100W Stoneham valve amp - small footprint, lighter weight

[Merton]

I agree @stewblack - I happily gigged a 100W Ashdown valve head many times, hence that’s where I’ve aimed my desires on this one. For me it hits the right balance between power, size, ability to drive the power amp etc. 

[ikay]

I'd like to throw into the mix the idea of having some sort of voicing control to adjust the character of the sound from modern to vintage and points in between. This would be useful for someone like me who needs to cover a range of styles and could possibly widen the amp's appeal. 

 

Here are a couple of examples:

 

1. The Pure Tone Offset amp which has both Normal and Bright gain controls and allows you to mix the two together. See first demo below at 5m 25s.

 

2. The Ashdown Little Stubby which has a 'Feedback' control which sweeps from modern to vintage by adding low end saturation. See second demo below at 5m 25s.

 

I'm honestly not wanting to overcomplicate things or detract from the idea of a great amp with it's own core tone. Just a little tweakability in the way of modern/vintage voicing.

 

 

 

[BassAdder60]

Easy bias adjustment would be a welcome feature 

[dmccombe7]

3 hours ago, BassAdder27 said:

Easy bias adjustment would be a welcome feature 

Definately 100% on this as saves having to use a tech and keeps cost down.

Dave

 

[la bam]

Slider eq or eq dials?

[dmccombe7]

I just want a simple all valve amp with minimal controls. It has to be loud enough to compete against guitar amps in rock bands and has to maintain a clean tone to do it. If i want to add a bit of grunt then that's my choice thru the Gain.

Dave

[Bankai]

23 minutes ago, la bam said:

Slider eq or eq dials?

dials.

[BassAdder60]

Just now, Bankai said:

dials.

+1 for dials 

[Merton]

Definitely dials - my original suggestion to Martin was a simple 3 band BMT EQ

[warwickhunt]

2 minutes ago, Merton said:

Definitely dials - my original suggestion to Martin was a simple 3 band BMT EQ

 

As per Fender Tone-Stack?  

[JapanAxe]

4 minutes ago, Merton said:

Definitely dials - my original suggestion to Martin was a simple 3 band BMT EQ

I dunno, that's a bit OTT!

[dmccombe7]

Gain and Master volume for me. 

Everything else comes from my fingers 

Dave

Edited July 18, 2022 by dmccombe7

[Merton]

8 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

As per Fender Tone-Stack?  

Hadn’t specified that far yet but I am partial to that particular set up

[eude]

43 minutes ago, Merton said:

Definitely dials - my original suggestion to Martin was a simple 3 band BMT EQ

So no spiritual successor to the Trace Twin Valve?...

[stewblack]

1 hour ago, Merton said:

Definitely dials - my original suggestion to Martin was a simple 3 band BMT EQ

Yep 

[Merton]

51 minutes ago, eude said:

So no spiritual successor to the Trace Twin Valve?...

Not in my original idea no but I think this has some way to run before we nail a firm spec for all of it!

[Downunderwonder]

Wouldn't get a look in from me if it came Fender Tone Stack kneecapped. 

[dmccombe7]

I've not heard of this Fender Tone Stack thing. What exactly is it. ?

Dave

[Downunderwonder]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

I've not heard of this Fender Tone Stack thing. What exactly is it. ?

Dave

Only three controls. Bass Mid Treble. The mids are cut only. Nominal flat is 2 on the bass and treble and mids 'dimed'.

[ikay]

The tone stack is very different to a regular set of BMT controls. It's a series of 'stacked' passive filters that all interact with each other in quite complex ways. I found this explanation helpful:

 

http://pickroar.com/1003/the-tone-stack-explained-in-english-for-humans/

 

[eude]

I've always found tone stacks frustrating and confusing, I personally feel that they are irrelevant these days thanks to more modern active eqs.

With a tone stack, as long as you're happy with your tone form the bass and amp, it's doesn't matter, but if you need to do a bit more tone sculpting, I'd bet most folks end up using a preamp pedal. Even if you have a PHD in tone stacks, you're still working with extremely limited tools.

Edited July 19, 2022 by eude

[bassist_lewis]

Probably have too much on order to afford another valve amp but I'm watching with interest

Edited July 19, 2022 by bassist_lewis

[dmccombe7]

13 minutes ago, bassist_lewis said:

Probably have too much on order to afford another valve amp but I'm watching with interest

You cant leave us hanging ......... what you ordered ? 

Dave

[bassist_lewis]

4 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

You cant leave us hanging ......... what you ordered ? 

Dave

 A Schmidt Array pedalboard (due in a couple of weeks), Noble Preamp (due in November), and a Serek MW 5 (due in November/December).

[Jack]

Happy with active eq or a Baxandall but please, god, no Fender tone stack.