Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

[BluesGuyJ]

Hey guys!

I've finally narrowed down my style of amp choice to a single channel amp. I want an amp that has no bells and whistles and is as straight forward as possible.

Here are the features I want:
- 30- 50 watts max
- FX loop
- single channel operation but with a prea amp/power amo design (Class A/B right?)

I am NOT looking for a Fender. I want a single channel amp that goes from blues to hard rock tones, I want a decent clean up to something like AC/DC tones to be able to get 80s metal tones with pedals. I guess you could say I am looking for something with a vintage tone but a hint of modern tone and features!

The Genz Benz Black Pearl comes to mind so far but I can not think of any other amps really. Throw me some ideas guys!

 

[metlking]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

You can pick up a Peavey VTM60 for less than $300. All tube, single channel, FX loop. Put some good tubes in it and it'll do everything you asked for..........

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

How do the clean tones sound?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

1987 Plexi RI

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

Honestly though, how good would an 87x sound for blues? Aren't those basically JCM 800 reissues?

 

[LoFiBrian]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

how about the Laney GH50L? isnt that pretty much what your looking for?

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

The Laney GH50L is a great sounding amp, but is a little too high gain for what I am looking for. Let me better state what I am looking for.

A single channel amp with a Marshall style voicing. Breaks up well but isn't a flabby break up and sounds thick and clear witout being muffled. I also want to be able to throw an OD or distortion pedal in front of it to get it cooking for hard rock to classic metal. 80% of the time I will be playing blues and hard rock though so the metal flavor is not essentiall.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

Honestly though, how good would an 87x sound for blues? Aren't those basically JCM 800 reissues?

No they are not. They are a Plexi RI. This is the amp that Hendrix, Clapton and Page used in the late 60's and early 70's. EC used the 100W version of the 2245 Jimi used the 1959 100W Plexi, so did Page) They are a very different sounding amp then the 800. They can be very agressive, but can also be very clean. SRV used a Plexi for a lot of his clean stuff. The big problem with these amps is they really don't sound great until you crank them. To do that they can be unplayable in some clubs, thats why a common mod to this amp is a Master volume.

Another issue is what kind of blues you are talking about. If you are talking Chicago Blues then a Bassman RI or a low powered Tweed Twin might serve you better for this style, but if you are talking british Blues than a 2245 Marshall would be an excellent choice.

Here are the amps I would consider:

Marshall 1987 (50W Plexi RI) Great for Blues and Classic Rock)
Marshall 2245 (30W handwired head, basically a BluesBreaker in a head)

Fender Bassman RI (40Watts 4 10" speakers) great Blues amp....... No Reverb
Fender 57 Tweed Twin (50 watt 2 12" tweed combo). Clapton used these for the Cream reunion tour and his most recent shows as well as the last few records he did.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

Celtic Edana

 

[fingerace]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

1987 Plexi RI

Yeap... that, or a jmt45 with el34 (i think they are called jtm50 but I am not sure)

with the right tubes in the amp and a nice pedal (and maybe a weber attenuator if you need one) you ll be all set!

+ I would suggest going with a ready built kit amp rather than the "real deal"... I don't have any experience with one or the other myself but when it comes to vintage amps many people prefer kit builders instead of the re-issue versions.

This is because the ready built kit will be more faithful to the original nad it will be closer to the real deal than the re-issue... I really don't know since I never compared an old plexi to a re issue one...

This is just another thing for you to consider and since you don't want the specific vintage plexi tone, it is not an absolute necesity.

and btw a new re-issue is most of the times more expesive than an exact ready built kit clone...

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

Used Traynor Bass Master may work for you as well.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

What is the difference between the 87x and 1959 reissue? Both Plexi reissues right?

 

[fingerace]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

Check this out, it's the history of marshalls and description for each one...

http://www.drtube.com/marshall.htm

 

[metlking]

Re: Looking at single channel amps: help!!!

How do the clean tones sound?

They clean up pretty nicely with the gain down......although I never really used it for cleans. They're basically Peavey's version of a JCM800 with 6L6 power tubes......
Sure, it's not a Marshall, but for the money they don't sound bad, someone here had clips a while back........