British vs American Distortion | Gain Appreciation [Victory Kraken]

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  • Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
  • Amplifiers are often categorised as sounding either British or American, but what's the difference?
    British Distortion - Marshall JCM800
    Thomann - www.thomann.de...
    Sweetwater - imp.i114863.ne...
    American Distortion - Peavey 6505
    Thomann - www.thomann.de...
    Sweetwater - imp.i114863.ne...
    Victory Kraken:
    www.guitarguit...
    Thanks to Patreon for funding this video.
    Gain access to exclusive content at: / csguitars
    #distortion #gainappreciation #csguitars
    More from CSGuitars:
    Buy CSGuitars Merchandise - www.csguitars....
    Website - www.csguitars.c...
    Contact - colin@csguitars.co.uk
    CSGuitars uses:
    LEWITT Microphones - www.lewitt-aud...
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    Title graphics and logo by:
    www.studiosmith...
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Комментарии • 694

  • @ScienceofLoud
    @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +86

    Amplifiers are often categorised as sounding either British or American, but what's the difference?
    British Distortion - Marshall JCM800
    Thomann - www.thomann.de/intl/marshall_2203.htm?offid=1&affid=367
    Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/Qkv6a
    American Distortion - Peavey 6505
    Thomann - www.thomann.de/intl/peavey_6505_gitarrentopteil.htm?offid=1&affid=367
    Sweetwater - imp.i114863.net/kx1W0
    Victory Kraken:
    www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/180307324002008--victory-amps-vx-the-kraken-head
    Thanks to Patreon for funding this video.
    Gain access to exclusive content at: www.patreon.com/csguitars
    #distortion #gainappreciation #csguitars
    More from CSGuitars:
    Buy CSGuitars Merchandise - www.csguitars.co.uk/store
    Website - www.csguitars.co.uk
    Contact - colin@csguitars.co.uk

    • @kulturrebell1250
      @kulturrebell1250 4 года назад +4

      Can you make a video about the truss rod and demystify it for us?

    • @3100620842
      @3100620842 4 года назад +1

      I would love to hear an explanation on how to get a Japanese math rock "barely on the cusp of distortion" sound

    • @g.e9832
      @g.e9832 4 года назад +2

      Hey Colin, thanks for your channel it is really valuable. I have a question as we both has Vx Kraken, how you manage your clean, as i have no any other amp, so i came with an idea to add V4 countess or to use Engl E503 preamp rack, or it's better to get Super VX 100, all the options are in the budget, but i;m looking for the best sound quality and variety solution, the VX 100 has more power than i need, for me 25 watt in enough,also it is heavier but not a big deal, one of the other options is to get Engl fireball 25 and V4 kraken, but i feel the pedal is not the same as the amp.
      so what is your recommendation? mainly i play prog. metal, you can say dream theater but a shit music :) I use 7 strings guitar

    • @gallainmusic945
      @gallainmusic945 2 года назад

      @@g.e9832 what did you go with in the end? I've got the same predicament and am thinking of getting the v4 preamp copper pedal by victory

    • @acidvideothomas8383
      @acidvideothomas8383 Год назад

      but when you hear a recording can you actually tell a british sound from american?

  • @RÅNÇIÐ
    @RÅNÇIР4 года назад +781

    These are nothing compared the kind of distortion I apply to reality in order to convince myself that I'm living a happy life...

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +153

      That's my favourite kind of distortion.

    • @silent-trouble
      @silent-trouble 4 года назад +41

      Very cool, where did you get that? i only have a clean channel... Thats why I'm always depressed.

    • @henriquemontalvao8492
      @henriquemontalvao8492 4 года назад +22

      @@silent-trouble same. Fourtunately I found a pedal called wholesome friendship. It's incredible!

    • @joepope5793
      @joepope5793 4 года назад +6

      Best I can ever get is a crunch channel and it usually takes an alcohol overdrive to get there.

    • @renhoek3851
      @renhoek3851 4 года назад +7

      @@joepope5793 How much headroom is there though? You might need to clean your mids and.... Sorry I've lost track of the metaphor

  • @ItsJustEmK
    @ItsJustEmK 4 года назад +63

    A fun thing I noticed that shows how much these two styles have cross-pollinated:
    Mastodon: American band, British sound
    BFMV: Welsh band, American sound

  • @somberlainnn9883
    @somberlainnn9883 4 года назад +437

    My favourite distortion style is the swedish style
    HM-2 FTW

    • @truedarklander
      @truedarklander 4 года назад +34

      If the British distortion is a laceration, HM2s are an evisceration

    • @ladyjulia4038
      @ladyjulia4038 4 года назад +7

      I turn my nose way up to the sky. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. Distortion from a pedal just doesn't have the dynamics of a point to point vintage tube am." Meanwhile you're probably a far better player than me. Keep killing it!

    • @NutsTesticles
      @NutsTesticles 4 года назад +5

      Me too. I have a Marshall style preamp pedal that I run an HM-2 into and boy does that shit rip you a new one

    • @owenperkins1999
      @owenperkins1999 4 года назад +1

      Used by a lot of the early black metal bands. It’s the greatest.

    • @nehemiahzo_
      @nehemiahzo_ 4 года назад +4

      I do love my IKEA distortion pedals

  • @diegomireles1773
    @diegomireles1773 4 года назад +333

    It’s simple: American guitars, brutish amps, and Japanese gear

    • @ontragon7510
      @ontragon7510 4 года назад +19

      what do you mean by gear? like pedals?

