Which basic amps & instruments for a community recording studio?

[Savernake]

I'm making a budget for a community recording studio. The recording equipment is already getting towards £30,000, but the amps in there are in a serious state - one of them at least, turned it on and it's making noise, the effects don't seem to work - I haven't tested al the other amps yet but to be honest, other than drums I don't know what's good to buy of what.

So what I'm asking, is what is a good high quality guitar, bass, guitar amp and bass amp. Nothing ridiculously high end, but nothing budget. A good standard to have in the studio, if you get me. Gonna be getting pro quality pres, eqs, comps and conversion but they won't make poor basic instruments sound good. I did wonder if the Line 6 variax stuff could cover a lot of bases, but line 6 doesn't have much of a rep so tell me if this thinking is being silly!

Hopefully bands will bring some sweet instruments in anyway but locals bands (the core market) won't have anything worthy.

What do you think?

[Jonboy79]

I hate line 6 stuff, but some people seem to like the Spider Valve series. I'd say a good bet for a versatile amp would be a Randall MTS series amp with the swappable tube modules. I've used one extensively and if you buy a half dozen or so modules you can pretty much cover all your tonal basses. If you need effects to go with that then you might want to look at some of the more popular multi effects pedals.

[theGeek]

The spider valve is decent but the Randall MTS gear is far superior... but you pay for that superiority.

I'm not a bass player but I've always been impressed with the Variax Bass. The variax acoustic is AWESOME in the studio.

The engineer wasn't keen on using my Vax but I asked him to just patch it in and we'd see how it turned out. He ate his words and bought one a few weeks later.

[Savernake]

I forgot about the acoustic one, I remember a review said it sounded super dry but with a bit of verb it was nice. There was a very positive review of the bass too. I imagine guitarists would slate the variax guitar though... that said, there is three guitars in there already which look smart but knowing the previous manager and the studio history, they'll be cheap crap - I'll get the names and post them here soon

[theGeek]

Truth is you can cover a lot of ground with a used American Strat, American Tele and Les Paul Standard.

You can pick up American Teles and Strats for a steal (often times less than $600 each). Les Pauls, however, hold their value more than Fenders. Those can be pricey. But I bet you can walk away from the whole deal for less than $3500.

If this a project studio the Variax line isn't a terrible way to go a starting point. The tele and strat tones on the Variax electric are dead on. The hollowbodies and jazz guitar tones are ok... but the Gibson tones are weak.

If you don't go for the Variax bass just get a P-Bass and you'll be set.

[Savernake]

Sorry but the acoustic in your clip sounds horrible. Like really, really bad. I'd like to hear it with a decent reverb but I think I'll pass on that. I guess if acoustic musicians come in, they'll have their own acoustic.

Still thinking about the electric models though.

Thanks for the tip on the amp, which modules do you recommend? A bit of the basics and then some spice is nice

[theGeek]

are you kidding me? for a completely dry recording of any acoustic that sounds good. There's not compression or reverb at all on that. Just the dry mixes... and if James Taylor can be happy with a vax acoustic I suppose anyone can be.

But to answer your question about the modules... it really depends on what kind of groups you'll be working with. But I would have the Plexi Module, Blackface, Clean and either the Mesa/Boogie or Bogner for your high gain.

I won't make any disclaimers about all of these modules. I've only heard the Plexi and Clean ones.

Another thing to consider are the many different "clones" out there. CeriaTone.Com - DIY Guitar Tube Amp has all kinds of high quality amps that are very faithful recreations of the originals at a reasonable price. You can pick up most of their kits completed for about $600 - $700.

I'm exerting all of my will power to keep from getting one of their Fender Tweed Clones.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by theGeek

are you kidding me? for a completely dry recording of any acoustic that sounds good. There's not compression or reverb at all on that. Just the dry mixes... and if James Taylor can be happy with a vax acoustic I suppose anyone can be.

That's really is just your opinion though. I personally didn't care for it either, and just because James Taylor uses one doesn't mean your going to sound like James Taylor. IMHO just about any instrument should sound good before you even mix it, but why don't you get a good mix going on it and post it again.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by theGeek

are you kidding me? for a completely dry recording of any acoustic that sounds good. There's not compression or reverb at all on that. Just the dry mixes... and if James Taylor can be happy with a vax acoustic I suppose anyone can be.

To be honest, your clip just sounds strange to my ears. I don't think James Taylor is recording with the Variax, either. He's not listed as an endorser, so it's more likely he was just experimenting with it in certain live situations where he couldn't bring a full setup.

I liked the clips on the Line6 site better, but for recording there are plenty of real acoustics I'd reach for before I'd grab one of those. Maybe I'm just spoiled. I think James Taylor is probably more spoiled than I am, too.

I would view the Variax as more of a live tool than one I'd use for recording.

[theGeek]

I'll post when we get it mixed/mastered.

I think it has a similar sound to playing guitar in a completely dead room. We'll be adding reverb and other fun "love"

[Savernake]

Okay so is it fair to settle on

variax 700 electric and acoustic

randall MTS amp w/ modules

There SI a bass amp in there which would suffice... but if we're getting money in we might as well get a really good basic amp, rather than what may be a shitty basic amp. Ideas there?

[theGeek]

Plexis cover a lot of ground. Fender Twins do as well.

[carlheinz]

Id this a non profit 501c3 studio?

[Savernake]

Not a clue what a 501c3 studio is, but it will be free to under 19s and stupid cheap to anyone else

[chrispick]

You may want to consider whether or not "jack-of-all-trade" gear will be better for you than one or two conventional standards like, say, a Fender Blues Jr. or similar.

Don't get me wrong. I think something like the MTS or the Variax could be quite suitable. Just offering food for thought. I don't know which way I'd go because I lack the familiarity you have with the studio's needs.

Also, as it's for a community studio, do consider the maintenance factor. Get gear that can take a beating.

[electropoet]

I agree...the guitar pod can't hold a candle to a real (good) tube guitar amp...but the Bass Pod is another story. If you have some decent pre's...then using the amp modeling on the bass pod...combined with a direct input...and it will/can sound great in a mix. Plus you have a shit ton of options. I personally run my bass lines through samsamp bass driver and send one output to a LA-610 and the other into the bass pod and its excellent. If you want to reamp later on...no problem. Seriously...it works and sounds great...only hardcore bass players will truely object...a mix engineer will be quite pleased.

or you could drop 3000 on a nice ampeg rig...your choice.

[woomanmoomin]

I honestly could not have told you what instrument that Variax acoustic thing in the clip was supposed to be. Sounds like it's been plugged into a ring modulator or something to start off with. I've heard worse clips, though. Could do with the lows being cleaned up, but hey.

[theGeek]

I just listened to the soundclick and something got goofy in the upload. I tried re-uploading and it sounds the same. Like something out of phase or some weird modulation effect.

If you were at my place you could hear that it doesn't really sound funky. F--king internet.