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Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty
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Fender G-DEC 3 Thirty
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«  The Swiss army knife of amps »

Published on 06/13/12 at 22:42
Value For Money : Excellent
It's a modeling amp of 30W. It has characteristics making it very practical to learn the guitar and practice:
- A reader mp3 and midi files
- A loop recorder
- The connection to the sound editing software, for managing the files and presets
Connectors for:
- A panel guitar input, 1 input for a second skyscrapers behind
- A front-panel headphone output
- 1 x line out as 2 mono jack behind
- 1 input for footswitch
- 1 x USB
The régaglages are done via the menus, clearly visible on the screen. Through the PC, you can access settings most complete. In two cases the type of amp, the gain, EQ, various effects (compressor, chorus, flanger, phaser ...) are available.
AmpliTube Fender LE software Ableton Lite e are also provided.
For 250 €, this is a package impressive! Only the footswitch must be taken in supplement if needed (50 €). Unfortunately, no expression pedal.

UTILIZATION

Say it right now, this amp can put off those accustomed to an amp like "I connect, I turn and it sounds". The sound editing is done either by the amp via the menus or via the PC. A geek, however minor, should get out safely.
The basic manual is zero. Besides, I do not need. You can download a more complete version but geek inside, I did not need either.
Each preset can be associated with an mp3 or midi file. For example, you create a sound ACDC and you associate the file luis mp3 "black in black" (you have imported yourself via USB cable or SD card). You run the bazaar and you can repeat the song needing only the amp.
It also works with MIDI files. Admittedly, the sound is less good but the immmense advantage to select the tracks you want to hear (you must do on your PC). For example, you have the midi file of black in black. You want the party bass / drums and the guitar part to very low levels. You set this in your midi file, you import it and aa rolls ...
To find a good sound requires a little tinkering the settings at the beginning. Once caught on the amp types and their settings, use is intuitive.
There is a function to change the tonailité or speed of an audio file. In theory, it is convenient to repeat at slower speeds. In practice, once you activate the function, even with a speed barely reduced, the sound of the audio file is pourrave, unusable. Paf, in the face of the final grade!

SOUNDS

This amp is super versatile. It's normal, what is its purpose. He can be accused of lacking character precisely. Full range of light to heavy distortion is covered. I love the clean sounds and the sounds rock types 70-80. The rest is correct.
Equalization lacks a bit of aggressiveness: the settings on his play but I would have liked more control and dynamic variations.
The factory sounds and audio files provided (100) are unequal. It allows to improvise on different styles (country, rock, hardcore, jazz ...) but you get tired quickly. They will gradually be replaced by my own presets and songs.
By pushing a little volume, it shows the limits of the amp. It gets a little messy. But it does very well what I expect of him in my office, not far from the PC, I can enjoy myself and say what I want.

OVERALL OPINION

This amp has an excellent value for money. For € 300 (including the footswitch), you access a working amp containing all that is necessary for single player. The are are okay, not great ... but correct. By pushing a little volume, one can even seek to repeat as a group if there is molo drummer. And if you do not have a drummer, go hop ... an audio file with drum loops or midi file. The bass player is not there? It adds a bass.
I played with a lot of tube amp. I have not done so by lack of space and because they are too heavy. I also had a Vox AD60 (modeling) which was very good (better in sound) but he dropped me. I now have this thing at 300 € and that's enough to make me happy.
Beware, however: those who swear by "I connect, I turn and it sounds" should look elsewhere. A minimum of geek attitude to use the machine. I confess that although I belong to this category of musician, I sometimes regret the use of a single panel with only the knobs to turn.
In short, an amp with a great price, decent sound, a tool that can do everything ... but not ecstatic either. A good Swiss Army knife.