    • @Kmusic1294
      @Kmusic1294 4 года назад +32

      Brutish is very brutal

    • @TIMExBANDIT
      @TIMExBANDIT 4 года назад +22

      American Amps, Japanese guitars, Japanese gear

    • @eddyray666
      @eddyray666 4 года назад +46

      @@TIMExBANDIT German amps, Japanese guitars... And let's be honest, gear made in China.

    • @VYC4
      @VYC4 4 года назад +44

      As a Brazilian guitarrist... Chinese guitar, Chinese amp, mostly Chinese pedals and a few Brazilian boutique pedals 🤣

  • @TRiToX91
    @TRiToX91 4 года назад +207

    Damn that V is gorgeous!
    May the algorithm be ever in your favour.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +23

      It's a really good looking guitar!

    • @billybobhouse9559
      @billybobhouse9559 4 года назад

      @@ScienceofLoud I agree, what model is it?

    • @JakeBailes
      @JakeBailes 4 года назад

      @@billybobhouse9559 From memory its a Gibson Gothic, theres a full video series on his channel on the upgrade process!

    • @TRiToX91
      @TRiToX91 3 года назад

      @@dildojizzbaggins6969 Favor is the American spelling whereas Favour is the British spelling, just like with color and colour.

    • @TRiToX91
      @TRiToX91 3 года назад

      @@dildojizzbaggins6969 lolno go step on a Lego

  • @nicholastotoro7721
    @nicholastotoro7721 4 года назад +203

    Someone was in a Maiden mood this morning LOL!

    • @adriansperling5012
      @adriansperling5012 4 года назад +5

      I'm having a brain-fart - I should know what Colin is playing starting at 9:17 but I just can't place it. Help? :)

    • @lazylegolars
      @lazylegolars 4 года назад +9

      @@adriansperling5012 Blood and Thunder from the mighty Mastodon.

    • @adriansperling5012
      @adriansperling5012 4 года назад +2

      @@lazylegolars There we go - thanks much!

    • @MrBombastic799
      @MrBombastic799 4 года назад +2

      @@lazylegolars I just want to point out because it is bugging me but he's actually playing the last 4 chords wrong.

    • @EliseOfTheValley
      @EliseOfTheValley 4 года назад +1

      A match maiden heaven

  • @fatboysgarage7984
    @fatboysgarage7984 4 года назад +41

    I've always leaned towards a more British sound. I love how scratchy sounding British amps can be. Since I play rhythm more than lead, it makes since for me to go with British for that more full and clear tone.

    • @dutchdykefinger
      @dutchdykefinger 4 года назад +2

      depends on what you play.
      american is tighter on the lows, which you may need if you play at high tempos, but british cuts through the mix like no other :D

  • @SingleMaltIdiot
    @SingleMaltIdiot 4 года назад +37

    That's an incredibly useful side-by-side. Always felt like I was generally aware of the differences, but the various examples are great to hear. Btw, love that you more or less capped it off with the whole "neither is wrong" viewpoint. I tend to see these sort of comparisons as taking a binary viewpoint, so I have to appreciate a video that can appreciate both types of distortion

  • @Bilsuburbians
    @Bilsuburbians 4 года назад +101

    Thats why i love how Keira Knightley sounds than Miley Cyrus.

  • @svenkaahedgerg3425
    @svenkaahedgerg3425 4 года назад +3

    I really appreciate your way of explaining. Including the basics and then taking it all the way down to the details without making the videos too long is very impressive.

  • @aprilkurtz1589
    @aprilkurtz1589 4 года назад +47

    Could you do something similar with bass amps? Also, thank you for your TATAs. They've helped me understand lots of things better.

  • @Pher98
    @Pher98 4 года назад +110

    How about symmetrical vs asymmetrical clipping? That's something that I've been confused about for a while

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +19

      I touched on that briefly in here: ruclips.net/video/16Vz6XHqGMY/видео.html

    • @estring69
      @estring69 4 года назад +5

      Look at full wave vs. half wave DC rectifier. All voltage is dropped across the full wave rectifier resulting in unfiltered direct current. You will get a picture of alternating current across diodes. Then look at a special diode that has the characteristic of dropping a characteristic amount of voltage such as Zener diodes. Zener is commonly used to build a simple power supply regulator to provide say 5 volts by dropping 5 volts when say 9 volts is provided. An audio signal is clipped at the characteristic voltage across the diode. Audio signals are alternating current. Look at a sine wave and notice there is a positive and negative swing across the bias offset. The circuit is built so that the clipping only occurs on one swing of the signal. Sorry, not an edumacated engineer, but anyway.....

    • @K1llerTunes
      @K1llerTunes 4 года назад

      George Paxson the theory is pretty simple, but trying to hear what characterises asymmetrical clipping is hard.

    • @estring69
      @estring69 4 года назад +1

      @@K1llerTunes It has been featured on this channel here before. Boss SD-1 is asymmetric, cheap, and everyone should have one. My opinion is that an SD-1 gives you a classic 80's metal thing plugged into a tube amp. Pretty cool. Harmonics seem to sing out of them.

