Amp for Blues

Re: Amp for Blues

TS, I think we should mention that ANY great blues player sounds like a great blues player on ANY any Amp and Guitar combo...

Don't feel too pressured to buy anything because you feel it's required for the genre.

practice practice practice -that will get you the Blues tone you are looking for.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

Robert Johnson - blues
Buddy Guy - blues
Gary Moore - blues
Stevie Ray - blues
Gary Clark Jr - blues
Walter Trout - blues
Albert King - blues

Seriously, man, don't sweat the amp. Only thing the dudes I listed have in common is being able to make you go Holy ****! with one note.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

RealtyViking said:
Crate Vintage Club 30 or 50 in the beige tolex. They are getting more expensive, but you can still find a deal if you look around.
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Completely agree with the crate vintage club 30 and 50, I had a Vintage club 20 out on stage (I was the FOH engineer at this show) and it sounded GREAT! But it especially broke up really nicely but ofcourse since this was a live show I had the volume on 10. It did have some really nice crunchy tones with quite a lot of grit.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

Listen to the new Supro Blues King too. Single 12" 15 watts, new for this year, should be in stores in a week or so.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

Wayne27 said:
I want to get into Blues music and I can't figure out what amp to get. Should I get a low gain amp or are high gain amps alright. Also I know this is a silly question but are tube amps still worth getting?
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Blues is a much bigger genre than people want to give it credit for. So many different styles and interpretations make it a fantastic and fun thing to play. What kind of amp does depend on your needs, are you practicing at home, gigging, busking? If you're just practicing at home, I'd recommend something like the Yamaha THR 10C, It gives excellent low volume interpretations of the Fender Deluxe Reverb, Matchless DC 30, Fender Blues Jr. , Marshall Bluesbreaker and the Dr. Z Mini Z. It does not however have a lot of gain so if that's what you're looking for, you may want to look for an appropriate pedal for the gain you are looking for. Tube amps have entirely different vibes and feel more present but can also annoy neighbors ;) If you like the non valve concept but want it a little louder, I think the Boss Nextone Stage or Artist amps could be a terrific springboard as well offering amazing versatility with tone. Hope that helps, listen to them on youtube and see what grabs your attention.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

Many years ago I was at a big guitar store (not GC) and I over heard the sales person telling a youngster: " If you play rock you probably want a Marshall and if you play blues you want a Fender." I was thinking " but I play blues and I usually play Marshalls." But that is probably a truism. Fenders for blues and Marshalls for rock in general. When I think of an amp for traditional blues or blues based rock such as ZZ Top, I first think Tweed era Fender.

One of the land mark blues tones was Eric Clapton with the Bluesbreakers using a Marshall 2x12 combo. It not only affected the sound of future blues guitarist but also it caused those who came before EC to adopt more his sound. Then again a Marshall is a direct descendant of a Tweed Fender. It's much the same DNA. My personal gold standard for blues guitar tone is the Allman Brothers Band Live at the Fillmore. That's plexi Marshalls. But one problem with a Tweed Bassman or a non master volume Marshall is that it is usually way too loud for most situations by the time it is getting that sound.

Among possible alternatives:

Deluxe Reverb pushed by a pedal
Fender bassbreaker series
Marshall Origin series
Marshall Vintage Modern 2x12 combo (must buy used)
Mesa Fillmore
Marshall Jubilee is good for higher gain blues.

Oh and the Blues Jr.

BTW SRV had just gotten a Soldano SLO at the time of his death and Warren Haynes plays through a SLO. There are no hard and fast rules.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

One of my favorite blues setups is my Jackson SL3 Soloist, with Hot Rails neck/middle and a JB at the bridge, into a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18.

But it doesn’t sound like a great overdrive pedal into a Deluxe Reverb.

Which is why many of us own multiple amps.
 
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Re: Amp for Blues

Wayne27 said:
Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix(I know the last two play mainly Rock)
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Ah, some of my faves there also, can't fault your taste in music!

I think many of the suggestions here so far will suit you well, out of all of them I'd narrow it down to either the Fender Blues Jr or the Peavey Classic 30. Both very similar in tone and features. Blues Jr is 15w, which will get you through anything up to a small club gig. I've played mine in front of 150 pax on a few occasions and it holds up if the room is fairly live sounding. If you're in the US they're both fairly inexpensive on the used market.

Someone mentioned the Crate Classic 30/50 amps - I remember playing these many years ago and they had a great bluesy vibe to them. Kind big and heavy though.

