Originally Posted by: CSchlegelIt absolutely can make a difference. Plug a guitar and pedals into a 50W Fender tube amp (Bassman, or Super Reverb, for example). and then plug the same guitar and pedals into a 50W Marshall JCM800.[/quote]

Sure, I agree. But I was trying to take it further by throwing in the fact that someone will use pedals. Chorus, Distortion, EQ for example. Those three will have a HUGE impact.

But, I do see where, you still have to start with a foundation of the amps tone. And it's that underlying tone that will be affected. And then again, I come back to... If you're coloring it, the importance of the difference in tone becomes LESS important, or blurred. I'd be really interested in having a fender and a marshall side by side.

Originally Posted by: CSchlegel
Not necessarily. But you aren't going to get the same type of "dirt" without a pre-amp gain stage. [/quote] Doesn't both clean and dirty channels go through a preamp stage?

Originally Posted by: CSchlegelAny distortion or overdrive pedal is really only going to help you focus or tighten the sound (via clipping and or compression). You still need the "natural dirt" that comes from tube saturation (pre-amp tubes & power amp tubes). Otherwise you are only going to get that "buzz" and "furry fuzz" sound.
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This must be why I'm still not 100% satisfied with my 1969 Kustom solid state amp. It's an old amp. There are no digital circuits in it, it's all old school analog circuits. It has a real twangie sound to it.

Originally Posted by: CSchlegelAnd since you are looking at it like this, I'd like to put in my favorite 2 cents on the subject: why not get an amp with an awesome gain stage so you don't need a distortion pedal at all? :)[/quote] That is a good point. I would offer up that, different people like different types of distortion? Perhaps? Some like a more 80s sound, some like a more 60's fuz, some like more of a metal sound.

[QUOTE=CSchlegel]Only if you don't want to have control over the EQ frequencies.

Well, I'm assuming an EQ pedal in the mix. I've heard of people using an EQ pedal between the guitar and amp AS WELL AS having an EQ in the effects loop.

[QUOTE=CSchlegel]Sounds like a fun project! Best of success with it.

Yes, but.... It's taking my focus away from playing and practicing... :o

[QUOTE=CSchlegel]You might get some better feedback on the Gear Page. I'm sure some of the gearheads over there have experience with that sort of thing. Not to mention all the actual amp designers and builders that are regulars over there:
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/
Search "amp+kits". I am sure you will get more info than you could ever use. :)

Oh yes... I've been searching and finding those site. Which again, has been taking my attention away from practice.


[QUOTE=CSchlegel]I think you have a good idea with only including the necessary components ("without all the bells and whistles"). But that assumes you know which are the necessary ones, and how best to put them together.

Well... Again, I'm thinking very basic but powerfull. Single line in, preamp, effects loop, power amp. All EQ happens with EQ pedals. Yes, I know that's over simplifiying it. There is a lot of circuits in there to make all that happen, and those circuits are going to have a great deal of impact. I know that in dealing with pedals modding that even things like different types of caps have an impact on the tone not just their values.