5 Things YOU SHOULD KNOW about the Pignose...

[@TmcIIIvideo]

This is the real life “ Butthead” lmao….

[@andyhayes7828]

UFO 'LIGHTS OUT" All guitars were recorded using a pignose. Michael Schenker 🤘

[@skraegorn7317]

These things also make for great harmonica amps. They’re definitely not for a live sound, I like mine best in the studio. I basically set mine up inside of a suitcase with a microphone to dampen it. I treat it not so much as an amp but as a fuzz pedal with a speaker.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Yeah, harmonica sounds great through it! I have to say that in the right setting, it can and will be used live! Thanks for watching!

[@rychubil]

I also use my Pignose with harmonica, which is giving great fatty sound, right enough for capacity of my home. I use 7.5V Hama power supply which is giving lower noise issues than dedicated 9V one. The best solution for lowering noise issues are 9V rechargeable batteries - I use ENEGON 650mAh. P. S. One question. Does the original old American Pignose or newer, Chinese version of the amplifier?

[@TeiscoCurlee]

@@rychubil Yeah I use rechargeable batteries most of the time too in mine, which is a newer Chinese version.

[@rychubil]

@@TeiscoCurlee definitely I recommend an old American version, which sounds much richer and not coupling (less feedback). See my comparison: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5q5fpqOeKirZqs

[@AmericanVetMusic]

Great point! That’s pretty much what it is! The 60’s and 70’s in a speaker box! How can you not dig it?! 😊

[@k9er233]

Great informative video. Thanks for posting. Regarding power supplies, I have found that the cheap, switching power supplies similar to what you might get to recharge a cell phone battery, can be noisy and problematic for this type of use. I have had great service from the old school, heavy, "wall wart" style of power supplies that I find at thrift stores. You need to confirm that the voltage and amperage necessary for your pedal or other device is correct, as well as the barrel plug fit (outside and inside pin diameter) is all correct. I will carry my pedal or small amp to the store and check with the clerk before I bring it in to test the fit of the plug and check that it will power my pedal etc. I carry a small, cheap voltmeter to first confirm that the power supply is working and that the marked polarity is correct. I explain what I need to do and have never been refused, but I live in a quiet rural area where most people trust each other. Your mileage may vary. I usually find them in my area at 50 cents to a dollar each. The best ones have a choke coil on the power lead that looks like a small black plastic cylinder that the power lead passes through. These are often used to recharge DSLR camera and video camera batteries. The choke coil helps reduce or eliminate any noise from getting to your device, and they are my favorites. I hope this helps someone.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Great tip, thank you!

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Hello petros, that little amp will allow you to play electric guitar on a mountain top or at the beach,in a cave, a forest..anywhere and it will sound groovy.No other amp can do what it does and still remain intact. Its like a "Tonka Toy" jeep!!

[@ericjtomsky]

Thanks for the video! I ordered one the other day and am waiting for it to come in! I actually got this amp for some re amping options for playing lead lines in the studio! Terry Kath inspired the purchase and with it being incredibly affordable I thought why not

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Yeah that's a good use for it, it sounds really cool miked up properly and the price doesn't hurt! Terry Kath was one of the founders of the company too right? Thanks for watching!

[@ericjtomsky]

@@TeiscoCurlee yes he was! I had learned stronger everyday a little while ago and was looking into terry kath and he mentioned how he loved the broken up overdriven sound of a small amp and so was driven to found tjat company, I think it was a partnership with another established company tho I can’t quite remember.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

@@ericjtomsky Oh cool, yeah that sounds familiar. Hope you'll enjoy you Pignose when it arrives! Btw, I recommend doing the mod I mention in this video if you want a cleaner tone when rolling the volume back!

[@Kacee2]

These were not meant to replace your main rig. I had one way back in the 70s. You could take it to the beach or whatever. They were fine for doodling.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Yeah I know, I just find it fascinating to use things for more than they were intended for! Plus, I don't have a drivers license so if I could take something like this to a gig one day that would be cool!

[@tommypalmer8443]

@@TeiscoCurlee if the venue has a PA system, you can run the pignose through that.

[@spacejockey4746]

@@TeiscoCurlee dumb

[@fredtaylor9792]

Frank Zappa - "hold my beer"

[@andydunn5673]

I love my little Pignose . Like you I ordered it with a power supply and it came without. No buzz at . Very clean crisp sound if I want or crunch if I want it. It takes Donner , Delay, Reverb , Looper and Blues overdrive with ease. I play Blues Harp and think this is an excellent Amp for the price.

