Best EL34/84 amps ever....

[britishgeetah]

...under 1500$?

I like the Classic Marshall tone I get on their handwired 1974X amps but the price is a bit...over the top...

So recommend me some good affordable British/marshall sounding tanks.

 

[brit84]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

laney vh100 head or vc100 combo, the gh100 is ok too but only one channel. My new Genz Benz el diablo sounds awsome when eq'd for classic tone.

I just saw a used vh100 on ebay for 600$ and the gh series starts at around 1000$. the eldiablo if 1500$ish new but there are a few used around.

Ive always stayed away from actual marshalls since everyone uses them, therefore i dont really know of any marshalls to suggest

Brit

 

[britishgeetah]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Do you have the Tribal Series one?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

The best I'ved owned are the Matchless SC30 (Vox) and Chieftan (Marshall)...you can find them used for under $2000.

But you can find a recent but used Vox AC30 RI for well under $1500. Great amps...especially if you get one with the Celestion Alnico Blue speakers.

Lew

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

It depens on which one of those tones you want...a lot of guys make the mistake that EL34's and EL84's sound the same...this is completely not true.

The tone that comes from the 1974x is not a classic Marshall tone IMO but if that's the tone you are looing for then there are dozens of 18 watt clones out there that you should be able to grab for less than $1500.

 

[Imp]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

i was gonna say, the most recent Vox AC30 reissue is the company's strongest release in a long while.. only made in china amp i'd really consider..

otherwise, look used marshall. i love the old 70s JMP50 head, and there's certain really good jcm800s..

tom

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

i was gonna say, the most recent Vox AC30 reissue is the company's strongest release in a long while.. only made in china amp i'd really consider..

otherwise, look used marshall. i love the old 70s JMP50 head, and there's certain really good jcm800s..

tom

Is that right? China? UGHHH!!! (Where's the barf smilie when you need one???)

Mine was made by Marshall in the UK. Or so I thought! Had it about 5 years ago...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Only the new AC30CC and AC15CC are made in China, and yes, thats right:earl:

Anyway, I hate that they are made in China and Im not sure how they will hold up long term but I have to be honest...if you get the version with the Celestion Blues they sound pretty good.

Lew, yours was one of the last Korg/Marshall Vox amps to be built and more than likely sounded very good...yes/no?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Only the new AC30CC and AC15CC are made in China, and yes, thats right:earl:

Anyway, I hate that they are made in China and Im not sure how they will hold up long term but I have to be honest...if you get the version with the Celestion Blues they sound pretty good.

Lew, yours was one of the last Korg/Marshall Vox amps to be built and more than likely sounded very good...yes/no?

BIG YES! It was to heavy, and although it was a great sounding amp I had to play it to loud to get it to sound that way. So I sold it and bought a Matchless SC-30. I'm not really certain the Matchless sounds THAT much better...but it's more portable, has a master volume that works, and sounds great!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Im am really touchy about EL84 amps, I hate most of them but I love a good Vox...a buddy of mine has one of the Korg/Marshall era Vox AC-30's and it is as heavy as some small cars and loud as aoll get out but it sounds killer!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Im am really touchy about EL84 amps, I hate most of them but I love a good Vox...a buddy of mine has one of the Korg/Marshall era Vox AC-30's and it is as heavy as some small cars and loud as aoll get out but it sounds killer!

100% correct in every detail! :laugh2: (and that number is still busy...)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

100% correct in every detail! :laugh2: (and that number is still busy...)

:chairfall

He's a busy guy!

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Any opinions on the Matchless Lightning? There is one for sale in my neck of the woods.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Any opinions on the Matchless Lightning? There is one for sale in my neck of the woods.

Scott F built a copy of one and soem of the guys played it...do a search or make it a seperate post and Im sure you'll get some answers.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Mesa Maverick, Mesa DC-3, Mesa F-30. There are three really nice EL84 amps for not a lot of money. I have the DC-3 112 and a Maverick 212, and I love these amps.

Bill

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Best EL34/84 amps ever....

Mesa DC-3 = agreed
1st Batch Marshall DSL401. Neat