I want a lovely, warm British style amp

[ImmortalSix]

I have been giving a lot of thought to the idea of a different amplifier. For about 3 years, I have been in denial that instead of the mountains of Fenders I've tried and owned, what I actually want is probably a Les Paul and a british style amp.

I have given a pretty close online look at the Blackstar amps, but haven't found the time to go play them yet. Luckily, there is a store in town that stocks them. The same store also stocks Marshall.

I am not looking to crank it and get great rock or metal tone - I am looking more to play it at a reasonable volume, semi-clean, semi-crunchy.

There is a store in town that stocks Orange amps as well. I think that out of Marshall, Blackstar, and Orange, I should be able to find an amp that fits the sound in my head a little better, but I'm curious if there are any amps that either A) would nail what I'm going for, or B) that I haven't thought of.

I'm open to the used game, too. I am in no hurry, and live in a college town, so we see a decent revolving door of music gear on craigslist.

Here's a decent example of what kind of sounds I'm looking for:

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Sounds I like:
Flat sounding cleans ------------------------------------------------ General, warm, full soft rock tone

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I think a lot of the tone I am after will be in a Les Paul, but a lot of it will also come from that "knock," that specific timbre of the EL34 sound. There's kind of a "clunk" to the attack of an EL34 amp (in general) that is difficult to describe, but I love the timbre of it. You can hear it a lot in the intro and clean sections of the Junior Varsity song I posted above.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I like the flatter response of the British style amps --- as opposed to the scoop sound of a Fender. I have worked with them for years, but I think that I have realized that I am after something that they inherently do not offer.

I don't want an amp that is all mids.

But I really like that flat frequency emphasis --- not the spiky highs of Fender, and not the all-mids stereotype of old Marshalls and such. Just a flat, full amp.

So, what should I check out?

 

[Kam]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I haven't slept in 30-some-odd hours but that Junior Varsity song made my brain feel like it was full of ants. Ants made entirely out of candy floss.

BIG MOTHER****ING ANTS.

Anyway, I'm going to recommend Orange because I recommend Orange in every thread, regardless of what people want.

What about thon wee Voxes? Was it you that had a Vox and hated it? Iuno. They're like...British. I think.

I don't know **** about Voxes, honestly.

I'm not even gonna remember making this post.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I haven't slept in 30-some-odd hours but that Junior Varsity song made my brain feel like it was full of ants. Ants made entirely out of candy floss.

BIG MOTHER****ING ANTS.

Anyway, I'm going to recommend Orange because I recommend Orange in every thread, regardless of what people want.

What about thon wee Voxes? Was it you that had a Vox and hated it? Iuno. They're like...British. I think.

I don't know **** about Voxes, honestly.

I'm not even gonna remember making this post.

I have played (but never owned) Vox amps (not counting my Valvetronix practice amp), and I see them a lot like Stratocasters: some guys make them sound incredible, but I can't. In short, I like hearing a Vox recorded, but never got along with them as my amp.

I have never met an EL84 amp that I liked. I have heard clips of EL84 amps that sounded OK, but I have never played an EL84 amp and then thought "yeah, that was awesome!"

 

[mwalluk]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Carvin Legacy

 

[mwalluk]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Let me reiterate....

The Carvin Legacy is not just a Vai thing. It's an awesome El34 amp that sounds fantastic. I don't dig Vai's music or play anything remotely close to it, but love the amp.

CLEANS:

Simply the best clean on the market. Sparkling, CHimey, Bright, and well clean. It all that you want in a clean without having that Fender twang in it.

Clean channel takes pedals exceptionally well. Throw on an OD or Dist and you have your crunch.

Dirt channel is good. Can get heavier if you like, but seeing how that's not your thing, it can be dialed down for a crunchy rock rhythm or dial up the gain for a liquid sustain like lead.

 

[trevorus]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

What is your budget? That will dictate what field of amps we will be looking at.

