Amp Features We'd Like to See

[Daniel Nestlerode]

How about it?

Mine is...
A remote control mounted in the instrument cable that controls all of the amp's settings. Yes, it would require a special cable, but it wouldn't be very hard.

What's yours?

Daniel

[mando.player]

Wouldn't you rather have a foot controller for that purpose? The upside being it's already available.

[jlsmandolin1952]

Give me a good tube amp without all the sofistication! Just 2 knobs! Volume & Tone. That's all!

[taboot]

Maybe some clever progressive EQ thing where highs are attenuated as the pitch rises? My mandolins frequently want a lot more high end on the G and C strings than they do above the D.

I know, if it really was an issue, I could just get an outboard EQ pedal or put one in a loop, but I want the amp to do it for me!

Christian

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Charlie,
A foot switch is the standard way of doing it, but usually that's just choosing channels. I'd like a control off the floor and on the instrument cable because it eliminates an extra cable. Also the tech designs that Apple uses on the iPod would work perfectly in this application, and would allow the same amount of control you'd get if you were standing in front of the amp.

Or.... Maybe a wireless remote that clips to the mandolin strap! :)

JLS,
I love the minimalist amps. But I need something more versatile. I use at least two different instruments at a gig, and they have different gain levels and eq requirements. Plus various songs require different overdrive, reverb, chorus, and/or flange settings. So a two knob amp would be an incredible luxury for me! :)

Daniel

[Fran]

Maybe some clever progressive EQ thing where highs are attenuated as the pitch rises? My mandolins frequently want a lot more high end on the G and C strings than they do above the D. <snip>

This somehow exists on many amps, it's called "contour" or other names, it actually moves the middle EQ point towards the bass or treble side of the frequencies.

[flatt]

A Sam Bush button, that completes every attempted run, every fluffed riff and turns them into pure Sam. (You will be able to buy software plug-ins at minimal cost ... The Gimble, The Glasse .... etc)

[mandroid]

Now that here are singers pitch correction devices , one with a Talent correction like our Flatt friend in #7,
suggests, would be very useful , i could use one for resume improvement to get a decently paying day job too.

[John Rosett]

After years of hauling heavy tube amps around, a feature I've been interested is light weight. I just ordered a ZTLunchbox amp.
http://www.ztamplifiers.com/products/lunchbox.html

[flatt]

After years of hauling heavy tube amps around, a feature I've been interested is light weight. I just ordered a ZTLunchbox amp.
http://www.ztamplifiers.com/products/lunchbox.html

The ZT looks amazing ... not expensive either, but looks like it was built by professionals for professionals. It'll interesting to know what you think of the sound.

[Santiago]

Kind of looks like my space heater.

[John Flynn]

I'd like to see an amp with all of the features of the incomparable Rane PI 14 Pseudo-Acoustic Infector
• Independent Power & Glory Switches
• Continuously Variable This/That Level
• Full-Function Ecstacy Generator
• Variable This-to-That Crossover Frequency
• Here-There Pan (with Back Again Switching)
• Program Dependent Sheen Removal
• Anti-Resonant Concrete Chassis
• Proprietary Paint to Reflect Odd Harmonic Light Frequencies to Reduce Nono-Linear Photon Radiation Interference
• Output for Regenerative Aural Byproducts
• 3-Pin Happy Face Connectors
• Gender Switchable, 4th-Grade, State-Penitentiary Crossover
• Time Warp Compression/Expansion to Synchronize Here/There Time Coordinates
• Mil Spec, Rad Hard Components

Of course, I would also want all the controls to go up to 11, and it should have a "Doesn't Suck" function!

[John Rosett]

I got the ZT Lunchbox yesterday. It's very impressive so far. A ton of volume and clean headroom, really good tone with just the 6.5" speaker. Rolling up the gain knob added a little warmth and grit to it.
I'll be using it at an electric gig on Saturday, so I'll give a report after that.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

I'd like to see an amp with all of the features of the incomparable Rane PI 14 Pseudo-Acoustic Infector
• Independent Power & Glory Switches
• Continuously Variable This/That Level
• Full-Function Ecstacy Generator
....

:grin: :))

Daniel

[F-2 Dave]

Cigarette lighter. I don't smoke, I just think it would be cool.

[John Rosett]

I used the ZT amp at an outdoor wedding gig last night with my 6-piece (with drums) band. The singer, who also runs the PA was absolutely sure that it wasn't going to have enough power, have good tone, etc. I was playing my telecaster through it, and my steel through a blackface Fender Bandmaster wit a 2X10 cabinet. I used the headphone jack for a line out to the PA. The independent volume control for that made getting a good sound through the PA a snap. After the first set, I asked the singer what he thought of it, and he said, "Well, it sounds pretty good, but you ARE playing it through the Bandmaster." When I told him that he was just hearing the amp, his jaw dropped. He raved about how great it sounded all the way home.
So I have to say that this amp is all it's cracked up to be. It's tiny, but you can play it with an electric band with drums, and it works great, even without an extension speaker. I was very happy with the tone, too. I'm going for a fairly clean tone that breaks up a little when you play hard, but still is smooth. I found it easy to make it sound good with the simple controls.
Next week, I'm going to run the steel through it. My goal is to just bring two of these to my gigs.

[JeffD]

I would like a talent booster.

[meow-n-dolin]

Now that here are singers pitch correction devices , one with a Talent correction like our Flatt friend in #7,
suggests, would be very useful , i could use one for resume improvement to get a decently paying day job too.


PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE!! Of course then I will want the Frank Wakefield version, the Grisman version, the Tiny Moore version.... egads!

:)