Please comment with your favorite AMP and PEDAL combos below! Remember, this ultimately comes down to taste. Anything I say in this video is only a consideration based on what I'm hearing in the room as this was being recorded.
My current high gain combo, next to the high gain 5150 alike channel on my amp, is the Victory VX100 with the snake oil marvelous engine. And for low gain it’s King of tone and victory V140 ;) Ahh and for clean you might be surprised, but as I don’t have a V140 on Hand at the Moment, I use the clean channel in the VX100 and add a walrus audio defcon 4 in front to make up for the missing half preamp Tube, makes a really great clean sound (if you compare to other high gain amps, the clean sound is just unreal)
So right now I'm running a Tone King Gremlin head into a Marshall 4/12 Alnico loaded 65 brass logo re-ish cabinet With original 65 Strat into a Diaz TX Ranger - Xotic Super Clean boost - Lovepedal EPH3 echo and sometimes a Fuzz Phonics EXP fuzz and RYRA Klone..all depending on the situation but the Xotic and EPH3 always after whatever drives I'm using Pretty minimal actually Great demo and good playing
@@jordanhenderson4665 it clips the mic pre a bit...I think when we dialed it in at first I might have had the amp a little more tame, so yes, there is a little clipping of the mic.
To my ears, the Fender Deluxe made everything sound really good - regardless of pedal or guitar. I already own a Marshall JCM800 and a Vox AC. Now I need to get a Fender Deluxe too! This was really an eyeopener!
Nothing wrong with that! My set up is LPs and ES-335 into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I use the JHS Morning Glory and Archer Ikon (clone style) overdrive pedals. I love these clean warm tones!
I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue that has been modded with 6L6 power tubes and an Eminence George Alessandro speaker. Great with all my pedals, especially my Analogman King of Tone and Barber Gain Changer.
When I hear Vox and a TS pedal in the same sentence, I automatically think Oasis. Great analysis of what a single pedal can do to three very different amps.
This video perfectly encapsulates how i feel about Fender amps particularly as platform amps....sounds like somebody covers the mic with a thick wool blanket whenever the Fender is on. The Marshall / EL34 platform serves cleans AND pedals the best IMO, just so clear and barky, a perfect companion to the electric guitar.
Absolutely! Been playing with bend on JCM and Fender Deluxe Reverb, and I always prefered Fender for pedal platform. Marshall is a little scoped already, but Fender is kind of neutral and with more mid presence.
When I got my Vox AC15 I dug out an old Tech21 pedal called XXL. It turned out to pair with the amp in the most beautiful way. While I can get some high gain sounds from this combo, any other pedal that I try to dial in an equal amount of gain isn’t capable of cleaning up as well as the XXL does. This is for my taste and style the best combination of amp and pedal I’ve tried. And I’ve had most amps previously - Fender, Marshall, HiWatt, Laney and many others - and I’ve tried most while working 15 years in a music store.
Les Paul with Marshal and Strat with Fender worked for me in most cases. The Vox is great with scooped mids. Hey, but it's all good. This was a must-see video, and thanks for the effort.
@@VertexEffectsInc Hell yeah, totally don't blame you. I'd have gone the same way. I literally own a version of all 3 of those amps; a 50 master volume JMP, an AC30HW2 and a custom built Deluxe Reverb with a 5E3 circuit in the "normal" channel. Not to mention that almost every amp ever made is based on a super lead, ac30 or 60's Fender. I appreciate you're content my dude. I'm just all gassed up about my DR103. I'm so thrilled with it.
What a great demo! Your perfect use of graphics/overlays really adds to the effectiveness of your videos - so easy to follow. Also you have an appropriate amount of playing for a sound demo. I always learn something on this channel. Thank you!
I didn't like the Vox when I tried one at the store, but the Vox/Blues Breaker/LP combo brought out that classic brittish rock tone in your demo. Best tones for me were all the Fender. I'm lately playing with a Blues Deluxe/Archer IKON set up with multiple guitars. I'll stack the Archer with a Boss BD-2 to get my distortion.
Great video. Helps me understand why one amp doesn’t work with all pedals. Wish I knew the pedal settings in the demo. And the pedals listed as alternatives which style pedal they represented. Thanks again!!
I'm with Budget Gear Guru... the Fender stole the show... it's just this one man's opinion. I still love my Marshall though... I like it when pushed... but my Fender gets used more often, since I play clean tones more often. A Timmy is my hotter drive... Loving your channel. You are one smart man, perceptive, experienced, knowledgable, I'm learning a lot. I have one of your pedals... when funds are abundant, I will purchase more... your Boost really has peeked my interest.... and I see your point about soldered cables. Another tone chaser I am... why is this so endless? Why am I not quite satisfied no matter what pedal or amp I use? Music... it's endless. I'm old, still at it, still driven. Time to get back at it.
Owned a lot of high-end Vox, Marshall, limited Fender. Clean Channel on Mesa Triple Crown is great as a platform, plus two additional superb overdrive channels. Started selling the others.
The extra low end from the Fender amp will typically sound fuller in isolated comparison. In a mix that low end will have to get chopped off to make way for drums and bass though, so the Fender will sound closer to the others after that. But if you are just playing without drums or bass then fender amp all the way.
Without watching the video I already knew Fender would win. I don’t know about vintage pedals but newer pedals most of the time use a Fender amp as a test amp.
I have a Fender Vibro Champ, a Marshall DSL 15 C combo amp and a Vox AC15C1 with a Blue Alnico Celestion speaker) they all work GREAT with the pedals I use. I only use 4 different pedals. My brightest burner one is my Vibro Champ the Vox is very clear detailed tones and my Marshall can get that dirty tone.