Also, I really dig the tone of the Peavey Delta Blues, but the tremolo circuit on it sucks the life out of the tone.. Its enough to turn me off them. The Classic 30 (or 20. or 50) are still solid though.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

If you're after something elusive, look for a Marshall 'Club and Country'. They were only made for a few years in the late 70's (iirc), and I understand that SRV used these quite a bit. They were Marshall's version of a Fender Twin. True to Twin form, they also weigh a metric tonne..
 
Re: Amp for Blues

My favs:
1) Peavey Delta Blues 115..great from near clean to raunchy dirt on channel 2; a bit heavy @ 50#
2) Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue..great from near clean to mild OD; they can get loud quick if you'll be doing mostly home playing.
3) Fender Blues Jr..nice cleans and decent OD for a small amp; never cared for the stock speaker and it's small physical cab size does hinder it. I also think they are over-priced compared to the two above for a bit more $$$.
4) The Roland Blues Cube Hot..I highly recommend this solid state and combination analog/digital amp. Light, compact, LOUD if you crank it, but with power switching for home or very small places. Yes, it really sounds and feels like a tube amp. I prefer it over the stock Fender Blues Jr.

BTW, I own all 4 of the above. I didn't recommend them because I own them, I own them because I love their tone and features, otherwise they'd be gone.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

IM4Tone said:
My favs:
1) Peavey Delta Blues 115..great from near clean to raunchy dirt on channel 2; a bit heavy @ 50#
2) Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue..great from near clean to mild OD; they can get loud quick if you'll be doing mostly home playing.
3) Fender Blues Jr..nice cleans and decent OD for a small amp; never cared for the stock speaker and it's small physical cab size does hinder it. I also think they are over-priced compared to the two above for a bit more $$$.
4) The Roland Blues Cube Hot..I highly recommend this solid state and combination analog/digital amp. Light, compact, LOUD if you crank it, but with power switching for home or very small places. Yes, it really sounds and feels like a tube amp. I prefer it over the stock Fender Blues Jr.

BTW, I own all 4 of the above. I didn't recommend them because I own them, I own them because I love their tone and features, otherwise they'd be gone.
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The Blues Deluxe and Hot Rod Deluxe are very similar, the main difference being the lack of the 'more drive' mode on the Blues Deluxe.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

dystrust said:
The Blues Deluxe and Hot Rod Deluxe are very similar, the main difference being the lack of the 'more drive' mode on the Blues Deluxe.
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The clean channels are very similar, but BOTH the drive and more drive are significantly higher gain. To my taste and ears, they are very harsh, but that's based on the III and earlier versions. I have no experience w/ the IV. Some people claim there has been an improvement.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

Go to a store & just try a bunch of amps out (jam a bit). Pick the one you're most comfortable with/sounds best best to ears. There is no 'blues tone' . SRV does'nt sound like like Buddy Guy, who does'nt sound like Albert Collins ..who did'nt sound like BB king..who did'nt sound like Billy Gibbons & so on. The thing about great blues guitarists is they all had their own distinctive tone/s & there was often a hell of a lot of difference between those tones. A lot of those guys just made do with what they could get their hands on/afford (which mostly was'nt much). So just get an amp (any amp) that you enjoy playing & make your own tone :bigthumb:
 
Re: Amp for Blues

Jacew said:
For a straight up blues amp, I'd pick up Peavey Classic. Only tried one once, but it felt really good, and they only get positive reviews. Very beginner friendly priced as well.
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The Peavey Classic series is very nice. I would suggest a Peavey Classic 30 II.
 
Re: Amp for Blues

yes to tubes. like it is even a question! lol

You don't need big powerful amps anymore pretty much any situation in this day and age. You can play stadiums with gear no more powerful than the ones below.
I'd have a look at these amps in some shops and see what you like best:
(in no particular order)
fender blues junior
vox ac15 (preferably with a greenback speaker)
peavey classic 30.

Throw in a tubescreamer or boss super overdrive for some wailing leads and you will have a pro sounding setup using all store bought off the rack brand new warrantied gear. All will sound great with your strat. All three (at least) a master volume so you can find your gain sweetspot, and all three have a spring reverb for some ambience.

Also, if you have any spare coin, grab a roland micro cube for practicing. You will probably use it around the house more than the stuff I recommended above.
 
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Re: Amp for Blues

Blues comes from you, not your gear, play what ya got. If I had to start from scratch, I might get a Fender Champ for that Strat or any of the Previously mentioned Blues Deluxe etc. if your budget can handle it. Eric Clapton Loved Champs, I have three they are all good, but I think I can play blues through any amp or guitar

Hope you luck we need more young artist!
WW
 
Re: Amp for Blues

And someone mentioned the Roland Blues Cube. I loved mine until some bum stole our entire trailer of gear. You may be able to score one of those at a decent price.

WW
 
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