Amps & Effects

# Amps & Effects

> **Physical amps and outboard effects** (not amp sims — for those see *Software Synths & Samplers* and the tone guide in *Sharp Dressed Man*).

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## Amplifiers

### Marshall Valvestate VS230

- **Type:** Solid-state power amp + tube preamp (hybrid combo)
- **Configuration:** Stereo 2×30W combo, 2×10" speakers
- **Era:** Early-mid 90s
- **Channels:** Clean + Overdrive (with gain staging)
- **Built-in FX:** Reverb, chorus (stereo), flanger
- **Line out / headphone out:** yes

**Character:** Clean channel stays clean at moderate volume; overdrive channel is "British"-flavored crunch but tighter than an all-tube Marshall. Stereo chorus is the signature — lush 80s/90s clean tones.

**Best for:**
- Clean rhythm guitar (chorus-on, neck pickup)
- 90s-style rock crunch
- Stereo-wide pad-like guitar layers

**Settings Templates:**

| Patch | Gain | Bass | Mid | Treble | Reverb | Chorus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *(name)* | | | | | | | |

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### The Valve — 100W Tube Amp + 4×12 Cab

- **Type:** All-tube 100W head (likely boutique / custom — confirm make/model)
- **Cab:** 4×12" *(fill in speaker type — Vintage 30, Greenback, etc.)*
- **Channels:** *(fill in — clean/crunch/lead?)*

**Character:** All-tube headroom and saturation. With a 4×12, this is the "big stage" sound — heavy, full low-mid, singing sustain when pushed.

**Best for:**
- Lead guitar with sustain and feedback control
- Big rock/metal rhythm tones
- Anywhere you need authority and dimension that sims struggle to match

**Settings Templates:**

| Patch | Channel | Gain | EQ | Master | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *(name)* | | | | | |

**Mic'ing the 4×12:**

- Single SM57 on-axis at the cone edge (brightest, most present)
- 421 or ribbon off-axis for body (blend with 57)
- 2-mic setup: 57 close + room condenser at 1-2 m
- Phase coherence check when blending mics

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## Effects

### Korg A5

- **Type:** Multi-effects floorboard (late 80s / early 90s)
- **Format:** Analog/digital hybrid, pedalboard with switches + expression pedal
- **Built-in:** Distortion, chorus, flanger, delay, reverb, wah, compressor, etc. (programmable patches)

**Character:** Vintage digital sheen. The chorus / flanger / delay algorithms have a distinctive 90s character that's harder to recreate in modern plugins.

**Best for:**
- Specific 90s guitar tones
- Stereo-wide clean textures (with the Marshall VS230's stereo chorus)
- Wah / expression-pedal parts (the A5 has a built-in expression pedal)

**Patches:**

| # | Name | Purpose | Signal Chain |
|---|---|---|---|
| *(fill in)* | | | |

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## Software / Amp Sims (separate, see Software Synths & Samplers)

For completeness — the guitar signal chain often blends hardware amps and software sims:

- **Amplitube MAX** — primary amp sim (used in Sharp Dressed Man tone guide)
- **TONEX** — tone matching, re-amping
- The hardware amps above can be tracked simultaneously with DI re-amp for hybrid setups

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## Selection Cheat Sheet (what to reach for)

| Want | Reaching for |
|---|---|
| Big rock rhythm tone | The Valve + 4×12, humbucker guitar |
| Clean stereo chorus | Marshall VS230 + chorus + stereo out |
| Vintage 90s lead | Korg A5 → The Valve |
| Subtle stereo widening on acoustics | VS230 FX return or DAW chorus (not the A5) |
| Quick tracking without waking the house | DI + Amplitube MAX / TONEX |
| Tone match a specific record | DI → TONEX (re-amp later) |

---

## Maintenance Log

*(Track tube changes, speaker swaps, cable replacements, services.)*

- 2026-06-02 — Inventory created during Practice/Gear restructure.


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