AboutJohnny Genocide Expertise I can answer questions regarding playing, guitar models, guitar construction, amplifiers, effects, starting a band, recording and touring. As the Guitarist and singer for No Alternative I have recorded a number of albums, singles and CDs as well as extensive touring. I can also answer questions about starting a band and recording.
Experience I have been a guitar player for 26 years. I play and tour with No Alternative. With a number of CDs out there are also 14 bands that have recorded my songs.
Publications Can You Hear Me, Live at the Deaf Club (With KGB)
SF Underground, Subterranean Records (No Alternative)
Backtracks, Subterranean Records (No Alternative)
Lifeline/No Alternative, Bull Dog Records (No Alternative)
Johnny Got His Gun, Wingnut Records (No Alternative)
SF Nights, Bachuus Archives (No Alternative)
Expert: Johnny Genocide Date: 5/11/2008 Subject: Amp cab/ MIDI
Question Hi Johnny, I've written to you a few times but recently, when I emailed you directly, I haven't got an answer back. Since you're quite timely with your answer I figured there is a problem so this is the only way I can reach you with my questions.
Anyway, my first question is about amp cabinets. Which cab is the best quality for under $1000 new? Many I know are made from birch plywood, but krank cabs are made from solid poplar I think. On youtube they have a tour of their factory and they claim the solid wood is better for the tone, but I've also heard that the plywood resonates better or something. I don't know what to believe but what cab would go best with the Randall RM100(I don't have it yet)?
Also, what is MIDI and how does it work? With the Randall you can program effects to go on with certain channels as you switch between them but I don't understand how it works.
Thanks again you've already helped me a lot.
Michael
Answer Hey Michael,
Thanks for writing. It sometimes takes me up to two weeks to get back to people at my email address because I get 50 to 60 emails a week and I answer them all, no matter how long it take me. As for what MIDI is, go to this website for a better description that I could give:
Now for the cabinet choices and the differences in woods. The reason people pay attention to what type of wood is used for a cabinets is because different woods have different densities. This is important because you want a speaker cabinet that projects the sound outward. If the wood is spongy or porous, the sound is absorbed and it doesn't project as much, giving a flat or muddy sound. Poplar is a great wood because of it's density. This density sends the sound outward. Plywood is cheaper but, since it is made up of laminated layers of less dense wood, tends to have an absorbing quality. However, a good quality plywood will be made of denser woods and therefore resonate better than even poplar. The trick is to find out what kind of wood is used in the plywood composite of the speaker cabinet. To save you some time, the upper end Randall cabinets are made of dense plywood that is of good quality. Krank cabinets are great but I don't think they are worth the price and it's really about how much quality you get for your dollar.
As for the effects on the Randall amp, there are small chips built into the amp that allow you to program effects for each channel. It's relatively simple:
Amps with built in effects have wired in program that allows you to program a simple effect into each channel so when you switch from one channel to another, the effect goes with it. I would go to the Randall website and check out their description of the effects processor built into each amp. Technology has allowed us to cheaply do what used to cost us lots of money in the purchase of effects pedals. I am caught up on most of my emails so I promise if you write me I'll answer. Thanks again for writing and sorry about the delay in answering you!
