Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

[Jeff Seal]

...if you could have anything (I mean anything!) in an amp, what would it be?

...think simple, just to meet your requirements....

or

...think extreme..... (dreams encouraged!)

the reason I ask is no big secret, I am planning on releasing my own line of amps this year.

I'm really wondering if I just use a truly "custom built for each individual" approach or a less appealling(less expensive) "take it or leave it" mode.

Any input is welcome.....

Jeff Seal

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I like two channel amps, one for clean, and one for dirty, old school. I like to dial in the amount of dirty with the gain dial on the lead channel from modern high gain down to smoky blues and slightly dirty/almost clean jazz/fusion tones instead of going sterile clean. I don't find a use for a third channel. Effects loop is a must. Those are my basic needs.

Some really cool features I've found are in THD amps. The univalve has their hot plate built right in. Instead of using a master volume, you can use the built in attentuator to get a cranked sound from the amp at a lower volume. Now here's the cool part, their "self biasing" circuitry allows you to swap tubes at your leisure without worrying about compatibility or rebiasing the amp each time. That would be a huge time saver and money saver. I really hate taking my amp to a tech each time I change tubes to have the amp biased correctly. That would be a great feature for an amp.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

My dream amp... 4 channels with independent gain and volume controls... 2 footswitchable sets of low mid high eq's 2 independent footswitchable prescence controls and two footswitchable master volume controls... effects loop... reverb... lots of tubes... I really would dig actually being able to get with an amp designer and say i want this i want that i dont want this or that... If you decide to go this route I'll definately look into it.

 

[Jeff Seal]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I like two channel amps, one for clean, and one for dirty, old school. I like to dial in the amount of dirty with the gain dial on the lead channel from modern high gain down to smoky blues and slightly dirty/almost clean jazz/fusion tones instead of going sterile clean. I don't find a use for a third channel. Effects loop is a must. Those are my basic needs.

Some really cool features I've found are in THD amps. The univalve has their hot plate built right in. Instead of using a master volume, you can use the built in attentuator to get a cranked sound from the amp at a lower volume. Now here's the cool part, their "self biasing" circuitry allows you to swap tubes at your leisure without worrying about compatibility or rebiasing the amp each time. That would be a huge time saver and money saver. I really hate taking my amp to a tech each time I change tubes to have the amp biased correctly. That would be a great feature for an amp.

Very cool!! thanks for the input

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

Very cool!! thanks for the input

No problem, I'm always one to try to find something that works for ME, not brand names or what everyone else uses. Notice I use a Carvin Legacy and a Crate VFX5112. And I must say, that Crate amp really kicks out some tone.

Some great amps that appeal to me as simple but highly effective and great sounding are the Mesa F series. They are hard to find in a head now for some reason. I think there should be more good 2 channel 25-30 watt heads available. Also, the new combo offering by Traynor is quite appealing. It's a 50 watt EL34 with a celestion vintage 30, very similiar to my crate combo. I personally tend to learn toward EL34 amps and Celestion vintage 30 speakers.

Rock on Jeff, hope you build a great amp.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

My ideal amp would probably be two or three channels, a clean, and 2 high gain channels, with the clean being optional. I never really play cleans, it's always distorted somewhat, for the most part. If I really wanted cleans, I'd get a Fender or Peavey Classic.

In a perfect world, I'd have an ENGL, Soldano, Or VHT on one channel, and a Framus Cobra on the other.

In my world, I'd have a 5150 lead channel on one, and an XXX crunch channel on the other, with a built in 7 band EQ on each channel, and a switchable effects loop. I'd want bias probes on the back for a multimeter, a 6L6 based power section switchable from 25/50/100 watts, and a little bias knob like on the XXX, where it can't adjust the bias enough to hurt the amp, but enough to bias it right. Very handy.

But I'm gain-crazy .

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

deadskinslayerjust reminded me of something very important. A 50-100 watt switch is a MUST! I love that feature on my legacy. If it could be reduced even further to 25 watts that would be a beatiful thing, to be able to match your amps power output for the size of the room or gig you're playing. At 50 watts, my legacy is still far too loud to play in my apartment.