    • @Scheater5
      @Scheater5 4 года назад

      Funny you should mention that, the latest That Pedal Show episode goes into quite a bit of detail on that exact topic. Briefly explaining how it works and in depth discussing how it sounds. If you're more concerned about the technical aspect of it, I think Brian Wampler has gone into it - I could look the video up if that's what you meant.

  • @triledink
    @triledink 4 года назад +64

    Everytime i look at my Blackstar with the IFS control i always think: Left (metallica) Right (Black sabbath)

    • @2122banks
      @2122banks 4 года назад +3

      I have blackstar Id 260 and I love having the combination of both.

    • @dutchdykefinger
      @dutchdykefinger 4 года назад +3

      my mate has a blackstar, gotta say i love that knob, you can clean up so much with it

    • @megaduck7965
      @megaduck7965 4 года назад +2

      My mate got one we call it the kill em all or Black album Button

  • @Mcsteveberry
    @Mcsteveberry 4 года назад +3

    that outro was the most cathartic thing i've heard all week

  • @Cptjackjacky
    @Cptjackjacky 4 года назад +79

    That British channel is pure NWOBHM.
    Noice.

    • @qsappy
      @qsappy 4 года назад +1

      Ndlanding what does nwobhm mean

    • @ihackedmyself
      @ihackedmyself 4 года назад +5

      @@qsappy New wave of British heavy metal

  • @justinr2004
    @justinr2004 4 года назад +1

    This dude's videos are hands down some of the most complete and informative guitar related videos on RUclips. Without question. Definitely my go to channel.

  • @Scheater5
    @Scheater5 4 года назад +6

    The American side of the Kracken does a "low end thing" that I have found difficulty describing and only a scant few other amps do - it's the tight bass associated with American high-gain, but in a very specific way. American distortion can definitely get lost in a mix, but MAN when you get the EQ right it hits so hard.

  • @yackohoopy
    @yackohoopy 4 года назад +52

    Mastodon used a vintage Marshall for the album “Crack The Skye”. They tried a bunch of newer amps and the sounds that they wanted came from that vintage Marshall. I haven’t kept up with Mastodon, so I’m not sure what, or if, they switched to something else.

    • @flatoutinsult1826
      @flatoutinsult1826 4 года назад +10

      I believe they use orange amps now but I could be wrong

    • @michaelmooney7408
      @michaelmooney7408 4 года назад +7

      Emperor of sand was recorded using vintage Marshall’s. Brent does like his thunderverb 200’s though live and also he has used his rocker amp live.

    • @nekrovulpes
      @nekrovulpes 4 года назад +25

      Orange amps are THE thing to have nowadays for any band with beards, ear-stretchers and nautically themed tattoos.

    • @jwood6125
      @jwood6125 4 года назад +11

      If I'm not mistaken bill uses a friedman now

    • @ryanmounce2850
      @ryanmounce2850 4 года назад +4

      @@nekrovulpes honestly I still see A LOT of Laney AOR's. Iommi's connection sealed Laneys doom metal heritage in 1970.

  • @broncoxy
    @broncoxy 2 года назад +3

    Thanks so much for this; as I'm planning to play in a band someday, I'm already on the lookout for a real amp, where I've been using Neural DSP before.
    I always had this sound in my mind that I liked and also knew what I didnt like; this video, with some others, made clear that it is indeed the british sound that I'm more interested in, as it comes closer to what I enjoyed playing digitally the most.
    Thanks a lot!

  • @elijahpeters3637
    @elijahpeters3637 4 года назад +5

    Great video as always, Colin, but more importantly thank you for showing me an easier way to do the Aces High riff.

  • @DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE
    @DJENTISNTNOTAGENRE 4 года назад +4

    This is part of the reason I have the Blackstar ID:Core 100. The ISP dial is really cool for changing between American and British tones while also having the option to blend the two with all the space in between. I, personally, like being a little further on the American side of the dial, but with it still being turned enough to add some of the British tone to the sound. It sounds quite awesome! Great video and playing, btw!

  • @strangequark420
    @strangequark420 4 года назад +3

    Great fingerboard work there, man. I've been following you for a few years now, and your playing has just gotten better and better. Great channel - thank you!

  • @joshuahiggins1217
    @joshuahiggins1217 4 года назад +8

    The Egnator Renegade also uses both tube sets and can pull from both at once. Great for A/B-ing this kind of stuff. Also get to have my super clean 6L6 sound in one channel and the roaring EL34s in the other.

  • @maidenthe80sla
    @maidenthe80sla 4 года назад +2

    I have an 80s Marshall Master Reverb 30 (Solid State) and Boogie Mark III. Your description of the British and American tones are right on the money. Even though only one is a valve amp there is still a distinct difference.

  • @Iheartdgd
    @Iheartdgd 4 года назад +5

    You have great taste Colin.
    Love that NWOBHM sound so much. The sound of British distortion shaped me in to who I am today. Lol

  • @terryhc6020
    @terryhc6020 3 года назад +3

    Loved the way you played "Blood and Thunder" and "Waking the Demon". Needless to say, this video really helped me to buy the amp of my choice ❤️

  • @tresixteen
    @tresixteen 4 года назад +68

    The best way to do it? Run British and American in stereo :]

    • @LuxTheSlav
      @LuxTheSlav 4 года назад +7

      Yuuup. JCM800-alike left, 6505-alike right, both kicked with a TS. Brutal beauty, beautiful brutality.

