Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

You guys have helped me pare down the list to 3 brands and 5 possible models:
Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb™ Combo Amp
YCV80Q Custom Valve 4x10 Combo
YCV40WR Custom Valve 40 Combo
Peavy Classic 50/212 or 50/410
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

i have not played the Traynors, but those Peavey Classics are cool amps......... they run El84, so you could probably pull off a pretty good Edge tone, there cleans are really nice..... they also have some good gain tones if you can turn them up loud enough..the one thing they may lack a little with is lots of bass and full bottom end, but i dont like alot of bass at all, so its perfect for me.however, with the money you save getting the amp, you could get a new set of celestions, which would probably help out alot with increasing the bottom end and the tone overall..... you may still want to get a pedal if you do buy one, but they are the best deal of those on your list, so you would have plenty of money left over

im considering getting a classic 50 as well, great bang for the buck
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

flank said:
i have not played the Traynors, but those Peavey Classics are cool amps......... they run El84, so you could probably pull off a pretty good Edge tone, there cleans are really nice..... they also have some good gain tones if you can turn them up loud enough..the one thing they may lack a little with is lots of bass and full bottom end, but i dont like alot of bass at all, so its perfect for me.however, with the money you save getting the amp, you could get a new set of celestions, which would probably help out alot with increasing the bottom end and the tone overall..... you may still want to get a pedal if you do buy one, but they are the best deal of those on your list, so you would have plenty of money left over

im considering getting a classic 50 as well, great bang for the buck
Flank, Classic 50 with 2x12 or 4x10? What are your thoughts?
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

well, i like 2x12s better, the 4x10s have a cool sound of their own, but the bass is a little too round and tubby sounding...... course, the 4x10s may give it more of a bassman sound, just a little bit

im not sure as to what im doing yet.......i might look for a Peavey classic 50 head, and and Avatar 2x12 cab maybe
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

The Deluxe Reverbs are great amps and Fender did an amazing job with the Reissues. The only reason I didn't suggest one is that it doesn't have channel switching. While it would be easy to get the sounds mentioned it would have to be done with pedals.

For the bases you're looking to cover and a Deluxe Reverb being the amp of choice I would suggest a good Tube Screamer-esque pedal (the Digitech Bad Monkey is my latest obsession) and a Spina-modded DS-1. The DS-1 won't sound decent until you really get the Deluxe Reverb to move some air though. The Tube Screamer would be good to nudge it when it's getting near breaking up.

The Peaveys are nice amps. The only caveat is that I would suggest playing one cranked up. I owned mine for a few years before I had the chance to gig it and it only took a few times for me to decide that I don't like the sound it gets cranked up and then sold it. As a practice amp for me it was great. But when moving some air it was a totally different matter.
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Skarekrough said:
The Deluxe Reverbs are great amps and Fender did an amazing job with the Reissues. The only reason I didn't suggest one is that it doesn't have channel switching. While it would be easy to get the sounds mentioned it would have to be done with pedals.

For the bases you're looking to cover and a Deluxe Reverb being the amp of choice I would suggest a good Tube Screamer-esque pedal (the Digitech Bad Monkey is my latest obsession) and a Spina-modded DS-1. The DS-1 won't sound decent until you really get the Deluxe Reverb to move some air though. The Tube Screamer would be good to nudge it when it's getting near breaking up.

The Peaveys are nice amps. The only caveat is that I would suggest playing one cranked up. I owned mine for a few years before I had the chance to gig it and it only took a few times for me to decide that I don't like the sound it gets cranked up and then sold it. As a practice amp for me it was great. But when moving some air it was a totally different matter.

Well, I wasn't strongly for channel switching. It's an expendable feature. If I get a better quality amp and can use pedals then fine;)
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Guitar Toad said:
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:)

Good suggestion. The Deluxe might fit the bill. Lotsa great records were recorded with one type of deluxe or another, & a used RI goes for about 6-8 bills.

