FenderPawnShopRamparte

JoshGardner

GretschG6137TCB PantherCenter-Block ChrisVinnicombe

Hasanimpulsepickupledourmanagingeddownadarkpath?

Lasttime out, Iexplainedwhymy indecisivenesshad ledmetomanthe Ramparteratherhastily.Yes,I’d listenedtodemosandreadthe reviews,butwhenIgotithome, theoldadageoftrybeforeyou buyprovedgallinglyaccurate.

Ishouldprefaceallthisby sayingthattheRamparteis undoubtedlyacool,great-looking littleampwithsomereallyfun retrosounds–justasI’dhoped. However,whileI’dheardthatit wasadark-soundingamp,Ididn’t expectittobe this dark.And whilemyCabronitaandStrat havetherequiredtreblyqualityto compensate,myLesPauls’ humbuckersjustturnthingstoa low-endmush.Iwasdespondent –IlovemyFenders,butatheart, I’maLesPaulman,andthe notionofnotbeingabletogetthe bestoutofmineniggledme.

Sincethen,I’vetriedtoremedy theproblemwiththeaidofaMXR MicroAmp+,turningthetreble knobrightthewayup,butit’sstill acompromisethatfeelslikeI’m notreallygettingthebestoutof eitherguitaroramp.

So,ittheRamparteisn’tthe homeampforme,butIstillwant

Peerless RetromaticP3 DaveBurrluck

totakeittosomejamsbeforeI throwinthetowel.WhenI’ve crankedit,thehigh-endopensup somewhatasthevalvesstart working.IftheRampartecan endearitselfinabandsetting, there’sstillhope.Butifnot,this PawnShopSpecialcouldfind itselfinthewindowofoneofits namesakesprettysharpish…