[@felipetrevino5114]

Frank Zappa did the Mike Douglas show with that pig nose and owned it

[@TeiscoCurlee]

I love that performance and Zappa's pignose work in general, he's the #1 reason I bought it. Here's my best attempt at getting some Zappa into my playing kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYTXm2yVYpd0g5o

[@AmericanVetMusic]

I personally like the dirt in the Pignose. It’s part of its unique sound. I don’t want to mod mine. There’s so much that you can already do with these little amps, it’s amazing! I’m almost offended by the lack of respect given to the little guy. Lol. But seriously, I’ve invested in multiple Pignose amps and I’ve never been let down. Try out an Orange Micro Terror through a Pignose Hog-30! Awesome sauce!!!

[@HiltsyAdventure]

I have the 700 and the Hog 20 and I love them both. Espesualy if you play blues. I always run the 700 on a battery pack with a USB to 9v, it will also run my pedals. I also play my harmonicas through them.

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

I build electric cigar box guitars with hot pickups in them. I just got a Pignose yesterday precisely for that down & dirty street vibe the Pignose is known for. This thing is killer!

[@MrDruism]

I’ve had the same batteries for 3 years and it still works great!

[@leftblues]

I have the tweed one and use battery only. They last very long time.

[@jayharris7673]

1.) If you can find a 70's/early 80's Pignose, they have a heavenly clean tone by default that stays until the amp is turned almost all the way up. I think the later ones added the diode to give the amp more grit but the clean side got lost in translation 2.) For gigs you can always mic the amp if there's a PA system. But yes, at full volume it is too loud for any apartment/dorm use. And no headphone out, either. 3.) The power supply is expensive and very noisy. I've used the EHX Big Muff power supply for years, but mainly stick with batteries. Also, the amp has a fatter crunch tone when the batteries are running low from my experience. 4.) I once ran a Strymon Blue Sky through my USA Pignose with the amp volume halfway. It sounded amazing. The Pignose also works well with a 2 amp wet/dry rig. 5.) Oh lord, I forgot my guitar was still plugged in once and pulled the amp off of a shelf 5 1/2 feet above a concrete floor!! Popped the batteries out but it still worked afterwards. These amps are well built!

[@TeiscoCurlee]

I'm sort of on the search for an old one, would be cool to compare. I am for sure gonna try this miced when the right gig comes up, or use it for kind of a wet dry rig as you say, along with a more powerful amp, it's pretty awesome! Wow, that's incredible that it survived that fall! Yeah they must be very well built! Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@konstantinoskrevvatas]

2 same as EVH did with Plexi power supply voltage. Brown sound!

[@hisdudeness09]

So this is unorthodox but, I play rhythm/ slide guitar in grumbly blues punk band, and use my pignose as a head using the out channel on the back to go into an old Peavey bass amp. It gets the meanest tone. Whatever level of distortion/volume you set the pignose to will be projected by whatever amp you run it through plus you can EQ it a little through your bigger amp. So for those worries about it not being gig loud but like the gritty sound, that’s how I’ve always got around it.

[@anthonymiller3970]

I don’t use a AC adapter. I also don’t use AA batteries. I use 1 9volt rechargeable battery. I rewind the battery to take a 9 volt.

[@maxtothmusic]

I went on a whole US tour playing at venues for thousands of people and used a pignose mic'd up with my pedal board every night. Best amp ever I love it so much

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Awesome to hear! I'm gonna try to gig with mine soon!

[@kevinwillson341]

Taking away the distortion takes away why I want a pignose to begin with. Rocky mountain way style distortion. I love it.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Well, the distorted sound of it cranked is unchanged, it's just when rolling back the volume you've got a better clean sound with my mod

[@PerroDelCielo]

this amp needs no mods, this must be used like a fuzz pedal, crank all the way up and use your guitar volume nob to achieve your cleans and dirty sounds (low for cleans and high for od/distortion)

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Yeah, the general fuzz/distortion is not what I'm talking about. The mod makes exactly what you're describing so much better, the distortion when the guitar and amp are turned up is still there in all it's glory, it's the clean sound when backing off that's the difference. The example at 1:13 in this video shows the cleans, and the difference with and without the mod. As you can see the volume is very low on the amp. At 7:51 you can hear the amp, still modded, with the volume on max (the pedals are off) for it's untouched full distortion. I hope this clears things up.

