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Hiwatt Maxwatt 15 Watt Busker Amp

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 23:40:44 +0000

A while back I picked this amp up with the mind to do some busking and small gigs.

In the meantime I’ve been using it during my lessons with students and so here is my review.

On first opening the item and giving it a test run with a guitar and seymour duncan woody pickup I found that the volume given out would be enough to project my warblings without deafening poor passers by.

It’s a wedge shaped speaker with two inputs, one for guitar electric or acoustic and vocal.

The guitar channel comes with a really bassy gain. There is a reverb that can be assigned to either channel but not both.

The battery has a good 4 to 6 hours in it.

The guitar sound without gain is nice and crisp.

The only fault I can find is that it is quite noisy, the amp gives off a very audible white noise which from reviews I read before seems to be a common design fault.

That said it’s use is not for recording or even the bedroom, it’s for performance which when you have street level noise would not be a factor. For portability this is quite a heavy peice of kit so bear that in mind when having to carry a guitar as well.

If you’re looking for a cheap small area performance vocal and guitat amp I don’t think you can go wrong for the price.

If you’re looking for a portable battery powered amp to practice with get a pignose.

Overall I;d give it 7/10 due to the noise generated but in a performance setting you could live with that.

Check out the info below for specs:

The Hiwatt BSK15/8 Guitar Amplifier Busker Amplifier, Solidstate, 15 Watts. Compact and portable, battery or mains powered busking amp from the legendary British company. Simply plug your mic, your electro-acoustic guitar and off you go, to the streets!

£130 @ Dolphin Music

The Hiwatt BSK15/8 15 Watt Guitar Combo blends pedigree with portability. Hiwatt have been making great amps since the 1960′s and the BSK15/8 Maxwatt 15 Watt Busker Amp With AC/DC is no exception.

A lightweight construction with side handles, a removable speaker cover and internal battery make this an indispensable tool for musicians on the move – the internal rechargeable battery can even be charged by a 12v car lighter socket. The 15 Watt Hiwatt speaker provides great sound powered by AC or DC operation for convenience.

The amp has two channels for simultaneous guitar and microphone inputs with separate volume and tone controls for each. You can adjust the tone of your guitar to your needs with bass, middle and treble controls, a boost switch and gain dial. A compact, highly portable guitar amp, great wherever you take it!

Features:

15 Watts
8″ Hiwatt High Performance Speaker
AC/DC Operation
Internal Rechargeable Battery
DC Socket & 12v Car Charger Input
Battery Life 2-8 Hours (Subject to Vol.)
Microphone Channel: High/Low Input, Level & Tone Control
Instrument Channel: High Input, Gain, 3 Band EQ
Level Controls & Boost Switch
Headphone Jack

£130 @ Dolphin Music

Boss GT-8 and Fender Champion 600 review 2

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:22:39 +0000

Boss GT-8 and Fender Champion 600 audio recordings of some of the odd effects.

Basically mic’d up the Champion as pictured below,

Volume set at,

Fender Telecaster fitted with Seymour Duncan bridge pickup,

Because the Boss GT-8 has a ridiculous amount of effects we decided to record just a selection of what we could.

We used no additonal effects – we’ve also tried to show what the effects can do, in some recordings we’ve gone with the stock settings. In other recordings we’ve tried to showcase what the effect can do.

Autowah

Chorus

Tremelo

Vibrato

Reverse Delay

Slicer

Humanizer

Harmonist

Plate Reverb

Sitar

Spring Reverb

Uni V

Warp Delay

Wave Synth 1

Wave Synth 2

Equipment Used:

Microphones – Shure sm57 and sm58.

Mixing Desk – Behringer Xenyx 1622.

Planet Waves guitar cables.

Fender Telecaster(mexican)

Boss GT-8 and BWM 5 watt Chimp amp review

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 07:08:53 +0000

Boss GT-8 selection of Distortions and Overdrives and a big white monkey 5 watt Chimp amp.

Below are recordings of some of the more famous effects.

Basically mic’d up the Chimp as pictured below,

Volume set at,

Fender Telecaster fitted with Seymour Duncan bridge pickup,

(Amp shown in picture below is Fender Champion 600)

Again because the Boss GT-8 has a ridiculous amount of effects we decided to record just a selection of what we could without messing with the settings.

We used no reverb, compression or delay just Distortion or Overdrive.

