What Amp Do I Really Want...?

[stevie_bees]

I asked for opinions on a Marshall Silver Jubilee in another thread, and it's got me thinking. I love my TSL, but the tones from aren't as immediate as some amps. I seem to have to spend more time tweaking to get the right sounds, it's worth doing, but can be time consuming and frustrating.

So, here is my check list for an amp. What am I after? I play classic rock and pop, and of course ABBA!!

Good clear Fender like cleans.
Marshall Overdrive
2 Channel
FX Loop (for chorus/delay)
2x12 combo or head and cab
30-50W so I can drive those big valves!
Not too expensive, I would have to fund it with my TSL. I'm not a name snob so whatever make you think will do. I don't like the overdrive sounds in the Fender amps. I would be using the amp in conjunction with the rest of my sig.

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

I'd prefer reverb too!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

Keep a look out for a Fender Pro Tube series Pro...45 watts, 2x12's, 2 channel, Fender Cleans good Marshallesq crunch, reverb, I think they have an FX loop, can be had for a pretty good price used.

 

[aleclee]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

Dunno what you can get for your Marshall but a used Rivera might be up your alley. It's the first thing that comes to my mind when someone says "Fendery cleans and Marshally OD".

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

What does a used Rivera go for?

 

[aleclee]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

What does a used Rivera go for?

Dunno what they demand on your side of the pond but a quick check of evilBay prices here has 'em starting at about $600.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

What does a used Rivera go for?

The Rivera Chubster 40 I bought used for $650 meets your specs exactly....except it's a 1X12. Note that it's suffered from lack of clean volume/headroom on the American channel but I have replaced the stock speaker with a V30 this past Thursday. I haven't had time to put it thru the paces yet.

 

[Naps]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

I had a guy sell my TSL on ebay for me. Didn't sell the first time, but the second time it Got $775.

 

[JeffB]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

 

[JeffB]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

The oversized cab design really adds some "oomph" to the Chubster making it sound bigger than it is..they make a few different wattages, IIRC.

http://www.rivera.com/limited.php

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

I second Rivera! awesome amps! I played a Knuckelhead MK II(not sure if it had 'verb or not[price was 1400 for the head]) once, that thing was awesome!!!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

Silver Jubilees are best for humbuckers and a hotrodded JCM800 80's rock tone.
That's what they do, and they do it better than almost any Marshall outta the box. They can sound pretty good on the clean channel with strats, but the gain channel really doesn't sound that great with strats.

You might dig one of the new Vox AC-30's....You could afford one of those if you sold the TSL, and I think it'd be a good amp to consider, especially since they're easy to aquire in the UK. Also, the Fender Pro Tube Pro, Rivera combo, or Traynor.

 

[Tux789]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

peavey 5150

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

I have to mention the Crate V32 Palomino since I've had such a positive experience with mine. Before you laugh it off, check out the link in my sig. and listen to "Redirected". All those tones are Crate, a Fender Tele Sonic and a clean boost pedal.

It goes from a nice chimey clean on one channel and a Marshall-esque crunch on the other. At 30w, you can keep pretty clean headroom over a decently loud drummer and get to crank those tubes wide open like they were meant to be played!

I've played my fair share of boutique amps and I've never played a production amp that could capture some of the "magic" that much more expensive amps offer.

 

[Rocker35]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

Check out the Engl Thunder 50 reverb head and 2x12 cab (w/V30's) in either vertical (like half a 4x12) or horizontal versions. It looks like your describing it to a tee:wink:

Check out the reviews at Harmony Central or the Engl website
www.engl-amps.com

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

The Rivera sounds like it might be the way to go. Trouble is, they're expensive over here new, and there isn't much on Fleabay. I'm not sure I'd be able to raise enough funds with the TSL. I've tried an Engl a while back, but didn't try it clean!! Is it possible to mod a Fender amp to get the drive channel to give a more Marshall drive? I realise it's going to be tricky with the different valves.

 

[JeffB]

Re: What Amp Do I Really Want...?

The Rivera sounds like it might be the way to go. Trouble is, they're expensive over here new, and there isn't much on Fleabay. I'm not sure I'd be able to raise enough funds with the TSL. I've tried an Engl a while back, but didn't try it clean!! Is it possible to mod a Fender amp to get the drive channel to give a more Marshall drive? I realise it's going to be tricky with the different valves.

Have you looked into a Traynor Blue 50?

I heard some good clips over on HC a coouple weeks ago. I don't think it sounds as nice as the Rivera, but it's also half the price over here and sounds really good for a $700 amp.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_id/133334

Trace at Voodoo can do a Fender to Plexi type mod, but I don't know what it would cost shipping wise back and forth...I thinks he's bought amps for people before, modded them and then shipped them off. You should email him and see... www.voodooamps.com

here's a clip of a fender vibro champ combo he put his witchdoctor circuit in CRANK IT UP

And check out his TSL mods on the clip page...he can work wonders with that amp...

http://www.voodooamps.com/sounds/vibrowitchdoctor.mp3

is this clean good enough? http://www.voodooamps.com/sounds/TSLClean.mp3