[@richardlynch5632]

If you want clean tones...open the amp up(open back style) instead of closed up (closed back style), and when opened it keeps the amp from falling over. 😎👍 Hang by a string and spin for cheap Leslie effect. Also use guitars volume for more control.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

That changes the tone for sure but doesn't clean it up that well for me. The guitar volume knob is a given for all amps! Haha gotta try that Leslie thing some day, thanks for watching and chiming in!

[@AmericanVetMusic]

This guy didn’t even think to talk about any of the benefits!!! This was an absolutely horrible review! I’m that much dumber for having watched it. 😳

[@mindfield9832]

Microphone and a PA should allow you to gig with it.

[@incognitivedistortion8800]

Yep, you mic it and run it through the house… I won’t buy a pig nose though. I’m either looking at a Fender or Marshall tube amp.

[@ikust007]

I confirm that the original Pignose power supply works well

[@lynnglidewell7367]

This amp was meant for solo accompaniment not in a band sitting. They didn't even have pedals when this was invented. Blues Harmonica sounds fantastic run through one. You just have to learn to use it for what it was intended for not as an all purpose amp.

[@johnanderson27]

I have a pig nose power supply and it’s so noisy I can’t even use the amp and when I put batteries in it it doesn’t work but even when I had that low 60 cycle hum the amp really does sound good for a little speaker

[@kamokere]

i have many amps and this pig is one of my favorite:) recording

[@ikust007]

Wow . The mod is amazing.

[@unknownarts5422]

Great to busk with. I use it in the studio. I don't recommend the mod. You want a clean sound, pick another amp. The reason for a Pignose IS the distinctive tone, IMHO.

[@Da_Publick]

What's funny is how many combo amplifiers have a similar tone when you turn up their gain controls, and people don't like it. But coming from the Pignose it's a 'classic' sound.

[@unknownarts5422]

@@Da_Publick I am definitely NOT one of those people 🙂 I love the gain on the Pignose, but love it on Orange travel amps, too. I love the gain pushed on Fender tubes, as well. A lot of different classic gain tones out there, and I like a lot of them 🙂

[@Da_Publick]

@@unknownarts5422 Orange travel amps? I didn't know they made travel amps.

[@ScrewyLewy53]

The God Frank Zappa used to mic one on stage.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Yes, or at least on the Mike Douglas show he did, don't know if he used it live other than that!

[@thepurpleplayer9168]

@@TeiscoCurlee he would use it throughout his career and different recordings but to be able to tell exactly which songs would be difficult

[@TeiscoCurlee]

@@thepurpleplayer9168 I know, especially around two of my favourite albums overnite sensation and apostrophe, but the comment was about him using it on stage!

[@JeffDegrado]

I Love your format, go on mate! Have you try the DV Mark little jazz?

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Thank you so much, will do! No, I was unfamiliar with that one but it looks interesting, hopefully I can get my hands on one some day, have you tried it?

[@JeffDegrado]

@@TeiscoCurlee A very good clean and pedal platform

[@TeiscoCurlee]

@@JeffDegrado I can imagine, I will look out for it!

[@jamesBrian-lu4kj]

That amp is not meant for pedals..it's sound direct is what it does...old school grind...have a blessed day

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

I believe when they said "cheap power supplies are better" they meant a linear power supply (aka a mains transformer w/ a diode bridge and a capacitor), not a switching power supply (the ones with a tiny transformer).

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Ah ok, that's good to know, thanks!

[@Bleats_Sinodai]

@@TeiscoCurlee it's just that the cheap switching power supplies are usually very noisy. Not much of an issue for charging a battery, but it's awful for audio. If you wanna try, usually laptop power supplies are pretty low-noise. Just get one with the voltage, amps, and jack polarity you need for the amp.

[@misterx8592]

Use it for busking….💃🏻🕺🏼

[@Southside_Slim]

I bought mine from Craigslist brand new in the box second hand with no power adapter for $40 almost 3yrs ago I play the harmonica and really dig this little amp but allways had trouble with the battery trays not keeping the batteries in check then I found out about myvolts ripcord usb cables it steps up usb 5.5 volts to 9 volts so I can use my little power brick for juice or plug into my laptop or cell phone wall charger as power source I still need to remove or repair the wiring from the battery trays so I haven’t tried with the ripcord yet by next week I will have has anybody else watching this tried that ?

