitar or even my next amp.
My RG120 is Japanese made. It has 24 frets with dual humbuckers. The bridge is a stock Ibanez bridge with tremolo unit. The amp has volume and tone selectors. It has a three way pickup selector switch. Not sure what wood the neck is made of, but it is your typical fast ibanez neck. It is thin, normal width and has small to medium size frets.
The neck, as with many Ibanez's has a very nice and fast feel. Because it is a twenty-four fret neck, I can easily get to that wonderful high E either by bending up to it, or by simply striking the 24th fret on the 1st string. Give it some wild vibrato and Yngwie would be proud! Cutaways are well cut such that it makes it even easier to access the top notes. The guitar is very light and is easy to move around with. With mine in black, it is very conservative and professional, yet the design still screams "rock star !" Controls are simple and spartan. I usually put the tone all the way. Volume knob depends on where I am in the song. I select the top (low end) pickup mode for smooth solos, and the bottom (high end/treble) pickup mode for rhythm playing and for screaming solos and finger-tapping. I do not use the middle pickup mode.
This guitar, even at entry level, is shred all the way. Just perfect for me. When I go play a Jackson or even a Fender stratocaster, which I used to play, I am out of my element. That is how much I like the way Ibanez's play. If I buy an upgrade guitar, it will most likely be an Ibanez. (I've already got my eye on one.) I play mine through several pedals, including a Zoom multi-effect. I play through a Hartke half stalk, a Fender stage 185, a Crate gx30m, and a Fender Frontman, as well as a combination of these. Even though this is a double humbucker shred guitar, I feel it plays clean sounds / jazz and blues well, at least in my style. The wonderful clean sounds from my Fender amps also help. This guitar is great for heavy music as well as soloing. Get it set up, and you understand why the Satriani's of the world can solo for so long! The only drawback of lower action is the fret buzz, but that may be my guitar repairman's fault, not the guitar.
I've had this guitar for about 3 1/2 years and have been using it a lot since. It's such a great guitar for the price. It has seen me grown leaps and bounds in my development as a guitarist, and it's only considered a beginner electric ! I wish it had a better humbucker in the bridge position (the one in the bridge position does not have as much volume as the one in the neck position.) I also wish it had a H-S-H configuration and a tremolo unit that doesn't make the guitar go out of tune, but that's what an upgrade is for. I didn't try many other models besides this one, and since I didn't try out a Jackson, Hamer, Bc Rich etc, I probably didn't need to. I think my choice at the time was great. I still want to keep using this entry level guitar, as I would rather upgrade my amps and effects before I do my guitar.
This amp is solid state all the way. Not sure of the wattage, but I would say, judging from the volume, that it is about 30-40 watts. This amp has two channels, drive and clean. The drive channel has gain, shape and volume controls. The clean channel has master volume, treble, bass, and mid knobs. It also has a reverb knob that controls both channels. There is a manual channel switching switch if you don't have a foot-switch, which I don't. There are rate and depth knobs for chorus as well as a manual switch to engage it. Finally, there is a speaker out, headphone out, as well as foot-switch input.
This is your standard combo amp. The setup/configuration is simple enough that you don't need a manual in my opinion. I bought this thing used, so I don't have one anyway. Though I am not sure about the wattage, the amp is sufficient for rehearsals and even from small venues. It can also drive a 4ohm cab fairly nicely ! You have to tweak the amp a little bit because of the mediocre tones that come from it (see next section.) But pedals can help.
I bought this amp to rehearse and play on stage that upcoming Sunday because it was cheaper to buy it than rent an amp for a weekend. It does the job and has done so for more than a year. It's just that I've since bought better amps, so she might get sold soon. Both the stock clean and distortion channels are OK. The clean is passable, but the less than exemplary built-in chorus effect does not improve the tone any. The distortion is also passable. Kind of boxy sounding, but some people like that. I think it has it's place. The good news for me is that the distortion with gain all the way has enough sustain that I can keep up with our other guitarist and his much more expensive Fender Hot Rod Deville when we do "call and answer" solos. I play through a beginner Ibanez and many pedals, including a Zoom multi-effect. If I put the Zoom on the Fender Twin setting through the clean channel of this amp, you can close your eyes and think you have a Twin right beside you! That's a pretty good thing. The amp takes pedal distortion OK as well, especially put through a 4 speaker cabinet....you've got a stage ready rig for not much dough !
I've been using this on stage (recently as a second stereo amp) for a year and a couple months. It is light and portable, so it's convenient for rehearsal and stage. Unfortunately, the volume, while being adequate for more than a year, is recently getting to not be adequate. With our other guitarist's loud Hot Rod and our monster drummer, among other things, my virtuoso playing tends to get drowned out when I use this amp.
