One Amp to Rule Them All?

Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

I mean, the 'real' answer to this question would be the Axe FXII, or something along those lines. Even if you were a dyed in the wool vintage dude, model a few marshalls, a few fenders, an old vox, a hiwatt, whatever you'd want and you'd be set.

If I just had to pick one tube amp though.. I haven't found one yet that exactly covers my tonal wants. The closest I've heard to the tone on my amp is that one of my modellers has a 'JTM45' model, that seems to have a much smoother and rounder tone than the real thing. I've tried a few JTM45's and I think a modded one might do for me, or maybe even one of marshall's newer JVM model amps. One of the clubs I gig at has a Vintage modern and it's actually really nice too, I could certainly live with that as my only amp, even though the EQ is kind of wonky.

It's kind of funny, if you asked me even 2 years ago I'd say I hated the Marshall sound, but now it's become exactly what I want.
 
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Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

Don't have one, but I'm pretty sure the 5150 III is the one amp that could keep me happy the rest of my life if I could only have one. A close second is probably the Satriani JVM.
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

Aceman said:
Hey - I have a Pro Jr. Sometimes I get all crazy and run a TS-9 into it first. TS9 actually has more knobs than the Jr!!!!!

Now, back to multi-channel Swiss Army Amp goodness!!!
Click to expand...

That's the only amp I've ever been asked to turn down by a Guitar Center employee.
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

Honestly, if I could only have one amp, I would have it in conjunction with unlimited space to play it in - desert island or that sort of thing.

And it would be a 400w Hiwatt Amp, with either a les paul, or an SG, or a telecaster.

"You can see that we have a slightly better bias supply arrangement but……everything else is the same, all voltages are the same, and we have more current available from the larger transformer obviously......but there are only six output tubes! In my mind (and experience) the use of the same voltages and six tubes would be, well, 300 watt and not 400! I have built quite a few KT88 amps, and the only way that I got a true 400 watts RMS from six tubes was to run them with 450 volts on grid 2 and 800 volts plate. This way they will give the 135 watts a pair, or 400 watts plus as a sextet and….they are quite happy at this!"

But, realistically, a modded JTM45 would be just about heaven for me. I'm happy enough as it were with a 1-volume 1-tone copy of the 1974x marshall 18w circuit.
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

I thought my old vypyr could do everything. It did a lot of things, but nothing excellent except metal.

The JSX does EVERYTHING without pedals, and it does them all very well with the right tube combo. It truly is my end-all amp. Metal, hard rock, classic rock, blues, rockabilly.

JJ KT77's
V1 - long plate 12AX7 (ECC803S)
V2 - 12AT7 (ECC81) - thinking about trying a 5751
V3 - long plate 12AX7 (ECC803S)
V4 - 12AX7 (ECC83S)

 
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Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

I could have my Splawn Quick Rod or SLO Clone with a nice Greenback 4x12 and not 'need' another amp again.
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

Stupid thread is stupid, but I'm stupid, so I'll play.

Mesa Mark II-V, take your pick.
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

I probably could be happy with a Mark IIC+, though I don't own one. Certainly I'm good with a Mark III Simul-Class, EQ, Reverb, EVM combo or half stack; a Mark IV or Mark V. I'm really happy with the amps I have.

I also have a DC-3 112 combo and a Maverick 212 combo. I love them, but long-term--I'd miss the open sound of the 6L6 tubes.

Bill
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

I just went through this myself. My JMP 2204 does what it does better than anything, but my Mesa Heartbreaker has become my main amp. 2 channels, reverb and presence on each channel, 100 or 60 watts, tube or SS rectifiers, can run 6L6 or EL34 and great tone in the bargain! It's become the amp I plan to grow old with.
 
Re: One Amp to Rule Them All?

1989TrainwreckExpress.jpg


I would have to go Trainwreck
 
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