Help me choose a combo?

Fikealox

Fikealox

New member
Hi guys,

I've decided to sell my Axe FX and simplify my rig, so I'm looking for a good tube combo. Unfortunately, while I know what I want in an amp, there're just so many choices, so I'm asking everyone I can find for help. Basically, I want something <30W, relatively compact, with great warm, complex cleans, which takes pedals well, and which has enough gain to achieve "edge-of-breakup" tones so I can get cleans by rolling off the volume or get an overdriven edge by digging my pick in. I'm happy to use a pedal to get fully overdriven lead tones, so I don't need heaps of gain. Decent reverb and/or an effects loop would be a plus, but it's not a big deal.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, recommendations, or cautions you might have.

[PS: sorry if you see this on more than one forum, I just want to get as many opinions as possible]
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

Fikealox said:
<30W, relatively compact, with great warm, complex cleans, which takes pedals well, and which has enough gain to achieve "edge-of-breakup" tones so I can get cleans by rolling off the volume or get an overdriven edge by digging my pick in. I'm happy to use a pedal to get fully overdriven lead tones, so I don't need heaps of gain. Decent reverb and/or an effects loop would be a plus, but it's not a big deal.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty good discription of a Marshall BluesBreaker (JTM45 2x12 combo) combo.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

For under $1,000: Vox AC15C or AC30C, Marshall Haze
Over $1,000: Tons of options. I'd start with the Mesa Lonestar; it does everything you want but they're heavy
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

Thanks for your replies, guys. I'll look into all your suggestions. BTW, what're your thoughts on the Lonestar? I just started looking at them.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

CHeck out a Carvin Legacy. Great cleans, awesome distortion, 100 watt but has a switch to change to 50 watts. Takes pedals very well. Not to mention can be had new for round a grand and used for 500-600 hundred.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

Regardless would recommend getting a head an either a 112 or 212 cab. Ends up being lighter than a combo.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

I do not know of a "light" 2X12 combo all valve amp.


If i were you, i would deff look into this :


orange%20ad30r.JPG


Orange AD 30 2X12 . . . sounds Godly !!!
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

^^ Looks like a very cool Orange Bluesbreaker.

I wouldn't disallow the Fender Supersonic 1x12 combo either. Although probably about 50 watts (2x6L6 -SS rectifier), it has a MV. The Bassman channel will do the things you want it to, plus you got a pristine clean mode, and a high gain. Does it have reverb? (I don't recall). Fx loops it has. There's a lot of very cool tube amps around these days.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

mwalluk said:
Regardless would recommend getting a head an either a 112 or 212 cab. Ends up being lighter than a combo.
Click to expand...

+1 I like the fexability of this approach and use it myself. 2x12 combos can get difficult to manage.

Don't disallow the 6V6 powered Fender BF Deluxe. Classic combo amp for natural overdrive at managable volume.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

sbecker67 said:
For under $1,000: Vox AC15C or AC30C, Marshall Haze
Over $1,000: Tons of options. I'd start with the Mesa Lonestar; it does everything you want but they're heavy
Click to expand...

I was gonna say the haze 40. 40 Watt 1x12 w/ channel switching and reverb. The clean is warm and smooth and the bright switch almost gets to Vox territory. The normal channel will rock when you turn it up and you can clean that up. The gain channel isn't over the top but it's got that el34 roar that lets you feel it when you dig in or whale on it.

It's no classic marshall, but as far as modern gig-worthy tube combos under $800 it's what I'd pick for a classic rock british voicing. My mom has one and I can't wait to go to Salt Lake and play it again.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

Marshall 1974x
VOX AC15 - Blue alnico (louder), GB (warmer)
VOX AC30 2x12
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

The Peavey Classic 30 fit's the bill.... i love mine... i have a 1x12 extention cab with mine and i spread them out behind me... or sometimes i stack them... on small stages and places with a good PA i forget the 1x12 extenetion cab sometimes... But for a cheaper amp it sure works!!!

the way i use the C30 is i generally use a pedalboard with some common Boss, DOD, Ibanez, VOX and Dano pedals into the clean channel.... i get a lot of my distortion these days from the Vox Satchuator... but i also use the amps own gain channel a lot and switch back and forth between the amps own gain and pedals, or a combo of the 2..... i love the MORE switch on the SATCH as i can use the pedal with a little gain on thru the gain channel of the C30 as a gain boost, but then hit the MORE button and switch the amp over to the clean channel for more fuzzy tones...

i also use a BOSS Line Selector pedal a fair bit and i'll place one Distortion for Rythym tones in Loop A and another louder more gain Distortion pedal in the loop B of the Line Selector... that way infront of the C30's Clean Channel i have an almost multi channel amp like selection...

thru the C30 CLEAN i often use the Piezo bridge PU of my Godin mixed with the neck PU... use a little flanger and reverb... it does not sound like an acoustic but it is one of the best clean sounds i've ever had!

another bonus is the C30 can be carried in and out of bars and jam sessions in one hand... a huge bonus! i tilt mine back on an amp stand and point it at my head like a monitor... i can hear myself over most loud drummers no problem....

and the C30 is one of the best amps i own for using my Tele straight into the gain channel... i have yet to find an amp i can afford that sounds better....
 
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Re: Help me choose a combo?

Fender Deluxe Reverb. 22watts. Complex cleans. Power tube overdrive. Nice Reverb. Tremolo. Plenty warm. Great with volume knob twiddling. Great with pedals. Nice solid cabinet. Nice speaker. Ticks all the boxes you mentioned. Its an all time classic professional working players amp.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

carvin has some vintage looking amps that you might want to check out.had to look for a second at the carvin site...check out the carvin no mad,there is a very thorough review of this amp on this forum.
 
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Re: Help me choose a combo?

Take a look at a used Marshall JTK60. It comes in a couple of configurations, but I like the 1 12" version & the 3 10". I just saw a 3 10" version here on CL for $500. Pretty good price for a great sounding amp.
 
Re: Help me choose a combo?

25 watt Zinky Blue Velvet. Built like a TANK with a transferable LIFETIME warranty. I own one in Black and am getting the best tones I have gotten out of any combo I have ever played through in my 35 + years playing. Nothing on the planet is better in this class at any price!!
http://www.zinky.com/velvet25.html
DSC01534.jpg

Tones
http://www.box.net/files/0/f/0#/files/1/f/0/1/f_409193076
http://www.box.net/files/0/f/0#/files/1/f/0/1/f_374769376
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=996087&songID=8765508
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=809752&songID=8637001

Don't get any better!!!
 
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