18Watt.com

I saw American Minor open a show last night at the Great American Music Hall. The lead player is a young guy (24) named Bud, who's known Richie for over ten years.

I write to give you all an idea what a 36W TMB and 50W Plexi built by Richie sounded like live, in a medium sized hall with a good PA. Bud played a tobacco burst Les Paul with large humbuckers, I'm guessing, they might be burstbuckers, as the guitar didn't look too old.

He had a fairly extensive pedal board, wah wah, volume pedal, and definitely used delay. He's got a tonebone A/B switching device, and used that alot.

Bud was set up right in front of the white TREX head, atop a tall Marshall slant cab. The plexi was next to it, on top of a 4x12 Vox cab. After the show, he told me played pretty much all the time through the 36W TREX, and kicked in the plexi to raise his gain during leads. He also told me he wished he had two 36 watters!! He said the plexi is generally too loud for smaller clubs, but the 36 is perfect.

He's a great player, in my opinion the most talented guy in the group. They're fun to watch, they have a period correct appearance just like US and British rock bands from '68 to '72.

So how did Bud sound? I think he's got great tone, really buttery, classic Les Paul through mellow Marshall. Not trebly or biting at all, or boomy. Just smooth. He sounded to me like early Clapton, classic American rock style. Not jangly or British sounding at all. I'd be curious to hear a single coil guitar through that same rig for comparison.

I've got parts on order from Nik and Phil, so hopefully I'll be able to let you know how single coils do through the 36 soon.

Jim

Jim;
Thanks for the review on the amps,and hope you had a good time. I look up some of the places they play,and the Hall looked like it would be a cool place to play.

""""Bud played a tobacco burst Les Paul with large humbuckers, I'm guessing, they might be burstbuckers, as the guitar didn't look too old. """

I think that is a Heritage les paul,i believe its an early 80s. I'll post a pic,maybe some gibson guys can tell. I'm not much up on the LP's

As for the strat through the amp/s.
One of the shows i was at,he broke a string on his LP toward the end of a song,clicked his switcher, unplugged it,and grabbed the strat he has,another really great playing guitar. I thought he'd have to mess with something,but he just plugged in and played,it sounded great.

I'll have to find out what tracks on the CD he used the 59 strat,also a tele and ES-335 on there too.

Richie

The Trex is in for a visit/lookover,he said its working fine without any problems. I just asked if he'd drop it by so i could take a few pics of the inside. This way i won't have to go on exact memory of how i built it. Its kinda funny,this amp has traveled more places in the last 7 months than i have in my whole life.
Richie

I've been looking at dates, and may be in Seattle for there appearance there. Would be really cool if I got a chance to go, hope the sound of that 36 will inspire me to finish my 36 that I started on.

Chris

Richie, what happened to your gallery? It used to have some pics of your progress on the 36 watt. I can't find your gallery at all now. I still have yet to wire up the power section on my own 36 watt .

""""Richie, what happened to your gallery? It used to have some pics of your progress on the 36 watt. I can't find your gallery at all now. I still have yet to wire up the power section on my own 36 watt . """""

I was doing some spring cleaning..I needed to clean it up,and i will put some things back in. I have to find out how to stick all of one kind of pics in one folder. So the 36 watt stuff wil all be there,and not spread out.
I'll be puting them back soon.

Richie