The playing on these records veers from sensible to half arsed clownshoes style stunt guitar.

Please engage your sense of humour when listening.

OD1

60′s Muff

Muff Fuzz

Oct Fuzz

Distortion

Heavy Metal

Metal Zone

Equipment Used:

Microphones – Shure sm57 and sm58.

Mixing Desk – Behringer Xenyx 1622.

Planet Waves guitar cables.

Fender Telecaster(mexican)

Boss GT-8 and Fender Champion 600 review 1

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 16:37:37 +0000

Boss GT-8 and Fender Champion 600 audio recordings of Distortions and Overdrives.

Basically mic’d up the Champion as pictured below,

Volume set at,

Fender Telecaster fitted with Seymour Duncan bridge pickup,

Because the Boss GT-8 has a ridiculous amount of effects we decided to record just a selection of what we could without messing with the settings.

We used no reverb, compression or delay just Distortion or Overdrive.

The playing got a little bit silly please have a sense of humour when listening and bear in mind that I am promarily a punk and country style guitarist.

OD1

60′s Muff

Muff Fuzz

Oct Fuzz

Distortion

Heavy Metal

Metal Zone

Equipment Used:

Microphones – Shure sm57 and sm58.

Mixing Desk – Behringer Xenyx 1622.

Planet Waves guitar cables.

Fender Telecaster(mexican)

Fender Champion 600 – Review

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:17:05 +0000

Before I start I have to point out that I’m reviewing this amp with sound as opposed to using descriptive terms.

I’ll let you be the judge.

My opinion is that this is a great amp for the money.

Prices vary between £125 and £140 dependant on where you purchase.

Usual blurb product blurb: Scroll past to get to audio

The Fender Champion 600 is a fun and affordable tribute to a rare and historic Fender amp.

The Fender Champion 600 is a 5-watt tube amp with a 6” speaker and 1950 “two-tone” looks. We added a higher-gain preamp circuit to let the overdriven tone exceed that of the original, and we added a choice of high- or low-gain inputs. Internal speaker jack enables use of a larger speaker cabinet.

Fender Champion 600 main features include:

Type: TUBE AMPLIFIER
Output: 5 watts
Ohms: 4 ohms
Speakers: One 6″, 4-ohm Special Design driver with ceramic magnet (0073904000)
Channels: Two (Instrument and Microphone)
Tube Preamp and Tube Power Amp (One 12AX7 tube; One 6V6 tube).
5 watts into a 6″ Special Design speaker.
High-gain and low-gain inputs; hotter preamp circuit than the 1950 original for warm natural overdrive when turned up.
Single volume control.
External speaker output.
Brown and blonde vinyl covering; vintage-correct 1950 “two-tone” cosmetics.
Leather strap handle.
Red jewel pilot light.
Controls Volume
Weight 15 lbs. (7 kg)
Dimensions Height: 11″ (28 cm), Width: 12″ (31 cm), Depth: 7.5″ (19 cm)
Tube Complement 1-12AX7A, 1-6V6 (diode rectifier

The recording of these audio examples was done with two shure dynamic mics – I’m experimenting at the moment so bare with me.

I’ve used an sm57 and an sm58.

Like I said I’ve moved these around until I was reasonably happy.

Amp has been placed off the ground on a very small stool and in the centre of the room – my house is open plan.

I’ve played using a Fender Telecaster (mexican) fitted with a Seymour Duncan at the bridge.

As you can see I’ve got the Tele going through an Electro Harmonix double muff.

I’ve set the Fender Champions amp volume to between 6 and 7.

Other equipment used for reference,

behringer 1622fx, standard XLR mic cables and Planet Waves guitar cables.

Recorded to PC using Sonar.

No fx or processing used.

Each audio example has been played three times:

Pedal State:

Clean(bypass) -> Single Muff on -> double muff on.

Guitar: for each pedal state.

Toggle switch down -> middle -> up.

First Example: Open Chords

Second Example: Funky

Example Three: Palm Mute and Power Chords

Finally Example Four: Lead

—->

Hope you enjoyed my hacking, note: you may if wearing headphones notice that the amp has quite a strong hum.

When you’re playing it’s not that big a deal and if recording it is only really apparent when listening on headphones.

Listening through my monitors it doesn’t seem that much of a problem.

When I record my next song using this amp I’ll report on how the hum affects the track.

Until then.

Enjoy.

