Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

1. 5F6-A Fender tweed Bassman w/4 Jensen P10R's
2. Marshall Plexi 50 watt or 100 watt w/4 Celestion G12H30's
3. Vox AC-30 w/Celestion Alnico Blue or Silver speakers
4. 5E3 Fender tweed Deluxe w/Celestion Alnico Blue or Silver speakers

Those are the four best sounding amps I've ever owned...

5. would be my '51 Fender tweed Super w/P10R's

I play through the '51 Super or a pair of the 5E3 Fender Deluxes...the others are to loud. :smack:

Lew

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

I love the Bassman. Very warm overdrive, classic fender cleans.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

i voted for the bassman because i think it just has a much more usable sound than any of the others, great cleans and great overdrive. It was the bassman that inspired the marshalls

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

Wheres ENGL?

Exactly bro!

 

[The Owl]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

The Marshall Plexi is just one I love the sound of. Other noteworthy tone-monsters to this Owl's ears are:

the original Mesa-Boogie's that Carlos Santana used

The Dumble Overdrive Special (a handmade Holy Grail of a tube amp), costs a king's ransom (about $5K minimum) and the guy who builds them is a whack job, but man what a tone! Sparkling harmonics like you wouldn't believe and a killer overdrive. Best paired with a Strat!

 

[jmv]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

The Dumble Overdrive Special (a handmade Holy Grail of a tube amp), costs a king's ransom (about $5K minimum) and the guy who builds them is a whack job, but man what a tone! Sparkling harmonics like you wouldn't believe and a killer overdrive. Best paired with a Strat!

Funny, Carlos santana talked about how he got some of those, and how they're the best amp ever.... I'm sure they're great, and you can get good tones at the right settings.... but Santanas new tone is gross.

BTW, i voted Bassman. Never actually had the pleasure of using an original myself, but i've played the reissue, and i've heard guys playing originals, and they rock.

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

Wheres ENGL?

Yes!!, My ENGL Thunder 50 Combo is a monster of tone!!

 

[Usurper666]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

What exactly is a JMP 800 ...

Yeah, why hasn't anyone else mentioned that?? It's just JMP, there is no such thing as a JMP 800. :laugh2:

Cheers,

CJ

 

[some_dude]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

Funny, Carlos santana talked about how he got some of those, and how they're the best amp ever.... I'm sure they're great, and you can get good tones at the right settings.... but Santanas new tone is gross.

Mesa Mark 1
Mesa Mark 1 (Backup)
Mesa Maverick (Backup for the Mark 1's)
Dumble Overdrive
Dumble Special


Considering that he's been using the same amps for years (I think he bought the Dumble Special in '80 or something), I don't think the problem lies in his amplification. I really don't mind his modern tone, but I do prefer his older one.

 

[The Owl]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

Funny, Carlos santana talked about how he got some of those, and how they're the best amp ever.... I'm sure they're great, and you can get good tones at the right settings.... but Santanas new tone is gross.

Dumble's are rather odd that way I hear, sometimes you'll get a great one, sometimes I've heard of people who got one only to be horribly disappointed with it. I guess you have to try a few before you find the right one and play with the settings extensively. At over $5000 they're not for everyone.

Right now, I'm enjoying the heck out of my Traynor 40CV! :cool2: Great tone and you don't have to mortgage the house to afford one.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

Isn't a JMP 800 the classic looking master volume version of the JCM 800 and it came out like in 77.

 

[Usurper666]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

Isn't a JMP 800 the classic looking master volume version of the JCM 800 and it came out like in 77.

Yes and no. Yes it was the JMP MKII series from 1976 to 1980, but it was never the JMP 800 series. The JCM 800 series were introduced in 1981 "replacing" the JMP line.

Cheers,

CJ

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

JMP's were Superleads or MkII Master Volumes. Although late JMP's had a JCM 800 circuit. There were a few 'gray area' years where they used whatever parts they had.
I've seen some rare Marshalls that aesthetically are combinations of different Marshall models.

I wish Mesa would consult with another great amp builder to refine the Rectifier. That amp is definitely a classic and sounds good, but if it were just a few notches better, it'd be a true beast. I wonder how many pro's have had theirs modded to be better? A bias pot would be good, as well as stripping them down to basics, and getting rid of all unnessesary circuitry. I can't wait to hear their new EL-34 Stilletto!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

i voted for the bassman because i think it just has a much more usable sound than any of the others, great cleans and great overdrive. It was the bassman that inspired the marshalls

Hey Scott! It was good talking to you today...sorry I was a little rushed. Lew

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

A Single Rectifier has always done what I've wanted and then some. My vote is used.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

WHAT...NO HIWATT ????!!!

I wish I could have 1 of each....BUT I voted Vox AC-30. Love the overall smooth fat tone of those EL-84s...classic beauties!!!! :32: :32:

 

[Young Angus]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

What about a komet

 

[take2]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

All good amps, but for pure guitar tone I voted for the Vox AC 30.
If you get a chance to play one of the gibson gold tones though those will give the tone monsters a run for there money - they don't break up very easily from what little I've played on them but you can use a pedal for the distortion you want - but ahhhh the tone of those amps.

 

[pureoldsound]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

For me it will have to be Marshall's plexi. Plexis IMHO have the most beautiful distortion sound, that combined with a 4x12 loaded with greenbacks and v30s + a LP you are set......... :32:

 

[Hellion]

Re: Which amp is the ultimate tone monster?

I played through an amp that really surprised me about a month ago and that was a Hughes & Kettner Vortex. Absolutely HUGE distortion tone and really nice clean tones as well.
There are a few other amps that I thought sounded really good for everything. Fender made an amp called a 75 in the late 70's & early 80's. They were kind of Fender's answer to Mesa's Boogie, and had 3 cascading volume stages. Anyway, great sounding amp for pretty much everything.