@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks I love them all.The electric guitars I use through these are a SRV Fender Strat and a Gibson Firebird and they give me tones I love. I have a Ampeg PF-50T amp on a Forta-flex 15 and I really love the sound of my Ampeg tube amp too. Another GREAT tube amp.
To be honest, I am happy with my Fender Mustang IV V2. Just find a clean modeling amp setting you like, tweak the EQ nobs for your personal taste and use your pedal board for everything else. It sounds great
With my orange or50 nothing sounds as good as the amps natural distortion. You get an ok sound with pedals but compared to the amps gain, nothing comes close. Clean boosts are the only way forward. But that's just my opinion. Awesome video 🤘
I agree...when I was using an old Plexi into the matching cab or cabs nothing made it sound better Actually sounded worse but I would imagine some sort of clean boost like they have these days would sound good My HiWatts liked pedals better though
They all have something to bring the table. But i really like the Vox strat and blues breaker. The Marshall and Fender were also nice with the rat and tube screamer. The les paul was great with everything. It's hard to decide
I totally agree. I can not hear significant difference. I personally own same pedals and same amps and I can tell difference can not heard while in the real there is big difference
@@mauriziolauroja9370 are you listening to them recored close mic'd that a pretty common occurrence that things in the room will sound different than when their close mic'd. Just as an amp has to be way higher gain to come across as distorted in a recording or a lot more delay mix is required to hear a delay in a recording close mic'd.
Great review, I listened without seeing the video and you didnt spoiled their name. At the end I think the AC30 was the king, fender second marshall last
Wooowww this topic is awesome!!!! Well, I just have a cheap fender mustang III v2 BUT, the Hiwatt custom 50, the fender twin and deluxe reverb 65, and the vox ac30 simulations are so good for pedals. Still, in all my years playing the best tube amp I tried with my board was a Marshall JCM 800 Reissue, with a 4x12 cab. Pretty standard, I know, but there isn't too much variety in rehearsal studios here in Peru
Marshall with rat and LP, Vox with bluesbreaker and strat, fender amp with tubescreamer and strat. For me. But it really comes down to how you equalize.
As it can be a personal preference, and it actually is, I really liked the Vox/Strat tones with the BB and TS10 very much! The Rat sounded very nice through the LP/Marchall. It also depends on wich pickup you play imo. Great review, thats for sure! Thanks Mason!
The only critique is I think it's way too much reverb to my ear which is obscuring the tone making it hard to hear how each amp reacts to drive pedals !
I am sure that I'm not the only person who was on the edge of their seat by 03:10 of this video. 😄The comparison hasn't even started, but we all know that Mason already knows exactly what we all want to know.
I just upgraded my amp after much research, I decided on a Quilter Tone Block 202 Amp into the Quilter 15" Block Dock Cab, does great with pedals, power!, lightweight, sounds great, But still use my 1980s Roland Jazz Chorus -55 too.
I'm going to give my feeling of the subject before watching the video. I've been using a Marshall Plexi last couple years. Sound really good, especially if the amp is on the edge of breakup. normally don't do this due to volume. This works really well, but I do feel Marshall colors the sound more than some amps. For bang for the buck, I would tell new guitarist to get a Fender Deluxe for their pedal amp. Plenty loud for live shows, I could play my ML Deville all day with out any pedals. The pedals just add color to a really good sound. Get a used one, it is one of the best deals out there on a quality, reliable amp. If you got cash, get one of the 68 reissue Fenders with tremolo.
The new 40 watt, 35 lb., Pro Reverb would be a great pedal platform. Marshall Origin for the price is as good of a pedal platform as I've played ( beautiful clean tones, and brutally loud.)
I really liked the Fender with the Bluesbraker (i'm a fan of that bass, although i'm not sure how would it work in a mix). But in fact i find in more interesting to note it down the overall concepts and consider using Marshall or even the Vox with Tubescreamer as a different color in the pallette for a given situation. Very educational video! Cheers!
If you put a boss eq pedal in the effects loop you can dial in to work better interfacing with scooped mids overdrive pedals or other types. A lot of 80s guitars did this try it out and make a video about it
@@VertexEffectsInc so putting an eq pedal in the effects loop will overload driving the input front end to much so you need to use eq pedals that are 18vdc or 24vdc to have more headroom for effect loops used with amplifiers?
Great video and tasteful playing, Mason! Excellent demo for these classic options, I honestly like all the sounds, but I play a variety of styles. For pedal platform, I prefer LP style into Fender personally, and this is the base of my rig.
I'm with you. I just recently bought a DR103 and it has instantly become my favorite amp. Highs that are clear, thick, sweet and bright without being shrill or piercing. PLENTY of low end that's tight and fat but never woofy. Incredible EQ, ability to jump the channels. It's the amp I never knew I always wanted. I also own a Marshall JMP Super Lead, a handwired Vox AC30, a 1961 6G9-A Fender Tremolux, a boutique "Deluxe Reverb" with both a 5E3 and AB763 circuits and Mercury Magnetics trannies, a Greer Mini Chief, a Dr. Z Mazerati V1 and a Mesa Tremoverb and I'd take the DR103 over every one of them. I have every intention to eventually buy a 2nd one. I'd certainly agree that it's an incredible "pedal platform."
@@michaeltaylor3191 Dude, any amp at any decent volume can be a threat to hearing health; that's why we put the speakers in a separate room or use baffles.
They all had their own thing and sounded great. The Marshall and Fender really ticked the boxes for me. I think the NMV Marshalls are criminally underrated as a clean amp. I love them as a platform for pedals but get shot down and told I'm wasting the amp using it that way.
