I play through a Peavey ValveKing 20-watt mini head. It had too much gain for me with the gain knob set to like 9 o’clock, so I swapped out the 12ax7 tubes for 5751 tubes and it works pretty well. My wife loves that it has a built-in power attenuator (all the way down to 1 watt) so I can cook the power tubes without blowing my house down. haha
As a dude with a deformed back, I have no business doing them. They put torque on my back and it’s tough to balance it out even if you switch over vs under each set. Plus, I’ve never dropped a single rep with hook grip. It keeps my body in a better position, too, because I can get away with a narrower grip without windmilling. If you don’t have any of those issues, there’s nothing wrong with it. But if you do, it’s not a bad idea to learn to hook grip and use straps for longer sets.
Ah I see. Not trying to persuade you any which way,. I have only really committed to mixed or double overhand but with a deformed back, mixed is obviously a bad choice. More of a curiosity on my end than anything.
I’ve heard mixed reviews on valvekings from back in the day but I’ve never played through one. Much of the gear talk I was accustomed to was with fellow high schoolers who liked to dime the gain and lows for the chuggs. However, if they’re made anything like a 5150/6505 (or even the jsx, which I absolutely love and wish I owned) they’re probably great amps. Peavey has some great stuff, as does EH. I have a Holy Grail verb pedal that’s rotting in my parents basement right now… Haven’t used it in probably 6 years.
I took that as curiosity more than anything man, you’re good! If mixed is working for you then it’s exactly what you should be doing. No dogma here
I actually had an original Valveking combo and gigged with it. That fucker took a header down 13 steps into a concrete wall (handle ripped out of the plywood at the top of the steps) and I still was able to use it at that band practice. Ended up having to replace 4 of the tone pots and it was fine. The new one sounds way better and has about 4 times as much gain on tap, probably pretty close to a 6505 but more open and less compressed. Think AC/DC vs Randy Rhoads.
Have you dropped off playing, or did you just leave some of your gear at your parents’ place?
Haven’t dropped off playing, still do recording and stuff at home but it’s a little more than just guitar… I’ll do guitar and bass, then program drums and mix everything so I get a little bit of everything (except singing, can’t do that haha). All of my analog stuff is scattered around the area… pedalboard and whatnot at my parents place, amps at my cousin’s… Etc. I have no need for it right now.
Crazy how well built some amps can be man haha. The DSL head I have took a nose dive off my cabinet before a set one time. I was being an idiot and pushing the stack from the head, long ways. No broken tubes or anything. Pretty much like new and she fired right up. Ah the stupid drunken things I’d do to my lovely equipment…
Hey, if you need vox let me know. Singer first, guitar player second. I have audacity and a mic and will be furloughed the next two weeks so I’ll need stuff to do. Haha
I’ll take you up on that, you have Google drive/an email? I use reaper, also a free recording program I could either send you some stems or just a full mixed down track of you’d rather have that?
Edit: also, sorry to hear that man. Hopefully you’re getting some sort of payment still… crazy times we live in…
I skipped logging my workouts last week, I felt pretty horrible and was constantly exhausted. Had no reason to feel that way either, so not sure what the issue was. I did all of them and did them exactly according to week 3 of the sheet. The first two went ok but deadlifts felt incredibly lopsided in my back and hips. I did a lot of yard work and think that had something to do with it.
Up and at em. Feeling better today, normal PWO routine.
Squat
45 x 5
165 x 5
205 x 5
245 x 3
285 x 5
330 x 5
370 x 5
330 x 5
370 x 1
410 x 3 - lifetime PR triple
Bench
45 x 5
135 x 5
195 x 5 x 5
Assistance
SS with squat:
Seated DB lateral raise - 12 lbs 3 x 15
Side plank - 10 deep breaths per side x 3 sets
SS with bench:
DB curl - 25 lbs 3 x 10
The first sets of squats felt like death today, but by the time I got to the 2nd set of 330 I felt really good. 410 for a triple felt smooth and even, which is great. Bench flew better than normal, too, which is nice.
I played 18 holes of golf with my brother this morning, equating to roughly 8 miles of walking up and down hills with 25lbs of golf equipment on my back. I’d call that easy cardio.
Thanks! I’m starting to make real progress on the squat now that I’m not running myself into the ground with deadlifts. They put an article out on t-nation awhile ago about being hinge- or squat-oriented and I’m thinking I’m very squat-oriented. It pretty much told you to push the pattern that works for you and then do the other for form work and balance.
Felt like dog shit for some reason, stomach was acting up and I felt sore and exhausted. Golf had to do with the last two, but the gut stuff was odd. Got working anyway, normal PWO.
Press
45 x 5
65 x 5
80 x 5
95 x 3
110 x 5
125 x 5
140 x 5
125 x 5
140 x 1
155 x 3 - PR
Deadlift
300 x 5 x 5
Assistance
SS with Press
Pull Ups - 8,8,5,5
Ab Wheel - 3 x 10
SS with Deadlift
Banded triceps extension - 3 x 15
Despite feeling shitty the weight moved well. Definitely felt better as I got further into the workout. I found out exactly how far I have to shove my knees out to sumo deadlift and it’s a lot more than I’ve been doing. Buuuuut it feels infinitely better and more balanced.
Up and at em. Keep sleeping with my hips and shoulders at a 90 degree angle to each other so my back is super tender…bastard. Normal PWO routine. Stomach still felt bad today but within 3 swigs of cold brew coffee I felt fine. Interesting.
Bench
45 x 5
120 x 5
145 x 5
170 x 3
195 x 5
220 x 5
250 x 5
220 x 5
250 x 1
275 x 2
Squat
285 x 5 x 5
Assistance
SS with Bench
DB row - 105 - 3 x 10 reps per side
Side plank - 10 deep breaths/side x 3 sets
SS with Squat
Plate raise - 25 - 3 x 15
Other than my tender back everything went well today. It was actually a good reminder to hold the weight in my legs while squatting. Very happy with the rows and the plate raises are awesome.
