Santana 1984 Fender Concert II Amp?

[anthony8i]

Hello everybody,
This is my second post; my other was under "Santana Amp KIT? anyone?". my question to you guys can a 1984 Fender Concert II achieve the early Santana tones? the amp was modified by Lee Jackson himself in 87; and my other question is there a kit for this amp to be modified for that Santana tone? has anyone modified there concert amp? what other tweaks can I make to it? people to tell me roll off tone, and scooping mids? what do they mean by that? I never understood? this I what got for gear: Prs Santana MD, Santana 25th 10tops, fender concert II, Rivera attenuator, prs cables, Keeley cry baby wah, Keely ts808, luna drive, nova wah and Boss DD7 Delay. I got 2x12 tone tubby cab, red alnicos and 2x10 cab with celestions green back with alnico gold. all cabs 8ohms. thanks!

[jaysg]

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?p=12582#12582

DarkBlueMurder has one too, but I don't think he's published his schematics. I just updated mine...minor tweaks and clarifying caps. Can do Santana with the PAB engaged. Does perfect blackface on the clean channel. It's a lot of work and very easy to burn the wires and your fingers. Someone once called the stock wring a 'pig's feast.'

[anthony8i]

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?p=12582#12582

DarkBlueMurder has one too, but I don't think he's published his schematics. I just updated mine...minor tweaks and clarifying caps. Can do Santana with the PAB engaged. Does perfect blackface on the clean channel. It's a lot of work and very easy to burn the wires and your fingers. Someone once called the stock wring a 'pig's feast.'

this is what my mine looks like!

[selloutrr]

Roll off tone: Turn down your treble (highs) as simple as using the EQ, picking less top end heavy tubes, rolling back the treble pot on the guitar.

Scoop the mids: Turn up the treble (highs) Turn up the Bass (Lows) and turn down the Mids (Middle) It creates a scooped look on a graphic EQ like a bowl. This can be down by turning the knobs on the EQ or redesigning the tone stack.

[Structo]

That's a lot of wires.

Can you take any photos that are focused better?

[anthony8i]

That's a lot of wires.

Can you take any photos that are focused better?

Here are some! hope there better? if not I gots take the whole thing apart?

[Lynxtrap]

First of all, I'd like to ask you this: What is your current setup/gear lacking in terms of getting the tone you are looking for?
That's something any modder/builder would ask you before doing anything. What do you want to achieve?

You've got lots of fine gear, and I can't really see why you shouldn't get a decent santana-ish tone out of it. But if that's not the case, maybe you could try to describe what's missing? That would make it easier for the folks here to help you.

There is no magic santana-mod to pop into any old amp. Santana used early Boogies, and that's probably as close as you're gonna get.

The Concert II is in the ballpark, but it's hard to tell how it has been modded.
Maybe you need one of those Boogie V-Twin preamps to drive the Concert?

Hello everybody,
This is my second post; my other was under "Santana Amp KIT? anyone?". my question to you guys can a 1984 Fender Concert II achieve the early Santana tones? the amp was modified by Lee Jackson himself in 87; and my other question is there a kit for this amp to be modified for that Santana tone? has anyone modified there concert amp? what other tweaks can I make to it? people to tell me roll off tone, and scooping mids? what do they mean by that? I never understood? this I what got for gear: Prs Santana MD, Santana 25th 10tops, fender concert II, Rivera attenuator, prs cables, Keeley cry baby wah, Keely ts808, luna drive, nova wah and Boss DD7 Delay. I got 2x12 tone tubby cab, red alnicos and 2x10 cab with celestions green back with alnico gold. all cabs 8ohms. thanks!

[Lynxtrap]

Here's another thought. If you really want to build something, maybe one of the Ceriatone kits would be something to try?

There are Trainwreck and Dumble clones to choose from, and this forum is the right place (to say the least) to learn which one could get you closest to your goal. Santana is even known to have used Dumbles.

I am refering to Ceriatone just because he offers affordable kits, and you want a kit.

[anthony8i]

[quote="Lynxtrap"]First of all, I'd like to ask you this: What is your current setup/gear lacking in terms of getting the tone you are looking for?
That's something any modder/builder would ask you before doing anything. What do you want to achieve?

You've got lots of fine gear, and I can't really see why you shouldn't get a decent santana-ish tone out of it. But if that's not the case, maybe you could try to describe what's missing? That would make it easier for the folks here to help you.