    • @axlh.1827
      @axlh.1827 4 года назад +7

      Queensryche does that on empire, with Chris DeGarmo on the left and Michael Wilton on the right

    • @grunions9648
      @grunions9648 4 года назад +3

      @@LuxTheSlav That's exactly the right way around as well in my opinion, it always sounds better to me.

  • @chaseschwarz805
    @chaseschwarz805 4 года назад +6

    I'm not a fan of flying V's really, but the hardware/pickguard on yours is so sick!!!

  • @Gemini_Samura1
    @Gemini_Samura1 4 года назад +2

    A guitar channel that doesn't do RUclips drama or make videos about cringe comments?
    Subscribed.

  • @leviathan_is_me
    @leviathan_is_me 3 года назад +4

    Both are amazing sounds. Love the Orange sound! There is a classic mesa/boogie sound that is Godly as well...can't pick.

  • @frmcf
    @frmcf 4 года назад +5

    I always thought it stemmed from the types of valves that were available either side of the Atlantic in the olden days. Now I will watch and see if I was right...

  • @erymanthonseth9295
    @erymanthonseth9295 4 года назад +3

    I love the British tone. I have a Rocktron Piranha which sounds like a mix between a Rectifier and a JCM800. Given I prefer the Marshall sound, I also really like the sound and especially the attack of a Rectifier. I set my sound to have a grinding attack, with the "meat" of a JCM800. It sounds phenomenal!

  • @sim0n17
    @sim0n17 Год назад +1

    thank you for picking bits of songs that really exemplify what you're talking about well - am older, so american vs british tone just kinda defaults to fender vs marshall in my head, but I appreciate the expanded explanations and examples \m/

  • @megaduck7965
    @megaduck7965 4 года назад +1

    I never thought of Zakk having a particularly British sound but listening to you play “Bloodbath in paradise “ it makes sense

  • @jomamma1750
    @jomamma1750 4 года назад +12

    Colin I'm surprised that you didn't tell the story more accurately. I will: Thre was very little difference between English or American amps, either in sound or build! But rock and roll was ON and the people wanted LOUD! The existing triode tubes were just not cutting it, power-wise and the race was on to break the mu factor of 100(limiting factor of a triode) with a more powerful tube. The English scored first blood with the pentode tube design-the vaunted el34. But it was kind of noisy and whiney in general (but it made one hell of a guitar amp.) The American manufacturers didn't want to pay for the patent rights to the tube so they developed a (literal in this case) go around with the directed-beam tetrode. The directed-beam tetrode was sweeter, creamier and a lot quiteter than the pentode. It was a tad bit more powerful and somewhat more expensive and trickier to produce. So you see Colin, the difference in sounds was based on technology and on patent law not on what people "wanted". P.S. love your channel but I couldn't let this one slide. Peace

    • @jomamma1750
      @jomamma1750 4 года назад

      @@jsullivan2112 So which mellow tube did the English invent, and which rowdy tube was it that the Americans invented?? Am I missing out on a sextode or septode?? Or was it an octode?? I'm rather curious

    • @nikolabegonja5490
      @nikolabegonja5490 4 года назад +1

      Honestly, it's both an evolution of Fender amps. The british style of aggressive mids and loose bottom comes from the coveted Fender Bassman, and the mid scooped and treble heavy american sound with tight bass comes from the Fender Blackface circuit. The reason for this is that Mesa Boogie started by hot rodding Fender amps for more gain with more preamp stages. Even the modern Mesa Mark series amps have a lot of Blackface DNA in them. Of course, tubes did have a big impact, it's about as you described, but it's not the full story.

    • @dasschaf2476
      @dasschaf2476 4 года назад +1

      While somewhat correct you are linking the pentode (1927) and kinkless tetrode (1932) development as being related to guitar amplifiers. These technologies were developed before guitar amplifiers were invented! As with 99.9% of valve technology, the driving market was radio, television and hi-fi equipment. Guitar amplifiers were not even a consideration, being probably less than 0.01% of the market for valves. Also, a mu of 100 might be applicable to a preamp valve e.g. ECC83 with a few mA of plate current but triodes used in power stages such as the 300B have a mu in the region of 3 or 4 generally. To compare, an EL34 power pentode has a mu of 11.

    • @jomamma1750
      @jomamma1750 4 года назад

      @@dasschaf2476 So they were using multiple el34 pentode tubes in guitar amps in the early '50's correct. And who exactly was building that??(I want one) And when was the 6L6 directed beam tetrode first used?? And by whom?? And how many tubes?? I can't exactly go over a half century of tech development in 2 paragraphs, so go find out who had which patent and when things were used, and in what chronological order and my statement will begin to make sense. A LOT of sense. It requires some actual study outside of wikipedia bub.

    • @dasschaf2476
      @dasschaf2476 4 года назад +2

      @@jomamma1750 the 6L6 was introduced in 1936. If you can name a guitar amplifier built in 1936 you win the Internet.
      You were correct in that beam tetrodes were developed to avoid paying Phillips for licencing the pentode design. It all happened about twenty years before dedicated guitar amplifiers existed though. I design and build valve amplifiers as a hobby outside of my day to day electronics work, both guitar and hi-fi. This stuff isn't controversial, bub 😁

  • @Journey-of-1000-Miles
    @Journey-of-1000-Miles 4 года назад +44

    I ❤️ “American makes an incision, while British leaves you lacerated!” 👍🏽

  • @hazrod13
    @hazrod13 4 года назад +4

    damn that's a cool amp ! it's been on my list of potential buy for a long time, but i'm pretty sure it just rose to the top.