[@HiltsyAdventure]

I use a power brick also and it runs my couple pedels. Ill run the hog 20 for my guitar with a boss looper and run the 700 with harmonica mic. lots of fun

[@brandonharris9160]

The band Sleep uses one of these in an isolation box to enhance their sound

[@Da_Publick]

I didn't hear any difference between the pre-mod and post-mod sound. Then again, YT compresses everything. I'm guessing you gave the little 5-watt porker a bit more headroom?

[@zachramsden9549]

You could gig with it. You'd just have to mic it up and go thru the PA

[@-Pol-]

Have you thought to try it face down on a cushion with the back open? I've heard that gives a good tone too although I've yet to try tip that myself. I'm curious about the mod you describe. I'm going to have give it a try!

[@TeiscoCurlee]

I've tried a bunch of stuff with pillows and things, back open, back closed and so on. You can for sure get some interesting sounds, at a lower volume too but a lot of it end up sounding very muffled. Fun experiments though!

[@gregoryroth5527]

Need to try the mod as I always have hated the dirty clean tone!

[@horsiemin625]

I bought this amp a few month ago, and i was really satisfied with that pignose sound and mix of it and danelectro fab fuzz. Now, i wanna buy a delay pedal. Can i use Pignose with Boss dd3??? Or could you recommend a analogy sounding delay pedal under 50$??

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Absolutely, should be no problem!

[@horsiemin625]

Thanks!!

[@TrilobitesRTasty]

Thank you very much for this video. Excellent and important advice. Been thinking of the Pignose, but it looks like it's not so suitable for my purpose.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

You're welcome, it's a cool amp but not for everyone or for every situation!

[@TrilobitesRTasty]

Another compelling Pignose video, listed....suggesting some noticeable differences between "new" vs. "old" Pignose models (aka, country of origin).... VIDEO: PIGNOSE 7-100 - Old vs New - Harmonica; LINK: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5q5fpqOeKirZqs

[@TeiscoCurlee]

@@TrilobitesRTasty There's a clear difference between the two, I believe both the speaker and the circuit has changed since the 70's, which is a shame, the old one sounds better, for sure!

[@dylandunwell7284]

What does this amp sound like with a mic through it? I am thinking of using it as a busker.

[@PanyingPilot]

I replaced the AA batteries with 9 volt batteries.

[@pulpero666]

For bedroom volume you can connect a 5/6 volt power supply. Never use switching power supply, transformers are always better

[@RandoDred]

What year was this amp made? Is this the original made in USA or the Chinese version

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Chinese version

[@michaelbishop2300]

I bought the pignose power suppy thinking it would be a great accessory....until i used it.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Ah that's a shame

[@stringbender57]

Thanks for a VERY good look at the famous "Pignose" amp. These little portable battery powered amps were quite the big deal in the 70's. I wanted one so bad then, but as a teenager it just wasn't in my budget. I now have one and have discovered the same things you mention in your video. Nice job!

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Awesome, glad you got yourself one! Thanks for the kind words!

[@heavyjoechipman3594]

I've NEVER liked the Pignose. I have a small Fender Champ 25 and a tiny Marshall that clips on my belt/runs on 9 volt battery. Those are way better than a Pignose. Besides, Pignose is better for blues. I play metal. Great video brother.☺👍

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Yeah I'd say it's more of a blues amp than anything, I like what it does though!

[@spacejockey4746]

Actuality they ar not. You just don’t know what you’re doing.

[@kq6up]

The cheap power supply is a switching type that throws that all types of trash.

[@baramundi__88__]

Great video , thanks

[@hugomejia593]

Is it worth for the money folks?

[@dimitrisaivaliotis5616]

This ''amp''holds his value Because is a piece of art for what it is

[@broseph421]

wait ur telling me this super suuuuper tiny amp isnt good for gigs???

[@phildale8451]

So many people use the Piggy closed up. It needs to be opened fot the best sounds. Great vid though with zome good info.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Open piggy is cool too, I find the low end a bit better with it closed!

[@phildale8451]

I know what you mean. Great to see more people still using this little amp and great video.

[@CalzNL]

I feel like yours is just broken or something. Other demo's sound great.