I really like the sound of EL34’s with almost any kind of pedal. Fun fact: today I just turned my Dyna Comp into a broken fuzzy Fuzz with the 6 watt all tube (2 x 12ax7 + 1 x EL34) AMP volume all way up. SWEEEEET
Thanks...I felt pretty bad about it...we were a bit rushed at the end of the video to get it all in as we shoot a few videos at a time when we book a studio so I didn't get to work out as good of parts as I would have liked and no change to overdub or punch in because of the rush at the tail end that day.
Super informative, thanks! I was surprised how well all three amps did with those pedals. I have a hard time using pedals with my Marshall JVM210H (EL34s), though I love its tone without pedals, so I've been looking into a better pedal platform. I'll definitely audition some 6V6/6L6 and some EL84 amps now. For me, the Fender had the edge for most of these demos.
I have a fender hot rod deluxe but since using the iridium for live stuff, I love the sound of a vox or the chime channel. I really want to try an actual vox amp out now.
In summary, if you want a great tone, get this guy to play for you. He's a fantastic player, and makes every pedal sound good through every amp you'll ever own. You can't lose!
Pretty traditional. AC30 = 2x12 Blues, Marshall = 4x12 Greenbacks, Deluxe = 1x12 Celestion Classic Lead 80. All are what you'd expect minus the Deluxe.
Great video Mason! Looking for a new amp myself, not sure if I want to go the Deluxe/Princeton route or one of those new 20w Marshall Studio Plexis for that "Marshall-clean" base tone. Decisions decisions haha
@@VertexEffectsInc Good to know. Most of my experience has been with the BF Fender-style platform but I have been intrigued by the "Plexi clean" angle. I'm not opposed to changing up my pedal gain staging if needed. Great amp/pedal selections for this video, super helpful and well thought-out!!
Great video..all the amps and guitars and pedals are cool...If you know exactly what you want or need then it's easy..but if you don't or have to be flexible then its a bit different..was doing a guitar legend gig for a few years and to be versatile ..can't pack multiple amp or guitars,,no room sketchy security etc..but I could take lots of pedals..lol had 3 boards and a microphone in the middle..bets choice was the deluxe easier to get a fender to sound like a marshall than a marshall to sound like a fender..trick is to level amps frequency..essentially zeroing out or at least flattening the curve ..oh yeah fender fit in my toyota too..lol..
Most well made amps like HiWatt especially love pedals....I just recently picked up a Tone King amp and it just adores pedals,all up front too surprisingly I like to say this about the TK amps "It's the best amp Fender never made" Really is too...very Fender like circuits And the icing on the cake too is the built in attenuator and I have NEVER been a fan of them but somehow he got these to just sound fantastic So much so that I'm getting a 2nd model One combo and one head They aren't cheap either but we'll worth it and I'm very picky
A lot do, not all, I wouldn't say most. But it depends on the pedals. Some of the classics as you can see here didn't do as well with some pedals as others.
'94 Jackson PS-4 > FX69 Grunge > Dolamo D-8 Overdrive > FX747 Supersonic Stereo Flanger > Azor Delay > 2003 Peavy Bandit Red Stripe 112. It's a dirty and disreputable signal chain but I like it. In a few weeks, I'll probably be adding a Ram's Head Big Muff clone to the chain.
great test, those 3 amps are the cornerstones of just about every amp out there! I am working on a theory that great sound comes from opposites working together like: DR midrange scoop + Tube Screamer midrange hump = great sound I have one more theory: Great sound is all about the EQ... the voicings of pedals and amps is such a big part of the sound. I'm a bit surprised that the Deluxe Reverb sounds pretty good, I could not make my DR Reissue sound right with pedals. It had some kind of 'metallic rasp' to the sound I couldn't live with, even after breaking in the speaker. After replacing it with a Bruno Cowtipper 22 all was well again! next time turn down the reverb please 🙂
If you have monitors or headphones listen through that, we’re trying to remove some of the close mic sound of the 57 to make it have a little more space, in a phone it won’t be ideal for listening
@@VertexEffectsInc I watched the video over great quality headphones, the sound was awesome, as a matter of taste I probabbly back down the verb just a little, but it was a great audio experience. I was surprised with the vox, I've tried an AC15 and a 30 quite a few years back and I never liked the sound. Watching your vid almost changed my mind... BTW for pedal platafform I use a Hiwatt Custom 100 DR103 and a lot of Fenders. I'm a Fender kind of guy for Amps anyway. Great video, great tones, great playing. Thanks
for me best was the tubescreamer - vox combo followed by the bluesbreaker into the deluxe all other combos suffered from too much reverb especially with the rat
Great demonstration. For me and only me: Fender sounds too warm on all but Tubescreamer, the mid effect. Vox I have, Marshall not all that different. I'm a happy camper.
A very informative video; thank you a ton! The info missing here however is how hot the amps were running. This is a crucial factor weighing in on how a given amplifier responds to dirt pedals. The same machine may sound tinny and brittle on one settings, and round and ringing on other.
This is covered in the video when we explain the process. All the amplifiers are set clean. Furthermore, there is a demonstration of each of the amps as a clean reference before we start adding in the distortion in overdrive devices
Fender Represent!!!! With the bluesbreaker. Very nice indeed. Though I would have loved to hear that Mostortion. I mean... I know what it sounds like... I just like it. Lol. Danelectro copied it perfectly except for the clipping options. I mean we gotta get new players loving that circuit dont we? Sounds good man.
Thanks for watching! I figured we'd go with really "known" and highly replicated circuits for this since typically the "clean amp platform" is used for overdrive stacking.
Hey! It's always inspiring to check out all the pedals and tips that you share🙏 A great way to test those amps and pedals 👍and I'm very surprised, that the Fender Deluxe was so "unbright"😉 I wanted to like the Marshal, but I ended up liking The Deluxe Reverb the most. I have a "bright" Fender amp, I have the The Guv'nor, I have the TS, but my current "hero" plays with a Hendrixy Marshall vintage sound (Ben Granfelt). And that is what I'm looking for now... so maybe I should stay...
