Im pretty sure I need another amp

[sublimerules9604]

So, I got done with band practice today and after lugging my blues jr home, yes I know it weighs less than 40 lbs but im lazy, I realized that I would like to just leave that amp there, since practice and performance are always in the exact same place every week. I was thinking about just getting another Blues jr, since I know it works well with my current setup, and home practice would sound like band practice.

But then....

I found the vox ad series. I have never owned or played a modeler before and nobody around here sells them to try it out.

later...

After looking around on the ebay for at laneys, i found something completely different, a traynor custom 20. 15W all tube like the blues jr, but with two channels :bigeyes: . Alas I cant seem to find much info in these, granted I havnt looked very hard yet, but from what I have seen is they are a little more than I would like to spend, but if it does what I want with two channels .

So, what do you think?
Stick with the same but more.
Try the modeler.
Two channels at 15W you cant lose
Buck up and just carry the amp around its only twice a week.

 

[BG00]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

I would go for a laney. Haha, but I'm biased.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Buy a totally different sounding amp than the BJ, they are nice, but you shoudnt buy two just to save yourself carrying it around.. Get something new and fun to play on.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

i used to keep my C30 with a 1x12 extention cab at our old rehearsal space, in other words the drummers basement... picked it up used cheap and i was not too worried about leaving it behind...

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

I've played the Traynor 15 watt amp that you're talking about (YCV20 isn't it?). It was decent, but not enough clean headroom for what I wanted to do. Look for the wine red version of that 15 watt Traynor, it comes stock with a Celestion Greenback and should give you a sort of English sound which would be a good compliment to the American sounding Blues Jr. The little Traynor is good for slightly dirty cleans to crunch, but I think you would be disappointed if you want it for metal . . .

 

[sublimerules9604]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

After looking a little more, the 50W blue version seems more up my alley. It has a master volume and independent eq for each channel and a celestion v30, and at the end of the day, it isnt much more than the 15W version. I didnt think it would be very metal, but thats nothing an uber metal cant fix. Besides as I get further into my playing, im slowly realizing that metal just isnt my strong point anyways.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

After looking a little more, the 50W blue version seems more up my alley. It has a master volume and independent eq for each channel and a celestion v30, and at the end of the day, it isnt much more than the 15W version. I didnt think it would be very metal, but thats nothing an uber metal cant fix. Besides as I get further into my playing, im slowly realizing that metal just isnt my strong point anyways.

I have the Traynor Custom Blue 50 combo (as well as the 1X12 extension cab). I've gigged with it for the last year. It rules! I use it for classic rock and country. I'm VERY happy with it. Which is saying a lot because I replaced my Hughes & Kettner Triamp MkI with it. No, it's not in the same league as the H&K overall, but for my current gig it's every bit as good. I also recently aquired the Traynor YCS-100 head and am very happy with it so far. I haven't gigged it yet though. I don't think you can go wrong with the Traynor tube stuff right now. SO inexpensive and yet such a great value. Go for it man!

 

[sublimerules9604]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Red Label or GuitarStv do either of you have clips of your traynors, I cant seem to find clips of them. Preferably with some rythm work as thats what I play most of the time.

Also, red label how well does the master volume work for bedroom levels, maybe tv levels not whisper quiet.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Variety is the spice of life. Rather than buying what you already have, why not buy something that is a little different. Or the other way of thinking would be...... why not play through TWO Jrs.:nana:

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Red Label or GuitarStv do either of you have clips of your traynors, I cant seem to find clips of them. Preferably with some rythm work as thats what I play most of the time.

Also, red label how well does the master volume work for bedroom levels, maybe tv levels not whisper quiet.

I have a bunch of songs on my computer but only one up on soundclick. This song is with the YCV40WR, Rhythm is done with bridge/neck humbucker and lead is done with the neck humbucker. Both are set pretty clean . . . http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=4051978&q=hi

If you want to use this amp for bedroom practice only, I'm not sure I could recommend it. It sounds FAR FAR better once you get the volume up to at least 2 - 3 on the knob . . .

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Red Label or GuitarStv do either of you have clips of your traynors, I cant seem to find clips of them. Preferably with some rythm work as thats what I play most of the time.

Also, red label how well does the master volume work for bedroom levels, maybe tv levels not whisper quiet.

Sorry man. No clips as of yet. I am about to start work on some, but haven't as of yet.

It's a great sounding amp. As with just about ANY tube amp over 20 watts, it's going to sound a LOT better when driven hard and played loud. But this amp is cool because it's got the power and clean headroom for playing live without miking, and it can be played in the bedroom. But you're not going to get your best tones in the bedroom. I do some practice with it (though I prefer to use one of my Behringer Vampires for those chores).

The gain option is great, but I think that it sounds best and gets those Marshall JTM/JCM sounds when you put the gain between 5 and 7 and then use the volume and master volume to drive the power tubes and speakers. That's where it shines (like any other tube amp).

There's NO doubt in my mind that you'll like the sound of it. For the rock thing, it'll KILL the Fender IMO. I had a friend's Hot Rod Deville 4X10 for a couple of years. I almost never used it. The cleans didn't shimmer for me. And the dirt wasn't that EL34 smooth. This Custom Blue 50 does both. In fact, I like the cleans on it better than any amp I've ever played or owned except for my old Hughes & Kettner Triamp MkI. It's that good.

 

[sublimerules9604]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Thanks for all your help, I think that it may just be time for an upgrade, and just get rid of the blues jr to help offset the cost. It would be really nice to be able to find a ycv15 blue which is like the 50 but lower power, problem is like nill of them were made. If these things are as great as they sound, I would hate to only get to play it at band practice or tone squashed at low volumes all the time. Granted this doesnt salve my dilema currently of ahuling it back and forth all the time, but im thinking it would be worth it.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Im pretty sure I need another amp

Thanks for all your help, I think that it may just be time for an upgrade, and just get rid of the blues jr to help offset the cost. It would be really nice to be able to find a ycv15 blue which is like the 50 but lower power, problem is like nill of them were made. If these things are as great as they sound, I would hate to only get to play it at band practice or tone squashed at low volumes all the time. Granted this doesnt salve my dilema currently of ahuling it back and forth all the time, but im thinking it would be worth it.

You could always keep the big amp where you practice and the little amp at home . . .