Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

[Gearjoneser]

About a month ago, Curly and I went to the LA Amp Show together and checked out all the best new amps on the market.

There was one company that kicked so much ass that guitar players were crowded around this booth, trippin on a dual EL-84 amp that sounded like a cranked 100W Marshall at useable stage volumes. Now, I've got some good amps myself, a Bogner Ecstasy, Matchless Chieftain, 50W Jubilee, Bassman LTD. and Vox Valvetronix, so I'm a hard guy to impress when it comes to new amps.

However, this new co. www.65amps.com has a killer looking amp that just sounds ridiculously good. Like a cranked Vox/Plexi with all the tight low end and balls of the best Marshall you ever heard. Curly and I stood there in disbelief that an amp could be as cool as that one. Check out this company! I almost want to sell a guitar and Bassman, just to buy that head and 2-12 cab. They cost around $2000 for the head, but if you hear it, you'll want it. Peter Stroud from Cheryl Crow is a part owner, so you know it doesn't suck.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

 

[SwedeNuck]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

those things look sweet, very distinct stylings. Set for being easily recognizable, and readily marketable.

 

[ef86pentode]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

Yeah, I heard about these guys first over at 18watt.com and I am jonesing big time.
I was going to try to hook one up via Guitar Rez a few months ago, but I spent my tax return & bonus on other things.
Somehow, I think I made a v. bad decision...

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

Maybe I am just too Scandinavian but I really do not like the looks, but if they sound as great as you say....man I would love to hear them, nothing like good amps.

 

[RGN]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

GJ-
I think I remember seeing one of those in Joe Perry's studio... from his DVD that comes with his new CD. I have never seen one in person.

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

Those soundclips are impressive...still doesn't knock the constellation off the top of my "amps to get" list...thought it might though by how you were talking about it

Very impressed though, definitely sounds great!

 

[Curly]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

there are so many great amps made these days, but the 65 was truly a standout ... I couldn't believe it was an 18 watt amp, because it was very loud, and even though it's an EL84 amp, the bass remained strong, while it had the familiar crunch of similar amps

the owners are both players, so they built from that perspective, but they also have input from other experts

they have exceptional transformers, but have also tuned the other components to create an exceptional amp

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

well, they look damn cool, that's for sure, the vents in the head look great the angles on the face of the speaker cab, the two tone colors etc....if they sound as good as they look they must rock! hehe

-Mike

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

GearJ, We've been using those for the Scumbag speaker clips we're doing. We're doing another one with Dan Boul from 65 Amps and Jim who owns Scumbag speakers in 2 weeks over at my studio.

If you want to hear the last blind audio test we did with a 69 Plexi tremolo version and the 65 Amps London hear into a 4x12, then check out this thread over at the Gear Page. Around page 8 of the thread, they disclose which speakers were which out of the 31 clips we did. The Scumbags are accurate recreation of the prerola Celestions at a fraction of the price.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86870

Yeah those London heads are killer. Can't wait for the new models to hit myself!

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

Very nice!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

The soundclips on the site sound pretty good, but we watched the amp being demo'd with a Les Paul, and couldn't believe how tight the lows were for a dual EL-84 amp.
It almost sounded like a dual EL-34 amp with a THD Hotplate in front of it.

RGN, I have that Joe Perry DVD, and I'll check it out. It wouldn't surprise me if he was one of the first guys to have his hands on one of these amps.

Institute, I'll check out that page. I've never heard of Scumbag speakers either.
I think it might have been Dan Boul who was playing them at the amp show.

I just wish good amps like these didn't always cost so damn much! I'd love to have either the head/2-12 or the 2-12 combo. The cool thing about seeing them at an amp show was that we got to listen to them right after hearing Dr. Z's, Matchless, Fargen, and Sampson's Star amps. It was hard to believe I was liking these new amps better than some of those boutique classics!

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

GearJ, yeah it was Dan who was playing. He's playing the 65 Amp clisp we did for Scumbag. The Scumbag speakers have been prettyt low key untilnow with the recreation of those pre-rolas. Most of the Gear Page folks are familiar with him.

I know Dan was playing his 2x12 semi open back cabs at the LA show, but I'll tell ya it sounded awesome through a 4x12 with low wattage speakers like the Scums and such.

Probably a bunch of the clips I did or will do for Dan will end up as the new 65 Amp clips on his site.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

I'm sure you played with your L6 rigs, seeing what models might match the 65 Amps. I'd be interested to know what models and EQ you used to approximate the tone.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Can't stop thinking about the 65 Amps! New amp co.

Ya know I haven't tried to dupe it on my Line 6 stuff yet. Just been too busy producing and playing to even think about it. Heck I've rather be wanting one than copying it lately!

My first guess would be to start with the Matchless DC and add the 4x12 greenback cab sim. Add some compression for sag feel and maybe use the L6Edit+Boost stomp or the Vetta Comp. I also like to use the Classic Dist Stomp as another EQ filter, rather than a dist pedal. Set the Drive low, push the Gain a bit, then use the Freq to adjust the EQ even more while using it to add a bit of dirt as desired. The other one I'd try is the AC-15 since that's what one channel is based on, but with steroids added. The other channel is based on a JTM-45.