Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

[Guitar Toad]

I want a little ol' combo tube amp that majors in early and smooth overdrive and minors in acceptable cleans. Tones reaching from La Grange style to Ritchie Blackmore and the to U2's Edge while still being SRV-able and EVH-able as well with pedals of course..

Will one from the following list meet this very open ended description?

Meanwhile, I am playing a Reverend HellHound which actually sounds just about perfect when the Gain and Vol are both on 10. It has some sweet, sweet cleans with my neck Texas Hot in the neck. Talkin' about some good tone there! I have to return the HellHound to my buddy when he returns from Australia in December.

Vox AC-30
Fender Bassman
Fender Hot Rod DeVille
Reverend KingSnake
Rivera Chubster
Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb
Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue
Fender Hot Rod Deville 212
Fender Hot Rod Deville 410
Fender Blues DeVille Reissue
Ampeg R12R Reverberocket Amp
Traynor YCV50Blue 50 Watt 1x12” Combo
Traynor Custom Valve YCV80 2x12 Combo with Celestions
Traynor YCV80Q Custom Valve 4x10 Combo
Scott_F combo?
Victoria if I'm really dreamin!

Your advice is which of the above? or none?
All advice/recommendations are welcome.

I suppose I am really looking for an ultimate universal combo amp. If and amp was a great MLB utility player, able to be put at any position and keep the team in the game, which would it be?

 

[flank]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

im only speaking on the amps i have played

well, the AC30s will definately get you the Edge, but its overdrive is not so marshall-like (tho i love the overdrive on it)

the bassman would probably be my choice for you (of the amps ive played on the list).....it can get the clean tones you like, Edge (with delay of course) and SRV......and with a pedal, you could get a pretty nice marshall sound if the amp is turned up pretty good...keep in mind it is LOUD...

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Thanks for the input flank. The Bassman usually get's high marks around here from the veterans. That's for sure.

I guess if I were to dream properly, the dream would include two amps: Clean and Overdrive amps. I'm guessing the clean amp choice would be easy; Fender '65 Twin Reverb. Do you concur, guys?

Then, what would the dirty amp be? I've heard glowing remarks about the Traynors and the Ampeg. The Blues Deville i understand requires or is help with some circuitry mods.

Please, Ramble on guys...

 

[saladin]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

One that's not on your list--Peavey Classic 50!

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Yes, I do want channel switching capabilities...Therefore I am down to the

Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue
Fender Hot Rod Deville 212
Fender Hot Rod Deville 410
Traynor YCV50Blue 50 Watt 1x12” Combo
Traynor Custom Valve YCV80 2x12 Combo with Celestions
Traynor YCV80Q Custom Valve 4x10 Combo
Peavy?

Yes, I only have one Stratocaster at the moment to play through my chosen amp. I hope to add an HH guitar to my arsenal one day.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

i'm gonna put in a high recommendation for the Traynor combos...I had a YCV40 for a long time and the only reason I got rid of it is because I had the chance to get the les paul I now own...and I can get a YCV40 anytime I want, but this Gibson was very unique and I have always wanted a Les Paul.

the YCV50 are supposed to be killer amps. I also had a Peavey Classic 50 4x10 model, and it's a very very good amp, but I never used the overdrive channel, I always just used my tube screamer

I just got a Vox AC30 Custom Classic combo and man I LOVE this amp, but no channel switching for you (I didn't want channel switching) and I A/B/Y it with my Blues Jr. for clean/overdriven sounds...I just crank the hell out of the blues jr.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue
Fender Hot Rod Deville 212
Fender Hot Rod Deville 410

These three amps fall into the same category for me, I believe the Hot Rods are just a little more hopped-up circuit-wise than the original series.

With that said I can't stand the sound of the drive channel of either of them. To me it's everything that's wrong sounding with switched amps.

I have been told that with a tube change they get "more Blackface", but I'm always reluctant to suggest an amp that isn't exactly what you want right out of the box.

Peavy?

Yes, I only have one Stratocaster at the moment to play through my chosen amp. I hope to add an HH guitar to my arsenal one day.

The Peavey Classic series amps are really nice, as well as their sister line the Delta Blues series. With so many mods that can be done to them they're very much a tinkerers dream. But again, I'm more for being happy right out of the box.

I had a Classic 30 but just found it to be too brittle when I cranked it up.

For the three very distinct sounds you're going for my knee-jerk reaction is to start looking at some of the older Mesa Boogies.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

I had a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (the DeVille's little brother) for a while, and it was an awesome amp. Excellent Fender-y clean sound, plus very nice gain channels, all in an affordable package. My vote is for the DeVille.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

For the three very distinct sounds you're going for my knee-jerk reaction is to start looking at some of the older Mesa Boogies.

I am open to consider Mesa Boogie. Mesa F-series?

Thanks mr. Skarekrough. Yes, you are right. I would prefer something that is ready to go right out of the box. And I was a bit ridiculous in my swiss army knife amp description in the thread intro. My desired tone would be more Billy Gibbons than SRV. FWIW

Thanks again.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Mesa F series would be a good try.
If you can wait until August, the Peavey Valve King is supposed to be out.
Check out a used Budda SD30.
I hear good things about the new Traynor YCV50...a guy has sound clips on HC forum that sound great.
I really like my PV classic 30 as well.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Thanks for the input flank. The Bassman usually get's high marks around here from the veterans. That's for sure.

I guess if I were to dream properly, the dream would include two amps: Clean and Overdrive amps. I'm guessing the clean amp choice would be easy; Fender '65 Twin Reverb. Do you concur, guys?