There is no magic santana-mod to pop into any old amp. Santana used early Boogies, and that's probably as close as you're gonna get.

The Concert II is in the ballpark, but it's hard to tell how it has been modded.
Maybe you need one of those Boogie V-Twin preamps to drive the Concert?


I agree with you! i gues I need to know more about how the amp works? meaning how to mess with the knobs? should gain be high? bass? presence? the difference with volume and master? I think I really need to know my gear like the back of my hand right? right now i'm just using my 25th prs, the amp hooked to the attenuator, and barber ltd drive and tone tubby cab nothing else. when I use the attenuator it keeps the hiss low plus I don't want it to be super loud since I live in a apartment. any tips on how to set up the knobs on the amp? I'm using the bright channel! btw I noticed when I turn the volume high on the pedal its sounds like crap meaning sound gets too distored? does that sound familiar? thanks again im gonna really mess with it and give you more info! thanks

[vibratoking]

when I use the attenuator it keeps the hiss low plus I don't want it to be super loud since I live in a apartment.

Dude, if you are worried about hiss you are never going to find the Santana sound. Don't be timid. Let it soar. Also, I don't think you are going to find Santana sound at apartment levels. Santana's sound is not an apartment level sound. In fact, you have to hear and FEEL it. If you don't have enough volume to feel it, you are not going to get it, IMO. With your low volume, 'I'm afraid of the hiss" attitude, you wouldn't get Santana's sound out of Santana's rig. I am trying to hand you his sound, but you won't take it.

In case you don't know, Santana's sound is basically setup to sound good with single notes. You have to be smart about how you play with this kind of distortion. You can get away with double stops. but 3 or more notes at one time will always sound like shit when you are running full out like that. That is why I mentioned the bridge tone and volume settings in my post in the other thread. You have to work the guitar to get singing leads AND acceptable rhythm sounds. That is probably the hardest part of copping his sound.

[Zippy]

I agree with you! i gues I need to know more about how the amp works? meaning how to mess with the knobs?

I cannot believe you have all that gear and have never learned to "mess with the knobs".

No amp - especially one with a Bunch o' Knobs like a Boogie or a Dumble - is going to work for you if you are not willing to dig in and learn your gear.

[Lynxtrap]

I've had one of those concerts. They take some dialing in, and can approach "something like Dumble" or "somehint like boogie"...

It's all dial, listen, play. dial, listen. dial some more....U get the pic.
Tell us what you need. More distortion, more sustain, thinner/fatter sound, link to a santana video, record your current gear for us.

Hell, I'll try to get some santana out my ots tomorrow and record it. And then some pedals into my bassman and EPI BD30

[67plexi]

Santana Kits ????

Santana racks is more like it.

[anthony8i]

when I use the attenuator it keeps the hiss low plus I don't want it to be super loud since I live in a apartment.

Dude, if you are worried about hiss you are never going to find the Santana sound. Don't be timid. Let it soar. Also, I don't think you are going to find Santana sound at apartment levels. Santana's sound is not an apartment level sound. In fact, you have to hear and FEEL it. If you don't have enough volume to feel it, you are not going to get it, IMO. With your low volume, 'I'm afraid of the hiss" attitude, you wouldn't get Santana's sound out of Santana's rig. I am trying to hand you his sound, but you won't take it.

In case you don't know, Santana's sound is basically setup to sound good with single notes. You have to be smart about how you play with this kind of distortion. You can get away with double stops. but 3 or more notes at one time will always sound like shit when you are running full out like that. That is why I mentioned the bridge tone and volume settings in my post in the other thread. You have to work the guitar to get singing leads AND acceptable rhythm sounds. That is probably the hardest part of copping his sound.

thanks! i feel like a dumbshit! not your fault! yes I just want to get nice notes good sustain and overdrive! so your saying go loud or go home!! I will work on that!! thanks again!

[anthony8i]

I agree with you! i gues I need to know more about how the amp works? meaning how to mess with the knobs?

I cannot believe you have all that gear and have never learned to "mess with the knobs".

No amp - especially one with a Bunch o' Knobs like a Boogie or a Dumble - is going to work for you if you are not willing to dig in and learn your gear.

I have mess with the knobs but i guess I give up on the amp too easly! i'm always thinking I need another amp? I just need more schooling on basics of the amp I guess? in otherwords; i need to know more how all those things can work together if it makes any sense? But I'm gonna mess with the stuff and keeps you guys posted as I progress!