  • @brettnance3448
    @brettnance3448 4 года назад

    Dude great video. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Those bullet for my valentine licks you casually through in were great also!

  • @joythemountisland
    @joythemountisland 4 года назад +22

    Marshall still sound Marshall, even just from my phone speaker

    • @dutchdykefinger
      @dutchdykefinger 4 года назад +1

      marshall is traditionally very pronouced on the mids

  • @C1Rob1990
    @C1Rob1990 4 года назад

    THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! I have been looking for this for ages and now can actually put a name to what i like...

  • @InsomniacMatt
    @InsomniacMatt 4 года назад +20

    Would that make Revv a Canadian distortion?
    Asked by a Canadian who likes Revv and Peavey. (Owner of a Peavey)

    • @diezelvh4133
      @diezelvh4133 4 года назад +1

      Just like Diezel, Engl and Peterzburg are German distortion. Diezel vh4🤘

    • @michaeldoerksen2841
      @michaeldoerksen2841 4 года назад +1

      Don't forget Traynor. Classic Canadian Tone

    • @thorinbane
      @thorinbane 4 года назад +1

      @@michaeldoerksen2841 Garnet is decent too. Love my YBA-1 but my YCS50 is better than any modern amp I have played.

    • @jimtroeltsch5998
      @jimtroeltsch5998 4 года назад +1

      @@michaeldoerksen2841 Traynor amps are amazing. I love my vintage my ygm-4 studio mate, and I love my Custom Special 100 even more. They both sound amazing. The custom special 100 has sooooo many modern features too that make it an awesome amp to practice with, record with, or gig with. I also bought my custom special for 400 dollars canadian off reverb so the amp is completely over looked imho. Has a brilliant clean channel, and a brilliant bass filled gain channel. The third channel is nice too but i don't use it as much.

  • @5urg3x
    @5urg3x 2 года назад

    Very informative video especially for people like me who didn’t grow up with tube amps and have used digital modeling almost exclusively

  • @earthsteward9
    @earthsteward9 4 года назад +13

    You can gain an appreciation of distortion from this video

    • @katana2635
      @katana2635 4 года назад +1

      aaaahhh i see what u did there

  • @Yanthungbemo
    @Yanthungbemo 4 года назад +14

    Ayyy... Laid To Rest. I was literally thinking about this song when you were talking about the American sound and then you riff that out! 🤘🏻
    Edit: Waking The Demooooon!

  • @grunions9648
    @grunions9648 4 года назад

    I do like your 'bias knob settings' in the introductory comparison ;)

  • @leearmitage
    @leearmitage 4 года назад +1

    Great video and a good explanation of the difference between the two

  • @TVguy9999
    @TVguy9999 3 года назад +1

    Great playing! Solid video.🔥🐐🔥

  • @DragonofLimerick
    @DragonofLimerick 4 года назад

    Very cool to know! Love those 2 second blips at the end every time!!

  • @ontherocks1026
    @ontherocks1026 4 года назад

    Awesome awesome awesome awesome 👏🏼 fantastic demo . Both gain structures were showcased incredibly well . Bravo 👏🏼

  • @ljuky
    @ljuky 4 года назад +4

    Great sounds! I'm a proud owner of the Kraken. Btw, your playing improved a lot!

    • @metalmeister3054
      @metalmeister3054 2 года назад

      Would you recommend the Kraken for Heavier Thrash Metal tones like Slayer or even heavier like Nile. I would be pushing front end with an 808

  • @aravinda8689
    @aravinda8689 4 года назад +188

    These are nothing compared to Norwegian distortion.

  • @coreybruce1832
    @coreybruce1832 4 года назад +11

    Did you put the gothic v's old hardware on the harley benton?

    • @someguynamedrob581
      @someguynamedrob581 4 года назад +2

      The more I hear Colin playing that Benton, the more impressed I am with it. It punches well above its weight class.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +8

      I went to change the strings on the HB and made a snap decision to put the old gothic V hardware on it.
      That involved plugging the bridge holes (because the Gibson posts are smaller) and drilling out the stopbar holes (because the Gibson studs are larger).
      The hardware is much denser than the cheaper stock parts and it really improved how chunky the instrument sounds.
      Next job will be to upgrade the pickups and electronics.
      There's a really great guitar in there that gets better with upgrading the parts.

    • @coreybruce1832
      @coreybruce1832 4 года назад +2

      @@ScienceofLoud can't agree more. Its a killer guitar for the price. I mean £150 for a good looking and good playing single cut? Bargain
      I bought mine last September and I haven't touched my other guitar since. During quarantine, I've taken the time to mod it into a badass gigging guitar for when I can start playing shows again.
      Ive swapped the old tuners for hipshot locking ones, replaced the old nut with a graph tech one, added a string butler (thanks for the recommendation btw) and replaced the old tom bridge with a tone pros one.
      All thats left is to put on some straplocks and maybe swap out the pickups for something passive.