Thus it's use as a stereo amp. But now I have other ones that I feel are better. So I didn't really try many others before trying this one (remember, I needed it quick), but I have sure tried many (and bought a couple) since. For being bought around the 100$ range and being in great shape when I bought it, I think this amp serves it's purpose well. It's still in great shape and still plays well. I'm sure if I had more time, I would have found something else better for slightly a couple more bucks, but I don't regret buying this amp. I am trying to sell it now, but it won't hurt my feelings if I had to keep it.
This is the classic tube amp of the ages. I am not sure of the wattage on this model. However, from the volume, I am pretty sure it is at least 60-80 watts per channel, of which this amp has two. With the clean or overdrive channel volume at 2, this amp is already plenty loud enough.
There are two sets of stereo inputs. One set of two is for switching channel mode. And this amp came with the channel switching foot-switch included, which is great. The other set of two is for parallel channel mode. It defaults to the clean channel, and you can pull the volume knob of the distortion channel to switch to it. I guess this is useful if you don't have a foot-switch. On the back there is a foot-switch output, effects loop (preamp out and power amp in), power amp thru output, two extension speaker outputs, one for series and one for parallel. There is also an impedance selector which allows you to select between 4,8 and 16 ohms, which is very cool and makes the amp very versatile. On the front, the clean channel has knobs for volume, treble with boost (by pulling the knob), mid and bass. The distortion channel has gain, treble with boost, mid with boost, and base with boost. It also has a wonderful presence knob and a volume knob. (The one that can be pulled out to select the distortion channel.) Finally, there is a reverb knob that controls both channels.
There are two sets of stereo inputs. One set of two is for switching channel mode. And this amp came with the channel switching foot-switch included, which is great. The other set of two is for parallel channel mode. It defaults to the clean channel, and you can pull the volume knob of the distortion channel to switch to it. I guess this is useful if you don't have a foot-switch. On the back there is a foot-switch output, effects loop (preamp out and power amp in), power amp thru output, two extension speaker outputs, one for series and one for parallel. There is also an impedance selector which allows you to select between 4,8 and 16 ohms, which is very cool and makes the amp very versatile. On the front, the clean channel has knobs for volume, treble with boost (by pulling the knob), mid and bass. The distortion channel has gain, treble with boost, mid with boost, and base with boost. It also has a wonderful presence knob and a volume knob. (The one that can be pulled out to select the distortion channel.) Finally, there is a reverb knob that controls both channels.
This amp was bought used, so there is no manual. The general configuration, in my opinion is self explanatory as long as you play with the knobs and inputs long enough. This thing is known for the tone that comes out of it, and it has a wide array of wonderful sounds that I keep discovering from additional use! With this being a vintage tube amp and being considered a vintage "red knob" model, I try not to use this as much. Just power it up from time to time to keep the tubes working or if I need it to impress at an audition. I also plan on using it more primarily for recording. If I am playing stadiums, I guess I can afford to play with this loud, tone-full baby on stage more often to get more volume and that wonderful tube sound!
This is considered a blues/jazz amp, styles which I incorporate into my playing. It is not really a heavy metal amp, but it takes pedals pretty well. However, I frankly don't remember the distortion channel being that good when I first played this amp in the nineties. But I played it recently, and I don't know if it aged gracefully, but I'll put that 2nd channel against many high gain amps today. With the gain at lower levels, you get a nice tube overdrive from this beauty. Set the gain on 10, and you have a great 70's or 80's heavy metal tone, in my opinion. To get thrash metal, death metal, or nu-metal, you will need a pedal. But like I said, this amp takes pedals well. I put a digitech death metal pedal through the clean channel, and it went from pristine heaven to absolute palm muting hell ! Speaking of the clean channel, I agree with many that it is the best in the business. I've played "boutique" amps that cost 3 times more, and their clean sound didn't sound any better. This baby has always been known and liked by me for it's beautiful "glassy" clean sound. It's got the right amount of shimmer and a wonderful thumping low end bass range. I love it, and there's probably nothing about this amp I hate, as far as tones!
My dad bought this in the early nineties. I used it back then, then sporadically since then. As I said, I used it again recently, and with a couple pots being changed, I think this baby gets better with age! I love the volume, the presence, the distortion channel, and that unmistakable clean sound! My Dad and I briefly compared this to other brands, but the glassy clean won us over no problem. Because it is considered vintage, this thing is relatively expensive and hopefully appreciating in value. I think it is worth every penny, so I would get another one if I had the budget, or if I could get one at a steal or deal.