 

[JeffB]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Sounds to me like someone asking for a hot dog that doesn't taste like a hot dog. Why bother?

FWIW- that second clip sounds exactly like a dimed EL84 Class A amp- Vox or otherwise.

And to actually make a suggestion- Rivera may have a few amps that would fit your needs in the El34 area.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Are you looking for a single or two channel amp? By the way, every EL84 amp I've ever player strikes me exactly the same as you described.

 

[Bludave]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I have been giving a lot of thought to the idea of a different amplifier. For about 3 years, I have been in denial that instead of the mountains of Fenders I've tried and owned, what I actually want is probably a Les Paul and a british style amp.

I have given a pretty close online look at the Blackstar amps, but haven't found the time to go play them yet. Luckily, there is a store in town that stocks them. The same store also stocks Marshall.

I am not looking to crank it and get great rock or metal tone - I am looking more to play it at a reasonable volume, semi-clean, semi-crunchy.

There is a store in town that stocks Orange amps as well. I think that out of Marshall, Blackstar, and Orange, I should be able to find an amp that fits the sound in my head a little better, but I'm curious if there are any amps that either A) would nail what I'm going for, or B) that I haven't thought of.

I'm open to the used game, too. I am in no hurry, and live in a college town, so we see a decent revolving door of music gear on craigslist.

Here's a decent example of what kind of sounds I'm looking for:

I am not familiar with these Blackstar amps, but for what you describe I would take a close look at the Vox line. One of my all time favotite amps that I have never owned is the AC30. Its loud, but it also has a unique tone. I have always loved the AC30 great amp!

 

[SteveAlysis]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Orange Tiny Terror, or Ac15. I know you said you didn't vibe with Vox, but the 15s seem to have a different feel to em. At least to me

 

[jeremy]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

find a vox with the ef86 channel, i think youll like what you hear

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

If it is an EL84 amp you are seeking as people here think, how about a used Marshall DSL401 (40 watts combo) or DSL201 (20 watt combo)? Or even Marshall's current production Class 5?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I can't believe you guys think that EL84s are what I would want.

I'm not offended, just surprised.

They don't have the "knock," the timbre I'm looking for.

 

[karpathion]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Go to about 2:30, then about 4:08.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Go to about 2:30, then about 4:08.

I liked that, but not lovely and warm enough. That was a little to brittle and harsh for me.

I want more warmth, I think.

Like this:

 

[devastone]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

Then check out the Blackstar HT20, they use EL34s but are Cathode biased, very warm sounding amps. My only concern is that the gain channel has quite a bit of gain, not really death metal kinda gain, but thick and compressed gain, of course if you are a single coil guy, it may be perfect. That would definitely be the one I would recommend trying of the Blackstar series. I have a HT20 head that I really like, not sure if it is the end-all amp for me, but it's nice, it would definitely get in the ballpark of the tones on your clips with the right cabinet.

Mine may be too warm for me, some of that could be the cabinet and speaker that I am running it through too(?). I kinda thinking I want an EL84 based amp like a Budda Superdrive or I'm really interested in checking out the H&K Tubemeister when those come out. So, if you decide you are looking for a HT20 head, you might give me a shout and see where I'm at...

 

[JeffB]

Re: I want a lovely, warm British style amp

I kinda thinking I want an EL84 based amp like a Budda Superdrive.

Actually thats a great recco for I6.


Hunter I know you SAY you don't want El84s, but I think the issue is you are actually describing alot of El84 tonal character, and that second vid you posted does not help matters.

El34s get very crunchy, and are very midrange focused and are generally paired witha bright pre-amp section. Just nature of the beast. They don't really mate well in the general sense to the characteristics you are asking for- neutral EQ, less variation from high to low frequencies, etc. whereas there are several El84 based amps which will. El34s of courrse do the edge of breakup thing great, but you are looking at NMV style Marshall circuits for that. Not every EL84 amp sounds like a jangly Vox AC30 either.





You may look into either one of these as well