Amp Gas Suggestions

Lu_B

New member
I've now got my guitar gas well and truly under control its time to turn my attention to getting a half decent amp.

I've come to the conclusion that my Epi Valve Special is just mush really despite a new speaker and some JJ's.

So I've gone back to playing through my Ashdown Peacemaker.

The problem is its a 40w and just too loud for playing at home, so I'm after something that is all tube with nice warm cleans, as for overdrive I use it very moderately so nothing too harsh.

What do you guys suggest I look at, the Cornford Harliquin is on my list and thats about it!
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Harlequin is about $1500 U.S.? Here are alternatives:
Budda Superdrive 18w
Koch Studiotone 20w
Bad Cat Cub II 15w
Dr.Z MAZ 18w
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

I've now got my guitar gas well and truly under control its time to turn my attention to getting a half decent amp.

I've come to the conclusion that my Epi Valve Special is just mush really despite a new speaker and some JJ's.

So I've gone back to playing through my Ashdown Peacemaker.

The problem is its a 40w and just too loud for playing at home, so I'm after something that is all tube with nice warm cleans, as for overdrive I use it very moderately so nothing too harsh.

What do you guys suggest I look at, the Cornford Harliquin is on my list and thats about it!

edit: just saw your price range...some of these will fall into it used, or just above it...

Do you want to go with an El84 amp? The Peacemaker is an EL34 amp, I think. What kind of music, what kind of budget?

Without knowing music/budget, here are some that I have considered or owned recently, with the theme being lower rather than higher wattage, or the ability to "get quiet" in a good way (ordered by price, new). Keep in mind I trend towards classic rock (Zep, Allman Bros, Who, Floyd, etc.). I have not necessarily described them--this is just a list to get you started. I tried to have at least one from all the major tube families.

Vox AC-15 HW--2xEL84, has a half power switch to bring it to 7 watts--still pretty loud, though, depending on how quiet you need it--have played it and liked it a lot, ~$1400 new. Has two channels.

TopHat Club Royale (2xEL84)or Deluxe (2x6L6), Royale is more vox/marshall, Deluxe is more "american" but with a vox-style tone stack, I own a Club Royale (18W) and it's great, ~$1800 new.

Suhr Badger (2xEL84), 18 watts but has power scaling for quiet times, I have played one and thought it was great, and the power scaling really works well once you figure it out, ~$2100 for the combo. If you want serious gas, listen to the demo on the web by Peter Thorn.

Carr Mercury (1xEL34), has a built in attenuator for quiet times, plus an interesting boost section, I used to own one and liked it, $2150.

Reeves Custom 30 (2xKT66), 30 watts but has power scaling for quiet times--have NOT played this one yet, so I really cannot comment on its sound, ~$2299. Reeves also makes some lower wattage models that are less expensive (but this is the one I was looking at).

Carr Viceroy (formerly Vincent, 2x6L6), 33 watts switchable down to 7 watts, interesting boost section, ~$2490. Not as gainy as the Mercury, but more flexible. I have played this one and liked it.
 
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Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Do you want to go with an El84 amp? The Peacemaker is an EL34 amp, I think. What kind of music, what kind of budget?

Here goes

  • no more than $1000 - gear is expensive in the UK
  • lower wattage,
  • don't know what a EL84 is bit of a noob when it comes to amps,
  • music - don't really play anything in particular but like the usual culprits Clapton, Mayer, Santana, ACDC, Rea, Gilmour, Knopfler, Andy Summers as well as indie such as Oasis, Frantellis, REM. A real mixed bag

Must have master volume
 
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Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

For around £250 you should be able to get a new/used Matamp Minimat or Little Rock head.

1 of those and a 1x12 is a great home rig :)
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

This looks pretty!

dcac_12.JPG
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

This looks pretty!

dcac_12.JPG

That's on Ebay atm isn't it starting at around £600 if I remember right?

I have a standard black Little Rock head and I find it to be a great home/recording amp through a 1x12 cab with a Celestion Classic Lead 80 speaker in it.

The drive channel on it's own isn't all that great, but sounds great if you goose it with a good OD pedal.

Apparently they made them thay way on purpose so that if you get sick of the OD sound, you can just change the pedal instead of the whole amp :D Makes sense to me!
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Here goes

  • no more than $1000 - gear is expensive in the UK
  • lower wattage,
  • don't know what a EL84 is bit of a noob when it comes to amps,
  • music - don't really play anything in particular but like the usual culprits Clapton, Mayer, Santana, ACDC, Rea, Gilmour, Knopfler, Andy Summers as well as indie such as Oasis, Frantellis, REM. A real mixed bag

Must have master volume

Sorry about that...

An EL84 is a kind of tube, as is an EL34, 6L6, 6V6, etc. Each type of tube sounds somewhat different from the others and has certain characteristics.

In general (given that there are always exceptions to the rule):

Sound:
EL84 is most associated with a "Vox" sound and certain marshalls--go play a Vox AC15 or AC30 to hear these tubes

EL34 is most associated with a "Marshall" sound

6L6 is most associated with a "Fender" sound--go play a Fender Hotrod Deluxe, Super Reverb, or Twin Reverb to hear this sound.

6V6 is most associated with some of the lower power Fenders, such as the Tweed Deluxe or the Deluxe Reverb

Power:
EL84 and 6V6 will usually give lower power (2 will be ~12-22 watts)

EL34 and 6L6 will usually give higher power (2 will be ~40-50 watts)

Hope this helps
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Brow you have alot to answer for!!

I've been listening to some Matamp clips and they do the most beautiful warm cleans. There is a shop in Bangor so I'm going to give their heads a try, probably the Minimat 2 or a First Lady.

This now throws up what cab/speakers to get, Matamp is an option but I'd like to go secondhand and have been looking at some of the 1x12 and 2x12 Marshalls on evilbay

More research and decisions to make!
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Brow you have alot to answer for!!

I've been listening to some Matamp clips and they do the most beautiful warm cleans. There is a shop in Bangor so I'm going to give their heads a try, probably the Minimat 2 or a First Lady.

This now throws up what cab/speakers to get, Matamp is an option but I'd like to go secondhand and have been looking at some of the 1x12 and 2x12 Marshalls on evilbay

More research and decisions to make!

Good! :D

That Little Rock on Ebay is at a good price now (if it's still around the £600 mark) but anything more would be over the odds I think.
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Good! :D

That Little Rock on Ebay is at a good price now (if it's still around the £600 mark) but anything more would be over the odds I think.

I like it, especially the colour but the money situation is not quite that fluid any more:disappoin so probably only have about £400 in the pot. I've just had a spring clean and put some junk on evilbay so that might raise a couple of quid!

I'm leaning towards a Minimat II and a 1x12 cab, there a Matamp 2x12 one on evilbay but its in London, which is a bit too far to travel.

Lu_b
 
Re: Amp Gas Suggestions

Not sure how available they are over there, but if you're a "Tube Noob", I'd HIGHLY recommend a THD UniValve & a 1x12 w/G12H30.

You can find them regularly under $1000 & normally with a decent tube stash + the 12H30 is such a great all around speaker, it'll get on with just about anything you throw at it.

:)
 
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