That Andy Timmons tone..

[Wick3d.]

Hey guys,

I have to say that after spending more than a year trying to get that JP/DT thing down, I had another musical slap in the face. And this slap's named Andy Timmons. I mean, I've been listenning to his CDs for almost a month now and I have to say that I'm totally speechless, this guy is TOTALLY unreal. I'm in love.

All I've done before guitar-wise before was linked to some kind of virtuoso-shred-progressive-neoclassical-technical thing (Learning a whole DT album, studying RD like if it was the bible, buying a superstrat with humbuckers, etc.) So I have to say I'm pretty lost when it comes to gear oriented to a more traditionnal blues-rock style. I'm now going a lot more for phrasing and feeling than technique, which is a lot harder than playing 3 bars exercises to a metronome . My ultimate goal would be really to communicate with my guitar, like if it was a true part of me. I'd like my playing to show how I feel, I'd like to say something when I play... Don't know if you get the idea but whatever

However, I have to say that I need a serious change gear-wise, lol. I'm able to do whatever I want with it like it is now, but I'd like to have something a little more refined and less in-your-face, if you know what I mean.

I'd like to have something with a stratty type of tone, so I thought of the Silo Spec with maple board, I will give it a try as soon as I find one. So my quest for a guitar is almost done. The choice of an amp seems a LOT harder though, because I admit being totally ignorant in the mid-gain field. So maybe you guys can help me out a bit to narrow my options.

I'm looking for a kind of ''That was then, This is now'' type of tone, so really fat and meaty but still with an edge for rockin' riffs. Dynamic crunch is probably the best way to describe what I'm looking for. It needs to be a small combo that I can use at home without driving the neighboors crazy, and I don't have much money to spend (+-1000$ CAD) so keep that in mind

Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot guys,
Joël

 

[robelinda2]

lonestar classic amp, silhouette special w/rosewood board and HSS.

gotta be good!

 

[Wick3d.]

Yeah, will definately give the LoneStar a try, even though it pretty much kills my budget. Anything else?

Thanks,
Joël

 

[robelinda2]

sorry i didnt see your budget, maybe a fender deville would suit, or a small marshall combo?????

 

[OrangeChannel]

Well he does use the Lonestar and the Stiletto together...honestly tho' I'd look for a used F-50 or Mark IV if you're sticking Mesa...theres a ton of tones to be had in those two...

 

[germangallardo]

Another vote for the Lonestar save up its totally worth it!

 

[ba2m]

just want to share..

i also think that mesa boogie lonestar and stiletto would be perfect..

but if it's too expensive , u can use any british type of distortion sound (he used marshall and laney amps in 'That was then, This is now'') but u can use distortion pedal which have a british(marshall) character.

and i've heard from the friend's in ATB forum that those pick ups (dimarzio cruiser and AT custom humbucker) in AT300 guitar give a big influence to get AT sound character. But since that custom humbucker pick up is not sold in the market so a lot of people use dimarzio "the breed" to get that humbucker sound. because that at custom humbucker sounds really close with the sound of "the breed" humbucker (dimarzio people also claimed that).

and he also use some pedals like bb Preamps , i never tried them so i don't know how they sounds, but you can check it here
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiW22O914Cg"]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

and you can check some amps and pedals that andy use in his last album resolution in his website(go to photos section)
Andy Timmons :: Photos

good luck
Abraham

 

[CudBucket]

Yeah Andy Timmons snuck on me too. Not just his awesome technique but his tone is just ridiculously good.

 

[dojo]

An affordable route might be a Tube Screamer. The current cheapo model has a hot setting which sounds like your running two at once. I run mine with the tone knob on the pedal all the way down.

 

[Roxy]

I just bought a Stiletto Ace 112 Combo and it's incredible! The Lonestar is great, but lacks the British crunch. The Ace cleans are chimey and it can go from totally vintage to modern/80's high gain. To me, it's much more versatile than the Lonestar.

When I called Mesa, they said the Lonestar is really for clean single coil guitar tones, and the Stiletto for humbuckers, but this is not a rule. Try out an Ace and if you like it save up for awhile. If you have to choose between the Lonestar or Stiletto, I'd recommend starting with the Stiletto Ace. I own both, and the Ace is amazing!

 

[fsmith]

I have to agree with the Ace as well. Hands down it's one of the biggest sources of inspiration to me right now. I sit down almost every night and get lost just dialing in different tones on this thing, and the best part is I know I haven't even scratched the surface as far as really knowing this thing inside and out.

I've heard people knock the Ace's cleans, but I really, really like them. It can cover a lot of ground tone wise. Great crunch, the elusive brown sound, twangy country and even some bluesy tones in there. The built in solo boost will blow you away.

It had me from that first big fat E chord.

 

[Wick3d.]

Allright, thanks a lot guys.

I'll go shopping with my guitar in some days, will keep you tuned.