|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Prototype Custom Design-Built Jim Mings Jazz Classic JMJC-001
|
This is Jim Mings playing Angel Eyes with his '59 Fender Esquire directly into the Jazz Classic -- no effects. Just a great player, great guitar, and Jim's favorite amp.
|
I took possession of my Edgefield amp a few weeks ago. I have played and recorded with it nearly every day and have played a few gigs with it. It is the best amp I have ever been around in 47 years of playing electric guitar. Here are a few thoughts about it:
Although it is based on a Vibrolux design, it does not sound much like a Fender. There are no hyped or exaggerated frequencies, none of the “glassy” highs of my favorite blackface Deluxe. That is a wonderful amp, but I didn’t want just another amp like it. I wanted an amp to sound like acoustic jazz. I got it! My L5C sounds fantastic with the Edgefield. It sounds like the guitar, only louder. I have the recorded truth. In the past if I wanted a warm solo sound on the treble strings I got boomy bass. I was always attempting to find a compromise. Now I just turn on the Edgefield and plug in my guitar and there it is. It also lets my Byrdland sing with its more electric voice. In fact, I would say that this amp reproduces what a jazz guitar wants to do. Joe took my decidedly non-tech ideas about sound and just nailed them in this amp. The Edgefield reminds me of very fine studio monitors in the way that it reveals sound. It doesn’t color tone as much as let it out. That is a fantastic achievement in a guitar amp. Speaking of which, it records like a dream. It does not make enough noise on its own to move the meters. It runs very quietly. Stick a nice mic in front of it and you are good to go. However, you better be able to play cause the Edgefield reveals all!
It is plenty loud to hang with a kickin’ drummer without breaking up on fat chords. The world is louder now than it was in 1956 and I had to have an amp that could handle modern requirements and still be a combo smaller that a Twin. As the music gets louder the sound just gets creamier as the tubes add a very musical compression. Solo lines become more horn-like, but chord melodies are still detailed. You can hear each voice moving. I always wanted this and now I have it. My old Esquire (neck pickup added) and the Edgefield have that warm tone that jazz guitarists who play Telecasters crave. (And it never feeds back!)
I’ll let Joe tell you about the amp components, but I believe they are the best available. The sweetest transformer, the finest speakers, tubes, and wiring, etc. 2 – 10’s, the perfect size for jazz guitar. The Edgefield looks beautiful as well. I just love it!
P.S. I have cranked it with a Strat and an old Tube Screamer. Wow!
Jim Mings, 8-9-2006
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
