10 Jan Aracom Amplifiers Features SoloDallas.net
Well, we’re honored to have Jeff (Aracom Products owner) feature us on a dedicated page at their website.
Aracom didn’t endorse us, I like to pay for great products since I have the chance to do so (and I am nowhere famous and never will be to get such a treatment). Jeff has many friends all over the world, and I am just one of them.
You can find our dedicated page here: SoloDallas’ at Aracom Products. Here’s Jeff’s own comment about us:
For quite sometime we have been a big fan of Filippo’s (Fil) work and “love” his guitar skills and his awesome tone. We were thrilled when Fil contacted ARACOM to purchase the PRX150-DAG attenuator. Fil has become quite well known througout the world with his guitar tutorial videos on YouTube that generated some 14 (fourteen) million video views and a few thousands subscribers. He has now created his own website solodallas.com, featuring his excellent video: Tutorials, Performance and Gear Reviews, all in HD Video.
Not only I am grateful for this, but really, I have to thank Jeff once again. For ages (probably decades) I have had the dream of being able to “crank up” Marshall amplifiers, despite the fact that I somehow did with master volume modifications and other attenuators in general. But I never – say again – never was really satisfied with any of those methods.
This attenuator – the PRX150-Pro – is really the only thing I have ever come across that really works, allowing me to learn even more about my own playing: it’s those subtle nuances that the great guitar players are known for, and those nuances are easier to find and learn with a great sound. The sound of Marshall through an Aracom Attenuator.
Thank you!
Fil 🙂
maltone
Posted at 15:22h, 19 MaySolo, would it be possible for Tone King to send you an “IronMan” attenuator, just so you could do one of your excellent videos – as a comparison to the Aracom?
Thanks.
cjar
Posted at 13:19h, 16 FebruaryHi Fil
I was just wondering what version of the aracom you recommend? I have a JTM 45 reissue that sounds amazing when cranked but would live to play it at home as well. I have a hotplate but am not happy with the sound it produces
Thanks heaps
Cjar
banane
Posted at 13:26h, 16 FebruaryHello Cjar, see here: http://www.solodallas.com/an-aracom-attenuator-and-a-few-vintage-marshalls/
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:29h, 16 FebruaryHi Cjar,
throw your hotplate away and get an Aracom.
You can tell Jeff – owner – that you saw it here; he might give you a discount (nope, I don’t get anything for it).
Mine is the Aracom PRX150-DAG. You’ll love it, and you will love your JTM45 more. Fil 🙂
solocali
Posted at 06:17h, 11 Januaryhey fil I was wondering if you can cover sink the pink I have learned it awhile back and it has a cool plucked part in the beginning I love the sound of those neat plucked parts
SoloDallas
Posted at 10:22h, 11 JanuaryYep. Sink the Pink, Fly On The Wall and several others from that album. I will cover them soon. Been a long time that I intended to do that 😀
Johnny
Posted at 00:26h, 22 Auguststill waiting for these covers fil 🙂
Ant
Posted at 23:20h, 10 JanuaryI second Mackollas’s post everything he said i can relate too, back to your youtube days 😀 i still got a copy of your back in black tutorial which is probably the reason why im here i practice so hard my fingers almost have blisters at the tips XD and i look back and listen to my old recording and i can see how far i have come and its all because of your wisdom, passion and on occations kwerkyness lol
Thank You Fil for all your hard work and then some you are an insparation to all of us!
Rock on, I salute you!