I could use one, actually...
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Of course you can always go into the boutique amp market, but you should be able to find something off the shelf. The cost should be less than half of boutique. The Traynors and Ampegs have great cleans, as of course do the Fenders. I may be purchasing a Fender Showman soon, good blues amp with fantastic cleans.

If I was looking for a simple combo. I think the Peavey Classic 50 is hard to beat. I would look at the Laney VC30 also, it is very Voxlike, and can usually be had in the used market for $300-$400.

Both the Peavey Classis and Laney VC will likely need speaker changes to get to what you want. But, both would be worthy of the process.

I prefer the used market because you can sell an amp for pretty much what you bought it for. The money you loose on a new amp it too much to bear.

And, of course, you need to trust your own ears, so try some amps out.
 
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Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

I use both the Deluxe and the 900. For most things I think the Deluxe covers just about all I really need. I use a Boss CE2, DD3, and a modded TS9 in the Deluxe. It accepts pedals very well. If there is any negative to a Deluxe it could be the lack of Headroom (22 watts). In son situations I find it hard to keep the Deluxe clean without loosing to much volume. Keep in mind this is not a major issue. I have used it in a few vewnues where I should have used a Super instead. Other than that minor issue it is a excellent little Amp.
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

wixedmords said:
Both the Peavey Classis and Laney VC will likely need speaker changes to get to what you want. But, both would be worthy of the process.

I prefer the used market because you can sell an amp for pretty much what you bought it for. The money you loose on a new amp it too much to bear.

And, of course, you need to trust your own ears, so try some amps out.

What speakers would the Peavy and Laney's need? Celestions? JBL's?

And yes, I've been learning by looking on ebay and this forum that used is the way to go.

Thanks Paul:)
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

Guitar Toad said:
What speakers would the Peavy and Laney's need? Celestions? JBL's?

That is very subjective.

Like pickups it is easier to do your homework, look at the manufacturers information, and pick an aftermarket speaker. Once you have chosen a speaker, install it and test it, then formulate how you now want to change the sound, you can come back to various forums and ask what speaker would change your sound in a certain direction.

The fairly new Eminence speakers are hot right now. Very good for the price. But, Weber, Jensen's, Celestions, Fanes, all are good choices.

If it were me, I would put an Eminence Wizard in a Peavey Classic 50, and a Eminence Private Jack in a Laney VC30. The Laney is a little more Voxy, so the PJ would preform well with chimey treble, and the Peavey is really more of a straight up rock n' roll amp, in that the Wizard would do well.

All opinion of course, and there are about a thousand other options that would work.

Another upside to these 2 amps is that they are cathode biased, not needing to be biased (They can be biased, it is just more work). So as long as you stay with mainstream tubes, they should be plug n' play. Cathode bias usually doesn't have a bias pot, but allows for a little play in the bias circuit. Fixed bias is the circuit you need to bias for sure.
 
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Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

wixedmords said:
That is very subjective.

Like pickups it is easier to do your homework, look at the manufacturers information, and pick an aftermarket speaker. Once you have chosen a speaker, install it and test it, then formulate how you now want to change the sound, you can come back to various forums and ask what speaker would change your sound in a certain direction.

The fairly new Eminence speakers are hot right now. Very good for the price. But, Weber, Jensen's, Celestions, all are good choices.

If it were me, I would put an Eminence Wizard in a Peavey Classic 50, and a Eminence Private Jack in a Laney VC30. The Laney is a little more Voxy, so the PJ would preform well with chimey treble, and the Peavey is reall more of a straight up rock n' roll amp, in that the Wizard would do well.

All opinion of course, and there are about a thousand other options that would work.

Another upside to these 2 amps is that they are cathode biased, not needing to be biased (They can be biased, it is just more work). So as long as you stay with mainstream tubes, they should be plug n' play. Cathode bias usually doesn't have a bias pot, but allows for a little play in teh bias circuit. Fixed bias is the circuit you need to bias for sure.


Great! More research! ;) Thanks for giving me a good starting point.
 
Re: Amp Choices Blues and Classic Rock

NP, and I accent the subjective in my posts. Everyone has different ideas, and there are always multiple ways to get to the same place.
 
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