Separate amps for clean and dirty?

[GuitarStv]

I feel like speakers probably matter more than amp. You might be able to jam 4 EL34s and 4 6L6s into some sort of monster head (at least you could use the same output transformer for both circuits, although I feel like the heat coming off all those tubes would be pretty significant) . . . but without the right speakers I don't think it would sound as expected.

 

[Securb]

That's probably how those modular Randall amps came to be (in the 90's?). You could have one Fender like module and another Marshall like. Pretty ingenious idea really.

That is what the Fender M80 does well. You can go from Fender clean to a modded Marshallesque tone.

 

[pskorz]

Okay…I’ll be prepared for the flaming shortly, but have you ever tried a Peavey classic 50? If memory serves the JSX was inspired because around that time Satriani was using a classic 50 head in the studio for his cleans.

I think it has a great clean tone, and a very good overdrive. It’s a tad buzzy on its own when trying to get an 80’s style lead tone, but with a basic compression and distortion pedal (add eq if you like) and it really does add a good lead sound to an already nice overdrive.

 

[Demanic]

I suppose an ABY pedal with a Roland JC-120 for cleans and a Randall Satan for dirty would be cool. Then have a Metalzone in the loop of the Roland for when you want to run both together for a ridiculously crushing lead tone.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[donaldr]

Maybe a Synergy 30w Combo?

 

[NegativeEase]

My favorite band for doing this was Shiner. -A band by most measures should have been one of the biggest bands of the 90s.

He ran 2x12 Twin for cleans on top of a 4x12 dirty fulltime

You get the idea here:

 

[JamesPaul]

Okay…I’ll be prepared for the flaming shortly, but have you ever tried a Peavey classic 50? If memory serves the JSX was inspired because around that time Satriani was using a classic 50 head in the studio for his cleans.

I think it has a great clean tone, and a very good overdrive. It’s a tad buzzy on its own when trying to get an 80’s style lead tone, but with a basic compression and distortion pedal (add eq if you like) and it really does add a good lead sound to an already nice overdrive.

This is what I love about my JSX. Clean and Ultra channels of my Triple XXX. Crunch channel of my Classic 50 Lead channel. It just weighs a bit on the heavy side.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Don't know what Boogie is doing these days but I had a Lonestar Special years ago. Two channels 5/15/30 watt option for each. I ran clean at 15 and dirty at 5 most of the time. Great bar/club amp.

 

[alex1fly]

This is why God invented pedals and modelers.

In the real amp world though if you're talking about practice or studio type amps, there's definitely some good options. I have a Spark and a Crate GTD120 that both have great cleans and can be dialed in for various flavors of high gain and shredability and chunktasticness. You could just go try amps and see what you like. If you're talking about tubes or live use, I don't know. Maybe a nice clean amp with a HX Stomp in the loop.