Then, what would the dirty amp be? I've heard glowing remarks about the Traynors and the Ampeg. The Blues Deville i understand requires or is help with some circuitry mods.

Please, Ramble on guys...

I use a 68 Super reverb which I A/B with a Marshall 900 50W combo. The 900 was not exactly what I was looking for, but it works. I hardly ever use the clean channel on the Marshall. There is no need the Fender cleans just Kill it. I use a Ce2, a DD3 and a modded TS9 in the Fender. In the MArshall I use a DOD TR3, which is a combo pedal that has Chorus, Delay, and OD. I never use the OD on this. running straight in to the Marshall I have an original bluesbreaker pedal. All this comes together to a Morley A/B box so I can switch between the 2 amps. I have a Crybaby and my tuner available from either Amp.

I went thru the same issue years ago and was looking for a one box wonder and I just couldn't find what I was looking for. So I decided to go with the best of both worlds. Marshall and Fender.

If money were not a concern for you I would look at a Bogner Shiva. The 1 12" Combo with EL34's is a pretty damn good Amp. It has all the tones I would want. I just can't swing the $ right now. It is certainly a lot easier to plug into one box providing that box wull give you the sound you want. I play a lot of Hendrix. Clapton SRV type of stuff and some straight ahead Blues. I think that would work.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

a Marshall 900 50W combo.

I went thru the same issue years ago and was looking for a one box wonder and I just couldn't find what I was looking for. So I decided to go with the best of both worlds. Marshall and Fender.

If money were not a concern for you I would look at a Bogner Shiva. The 1 12" Combo with EL34's is a pretty damn good Amp. It has all the tones I would want. I just can't swing the $ right now. It is certainly a lot easier to plug into one box providing that box wull give you the sound you want. I play a lot of Hendrix. Clapton SRV type of stuff and some straight ahead Blues. I think that would work.

Bogner Shiva? What's the best price for one of these? It's likely out of my reach. They do regularly get great reviews.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Reinhold Bogner is a German engineer. He came to the US in the 80s and made a name for himself modding amps for guys like EVH, Stev Vai, and Satch. I have played thru a few of his amps. They are really well made and well designed. I personally like the Shiva, but there are others. I have seen a used Shiva for $1500. They are the best sounding Amps I have played thru. But there are other Boutoque Amps that can definatley compete with them. Check out the Website


http://www.bogneramplification.com/

This is also a great Amp. I have a friend who has one it it does the Fender cleans and the Marshall thing really well. The model is the slant V6.... Great Amp.

http://www.carramps.com/

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

I am open to consider Mesa Boogie. Mesa F-series?

...
Thanks again.

If you go for an older Boogie, you can get great blues/classic rock tones, but it will take some dialing in. I have a Mark II, that I re-tubed & performed a speaker replacement. I have to use different settings for my humbucker and single coil guitars. I like the flexibility of either using the amp traditionally, with pedals through the front, or with my Tonelab SE through the FX return. When I'm going through the normal input, I don't use the channel switching, but set the amp for one good tone, & work the guitar volume & tone.
I call it my Pocket Bassman.

Pros: Loud & flexible
Cons: Weight & $

I have head that the new Mesa Lonestar Special is quite good, but I haven’t tried it yet..

 

[gripweed]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

I don't see a Fender Deluxe Reverb anywhere. That is the first amp I thought of when I first started reading this thread. It should be able to cover a *lot* of ground and won't be as ear-splittingly loud as the bassman. I'm sure you could find a reissue new or used for a decent price.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Fender Deluxe Reverb

In my ignorance I assumed that this is one of the amps that would be too loud at the natural break up volume.

I want to have a list put together so that when I go to KC or STL to try 'em out, I will be informed will know what to try.

Fender Deluxe Reverb is on the list. Thanks gripweed

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Todd,

A regular AC30 will have your ears bleeding before it starts to break up, don't know about the custom classic series though.

The Bassman will be the same story. My thoughts on the HR series are the same as Skarekroughs. A Deluxe reverb would cover a TON of ground, but you would need some pedals to stick it to the front end, because it will never sound like a marshall.

The Traynor's might do the job from what I've read, but I've never played through one.

I liked the PV classic series, and the Delta blues had a VERY deep sound, but that was because of the 15 I'm sure. The vibrato also sounded fairly good. I really liked it with my ES.

What's the price point your looking at man? Scott's amps might be the way to go, but you won't have the channel switching.

An older boogie, or an Lonestar would be what I would suggest.

Luke

 

[flank]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

the bassman will be louder than a Deluxe Reverb

but, neither are channel switching anyways, so?

 

[brisk]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

I am a Trynor guy. I have VCV40 1X12 that I got about two years ago. There is nothing fancy about that amp. It simply does the work. I used to believe that that amp is only for singlecoil guitars but the more I play the more I found out how versatile it is. It can cover from fender clean to classic rock without any pedal. My 52RI tele with ants sounds absolutely wonderful. With a nice overdrive pedal, I can play metal too.

I have 12 guitars and some of them are highend guitars but I use pretty much exclusive Traynor all the time. Why? I am very satisfied with it and I don't need other amp. With that price, I don't think you would be able to find any amp that's better than traynor.

Cheers

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Todd,

What's the price point your looking at man? Scott's amps might be the way to go, but you won't have the channel switching.

An older boogie, or an Lonestar would be what I would suggest.

Luke

I'd like to get something for less than $1000 if possible. The Traynor certainly fits. Brisk sure makes 'em sound good! Perhaps I'll find a way to spend more to get a Bogner or Carr...oops! I'm dreaming again