Music to soothe the savage tubes.

[lazzer408]

Does anyone have a song that MUST play when test listening to their amplifiers? I'd like some suggestions of music to create a compilation CD for testing. I've been fiddling with a tube amp for a few days now and sometimes I feel I have a nice sound until I go through my CD collection and find some instrument in some song that jumps out at me in a bad way.

My taste of music varies and all suggestions are welcome. I have a niche for soft classic rock from the 70s and 80s.

Peter Gabrial - Games without frontiers. In my opinion, this song's percussion really stands out on quality equipment. It feels as if the percussive instruments are right next to me. The whistling also makes distortion stand out like a sore thumb. Would that be harmonic distortion?

Phil Collins - Another day in paradise. This song has a wide feel and many subtle sounds that would go unnoticed on poor equipment.

Pink Floyd - Dark side of the moon. Can't forget this. I love to sit back with my eyes closed and listen for something new. How many times have you said "I've never heard that before" the first time you heard it through quality headphones?

Classical music is always a great test. I'd love some suggestions. Perhapse something on the pipe organ? Give me tracks that have the highest highs, the lowest lows, and everything imaginable in between.

[mctavish]

"high and dry" by Radiohead, and any of Al Green's new album of course...

[cbj591]

"Jersey Girl" by Holly Cole.

If your system is setup right you can actually feel the room that she is singing in.

[wdcw]

Gday lazzer408,

Here's a couple, the problem is you'll find out where my head is at.

YouTube - Europa (Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile), Santana
YouTube - Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven
YouTube - Steve Vai - "Tender Surrender"

Some Bass
YouTube - Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells - 1973 - Original

Average Aussie Guitarist ha!
YouTube - Tommy Emmanuel - Classical Gas

This last one is a guy in his lounge room, it has some very high shrill harmonics in parts.
It would be easy to tell if your amp has changed the sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1OYzH0Teo8

Cheers

[athos56]

Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Kid A by Radiohead
Eruption and Spanish Fly by Van Halen

[lazzer408]

-takes notes-

How did I forget about Vai? I should find some Satriani too. Some Dave Matthews would probably work well. I like his mix.

The worst thing about owning a good amp (other then the electric bill) is having sold my Acoustats years ago when I moved. =(

[M Gregg]

Sweet as a flower. Walter trout band. << Just like it!

John Lee Hooker & Santana, The healer.

Mary black, moon and St Christopher--Revolution By beatles << Vocals and distortion. Not a great fan of revolution, however I have heard a lot of equipment seem to fall apart with this. The mix gets in a real mess!

[boyofwax]

Dire Straits, Telegraph road and Private investigations. Both from the album "Love over gold".

[DF96]

Saint-Saen's Organ Symphony? Eric Clapton Unplugged?

[807tubenut]

Diamond eyes, Deftones