  • @angelzors
    @angelzors 4 года назад

    This was such an awesome comparison video! Thank you so much Colin! Greatly appreciated! Definitely going to look into getting a Kraken in the near future!

  • @waynehanley72
    @waynehanley72 4 года назад +5

    But the real question is: What happens when you turn it up to 11?

  • @danielsay9842
    @danielsay9842 4 года назад +7

    3:00 "Nessessaghurley"

  • @Superstacco
    @Superstacco 4 года назад +5

    I always thought that the dual recto was a more prevalent (studio, tours) archetype for the American gain sound than Peavy. How about Soldano? I mean, is there a lineage between hot-rod Marshall and what you'd call the American sound?

    • @Gonboo
      @Gonboo 4 года назад +1

      Stacco Troncoso it’s an ad for the kraken which bea. Helped design. His two favorite amps are a Marshall JVM and a 5150, so those are what the channels are based off.

    • @randomguy9635
      @randomguy9635 4 года назад +2

      The recto and the 6505/5150 both have preamps that are... let's call it "inspired by" (google it)... the Soldano preamp.

  • @paulstewart808
    @paulstewart808 6 месяцев назад

    OMG, THANS SO F MUCH.
    Home hobby, looking for that sound back to back for years.
    God send.
    Les P Stewart

  • @pedrobrayner4773
    @pedrobrayner4773 4 года назад

    I love this channel, with headphones everything makes sense

  • @BettyTheRaccoon
    @BettyTheRaccoon 4 года назад +10

    Ι love the American tone. Lately though I have an urge to switch to a Marshal. Did I get old and mature?

    • @felinekaiju4517
      @felinekaiju4517 4 года назад +2

      Recently, I started wanting play Jazz, as much as my triple rectifier has nice cleans, it's not quite what ai need anymore. I'm going for the dual Rec Roadster, which has a plexi and tweed mode.

    • @scriptosaurusrex
      @scriptosaurusrex 4 года назад

      Old and mature, or a midlife crisis? Going from incision to lacerations!

    • @schmoemi3386
      @schmoemi3386 4 года назад

      You got British, obviously 😳

    • @BettyTheRaccoon
      @BettyTheRaccoon 4 года назад

      @@scriptosaurusrex Well not a crisis exactly but better appreciation of some things

    • @BettyTheRaccoon
      @BettyTheRaccoon 4 года назад

      @@schmoemi3386 Sounds fun!!

  • @4stringkingstf
    @4stringkingstf 4 года назад

    Fabulous comparison and insightful explanations, as always. Cheers!

  • @n3rdg4m3r
    @n3rdg4m3r 4 года назад +7

    I have my Mesa Roadking setup for channel 1 clean with 6L6, channel 2 is edge of breakup with EL34, Channel 3 is my liquid metal with 6L6 and channel 4 is my downtuned monster with both EL34 and 6L6. I love the way that amp uses both valves in Channel 4. Its surprising how it handles the lows with 6L6 but I get the mids and bite of EL34 on top.

  • @topsecret1837
    @topsecret1837 4 года назад +2

    The British is very much the kind of sound any kind of typical metal band should sound like. The American sound tends to be a wee bit more experimental, without any of the mid, since the guitar doesn’t tend to get much dominance in the mix where the bass takes up the bass and mid. Any thoughts on Mesa Boogie?

  • @dirtbagdan5324
    @dirtbagdan5324 4 года назад +1

    this explains so much to me, i always liked Orange/Marshall amps when they were cranked. that sound at 9:17 onwards is perfect to me.

    • @shucrut63
      @shucrut63 3 года назад

      What is the riff that he played there? I can't remember the song and I'm desperate trying to figure it out hahaha

    • @smirgyjoker2484
      @smirgyjoker2484 2 года назад

      @@shucrut63 sounds like blood and thunder by mastodon

  • @zulad5556
    @zulad5556 4 года назад

    2 minutes to midnight so classic and great!

  • @philippelegault8398
    @philippelegault8398 4 года назад

    I work in a music store and I often tell my colleagues to watch your channel cause you are the best to explain the science related to music gear.
    Chers from Québec.

  • @real_fjcalabrese
    @real_fjcalabrese 4 года назад +2

    In the '50s and '60s the components available in the UK and US where different. This was a significant cause of the differences in sound.

    • @thorinbane
      @thorinbane 4 года назад

      Even up in the great white north. We used a lot of mullard branded product. Many old Traynors are full of mustard caps. Though the YBA was designed on the 59 Bassman, much like the JTM45 was, it has its own tone going on. If you ever hear a vintage Traynor, great with a boost in the front, they sound like a meatier marshall(of the 60's) and more like a JMP or JCM marshall. Lots of clarity with a 4 meg volume pot. But way to loud to play anywhere normally. Easily could have been recognized for their bulletproof design and great sound, but Canadas small population and Americas "we're number 1" attitude held back this company. Lucky for us Canadians you can find a lot of late 60's to late 70's Traynors that give you 3000 dollar tone for just 500(usd). I laugh when I see what an old Fender or vintage Marshall go for because the Traynor can get into both territories and cost less than 4 figures.

  • @tgunmusicchannel1973
    @tgunmusicchannel1973 4 года назад

    Rabea says that the Kraken British is actually modelled after a JCM900. Great video.

