Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

B

britishgeetah

New member
So here's the deal...I need a gigging/recording amp with SUPERIOR (no, not INFERIOR, but SUPERIOR) cleans and good overdrive. Overdrive is fairly important, I want the soaring sustainy distortion (think David Gilmour during The Wall-era, or Warren Haynes). None of that changy trebley crap that most garage bands are familiar with. Of course, it's tough to find both.

So yeah, recommend amps. It MUST be tube and it is MOST PREFFERED a combo. I've always heard good things about those Mesa amps like the Lone Star and about the Fender Super Sonic, but I've always considered a vintage or reiussue Fender stylee amp

I DIY a lot of my own pedals and maybe I could make something with the kind of distortion I want and pair it with some classic Fender amp like a Deluxe Reverb or Bassman RI but would that still be good? I mean, preamp distortion is supposedly always the best but could a pedal ever match as good to True Tube distortion?
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

What is your budget for your dream amp?

I'd research vintage (player NOT collector) Fender amps as thay seem to interest you.

Maybe a boutique amp built to your specs?


Dave
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Matching pedals to an amp with an overdriving power section is very common, though you'll find that depending on the amp some pedals will work and others won't.

It's worth noting that Haynes often mixes a plexi marshall with a soldano, and Gilmour is famous for mixing pedals with Hiwatts. So maybe a Hiwatt clone like a Harry Joyce or Reeves amp might be cool, or perhaps the new Hiwatt high gain 50, which is cheaper and more flexible than the DR reissues but still a great sounding amp.

You might really like the Soldano reverb-o-sonic combo. Great cleans and overdrive. Expensive, though.

For a cheaper option, the Fender super-sonic is a cool amp, as is the Mesa Lonestar, though I prefer the EL84 lonestar special.

Also check out the mesa express and the older f50.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

hotrod deluxe?
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Get a Twin. Crank it up and put a decent OD box in front of it. Your done! You won't find a better amp that can be played very loud and stay very clean then a Fender Twin. A decent OD pedal will bring you to the pint you want to be for Solos and chunky Chord work!
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

A price would help. No limit? Bogner!
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Looks like one of those hiwatt reissues and a good pedal, if you reference Gillmoure its british sound for the most part... you need to describe your overdrive needs more, maybe you want more saturation than we think, then its not just about the amp, considering cleans are such a priority, maybe OD pedal would be just as important.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

I'd say Hiwatt, too... Reeves are cheaper and seem to have better fit & finish, though. Look the same, sound the same.

I'd get a Reeves Custom 30 or something. 30 watts all-tube, and it's available as a combo.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Tom M said:
A price would help. No limit? Bogner!
Click to expand...

I was going to say the same thing.

A nice Shiva 1X12 combo would probably fit the bill well. Granted, it's overdrive tone is better than the clean tone. But I don't hear anyone complain about the cleans on this amp. It's just that there are amps with more sparkly/spanky cleans.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

The Trace linked in my first post will get you the Soldano/Bogner high gain tones, along with JCM800-ish mid gain tones, and great sounding cleans.

Check the Speed Twin Reviews at HC.

Unfortunately the one in the link is in the US and it would cost way too much to ship across the pond.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

I have a Bogner 1 12". I love the cleans on this amp, but I think I like the Reverb even better. Its a great amp. The OD is more modern sounding. It has a lot more midrange, but if you spend some time with it you can dial in a real nice OD tone also!
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Something completely different.
Try a Fender Champ, lots of clean headroom and it would overdrive well with a pedal, The 6 inch speaker would mic good for gigs or recording. They sound superb, Great sound. Great price at 190..
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Sounds like you are going through what I went through.

The only things that got me there (in 2 channel amps) were:

1) Bogner Shiva
2) Rivera Knucklehead
3) Marshall 6100 (though it's risky for being potentially unreliable, ESP the COMBOS)

Many are raving about the Egnater MOD and CAE OD100
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Peavey JSX 212 combo would definately fit the bill. Super versatile amp with a beautiful clean channel, does great classic rock up through metal. 120 watts, el34's or 6l6's, all around ass-kicker.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

It all depends what exactly you're looking for in the cleans besides "superior". Do you want fat, warm Marshall plexi type cleans? Chimey Vox cleans? Round and sparkly Fender cleans? There are lots of options out there, so more info is needed.

From what it sounds like here, you should really try a lot of different amps to get a feel for what different brands/different tubes can offer. That'll help lead you down a more definitive path.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

It sounds like you need a Fender Twin. A Hot Rod should also work.
 
Re: Here, I write a description of what I need in an amp. Then you recommend.

Well, guys, my budget will be willing to pay just a little over 1100$ if it's a combo (also depending how many speakers in that thar cabinet.)

The clean I want is plinky Fender style.

If I do go down the OD Pedal + Clean amp route, what are some good combinations of pedals and amps?

The distortion I want has to be nicely saturated and smooth, but articulate enough to go through many, MANY pedals (like envelope filter, reverb, heavy EQ'ing) and still come out with clarity and my physical picking dynamics still in tact.
 
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