To further elaborate, for that first clean channel I mentioned before, I like that channel to be sparkly clean with little or no breakup. I described the ideal lead channel above, which would be ideal for a great range of distorted tones. BUT again, deadskinslayer's suggestion is a good one. 3 channels, one spankin' clean, the 2nd to cover classic rock and mid distorted tones and everything in between and 3rd for balls to the walls gain would be kind of cool actually. The Peavey JSX amp is kind of similar to that.

Okay I'll shut up now. :smoker:

 

[BluesNRock87]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

my dream amp would be something like
30-50 watt head w/ matching 2X12 cab. 2 channel. Bypassable effects loop. Accutronics 3spring reverb . I would also like a hotplate type deal built in, with a dial on the main panel. Channel A would be for cleans, it would have a volume, 3 band eq, the reverb, a boost switch, . I would go for the clean of an ac30. Chanel B would be gain, it would ahve a volume, gain, 3band eq, reverb, and then a boost. this would be going for a more classic marshall distortion type. the footswitch would have to include channel switching,and boost on/off for each channel
it would be 12ax7, el84, handwired ptp would be nice as well

thats a dream amp, id settle for a more common boutique style amp of any older classic, or some sort of combinationof old amps, or just about anything that had great cleans and a classic distortion. id prefer 2channel, though hacving a single channel amp could be cool. as long as it sounded good, u made it, and it didnt cost so much, id prbly scoop one up. id also like the option of getting it as a combo

 

[dd12939]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

Two Channel, crunch/lead with boosts on each. I'd like independent eq's, maybe with an optional graphic EQ for at least the dirty channel (like on Mesa Quads) I've been on a british amp kick lately, so some EL34's would be good, but not too high powered. I like to be able to crank the amp at least a bit. Effects Loop. Channel one kind of like "breaking up" to a reasonably gainy crunch, with the other channel going from a thicker crunch sound to a more sustainy, liquidy kind of lead thing. Basically aim the amp at being cranked a lot. So I wouldn't want any 50- or 100-watt beast. Maybe a short head or 1x12 combo option or something.
That seems to me like a reasonably "realistic" amp

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

deadskinslayerjust reminded me of something very important. A 50-100 watt switch is a MUST!

See and for me it isnt. Alot of the power reducing the switches change the tone in a way I dont like... triode/pentode switches seem to do that. Even with the reduced power I dont like the feel or sound on triode. Maybe a class A/AB switch to lower the power some would be cool. I've just resigned myself that no matter what its going to be too loud. A couple years ago I built an 18watt Marshall clone and its still too loud to turn it up in most of the places I play. At this point what i would like is a preamp that will do everything I want and a sweet sounding power amp that sounds good whether quiet or loud. :32:

 

[Curly]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I like simple amps that are touch sensitive and have rich harmonics.

I like the way that the controls on some two channels amps are interactive, and change the gain structure.

 

[Artie]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I'm in the process of designing/assembling a 2x12 cabinet, (probably vertical), with an integral 3 or 4 space rack mount. At the top, a custom guitar input/output/switching unit, followed by my J-Station converted to rack mount, followed by either a SS Crown D-75, or a Mesa-Boogie 20/20, or both.

Sort of like a "homemade" Atomic amp. Should make for sweet little amp.

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I'd like an amp with a 12" speaker in the 40 watt range with 2 (yes, 2) clean channels. Volume, bass, mid, treble and presence for each channel, master reverb for both channels and an effects loop. Reasons being for two clean channels are I play a Telecaster and a Les Paul. Two totally differant tonal animals that require differant EQ settings. I prefer to play the Tele and the Les Paul clean but I also like to have differant degrees of OD and distortion with the Les Paul. With the LP in it's own clean channel I'd be free to pick and choose the degrees of OD/distortion that I want with stompboxes. That way I would'nt be stuck with a distortion channel on an amp that I may not like.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

well jeff, if i had the money, this is what you'd be doing for me

my master volume bassman 50 with mid & presence knobs

2 added power tubes for a total of 4, with a switch to specify whether just 2 or 4 are used, and which ones

individual preamps for each side instead of the couple of combo

on the left side, tweed bassman that's footswitchable to a blackface

right side, well stock, but footswitches into , i dunno, something ridiculously high gain with tons of chunk & some buzzy mesa-ish overtones

also an fx loop and reverb, and a gain knob for each


gah that'd be friggin sweet

if it was just what i needed, well, you know, heh

 