  • @doofinator4285
    @doofinator4285 4 года назад

    To me, the "right" distortion totally depends on what I'm playing. I hate to generically say I prefer one over the other since it's all so contextual. It's the tonal version of picking your favorite color...favorite color of what? Cars? Red. Clothes. Blue. Even within those categories there will be nuanced picks that differ. Maybe it's because I was born in Scotland and live in America but, to me, it's all subjective on the piece. Great video as always. This is one of only a few channels I subscribe to and for good reason. Keep up the good work.

  • @Disco.Wizard
    @Disco.Wizard 4 года назад

    Really well explained and demonstrated as usual great video, thanks man!

  • @priorsb11
    @priorsb11 4 года назад +1

    would love to see a breakdown of the circuits themselves, and how the harmonics they produce are different!

  • @ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy
    @ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy 4 года назад +2

    I don't even use an amplifier. Full stop. In any case, I guess the same sort of concept applies to pre-amp pedals, or "amp in a box" pedals. Case in point? I use the Effectrode Blackbird. The clean channel is a Fender Blackface, and the distortion channel is a Dumble. And then we also have the Amptweaker Tightmetal, which is made by the same guy who made the original 5150, so it might as well be a 5150 in a box. The Alexander Jubilee is a Marshall Silver Jubilee in a box. The Wampler Catapulp is an Orange in a box. The list goes on.
    Suffice it to say, anything mirroring a Marshall, or Orange, or Vox is going to have more mids. Anything mirroring Fenders or Dubles is going to be all about mids. Anything mirroring a 5150 or Rectifier is going to be mostly lacking of mids, and having much more distortion than anything else. Plus, "amp in a box" technology has become very accurate to real amplifiers these past couple years, so they mirror their target amplifiers equally as well as amplifiers mirroring other amplifiers.

  • @chrisCANguitar
    @chrisCANguitar 4 года назад +2

    Great video man! Excellent history lesson too :)
    Oh and after watching your low watt amp video (is 15 watts enough?). I scored a orange TH30 for a “retro” style punk/do-wop band.

  • @chrislawler1639
    @chrislawler1639 3 года назад

    I love this channel. I always learn something when I watch the videos👍

  • @sailingwhisper149
    @sailingwhisper149 4 года назад +8

    god dang master of puppets sounded spot on!

  • @MrGixxer1300r
    @MrGixxer1300r 3 года назад

    that V is really great looking you did a great job on it

  • @TheChadPad
    @TheChadPad 4 года назад +1

    Just a psa, this isn't really a comparison of British vs American distortion. This is all EL34 running through a British style circuit and an American style. I was really hoping we'd have EL34 on one side, and 6L6 on the other. Now THAT I'd like to see! I just hope people aren't getting confused here thinking they are hearing the American distortion sound in this demo, because they are not

  • @ccandrew111
    @ccandrew111 4 года назад +1

    Blackstar’s ISF concept is quite interesting, just a mid band sweep more or less but can lend to some interesting tones. Also, I find a tubescreamer in front of a British voiced amp gives the best of both worlds, with tighter low end and searing highs

  • @EmptyDomoKanti99
    @EmptyDomoKanti99 4 года назад +5

    i’d love to try a Victory amp for bass, through a pair of 115’s or a 215

  • @jddelarosa
    @jddelarosa 4 года назад

    Well said....again! Keep up the videos. Both entertaining and informative.

  • @Jesterhead21
    @Jesterhead21 4 года назад +1

    Now that is some awesome riffing mate!!! This video reminds me why I bought my VX100. One of the most versatile amps despite the fact of the shared eq... tbh I dont mind it at all. Colin, that Flying V is of the chart... what a guitar

  • @GryynGlo
    @GryynGlo 4 года назад +1

    This was really eye-opening! I have a Mesa/Boogie Lonestar, but turns out I think I like the british distortion better.

    • @robmcewen4621
      @robmcewen4621 2 года назад

      Apples to oranges - the Lonestar is trying to be more like an amp that stevie ray vaughan might have loved, and isn't one of Mesa's better high-gain amps. A better comparison for such high gains that this vid showcases, would be something like a Mesa Mark series or Mesa Rectifier series amp. But the Lonestar is very good at what it is trying to do!

  • @jameslewis2635
    @jameslewis2635 3 года назад

    I'm not sure how true this is but from what I have heard is that the main reason as to why Jim Marshall used different valves from Fender in his 'copy' of the Bassman is that it was the kind he could get hold of as the ones that Fender used were not easy to get hold of on this side of the Atlantic.
    Also there is supposed to be a difference of the kind of musician influencing the sounds of the two companies. While Jim Marshall was playing host to the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who and other early distortion playing pioneers, Leo Fender was getting most of his feedback from Country and Jazz musicians who wanted cleaner and brighter sounds.

  • @xMaverickFPS
    @xMaverickFPS 4 года назад

    pause the video at 3:39 - you're welcome.
    EDIT: oh yeah, great vid btw lol. this is probably the best explanation i've heard. i'd been using american distortion this whole time when recording my stuff (just a hobbyist), and it always frustrated me how "empty" it ended up sounding. i've gotta try some british distortion then.

  • @hhdhpublic
    @hhdhpublic 4 года назад +18

    So now I understand why I love the british sound. To me guitars have to sound overblown, dirty and all around just nasty. Being pretty doesnt belong to distortion guitar, at least in punk and metal.