Ant
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 23:18h, 10 JanuaryHey Fil,
Since I don’t have the money for any kind of attenuator (ok, at this point I’m sure you’re asking: ok, then how I got the Marshall… well, it’s a long story 🙂 ) … I use a PPIMV (post phase inverter MV) in my 1959 head. It’s a lot cheaper than having an attenuator (the components cost no more than $5, plus there’s a bit of work with it, but probably it’s only half an hour). I have to say that it sounds amazing. I have listened to my amp fully cranked up (this is the type of MV that doesn’t change the circuit when it’s on 10) then I rolled the master down, and I was amazed – nothing has changed, except for the volume. I guess the sound is somewhere between a 2204’s master pot, and an attenuator (not bad for $5) because it’s actually after the phase inverter tube. The PI tube (v3) is the most important tube in a marshall, that tube characterizes and shapes the overall distortion. Actually a 2204’s master volume is BEFORE this stage, so if you keep it low, the phase inverter won’t be able to produce this typical, natural marshall tone. BUT with this PPIMV, you can get MUCH closer to the cranked up sound than with the 2204’s master volume. Again, not bad for $5, huh? 🙂 It’s worth trying it out, especially if you take to consideration that it doesn’t change anything when it’s on 10.
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 23:22h, 10 Januaryyou can find out more of this mod on the metropoulos site (the Wiki section, as I remember). It’s the Lar/Mar type of PPIMV.
… again, it’s worth trying it out for anyone with a marshall style head. 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 23:26h, 10 JanuaryThanks Dobos 🙂 Oh I know PPIMVs! I have been having a PPIMV in my 1987 for all the time I had that amp. And I do have one too inside the Metro JTM50 (I asked George to install one in it for me). They’re great. And at times, much better than many costly attenuators, no doubts. Plus all the benefit of having it inside the amp. But the Aracom is really something else. I did compare between the PPIMV and the Aracom, and to my ears the Aracom sounded very different. Plus, it’s got other features that come handy (independent impedance on amp and cabinet and more). If I didn’t have the Aracom, I’d probably install PPIMVs in all of my amps 😀
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 23:36h, 10 JanuaryWell, since I don’t have the chance to get an attenuator, it’s the best solution for me. It works fine. btw, I want to ask you that what cabinet I should buy for my head. It’s a 1959 head, but I took two tubes out, so it’s basically being a 1987 right now. What would you suggest for mostly AC/DC plus some others (about the same stuff that you play too) ? G12Hs or G12Ms ? Old or new? A or B? Which one would you go with, if you only had one cab ?
SoloDallas
Posted at 23:55h, 10 JanuaryI’d say without a doubt a 1960B with 25 watt speakers inside. G12Hs are 30-ish? I have a cab with G12H30 and it’s very good. But those are old ones. Forget vintage stuff, it’s expensive and often out of order. Go for new stuff. Reissue greenbacks are really good.
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 00:04h, 11 JanuaryThanks. There’s one for sale, near me. I think I’ll check it out… 🙂
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 00:05h, 11 Januaryoh yes, I meant the G12H30s sorry 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 00:11h, 11 JanuaryOh never worry. Well, that makes it a little different then. Listen to what I did today: I cleaned that mess of a laboratory of mine, and took all the cabs away. Left only the one with G12H30s. After playing for days – several hours a day – a song that you’ll see posted in hours from now (surprise!) – I realized that the cabinet i was using (a reissue 1960B with vintage G12Ms) was a bit too dark. So I switched for a vintage 1960B with vintage G12H30s (one that is already featured here somewhere). It’s brighter. Which could be a good thing. I tried it some today with my 1959 and frankly, I love it. So think about it. There’s also a GREAT reissue speaker maker that is called “scumback”. He makes great speakers, too., that are meant to be superb reproduction of vintage Celestion speakers.
Kinglance
Posted at 00:29h, 11 JanuaryI thought the 1960BX was best to play AC/DC? Or am I wrong?
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 16:13h, 11 JanuaryWell, there’s no amp or cab or either a guitar that you can say “this is THE piece of gear to play AC/DC”. Angus himself (as well as the rest of the band) employed different equipment at different eras. For example: take a look at some concert videos from the late 70s… they used cabs with the JCM800 style black grill cloth (which is almost fully transparent, unlike the older basketwave grill cloth, which DOES make a difference). So they used very different amps (JMPs, JTM45 etc.), different cabs, and different guitars almost for every album.