Glad you dug the video! The Fender is great! It does have a Classic Lead 80 speaker in it (which is an old Nashville trick that Tom Bukovac told me about years ago).
You do great work and I've found so much of your information useful over the years . The sound that I'm surprised that wasn't covered here was amp almost or on the brink of breaking up and being pushed by an overdrive pedal. This is the way I've almost always used my tubscreamer type pedals and this is especially useful for tightening up a big Marshall type amp when driven . I've never tried any Bluebreaker type pedals, but I do have a Wampler Euphoria which does a nice transpansparent OD thing... I would like to try a Morning Glory or a POT.
![How To Set Your Amp For Pedals [Gain, EQ, Volume & FX Loops]](/img/1.gif)
Please comment with your favorite AMP and PEDAL combos below!
Remember, this ultimately comes down to taste. Anything I say in this video is only a consideration based on what I'm hearing in the room as this was being recorded.
My current high gain combo, next to the high gain 5150 alike channel on my amp, is the Victory VX100 with the snake oil marvelous engine.
And for low gain it’s King of tone and victory V140 ;)
Ahh and for clean you might be surprised, but as I don’t have a V140 on Hand at the Moment, I use the clean channel in the VX100 and add a walrus audio defcon 4 in front to make up for the missing half preamp Tube, makes a really great clean sound (if you compare to other high gain amps, the clean sound is just unreal)
So right now I'm running a Tone King Gremlin head into a Marshall 4/12 Alnico loaded 65 brass logo re-ish cabinet With original 65 Strat into a Diaz TX Ranger - Xotic Super Clean boost - Lovepedal EPH3 echo and sometimes a Fuzz Phonics EXP fuzz and RYRA Klone..all depending on the situation but the Xotic and EPH3 always after whatever drives I'm using Pretty minimal actually Great demo and good playing
Is there a camera mic on in the Marshall clip at 8:10??? Sounds like you can hear the pick hitting the strings in the room. Same for 11:15 mark.
@@jordanhenderson4665 it clips the mic pre a bit...I think when we dialed it in at first I might have had the amp a little more tame, so yes, there is a little clipping of the mic.
@@paulcowart3174 sounds like a dream!
Oh yess!!! Im all about the DI tone straight into my interface and compressed to the max for the minor 9 chords! Very excited for this!!
You've come to the right place!
The Fender amp consistantly sounded the coolest to me. They're all good, but to my ear Fender wins.
I love Fender amps, I use the Hot Rod Deluxe for my blues and rock playing. (but a Peavey 6505 for metal)
They're great!
@@michaelbell1204 I have both too!
To my ears, the Fender Deluxe made everything sound really good - regardless of pedal or guitar. I already own a Marshall JCM800 and a Vox AC. Now I need to get a Fender Deluxe too!
This was really an eyeopener!
Glad it was helpful
Ironically I love the way the les paul sounds into the fender amp!
Nothing wrong with that! My set up is LPs and ES-335 into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. I use the JHS Morning Glory and Archer Ikon (clone style) overdrive pedals. I love these clean warm tones!
That's a good combo!
The sound of that Fender Deluxe Reverb 1964 is just in a league of its own.
Congrats Mason! Great idea and really well done! It's impossible to cover everything. The examples chosen were very appropriate. GREAT content!
Glad you liked it!
I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue that has been modded with 6L6 power tubes and an Eminence George Alessandro speaker. Great with all my pedals, especially my Analogman King of Tone and Barber Gain Changer.
Nice! Sounds like a cool amp! That's a great classic American speaker too, one of my favorite for a Deluxe!
The Gain Changer has been tossed about lately
Love my Gain Changer S.R. = phenomenal pedal.
@@michael_caz_nyc Nice!
When I hear Vox and a TS pedal in the same sentence, I automatically think Oasis. Great analysis of what a single pedal can do to three very different amps.
Well said!
This video perfectly encapsulates how i feel about Fender amps particularly as platform amps....sounds like somebody covers the mic with a thick wool blanket whenever the Fender is on. The Marshall / EL34 platform serves cleans AND pedals the best IMO, just so clear and barky, a perfect companion to the electric guitar.
Thanks for watching and the feedback!
Great video. After see it I realized why I am a VOX fanatic. I found very exciting the combination PAF+BB+VOX. Nice video again!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I gotta say I was impressed by Strat-Blues breaker-Vox. Did not see that coming.
Heck yea...me neither
The Fender all the way, for me. I'm a Vox guy, but might actually go buy a Fender amp now!
They can be nice combined :)
Absolutely!
Been playing with bend on JCM and Fender Deluxe Reverb, and I always prefered Fender for pedal platform.
Marshall is a little scoped already, but Fender is kind of neutral and with more mid presence.
Fender the best pedal platform for me for its clarity and clean signal 👍 I have an AC 30 and it’s not great for amp in a box type pedals
Good choice!
I use a Port City Pearl as a clean platform amp and I cannot say enough good things about it. Best amp I've ever owned!
Yes indeed!
When I got my Vox AC15 I dug out an old Tech21 pedal called XXL. It turned out to pair with the amp in the most beautiful way. While I can get some high gain sounds from this combo, any other pedal that I try to dial in an equal amount of gain isn’t capable of cleaning up as well as the XXL does. This is for my taste and style the best combination of amp and pedal I’ve tried. And I’ve had most amps previously - Fender, Marshall, HiWatt, Laney and many others - and I’ve tried most while working 15 years in a music store.
Nice! It's always nice to rediscover something!
By far the most informative video I’ve seen about this. Thank you 🙏🏼
I always look forward to your video!
