I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

[Blueline]

Hey guys
I've been out of the loop - crazy with work and out of the office on business
so, i'm back now
(i know many of you have lost sleep)

the question:
New amp
do I
a) buy a used mesa dc-5 (around 600)
its a 10 year old amp, but darn nice
its a channels switcher with a graphic eq

b) buy a used trayner ycv 40 or 50 - (around 350-400)
not as nice construction as the mesa at all, but pretty good features and the sound is darn nice too
channel swithcer with boost

c) my personal fav - build (you know i just couldn't stop at guitars) an 18 watt marshall TMB (treb, mid...) version
2 independent channels with boost feature
it seems like it would do a great small marshall tone, but i'm not sure if i'd like the cleans as i typically like 6l6 cleans

the problem - i dont' play out so i dont' need a huge amp
plus the idea of building my own is appealing to me


oh, i should prob say i like classic rock (zep, who) and everythig from guns n roses to incubus and 90's pearl jam/stp stuff

lets hear what you guys think

thanks

cheers

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

At home, I've had great results running my GT-8 into my SWR Strawberry Blonde with the tweeter switched off. All of my tube amps are way too loud for use inside my home.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

build the 18 watt.

 

[Blueline]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

scott - glad you chimmed in
my concern is - will it hit hte tones i'm after - i'm generaly not vox lover
though i do like the articulate and thumpy tones of the divided by 13 el 84 based amps

my biggest question is - will i be a happy camper wit the 18 watter - will i get that marshall chunk

 

[Rich_S]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

...my biggest question is - will i be a happy camper wit the 18 watter - will i get that marshall chunk

YES! I've said it before - it's amazing that even though the 18 Watter has almost nothing in common with its EL34-based siblings, it still sounds like a Marshall. Even my whacked-out ECL86-based "13 Watter" sounds like a Marshall.

My "13 Watter"

You want chunk? Put in a G12H-30. Want more? Drive a 4-12 cab with it. Or an Avatar G12H/V30 combination - that may just be the perfect cabinet for an 18 Watter.

Build it - and plan on spending an additional $75 on a Weber MiniMASS - even 18 watts is way too loud for home. :13:

 

[Blueline]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

well thanks for the vote of confidence
i was considering a G12H or a V30
as for the mini-mass, i may still needed, but the version i plan to build has a normal channel that is Vol/Tone and a TMB channel that has a "master vol" (though its really more of a gain blend so i've been told"

but you're still prob right

glad to see that the tone will be there

how are the cleans

 

[Robert S.]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

I've had the hots for one of those 18 watt clones ever since I played one 3 years ago.

Yes, they sound like a Marshall and yes they are loud.

 

[Blueline]

Re: I'm back!!! with an amp opinion question - so weigh in

any comments on the clean strumming tones

i'm pretty confident the leads were there
and it appears the chunky rythym is there too