[@ikust007]

Hello. I have some issues . Any help possible ?

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Have you checked with their customer service? I'm not affiliated with them in any way

[@ikust007]

@@TeiscoCurlee no i know !’ No worries mate ! But I think your knowledge could help. If you don’t mind taking a couple of minutes . Their website is …under construction btw;)

[@TeiscoCurlee]

@@ikust007 Ah I see! I'd still recommend finding someone more qualified than me, the amp tech section of a guitar forum maybe, but try writing here and I'll see if I have any answers!

[@ikust007]

@@TeiscoCurlee thank you ! Ok: 1) when I plug it in different section of the house , I think I can listen to aliens… I picks up all AM waves I think! 2) with batteries it’s less. 3) I have the original pignose power supply. 4) the main, main issue : I bought on Amazon a Rowin Delay. I used an old Power supply 9V I have. Horrible . Loud HUM noise .

[@ikust007]

@@TeiscoCurlee got it … the power supply for the delay wasn’t good ! Still have white noise . Might buy a filter (?)

[@Kushalien51_nv]

Wow I heard alot of bad reviews on my pignose Hog 20 sounds super good low or high volume clear,dirty fuzzy sound also idk if my 63 year old tele help it sound way better but its a honest simple bad little porky also it has radio didn't know that lmao

[@markvigil8667]

quit ruining the joy of this great little amp for everyone! I have one and there is absolutely not one thing wrong with it! even zappa used one on a tv appearance.

[@sugarnap245]

what is the mod?

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Removing a diode from the circuit, this makes it cleaner at lower volumes but keeps all the gain at higher volumes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGXGamhpZ5WojZI

[@AmericanVetMusic]

The pignose amp and all it’s counterparts are absolute CLASSICS!!! This guy is just looking for something to complain about and make a KZbin video and get views by using the Pignose name but he’s SLAMMING IT AT THE SAME TIME. Shameless.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

I'm responding to both of your comments in this one. I'm sorry but I think you missed the point of the video, I talk about some things that I (and others) find to be minor issues and then I GIVE SOLUTIONS to the issues that you can take or leave as you want. I'm not slamming the amp, I show how you can get more out of them. In my opinion. On my channel. If you don't want to mod yours, then don't, I have nothing to gain from it either way! I'm glad you love your Pignose and find it flawless, I love mine too as you can see in all the other Pignose related videos on my channel. (You may want to avoid the two videos on the mod of course, that seems to be offensive to you). You can try this one instead kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaWVdWeYnrGlrbc Btw I don't monetize my channel so I don't gain anything from the views on this video. Have a great day

[@cryptoskywalker1714]

You looked at that Amp, and thought, "Gee, I wonder if I can gig with that?" Come on, that's asking for a bit much isn't it?

[@TeiscoCurlee]

If it's miced and put through the PA, absolutely, but not by itself in most scenarios. I will try it one day though, just to do it!

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

Not "clean"? Anyone who buys a Pignose is looking for that gritty, hardcore, down & dirty street sound. They're built for street musicians, not for your apartment or the concert hall. For bar gigs, why not mic it?

[@stanknugget]

This guy doesn’t understand the Pignose.

[@yannisv5380]

Cancer title

[@spacejockey4746]

I’ve had a Pignose as my main living room amp for almost 20 years. The clean sound is great, so I don’t know what this weirdo is talking about. And “too loud”? Again, it’s a great small practice amp that takes pedals amazingly well. I don’t know. It seems like this guy wants a Fender clean and Marshall loudness out if an inexpensive, battery powered, 5-watt amp. And mine is nowhere near as noisy as his.

[@TeiscoCurlee]

Well no I didn’t “want a Fender clean and Marshall loudness” haha. I think I made it clear that 1. there is a strange overdrive “haze” on the clean sound on mine which I was able to remove with a mod and 2. the amp cranked is too loud for my apartment. I mention this if people think they can crank it anywhere without bothering anyone since it’s such a small amp. This isn't true in my living situation. Glad it’s great for you but since you’ve had yours for 20 years it’s most likely built a bit different than mine from 2019. They have varied quite a bit through the years, different components, speakers and even schematics. The older ones are generally considered better to my knowledge.

[@spacejockey4746]

@@TeiscoCurlee I bought a new one with the “snakeskin” cover and there’s no noticeable difference.