My favorite combos are HIWATT DR-103 and DIY Fuzz-based Big Muff.
I'm so glad you dig it! That sounds like an amazing combo!
Les Paul with Marshal and Strat with Fender worked for me in most cases. The Vox is great with scooped mids. Hey, but it's all good. This was a must-see video, and thanks for the effort.
Thanks for watching 🙏🙏🙏
Hiwatts for sure. Although all my overdrive pedals love 1960's brown and black face Fenders.
I bet...didn't do any Hiwatt amps in here mostly because of the pervasiveness of the Marshall, Fender, Vox big three.
@@VertexEffectsInc Hell yeah, totally don't blame you. I'd have gone the same way. I literally own a version of all 3 of those amps; a 50 master volume JMP, an AC30HW2 and a custom built Deluxe Reverb with a 5E3 circuit in the "normal" channel. Not to mention that almost every amp ever made is based on a super lead, ac30 or 60's Fender. I appreciate you're content my dude. I'm just all gassed up about my DR103. I'm so thrilled with it.
@@VertexEffectsInc BTW, I sweat that 64 Deluxe of yours. That thing is KILLER.
@@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer Yes, player grade but great, the Classic Lead 80 is the best speaker for these IMO
@@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer Thanks for watching as always!
Another great and lovely video from The Rig Doctor Uncle Mason! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I've learned a lot, as usual!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a great demo! Your perfect use of graphics/overlays really adds to the effectiveness of your videos - so easy to follow. Also you have an appropriate amount of playing for a sound demo. I always learn something on this channel. Thank you!
🙏🙏🙏 thanks for watching!!!
I use my vox AC15 and my silverface princeton reverb with the morning glory, tumnus and the Timmy. These pedals go great with both my amps.
Nice!
My 73 twin reverb is an absolute clean machine
Oh yea! What speakers!?
I didn't like the Vox when I tried one at the store, but the Vox/Blues Breaker/LP combo brought out that classic brittish rock tone in your demo. Best tones for me were all the Fender. I'm lately playing with a Blues Deluxe/Archer IKON set up with multiple guitars. I'll stack the Archer with a Boss BD-2 to get my distortion.
Nice!
Great video. Helps me understand why one amp doesn’t work with all pedals. Wish I knew the pedal settings in the demo. And the pedals listed as alternatives which style pedal they represented. Thanks again!!
I gotta say I have had all those amps but the hiwatt is my jam now and for ever!!!! Love the HIWATT
Those are great too!!!
Me too have a 78 and two cabs
I'm with Budget Gear Guru... the Fender stole the show... it's just this one man's opinion.
I still love my Marshall though... I like it when pushed... but my Fender gets used more often, since I play clean tones more often. A Timmy is my hotter drive...
Loving your channel. You are one smart man, perceptive, experienced, knowledgable, I'm learning a lot.
I have one of your pedals... when funds are abundant, I will purchase more... your Boost really has peeked my interest.... and I see your point about soldered cables.
Another tone chaser I am... why is this so endless? Why am I not quite satisfied no matter what pedal or amp I use? Music... it's endless. I'm old, still at it, still driven. Time to get back at it.
Thanks for all the support and I think you’ll love our boost!
No one better at making comprehensive videos, showing both Strats and Les Paul style guitars, so we can truly hear what they both sound like.
Owned a lot of high-end Vox, Marshall, limited Fender. Clean Channel on Mesa Triple Crown is great as a platform, plus two additional superb overdrive channels. Started selling the others.
Nice, good suggestion
The extra low end from the Fender amp will typically sound fuller in isolated comparison. In a mix that low end will have to get chopped off to make way for drums and bass though, so the Fender will sound closer to the others after that. But if you are just playing without drums or bass then fender amp all the way.
Thanks for watching!
Without watching the video I already knew Fender would win. I don’t know about vintage pedals but newer pedals most of the time use a Fender amp as a test amp.
They're great amps, no doubt!
Fender all the way !!!
Love my Fenders!!!
I have a Fender Vibro Champ, a Marshall DSL 15 C combo amp and a Vox AC15C1 with a Blue Alnico Celestion speaker) they all work GREAT with the pedals I use. I only use 4 different pedals. My brightest burner one is my Vibro Champ the Vox is very clear detailed tones and my Marshall can get that dirty tone.
Nice...you got all the big food groups there!
@@VertexEffectsInc Thanks I love them all.The electric guitars I use through these are a SRV Fender Strat and a Gibson Firebird and they give me tones I love.
I have a Ampeg PF-50T amp on a Forta-flex 15 and I really love the sound of my Ampeg tube amp too. Another GREAT tube amp.
@@lawrencetimer1024 nice!
What I learned from this video is that buying all this stuff and getting our own learning hands on experience.
To be honest, I am happy with my Fender Mustang IV V2. Just find a clean modeling amp setting you like, tweak the EQ nobs for your personal taste and use your pedal board for everything else. It sounds great
Nice!
With my orange or50 nothing sounds as good as the amps natural distortion. You get an ok sound with pedals but compared to the amps gain, nothing comes close. Clean boosts are the only way forward. But that's just my opinion. Awesome video 🤘
Nice! Thanks for sharing that and for watching!
I agree...when I was using an old Plexi into the matching cab or cabs nothing made it sound better Actually sounded worse but I would imagine some sort of clean boost like they have these days would sound good My HiWatts liked pedals better though
I agree... Orange makes great amps but they are not made for pedals
@@sleepwait9613 yes indeed!
They all have something to bring the table. But i really like the Vox strat and blues breaker. The Marshall and Fender were also nice with the rat and tube screamer. The les paul was great with everything. It's hard to decide
Great combo!