[BigBazz]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

My dream amp. they made it and its called a Cornford Hellcat

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I like two channel amps, one for clean, and one for dirty, old school. I like to dial in the amount of dirty with the gain dial on the lead channel from modern high gain down to smoky blues and slightly dirty/almost clean jazz/fusion tones instead of going sterile clean. I don't find a use for a third channel. Effects loop is a must. Those are my basic needs.

Some really cool features I've found are in THD amps. The univalve has their hot plate built right in. Instead of using a master volume, you can use the built in attentuator to get a cranked sound from the amp at a lower volume. Now here's the cool part, their "self biasing" circuitry allows you to swap tubes at your leisure without worrying about compatibility or rebiasing the amp each time. That would be a huge time saver and money saver. I really hate taking my amp to a tech each time I change tubes to have the amp biased correctly. That would be a great feature for an amp.

Pretty much everything he said here & below with the power option switch(25/50/100watts). If I had to pick one option, it would be the self-biasing or a bias switch.

Other than that, I'd leave it pretty open for customizing to the buyer specs. That way, he gets what he wants & you're not stock-piling amps...you make 'em/test 'em/shipp'em out.

You've got a good rep Jeff....I'm sure you'll do very well & wish you the best!!!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

My dream amp?

Ok...

4 channels..completely independant. 2 6L6 tubes, 2 El-34s..switch in automatically based on channel

1 is Fender BF/Boogie Clean to slight OD sounds (pretty much same thing as my F-50)

2 is early 70's Marshall (ala the 1987x... not plexi..prefer the 72 and later style gain), with a bit more low end tightness

3 is Boogie Mark III-ish...from crunch up to searing gain

4 is VHT crunch to high gain -modded marshall-esque sounds

50-60 watts with power attentuation. Down to 25 and 10 watts adjustable

No tube rectifiers...SS
FX loop
Spring Reverb
3/4 or fully Closed cab combo. 2x12. Celestions..prolly 75s

All channels footswitchable, reverb and a Volume boost (like the Mesa "solo" feature) switch on the board.

Think thats it

 

[DirrtyCraig]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

Hmm this is a cool thread, ok lets see:

Ultimate amp features:

1) Handmade craftsman ship for under $2000
2) 3 channels, clean, rhythm and lead, preferably with a lead boost.
3) Separate volumes for each channel
4) Custom options such as color and tolex coverings
5) Half-power options without having to remove tubes
6) Adjustable effects loop, fully bypassable or boost/cut +-4-20db
7) All tube of course!
8) SRV to Brown sound to Metal in one amp.

...oh wait already found this amp....

 

[Bludave]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

I have been unable to find the "HOLY GRAIL" if you will of Amps. I have been playing a long time and have used just about all of the large brands of Amps. Although some offer certain things they lack others. So because of this I am using the SRV approach. I am currently playing through a 1969 SF super reverb, A/B'd with a Marshall 900. THis works pretty well for what I need. IF I were going to "wish" for one box that does it all I would probably want a Clean channel that had the ability to go from a Twin to a Deluxe Reverb, and a Drive channel that would give me those amazing Plexi tones. Not just drive but the Plexi clean also. In other words 2 channels that were both channel switching from clean to drive. This would be the ultimate. Having this in both a Head configuration as well as a Combo would be pretty cool!! And Jeff Let us know when these Amps you are going to build will be available, I am sure that I speak for many of the guys here. We wopuld be very interested in what you have!

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Ultimate tube amp.....what do you want?

Hmm this is a cool thread, ok lets see:

...oh wait already found this amp....

:bigok: