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So, I have a JCM-800 combo amp that I love, when it's working. A 50 Watt, single channel model.
I have a lot of faith in the guy who repaired it, he has been building and repairing amps for a long time, it's his hobby as well as a profession. He's done other stuff for me, and everything has been great. And it worked great for a few months of weekly practice sessions, but it's gone **** up again, and something more horrible than just a blown tube.
Thinking about it, I think that the old JCM is just ready for retirement. I nice cool spot in the corner of the studio, no more trips in the car, no more loading and unloading, no high volume work... (It's also a very nice looking amp in the original red tolex, and I sort of hate to keep moving it around).
I play in a 3 piece rock band, just basic rowdy garage rock played with some finesse.
So, my current plan it to replace it with something similar. (I may go for a head + a 2x12 cab instead of the combo, based on the feedback of the forum on one of my polls a while ago. I do prefer the open back sound, so maybe a Dr.Z cab, but can go that way with any of these brands, so I'll stick to the combo for the comparison here)
The three amps I'm most interested in are the Marshall JVM 205C, the Blackstar Series One/45, and the Dr.Z EMS "Bluesbreaker" Combo.
I like the flexibility of a dual channel setup, but the most important thing is having that sound. The JCM is a single channel and I use it mostly in the "low" input for the all-important crunchy rhythm sound, using a couple overdrives to get signing sustain for solos. It's a pretty low tech approach.
When I've played around with high-gain amps I usually don't like the high-gain channel that much. I like listening to Eddie Van Halen but have no desire to play like him, and don't have the chops to pull off a lot of that sort of stuff. (Again, enjoy listening to people who do, just being realistic here.)
From the videos I've heard of the Marshalls the two best sounds on it (for me) are the clean and crunch rhythm (which aren't foot switchable). So, I might end up using it much the same way at the JCM 800.
The Dr.Z is a single channel, so just find the one that works and carry on.
The Blackstar has what seems like a usable two channel setup, so that's a plus. Minus is I'm not that familiar with the brand.
I'll try to go play all of these, but it will require some driving, as none of the stores around here seem to stock any of them.
Anyone have experience, good or bad with one or more of these please share you opinions.
If you think I'm missing something else, let me know.
I have a lot of faith in the guy who repaired it, he has been building and repairing amps for a long time, it's his hobby as well as a profession. He's done other stuff for me, and everything has been great. And it worked great for a few months of weekly practice sessions, but it's gone **** up again, and something more horrible than just a blown tube.
Thinking about it, I think that the old JCM is just ready for retirement. I nice cool spot in the corner of the studio, no more trips in the car, no more loading and unloading, no high volume work... (It's also a very nice looking amp in the original red tolex, and I sort of hate to keep moving it around).
I play in a 3 piece rock band, just basic rowdy garage rock played with some finesse.
So, my current plan it to replace it with something similar. (I may go for a head + a 2x12 cab instead of the combo, based on the feedback of the forum on one of my polls a while ago. I do prefer the open back sound, so maybe a Dr.Z cab, but can go that way with any of these brands, so I'll stick to the combo for the comparison here)
The three amps I'm most interested in are the Marshall JVM 205C, the Blackstar Series One/45, and the Dr.Z EMS "Bluesbreaker" Combo.
I like the flexibility of a dual channel setup, but the most important thing is having that sound. The JCM is a single channel and I use it mostly in the "low" input for the all-important crunchy rhythm sound, using a couple overdrives to get signing sustain for solos. It's a pretty low tech approach.
When I've played around with high-gain amps I usually don't like the high-gain channel that much. I like listening to Eddie Van Halen but have no desire to play like him, and don't have the chops to pull off a lot of that sort of stuff. (Again, enjoy listening to people who do, just being realistic here.)
From the videos I've heard of the Marshalls the two best sounds on it (for me) are the clean and crunch rhythm (which aren't foot switchable). So, I might end up using it much the same way at the JCM 800.
The Dr.Z is a single channel, so just find the one that works and carry on.
The Blackstar has what seems like a usable two channel setup, so that's a plus. Minus is I'm not that familiar with the brand.
I'll try to go play all of these, but it will require some driving, as none of the stores around here seem to stock any of them.
Anyone have experience, good or bad with one or more of these please share you opinions.
If you think I'm missing something else, let me know.
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