Years ago I bought a 90s Marshall Bluesbreaker reissue at auction. Nice amp, great sounds, plenty of welly in terms of volume and, of course, an iconic look. I sold it less than six months later, for one reason. It weighed an absolute ton - well, 31kg to be precise - and had but one woefully inadequate carrying handle on the top. It was like trying to lift a suitcase filled with lead blocks. It had to go.
Currently, my main gigging amp is a Dr Z Jaz 20/40 combo, which is right on the limit weight-wise. But because I love its sounds so much, I'm prepared to put up with its bulk for festival shows or larger gigs. But what about those nights when you're just going to sit in on somebody's set or join a blues jam in a little bar? I'd say there's a strong case for having a 'B' rig that's optimised for just such occasions. For example, when my friend and ex-guitarist for Robert Plant, Innes Sibun, invited me to sit in on his set a while back, I took along just the bare essentials - a Marshall Class 5 combo, my guitar and a Hudson Electronics Broadcast pedal for an overdrive.
That setup actually worked really well on the night I don't think we even needed to mic up the Marshall as it is deceptively loud for a 5-watt amp. That said, that setup would only really do for a rowdy blues set - the amp was cranked as far as it would go, didn't have any reverb and, in that state, would only do one sound - wide open, small-combo wailing - which fortunately suited the occasion. If I had needed more headroom, dynamics or flexibility, it wouldn't have sufficed. So what are some lightweight alternatives that might offer a more capable all-round solution for not much more weight?
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BASIC INSTINCTS
The sophisticated range of Swedish-designed guitars made by .strandberg* has lured thousands of players over to the headless side. But the company's new stripped-back Boden Essential model is its strongest play yet for the hearts and minds of mainstream players
Second String
As PRS's more affordable USA-made S2 line moves into its second decade, the series gets a revamp with - at last - USA-made pickups and electronics. What took so long?
PABLO VAN DE POEL
When a band from The Netherlands describes themselves as 'raw, psychedelic Southern rock', it may take a little cognitive processing to work out what that might mean. One listen to DeWolff, however, and you will be duly transported to the 60s for some fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll
THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION
With a fabulous collection of the late Bernie Marsden's guitars, amps and other highly collectable music gear going under the auctioneer's hammer on 11 June, we were thrilled to have the chance of a sneak preview
LENNY KRAVITZ
Some 35 years since the release of his debut LP, for his 12th record, Blue Electric Light, Lenny Kravitz is back again with equal doses of vigour and vibes, using vintage guitars and the purest valve amps
GEORGE VJESTICA
You may not know him at first glance, but the work of Stoke-on-Trent native George Vjestica has probably impacted some of your favourite albums and movies
DICKEY BETTS
Emerging from the shadow of Duane to write signature hit Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers guitarist was a hard-living pioneer of Southern rock
NICK GUPPY
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our highly valued amplifier guru, who died suddenly in April
Lucky Break
Alex Bishop blends old wood with new in an attempt to fix a severely damaged guitar headstock
Tones Behind The Tracks
Cedric Burnside learnt at the knee of his fabled grandfather, but his latest album is a hill country blues masterclass on his own terms
