Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

fingerace

fingerace

New member
Hope you can help me with this guys, since I have enough money to get something from weber amps or ceriatone amps easily. + a cab 2x12 or 4x12 to go with the amp...

So, I have certain criteria for the amp I want but I can't define which one it really is. I am sure it's out there...

1. must have tube overdrive when crancked (vintage style jtm45 or similar...)
2. enough headroom to stay clean with a loud drummer during jams and band practices (NOT necessarily for gigs) - note: it will be used with a LP style guitars
3. must have nice singing sweet Cleans!

I suppose I will be using an attenuator and an overdrive pedal for solo boost.

which amp am I describing??

thanks! :)

Andreas

Edit: a matchless dc 30? a jtm45, a bassman, a 2x 6L6 fender ? what ?
 
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Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

With LP style guitars, stay away from 10" speakers....so I wouldn't get a Bassman.

I'd stick with British tubes, personally, like EL-34's or EL-84's. Check into all the Marshall variants, Dr. Z's, and even the new Vox AC-30CC head/2-12.

With humbuckers, I tend to think it's best to stay with heads/cabs. With single coils....either open back combos or cabs.
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

An actual LP into a head is what I am looking for, which head is the matter! I play blues rock (gov't mule tone) + clean blues (BB king lets say) + hard classic rock (Joe Perry tones)...

If i get a bassman it's going to be a head, and whatever I get it most propably going to be a copy of the original (ie not an actual marshall for example - from weber or ceriatone)

I am a little worried about the headroom of 30 watt amps (mentioned above) and how clean it remains when jamming...

Joe, I know that you have owned many amps and you are propably one of the best people to "guess the amp" !

Do you think a 50 watt plexi is too "harsh" and not sweet enough for blues tones?
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

A plexi is great for classic rock and blues. I'd just stay away from amps like JCM 800's/900's, for what you're looking for.

Most 30W tube amps are loud enough for a band, but the lows can mush out a little, since the power tubes will be straining. My Goldtone 30 nails the Joe Perry sound obviously, and it's extremely loud....like a halfstack.

If you're going to get a boutique handwired amp, you'll find that they tend to be loud for their wattage rating, simply because they use better transformers.

I know a lot of people are skeptical of harmony-central, but it's always a good idea to read the reviews on anything that interests you.
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

Blackface Fender something or other. Definitely has the sweet cleans and blues/rock tones down. For the harder stuff, you might need a pedal (which isn't a big deal...I push my BF Fender-style with an Arion Tubulator I got for $12 new), but otherwise it should be perfect. If you hunt eBay you should find something on a good deal.
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

budda superdrive 45.
or
thd flexi-50.

you get amazing cleans and both will overdrive. the budda will have more gain so if that may be an issue i'd recommend that. otherwise you should go for the thd. you can put almost any combination of tubes in it and their 4x12 cab is amazing. custom eminence speakers in an 'x' pattern (i may be wrong but im pretty sure they switched from celestion) and a rear slot port = heaven.
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

thanks for the replies all of you..

what do you suggest, EL34 or KT66 ??
I am a little worried about the cleans of a plexi or a jtm45....

so I might be going for a blackface instead...
I really want those cleans and I am not sure if a 45 watt marshall circuit can offer them...
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

i think kt66 will give you more headroom and a little better cleans. may be wrong though i'm somewhat new to tubes also.....
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

ksmith63 said:
i think kt66 will give you more headroom and a little better cleans. may be wrong though i'm somewhat new to tubes also.....
Click to expand...

that's what I was thinking.. the transformer can make a huge diffrence to headroom I believe also
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

I would also like to recommend two "other" 30watters.

nd YES, 30watts of all-valve powered amps are way loud enough for a band, even un-mic'ed !

* Vox AC30CC - good sound for the money you pay !

Gilby Clarke use Vox AC30's when he toured with Guns N'Roses, and to be honest, many a time in the live DVD's i prefered his rythm tone to Slash's tone when he did rythm parts !!!


* Marshall Bluesbreaker

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-1962-Bluesbreaker-Combo-Amp?sku=482795

Probably the only Marshall i'll ever have GAS for !
Also 30watts, and ohhhhhh soooooo perfect for electrified blues !
Such a sweet gritty, sweaty, sexy overdrive !

On the otherhand, i use almost just LP-style guitars, ie 'buckers.
And i am looking for a low-powered Bassman, or something with that world famous Bassman crunch !

Sop do not rule them out completely !!!
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

thanks...

just a question to wrap this up... solid state rectifier or tube???

I am asking because I ended up between the plexi 50w or jtm45... or a plexi with KT66s
 
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Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

I like the design of the JTM-45 for things like that. It can get great clean sounds, bluesy grit, to a hard rock crunch a la AC/DC. And of course, if you were to go that route, get the best JTM-45 clone available - A Celtic Edana :banana:
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

Corbic said:
I like the design of the JTM-45 for things like that. It can get great clean sounds, bluesy grit, to a hard rock crunch a la AC/DC. And of course, if you were to go that route, get the best JTM-45 clone available - A Celtic Edana :banana:
Click to expand...

believe me, if I wasn't a bit short on cash, I would get it! with the cherry cab also!
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

Well, you can always sub a SS rectifier in the tube socket...so, get it with a tube rectifier. With hardwired SS, you don't get the option...
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

For those ceriatones, do they come with a head or is it just the chasis???
If it is just the chasis where can you get a marshall plexi head (empty) to hold the chasis??
 
Re: Need you help to specify WHICH AMP...

I am going to build my own cab for the head. Slowly...
I have the tools and the time and the knowladge and help from my mother, father and grandfather. I need to find the right wood and paint for it though...
 
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