Qamp Free Distortion and Feedback VST Plugin

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:16:10 +0000

Qamp from ConcreteFX

Qamp is a amp simulation VST plugin,

Amp distortion with speaker simulation, feedback and EQ.

Controls are

Tone         – tone of pre-amp
Emp         – emphasis of pre-amp
Boost         – Pre-amp boost
Sat         – Saturation of pre-amp
Syn         – Pre-amp rectification
Wave        – Wavetype

Len         – Feed len
Feed        – Feed vol
Width        – Feed width
Speed        – Feed speed
Filter        – Feed filter

Model       – type of amp simulation
Boost       – amp simulation boost
Sat         – amp simulation saturation
Sym         – amp simulation rectification

Low         – low band eq volume
Mid         – mid band eq volume
Hi         – high band eq volume

Volume – main volume

Tube Baby: Free Tube Amp Simulation VST Plugin

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:11:14 +0000

Tube Baby: Free Tube Amp Simulation VST Plugin

TubeBaby is a digital simulation of a tube guitar amplifier. As such it features the standard controls found on a real amplifier, namely gain, bass, mid, treble, presence, master and a switch for activating the high gain mode of the preamp stage. The latest version also features a menu that lets you choose between three amplifier types, five cabinet emulations and the amount of high frequency passing through the power amp section.

Download for free here

Studio Devil:Amp Modeler Pro

admin — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:53:34 +0000

‘Are you ready to rock?

Studio Devil proudly announces the release of Amp Modeler Pro: the long-awaited amp modeling and studio effects plug-in for VST and Audio Units. Now you can get everything you need for the world’s best tone in one simple to use plug-in for only $149!

Download your demo now from:
http://www.studiodevil.com/download/downloadAMP.htm

or purchase it online at
http://www.studiodevil.com/products/

$149!? That’s less than the price of two pedals? Hell’s yeah it is…and here’s the truckload of tone and effects you get:

- 15 Preamp Models cover every range of playing styles and modeled using Studio Devil’s proprietary digital vacuum tube modeling technology…nothing else sounds as real as Studio Devil because it uses exclusive and patented tube modeling algorithms!

- Gain, Bass, Mids, Treble, and Presence controls that interact with your tone just like on real tube amps!

- Boost, Deep, and Bright switches quickly liven up and adjust your tone!

- Select from 3 Power Amp Models with Drive Control: Tube Class AB, Tube Class A, and Solid-State MOSFET

- Impulse Modeler / Cabinet Processor imports any WAV or AIFF file and features Zero-Latency switch, adjustable Filter Length, and High-end Sizzle controls!

- 32 Studio Devil Cabinets plus 58 ReCabinet¨ Demo impulses included!

- 7-Band Graphic-EQ with Master Level, 3 Modes, and Pre/Post switch to position your EQ either at the input of your amp or in the send-return loop: pre or post distortion!

- Sweepable Parametric EQ with Mids Level and Frequency control knobs to custom tailor your tone!

- Wah-Wah Effect with adjustable pedal slider for a parked-Wah sound…or assign it to a MIDI controller for a real-time Wah!

- Compressor / Sustainer with two modes and Attack controls.

- 4 Studio Quality Modulation Effects: Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, and Tremolo…all fully adjustable and can be positioned Pre/Post preamp to choose from that floor Pedal or Loop Effect sound!

- Echo / Delay Modeler with Normal / Stereo Ping-Pong Modes and continuously adjustable Style Knob: sweep from Analog Delay to Tape Echo or to Digital Delay…and anywhere in between!

- World-Class Reverb with Level control and 3 Modes: Room, Club, and Hall.

- Noise Gate with adjustable Threshold and Gating Slope controls.

- Built-In Chromatic Tuner and Level Meters to stay in tune and to help maximize your signal level while guarding against digital clips.

- Master Volume control with Clip indicator.

- 128 Presets per Bank, unlimited Banks.

- Import and Export Presets and Banks via XML files to share your tones with everyone via the Internet, email, and blogs!

- Plug-In Compatible with VST and Audio Units hosts…both PC and Mac! (ProTools RTAS coming soon in Q4 2009)

- 64-bit internal processing.

- 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 174, and 192 kHz sample rate support.

- And…all this in a single, compact, and simple to use user interface.

Yep. Your tone just got better.

Desire Analog…Embrace Digital! ‘ ~Studio Devil Team