    • @benparsons4979
      @benparsons4979 4 года назад

      the American distortion, while not fuller, sounds a lot nastier imo

  • @D-Man_Jam
    @D-Man_Jam 4 года назад +2

    7:23 That was a pretty catchy riff.

    • @GrindfatherJones
      @GrindfatherJones 4 года назад

      1k Subscribers without any videos. Pretty sure that's Opeth's Slither

  • @temorinkaari
    @temorinkaari 4 года назад

    That PRS looks and sounds so amazing. Wish i had one just like it

  • @Freedo69
    @Freedo69 4 года назад

    Nice to see you using the Harley benton :) i bought it cuz of you and it makes me happy that its a decent guitar even to experts like you.

  • @incongra
    @incongra 4 года назад

    Awesome and thanks for also doing the sign language, very helpful as I am partially deaf,

  • @jamesjohanson5675
    @jamesjohanson5675 Год назад

    1) great sounding amp
    2) exquisit choice of riffs :)

  • @riffsnoleads
    @riffsnoleads 4 года назад

    I think it should be mentioned that part of the reason that the JCM800 and 6505 are also very popular among studios is that in a "professional" sense they are very inexpensive. Both riding around $1000 (USD), which is pretty affordable compared to something like a SLP or random boutique amp.
    I really like the British sound overall but I was never happy with Orange, Vox or Marshall. It took the Peavey VTM to get me to fall in love. American take on a British circuit.

  • @jordanmayer5932
    @jordanmayer5932 4 года назад

    Great video, super informative and awesome tone man!

  • @priorsb11
    @priorsb11 4 года назад

    My Mini Rectifier has el84s in it, and when set to the vintage mode, gives a really nice approximation of what both sides have and combines them into this liquid gain tone with a slightly scooped feel. love it.

  • @stevenburvenich168
    @stevenburvenich168 2 года назад

    True as far as vague typologies in conversations are important. The difference as explained here is mainly focussed on high gain PRE amp typology. These use most of the time the same tubes: 12AX7 / ECC83 but with different tone control and filtering. And that's why switching between voicings is so convincing like the Blackstar ISF control.
    The truth is so much more varied. Feedback,or not, presence, cathode bias or fixed... these all cross national borders big time.
    Power tube choices are much more subtle. With the master volume fairly low you won't hear or feel any difference. If you design a JCM800 but built around 6L6 tubes, the amp will still sound quite 800 ish. If you add negative feedback and fixed bias to a VOX AC30, the "EL84" sound will be gone a bit, while the same tubes are there. All because circuit design trumps tube choice.
    The first Fender tweed amps like the 5E3 Deluxe are brutal in their distortion range. But 100% American. Completely different from the later Blackface era.
    The Marshall sound and Vox sound are quite different and both are British.
    It all depends on what is ment by which audience when saying American or British.

  • @jcheever37
    @jcheever37 4 года назад

    Great vid. Bonus points for playing half the riffs on my Spotify. 👨‍🎤

  • @matthew_thefallen
    @matthew_thefallen 4 года назад

    I have a Blackstar HT100 that has a knob called ISF where you can change from both British and American sound. In the middle you have the amo sound, but if you turn it right it's British and on the left it's American. Kinda cool to switch it once in a while when playing around!

  • @patrickhayden1977
    @patrickhayden1977 4 года назад +6

    What about a Boogie Rectifier head? I would consider that the benchmark for the American sound

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад

      The amp being used to demonstrate was not designed around a Mesa sound.
      It's not a dropped ball, I was addressing something different.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +1

      @@jsullivan2112 Have you considered the fact that it was a history lesson tacked onto the front of a 'here's what this amp sounds like' video?
      The development of the 6505 is an interesting piece of American amp history on its own, but I decided not to side track further about 5150, EVH, and Soldano.
      That's a conversation for another time, and as stated this is first and foremost a video about the sound of the featured amplifier.
      The fact of the matter is if a manufacturer says "american" they mean 6505. If they want to imply Mesa they'll more likely say something like "treadplate"

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  4 года назад +1

      Also, I think Mesa is more localised to the California sound, so calling that American is contentious depending on who you talk to.

    • @patrickhayden1977
      @patrickhayden1977 4 года назад

      CSGuitars Pretty much all the discussions I’ve had always were Mesa or Marshall. Granted , that was in the late 1980s when I was actively playing and touring. ALL the metal guys had a Mesa Quad Preamp / Mark head or a Rectifier Head. The JCM / Plexi guys had 50 watters and pushed the hell out of them. Both ways were killer sounds. I’m a Marshall guy and will always be. I had a Dual recctifer half stack and I don’t miss it. I now have a JVM410H and could not be happier. Keep up the cool videos.

    • @FormedUnique
      @FormedUnique 4 года назад +1

      @@ScienceofLoud everyone in the states knows mesa is the best for american music and I'm from the east coast

  • @stevecanfield8089
    @stevecanfield8089 4 года назад +3

    Nice styracosaurus and parasaurolophus on the amp.

  • @johnhaynes8033
    @johnhaynes8033 4 года назад

    Didn't think this scottish bugga could play......i was bloody wrong !! Well done lad , keep it going .

  • @jamowallace
    @jamowallace 4 года назад +6

    Colin, your channel is flippin’ great. End of 🤘🏻🤘🏻