Great idea for a video. I just wish there wasn't so much reverb so you could properly hear the amps!
If you can’t properly hear the amps properly than I think there’s something wrong with your speaker, try monitors or headphones 🎧
I totally agree. I can not hear significant difference. I personally own same pedals and same amps and I can tell difference can not heard while in the real there is big difference
@@mauriziolauroja9370 are you listening to them recored close mic'd that a pretty common occurrence that things in the room will sound different than when their close mic'd. Just as an amp has to be way higher gain to come across as distorted in a recording or a lot more delay mix is required to hear a delay in a recording close mic'd.
Great review, I listened without seeing the video and you didnt spoiled their name. At the end I think the AC30 was the king, fender second marshall last
That Tube Screamer through the Deluxe is where it's at for me.
Great classic tone!
Of all my amps. I’ll go to the grave with my silverface bassman 50. It sounds beautiful clean and takes pedals like no other amp I have.
I run my pedalboard in front of a Blankenship Twinplex set clean on the verge of breakup. Best sounding “pedalboard amp” I have ever heard
Great amp!
Thank you. Great video as always.
Thanks Howard! You rock! Thanks for watching!
Wooowww this topic is awesome!!!! Well, I just have a cheap fender mustang III v2 BUT, the Hiwatt custom 50, the fender twin and deluxe reverb 65, and the vox ac30 simulations are so good for pedals. Still, in all my years playing the best tube amp I tried with my board was a Marshall JCM 800 Reissue, with a 4x12 cab. Pretty standard, I know, but there isn't too much variety in rehearsal studios here in Peru
Heck yea! I think you'll enjoy this!
They all sound fantastic!
Oh man...that's going to make your amp/pedal choice harder! My hope is that one would stand out to any prospective buyer of pedals/amps
I use a ‘91 Peavey Classic-50 4x10 ... loves my pedals. It has some good mileage on it & I just can’t replace it.
👍👍👍
the other variable in the mix that affects what we hear...is the amount of hearing damage we've done to ourselves playing or going to concerts (lol)
Yes!
What a smart, well-done demo. Thx.
🙏🙏🙏 I hope we earned your subscription! Thanks for watching!
I mean can we all just agree that they are ALL amazing tone combos!
Heck yes!!!
Marshall with rat and LP, Vox with bluesbreaker and strat, fender amp with tubescreamer and strat. For me. But it really comes down to how you equalize.
You can't equalize yourself out of a bad pedal/amp combo.
@@VertexEffectsInc very true, I meant for the slight differences in personal taste.
The tremendous amount of reverb on everything kills the comparison.
As it can be a personal preference, and it actually is, I really liked the Vox/Strat tones with the BB and TS10 very much! The Rat sounded very nice through the LP/Marchall. It also depends on wich pickup you play imo. Great review, thats for sure! Thanks Mason!
Thanks for watching and for sharing that insight!
Good video. Nice job describing sounds in concise words. Subscribed.
The only critique is I think it's way too much reverb to my ear which is obscuring the tone making it hard to hear how each amp reacts to drive pedals !
But the same reverb is on all amps...so it's it a constant across them not impacting one without the others?
@@VertexEffectsInc It's too much reverb..at least to evaluate drive pedals.. now if we were looking at reverb pedals that's another story
Yeah i thought the same thing
Killa playin' though. Hail the rig doctor
Sounde great, nice playing Mason!
Thanks for watching!
I am sure that I'm not the only person who was on the edge of their seat by 03:10 of this video. 😄The comparison hasn't even started, but we all know that Mason already knows exactly what we all want to know.
Thank you for this. A very comprehensive look at the most likely scenarios a player will be faced with. Cheers.
Glad it was helpful!
Good review bro.. I actually like the Rat in the Marshall, I love fender amps but not my favorite paired together
The Rat is a champ!
Deluxe Reverb for the win in my book!
👍👍👍
I just upgraded my amp after much research, I decided on a Quilter Tone Block 202 Amp into the Quilter 15" Block Dock Cab, does great with pedals, power!, lightweight, sounds great, But still use my 1980s Roland Jazz Chorus -55 too.
That’s one way to go, and they can sound nice 👍
I'm going to give my feeling of the subject before watching the video. I've been using a Marshall Plexi last couple years. Sound really good, especially if the amp is on the edge of breakup. normally don't do this due to volume. This works really well, but I do feel Marshall colors the sound more than some amps. For bang for the buck, I would tell new guitarist to get a Fender Deluxe for their pedal amp. Plenty loud for live shows, I could play my ML Deville all day with out any pedals. The pedals just add color to a really good sound. Get a used one, it is one of the best deals out there on a quality, reliable amp. If you got cash, get one of the 68 reissue Fenders with tremolo.
Good advice and commentary here! Thanks for sharing!
The new 40 watt, 35 lb., Pro Reverb would be a great pedal platform. Marshall Origin for the price is as good of a pedal platform as I've played ( beautiful clean tones, and brutally loud.)
@@ttexas1963 I just got the new pro reverb last week, by far the best pedal platform I've owned.
I really liked the Fender with the Bluesbraker (i'm a fan of that bass, although i'm not sure how would it work in a mix). But in fact i find in more interesting to note it down the overall concepts and consider using Marshall or even the Vox with Tubescreamer as a different color in the pallette for a given situation. Very educational video! Cheers!
Thanks Gustavo!
If you put a boss eq pedal in the effects loop you can dial in to work better interfacing with scooped mids overdrive pedals or other types. A lot of 80s guitars did this try it out and make a video about it
Yep! Best way to voice your amp in many different ways.
the problem is the EQ can't take most FX loops levels so you'll want to try something with more headroom. I like the Empress ParaEQ at 18V for this.
