if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Hoss

Hoss

Joyfulnoiseologist
same scenario as the guitar thread...

if i could walk into a nice/boutique music shop and buy any amp i wanted...what would it be?

nothing insance like a Dumble or Trainwreck of course...but something more like...Matchless, BadCat, /13, 65amps, Victoria, Two Rock, etc...

i would want something with enough clean headroom to sparkle and jangle with depth and bottom like there's know tomorrow, but also something with a NASTY bite and snarl when needed!?

i'm thinking that EL84's are probably my best bet...but i've only played el84's and 6L6's...!?

what do you guys think?!
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Gr8Scott's Celtic Edana rig off the Trading Post !!!!!!!!
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Laney Super Group 60 watts, mint condition, with original patridge tranny.
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Matchless Chieftan or Budda Superdrive 30. The Chieftan is one of my favorite all time amps! I also love the Superdrive 30 a lot. The Superdrive 30 is like having two different amps! On clean it's like a Divided By 13 amp. Get's awesome grit using the master vol. On the distorted channel I would liken it to a Marshall but not really. It has its thing going. More gain than you need.

The Chieftan doesn't have anywhere near that amount of gain but is a different beast. Nothing like playing one. It's going to cost you a pretty penny! About 1g less than a Superdrive 30 however price is no indication of superiority. Budda makes some of THE best amps ever. Take it a step further and check out the Superdrive 45. It uses KT66 tubes. Super touch sensitive.

Over on the other side of the spectrum is Laney TT50. That amp can do anything and do it very well! One of the best amps ever made! Amazing Laney sounds. Three channels but just between the 1st and 2nd you can do everything except hardcore metal. Enter the third channel!
 
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Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

This probably isn't as high-brow as you want, but I've been playing my dad's old Super Reverb a lot cranked all the way up, and I'd be extremely happy owning one. I'd love to hear it with a 2X12 or 4X12 cabinet (stock is 4X10).
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Bogner Ecstasy...........and one day........it will be mine.




Or a Cameron CCV.................if they really exist.
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

For all the wonderful things I've heard about ÷13 amps, I wonder if they don't record better than they actually sound in the room, as I've also heard reports that they can sound really bright in person.

Of course this is nothing but pure conjecture, but I think I'd go with something from 65 Amps.
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Hoss said:
i'm thinking that EL84's are probably my best bet...but i've only played el84's and 6L6's...!?
Click to expand...

I like EL84's and I think they fit your description pretty well. I own a tophat club royale, which I really like. More chimey and "voxy" until it starts to break up where it then goes more into "marshall" territory. The build quality is excellent. If you wanted to go even fancier, you could get the tophat supreme 16 (but this will be more expensive).

A Vox AC15 HW might also fit your description and would be a bit cheaper and have a few more features (but look into build quality and reliability issues). It does not have a master volume, however, if that is important.

Either of these will save you $$$ over a matchless or bad cat and get you into similar territory.

Are you located in an area where you can try different amps out first?

Also, how loud do you need to be, and how much clean headroom? The amps I mentioned are in the 18-22 watt range. If you need more, you could try the tophat king royale or the Vox AC30 HW (or matchless/bad cat). A new king royale is getting up into the matchless price range, however. The new Vox is probably the best deal in this category (but check the reliability issues, just in case).
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

+1 for Mesa Road King...

I've been GAS'ing for one for ages.
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

EVH 5153

...and the store I use carries every model of Bogner, most VHTs, Top Hats, and so on. I love those amps, too....


Don't even trip that it uses 6L6s. You'd never be able to tell soundwise. More EL34-ishly complex sounds, I think.

favorite thing about it? Instant, smooth switching from channel to channel, even if the volumes are set one quiet, one loud. Seamless. Probably due in part to the preamp tubes being dedicated to a given channel? - there's 8 of em. It's not a multi-channel amp, it's a 3 in one amp, with built-in amp switcher. The cab has a really cool low end. High gain sounds are unique.

Fender jangle? check.
SRV tone on clean with the gain cranked? check.
old school Marshall-ishness? check.
controlled feedback? check.
warm lead channel? check.
body bags? check.

check, check, check, forever. Try it.
 
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Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

sosomething said:
For all the wonderful things I've heard about ÷13 amps, I wonder if they don't record better than they actually sound in the room, as I've also heard reports that they can sound really bright in person.

Of course this is nothing but pure conjecture, but I think I'd go with something from 65 Amps.
Click to expand...

One of my friends owned one. He loved it... Took it to his first gig and it literally ignited! Had to use fire extinguishers and everything. He got his money back but man was he pissed.

Me personally...... I have what I need. I am fortunate to have some very nice amps.

Someone earlier mentioned a Super Reverb and I have to say they are a Super (no pun intended) amp. I have owned mine for over 15 years and will never part with it. Its a great amp. A little heavy to carry in/out of gigs and in many situations its too loud. I also own a Deluxe Reverb. Another great amp, but at 22W it lacks enough headroom for me. A lot of guys "fix" the short comings of this fine amp by upgrading the speaker to a G12H30. I've often wondered what that would sound like with a 15".

A used Marshall 900 combo could be a real good choice too. The cleans are not like a Fender, but they can work. The Drive is great and its channel switching with master volume. The major drawback to the 900 is both channels share the EQ. and the effects loop is not very good.

My 2 main amps are a Bogner Shiva. Cleans will rival any Fender and the Reverb is better than any Fender I have used. The drive is a tad to modern for me. A little strong in the mids, but I have been able to dial most of that out. My best amp I have ever played through is my Komet 60. This amp is as pure as I have ever used. Think of a Plexi, but with a huge amount of clarity at any volume. Hooked up to my 1960 AX loaded with greenbacks it is to die for. But....... it is very loud.
 
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Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Well you're usin it for church right? So you kinda gotta ask yourself, what would Jesus play? I'd assume like a Fender Twin or maybe a JMP at first (He's a big Hendrix fan) but the answer is really obvious.
green-stack-plus002.jpg


I mean, most of the dudes I've seen plugged into that thing look like Fat Metal Jesus...
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

Well, I don't have too too much experience in the amp department. But currently I would like to try out a Fender Hot Rod DeLuxe. I wanted to get one back in Canada but never got around to it.

So yeah, I'd like to get that amp as currently it's the one I want.
 
Re: if i could buy any amp i want...what would it be!?

I've already got my dream amp. :D

If i had $$ burning a hole in my pocket I'd love to pick up a Fender Vibroverb RI or a 4x12 Super Reverb, but those aren't really boutique.

I'll take a Suhr OD50 or a Mojave Coyote.
 
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