That is the reason why Fil himself has a whole museum of equipment. 😛 So there’s no perfect amp, cab, or guitar to play AC/DC. If you want to recreate some of their sounds, you have to find out what gear they used, and only that can be considered as the perfect gear, but only in that case. The 1960BX is a good choice, but you will find some albums to sound different than this cab sounds, because of the reasons described above. 🙂
kjellgibson
Posted at 12:33h, 14 JanuaryGood to know about new 4x12s: 1960BX has chinese made celestion g12m speakers -EVH 5150 has celestion g12m(EVH sign.) speakers made in England
*EVH sign. is the same speaker as celestion heritage G12M with just a different look
Dobos Ádám
Posted at 16:16h, 11 JanuaryWell, I already heard of them, but I haven’t read about them yet. I’ll take a closer look on those scumbacks 🙂 Thanks Fil
Kinglance
Posted at 23:17h, 10 JanuaryAll credits go to u Fil! I must say thanks too! Because of u I look on an other way to guitarplaying. U always said: keep practising… And I must say: U were right! It has result! U can bring imoprtants things to us. U learned us how to hear, watch, listen very carefully (Allo Allo , Michele of the resistence :D). U let us use our whole body. For me Solodallas.net is site number1. Hurray there is internet! Hurray there is Solodallas (Fil)! Thanks! J-L
JaiminhoPagina
Posted at 22:50h, 10 JanuaryWow! 😀
That’s great Fil!
Hopefully in a short time we will have some brands sponsoring the site itself! 🙂
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:55h, 10 JanuaryThat would be beautiful 😀 However, I think some time will have to pass before that happens 😉 In the meantime… let’s get down on it!!!!111
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:37h, 10 JanuaryYou gave me the shivers, Marcus (that is, a strong, good emotion). Also all of the others who have commented here, thank you 🙂 You just described – though I know (believe me 😛 ) that it isn’t easy, exactly what matters. I’m so happy to hear that you got it in you now. And now… the fun begins. When you understand those things, most of the frustration leaves, because now you have a “target” to work for. And it’s possible!
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:44h, 10 January🙂
jakesg61
Posted at 22:45h, 10 JanuaryThe light is now visable at the end of the tunnel, is very exciting to hear and feel things you havent been able to do before, it opens a door to a whole new world! 😀
SoloDallas
Posted at 22:50h, 10 JanuaryYes, that is also another beautiful description 🙂 I never lie. I still remember when it happened to me. It was a moment. A single moment. And I had been playing for so many years already! But didn’t understand what “timing” was. Once you do, it’s a wonderful path that keeps on building inside of you. Will never leave. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Tyler
Posted at 21:26h, 10 JanuaryThat’s great fil. I think you are more well known then you actually think, and this just goes to show that this website is really taking off. I remember when Gibson featured you on there website, that was so cool.
jakesg61
Posted at 20:53h, 10 JanuaryThis is great new Fil, a very well done 😀
People know the contrbution you have given and you deserve something back this is great 😀
Today I worked out an entire solo (with out tab), that a year ago I would have never been able to do, this is thanks to you for showing us how to understand how to listen to the music and try to hear where they player is on the fret board.
banane
Posted at 19:06h, 10 JanuaryYeah, Dries is right, you’re actually becoming famous, Fil. And you deserve it 🙂
headwhop26
Posted at 18:51h, 10 JanuaryFil has some serious street cred!
Thundersnook
Posted at 18:33h, 10 JanuaryDamn Fil, things developing here! =)
I think your becoming more and more famous! Thats so cool!
You deserve it after everything you’ve done! The hard work teaching us the songs we love and this site her! Thanks again for everything!
Never stop rockin!^^
Dries
Posted at 18:14h, 10 JanuaryNice that they mentioned on their site! Your performance vids with it are good for Aracom too. A lot of people have seen them !
You’re becoming famous 😉
Really, you’ve done a great job allready here. And I’m sure it will continue 😉
Dries