@@VertexEffectsInc so putting an eq pedal in the effects loop will overload driving the input front end to much so you need to use eq pedals that are 18vdc or 24vdc to have more headroom for effect loops used with amplifiers?
Great video and tasteful playing, Mason! Excellent demo for these classic options, I honestly like all the sounds, but I play a variety of styles. For pedal platform, I prefer LP style into Fender personally, and this is the base of my rig.
Can’t go wrong!
I use a couple of mid 70s Hiwatt DR 103s. Plenty of punch.
I'm with you. I just recently bought a DR103 and it has instantly become my favorite amp. Highs that are clear, thick, sweet and bright without being shrill or piercing. PLENTY of low end that's tight and fat but never woofy. Incredible EQ, ability to jump the channels. It's the amp I never knew I always wanted.
I also own a Marshall JMP Super Lead, a handwired Vox AC30, a 1961 6G9-A Fender Tremolux, a boutique "Deluxe Reverb" with both a 5E3 and AB763 circuits and Mercury Magnetics trannies, a Greer Mini Chief, a Dr. Z Mazerati V1 and a Mesa Tremoverb and I'd take the DR103 over every one of them. I have every intention to eventually buy a 2nd one.
I'd certainly agree that it's an incredible "pedal platform."
Dude you really must not value your hearing. (I'm not jealous, I swear.)
@@michaeltaylor3191 Dude, any amp at any decent volume can be a threat to hearing health; that's why we put the speakers in a separate room or use baffles.
@@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer Same here, I have a plethora of amps but I always fall back on those 2 :)
Hiwatts are great!
They all had their own thing and sounded great. The Marshall and Fender really ticked the boxes for me. I think the NMV Marshalls are criminally underrated as a clean amp. I love them as a platform for pedals but get shot down and told I'm wasting the amp using it that way.
Glad you dig it!
@@VertexEffectsInc I'm in the minority but I'm loving those tones.
Super helpful Mason. Thanks!
Thanks! Hope it helps!
I really like the sound of EL34’s with almost any kind of pedal. Fun fact: today I just turned my Dyna Comp into a broken fuzzy Fuzz with the 6 watt all tube (2 x 12ax7 + 1 x EL34) AMP volume all way up. SWEEEEET
Heck yea!
Great playing!
Thanks...I felt pretty bad about it...we were a bit rushed at the end of the video to get it all in as we shoot a few videos at a time when we book a studio so I didn't get to work out as good of parts as I would have liked and no change to overdub or punch in because of the rush at the tail end that day.
Super informative, thanks! I was surprised how well all three amps did with those pedals. I have a hard time using pedals with my Marshall JVM210H (EL34s), though I love its tone without pedals, so I've been looking into a better pedal platform. I'll definitely audition some 6V6/6L6 and some EL84 amps now. For me, the Fender had the edge for most of these demos.
Hope it helped!
Jack black and Jason momoa with jonah hills voice had many great points ngl
My list
Low gain blues Breaker Strat Vox Ac30.
Les Paul, Fender
Thanks for watching!
I have a fender hot rod deluxe but since using the iridium for live stuff, I love the sound of a vox or the chime channel. I really want to try an actual vox amp out now.
Nice!
Thank you for you video. I have a musicman hd 130 212. I think it is a great pedal platform as well but less popular than the 3 brands you showed.
Good choice!
Good stuff and thanks for the demo. I would have liked to see you use a telecaster as well.
I think you can discern with the two best selling guitars ever made :)
In summary, if you want a great tone, get this guy to play for you. He's a fantastic player, and makes every pedal sound good through every amp you'll ever own. You can't lose!
Thanks for the compliment...I felt the worst part of this video was the playing.
les paul and marshall amp is how i explain to people what finding a soulmate means..
Did he mention the speakers for each amp? Also Mason you’re a tasteful player and always enjoy your licks and slightly ambient tones.
Pretty traditional. AC30 = 2x12 Blues, Marshall = 4x12 Greenbacks, Deluxe = 1x12 Celestion Classic Lead 80. All are what you'd expect minus the Deluxe.
Great video Mason! Looking for a new amp myself, not sure if I want to go the Deluxe/Princeton route or one of those new 20w Marshall Studio Plexis for that "Marshall-clean" base tone. Decisions decisions haha
Depends almost on the pedals that will go with it. The Marshall glassiness is cool but not for every pedal type.
@@VertexEffectsInc Good to know. Most of my experience has been with the BF Fender-style platform but I have been intrigued by the "Plexi clean" angle. I'm not opposed to changing up my pedal gain staging if needed. Great amp/pedal selections for this video, super helpful and well thought-out!!
@@AndrewLynchMusic I'm so glad you dug it...now if only I could play that Andrew Lynch then we'd have a blockbuster video here :)
@@VertexEffectsInc ah you’re too kind, you are a great player! Also would love to do a collab sometime 😊
@@AndrewLynchMusic Yes!
I actually personally liked the combo of the fender and the rat.. I liked how it had more fat low end giving it more “beef” haha but great video👌👌
Yea, it had a thing for sure. Thanks for watching!
@@VertexEffectsInc do more of these video with different pedals!!! You should do it with all the vertex pedals
@@drewbus2176 Thanks for the suggestion!
My buddy got great heavy tones back in the 80's w a Rat and 808 running together through a Flying V
@@paulcowart3174 Nice!!!
Great video..all the amps and guitars and pedals are cool...If you know exactly what you want or need then it's easy..but if you don't or have to be flexible then its a bit different..was doing a guitar legend gig for a few years and to be versatile ..can't pack multiple amp or guitars,,no room sketchy security etc..but I could take lots of pedals..lol had 3 boards and a microphone in the middle..bets choice was the deluxe easier to get a fender to sound like a marshall than a marshall to sound like a fender..trick is to level amps frequency..essentially zeroing out or at least flattening the curve ..oh yeah fender fit in my toyota too..lol..
