Tiny Terror

I’ve been having one of the largest internal struggles I’ve faced in a while. I’m going to be honest. I’m a gear addict. I love shiny new audio gear. I can’t help it, I just do. Sometimes I wonder if it’s an actual addiction. My time at college for audio engineering took the addiction to a new level. I became a sound and tone freak! It became that if I could hear a difference, I wouldn’t be satisfied until I had the best sound out of my gear. As a result, I ended up with a very nice, and expensive, recording rig. I don’t regret it, I wouldn’t be satisfied with anything else. I don’t have a weak spot anywhere in my signal flow, from microphone to computer. The only thing thats left is the source, or what is creating the sound that’s being recorded. I got a really nice bass, since bass is my primary instrument, a 1977 Fender Jazz Bass. Then I got a sweet guitar, a swiss- made “Blade”  Telecaster, which is in my opinion a bit nicer than an american standard telecaster (Keith Urban played a Blade telecaster on his latest album).

Next comes a guitar amp, which I have held off on until now. Electric guitar is one thing where tone really matters, and the amplifier has a HUGE effect on a guitar’s tone. I already have a great guitar, so all thats left is the amp. Now, my schooling helped me to develop a discerning ear, and I’m not satisfied with any amp’s tone unless it’s all out tube, and a nice one at that. I like Vox AC15 and AC30’s, some Marshall offerings, but I really like ORANGE amps guitar tone. They just sound really good, and they have exactly the tone that I would describe as my “ideal” guitar tone.  The problem, their whole line of heads is insanely expensive, generally running 1500$ and up! Except for one head, the Orange “Tiny Terror”, a 15 watt mini head that sells for about 800-900 bucks since the Canadian dollar took a nosedive. Still expensive for a small head, but I’ve compared it directly with many other amps, and the tone amazing compared to other amps of similar range. And the portability is great for my back too!

I was doing ok, I was holding off. Then something bad happened. My boss decided to carry the Orange line at the store, and what is the first model he orders? The Tiny Terror. It came in on Tuesday this week and after really experimenting I’ve found it almost impossible to resist. I’ve already got a great cabinet awaiting re wiring (see a few posts back), and to top it off I get a SMOKING discount if I were to buy it becasue I’m an employee. I’ve been writing a lot of material lately, and have some recording I want to do with my lovely lady. I know I won’t be ready to record until I’ve got a killer amp to record with.

The problem is this: That same beautiful woman and I are planning to buy a house at some point down the road and I’ve been saving lots for a down payment. When I think of that amount of money going towards a house I know it would be better spent there. It just ….is so difficult. When am I going to get to record my material? I know I won’t be happy until I have something stellar at my disposal. Plus, I have to look at the thing every day at work! My employee discount is like a slap in the face! I’m doing my best to stand strong, but it is so hard! I think I can make it though… I just ask myself, “House…. or…. Guitar amp?” Ouch… sooo not rockstar.

I’m just glad I love Tracey so much… somehow it makes the decision a bit easier. It may seem silly, but for me this really is a big deal! Thanks Trace, know it or not your really helping me battle my gear addiction!

~ by justinpiercy on February 19, 2009.