Thanks for watching!
Man strat into vox sounds so good 💖
Oh heck yea!!!
Worked well for Hank Marvin.
Would be great to have a similar video for solid state amps.
Awesome work, now! Do it all again with the Telecaster and a 335 style hollow body please 🙏🏼
I think you can extrapolate from this
Most well made amps like HiWatt especially love pedals....I just recently picked up a Tone King amp and it just adores pedals,all up front too surprisingly I like to say this about the TK amps "It's the best amp Fender never made" Really is too...very Fender like circuits And the icing on the cake too is the built in attenuator and I have NEVER been a fan of them but somehow he got these to just sound fantastic So much so that I'm getting a 2nd model One combo and one head They aren't cheap either but we'll worth it and I'm very picky
A lot do, not all, I wouldn't say most. But it depends on the pedals. Some of the classics as you can see here didn't do as well with some pedals as others.
'94 Jackson PS-4 > FX69 Grunge > Dolamo D-8 Overdrive > FX747 Supersonic Stereo Flanger > Azor Delay > 2003 Peavy Bandit Red Stripe 112.
It's a dirty and disreputable signal chain but I like it. In a few weeks, I'll probably be adding a Ram's Head Big Muff clone to the chain.
Nice!!!
now I want to see a video of these amps and drives but the amps combined like fender + vox, marshall + fender etc.
Ohhh....good idea!
great test, those 3 amps are the cornerstones of just about every amp out there!
I am working on a theory that great sound comes from opposites working together like: DR midrange scoop + Tube Screamer midrange hump = great sound
I have one more theory: Great sound is all about the EQ... the voicings of pedals and amps is such a big part of the sound.
I'm a bit surprised that the Deluxe Reverb sounds pretty good, I could not make my DR Reissue sound right with pedals. It had some kind of 'metallic rasp' to the sound I couldn't live with, even after breaking in the speaker. After replacing it with a Bruno Cowtipper 22 all was well again!
next time turn down the reverb please 🙂
Bruno makes some good amps :)
I wish you hadn’t used any reverb
Great video, but would like to also hear the samples without reverb
If you have monitors or headphones listen through that, we’re trying to remove some of the close mic sound of the 57 to make it have a little more space, in a phone it won’t be ideal for listening
@@VertexEffectsInc Will do. Many thanks for the reply
@@VertexEffectsInc I watched the video over great quality headphones, the sound was awesome, as a matter of taste I probabbly back down the verb just a little, but it was a great audio experience. I was surprised with the vox, I've tried an AC15 and a 30 quite a few years back and I never liked the sound. Watching your vid almost changed my mind... BTW for pedal platafform I use a Hiwatt Custom 100 DR103 and a lot of Fenders. I'm a Fender kind of guy for Amps anyway.
Great video, great tones, great playing. Thanks
A Wampler tumnus into a JTM45 it's truly beautiful
I bet!
for me best was the tubescreamer - vox combo followed by the bluesbreaker into the deluxe
all other combos suffered from too much reverb especially with the rat
Sweet thanks for watching
Great demonstration. For me and only me: Fender sounds too warm on all but Tubescreamer, the mid effect. Vox I have, Marshall not all that different. I'm a happy camper.
A very informative video; thank you a ton!
The info missing here however is how hot the amps were running. This is a crucial factor weighing in on how a given amplifier responds to dirt pedals. The same machine may sound tinny and brittle on one settings, and round and ringing on other.
This is covered in the video when we explain the process. All the amplifiers are set clean. Furthermore, there is a demonstration of each of the amps as a clean reference before we start adding in the distortion in overdrive devices
Fender Represent!!!!
With the bluesbreaker. Very nice indeed. Though I would have loved to hear that Mostortion. I mean... I know what it sounds like... I just like it. Lol. Danelectro copied it perfectly except for the clipping options. I mean we gotta get new players loving that circuit dont we? Sounds good man.
Thanks for watching! I figured we'd go with really "known" and highly replicated circuits for this since typically the "clean amp platform" is used for overdrive stacking.
@@VertexEffectsInc. I know I know. It's just such a good "Chewy" sound. I'm just being a baby.
@@allyourbasearebelongtous2191 LOL!
I personally love playing a Vox and the Fender together.
Many do...great combo!
What’s the best way to play these two? A /B or both switch? Speaker out (Fender) ? Thanks 🙏
Telecaster, Morning glory, Rat AC30 done.
NIce!
Hey! It's always inspiring to check out all the pedals and tips that you share🙏
A great way to test those amps and pedals 👍and I'm very surprised, that the Fender Deluxe was so "unbright"😉 I wanted to like the Marshal, but I ended up liking The Deluxe Reverb the most. I have a "bright" Fender amp, I have the The Guv'nor, I have the TS, but my current "hero" plays with a Hendrixy Marshall vintage sound (Ben Granfelt). And that is what I'm looking for now... so maybe I should stay...
Glad you dug the video! The Fender is great! It does have a Classic Lead 80 speaker in it (which is an old Nashville trick that Tom Bukovac told me about years ago).
You do great work and I've found so much of your information useful over the years . The sound that I'm surprised that wasn't covered here was amp almost or on the brink of breaking up and being pushed by an overdrive pedal. This is the way I've almost always used my tubscreamer type pedals and this is especially useful for tightening up a big Marshall type amp when driven . I've never tried any Bluebreaker type pedals, but I do have a Wampler Euphoria which does a nice transpansparent OD thing... I would like to try a Morning Glory or a POT.
Seems like that would be another video since the subject matter was fundamentally different
@@VertexEffectsInc I guess so...comparsons were with clean amps only...