Which Amp to Choose???

[Scott_F]

Well, now I"m in a real pickle.

I played several Bad Cats today. The new Trem Cat is a solid contender for my new amp choice. Single channel, 4 different tone stack options, solid Trem and super fendery lush reverb. 1/2 power switch on the back. (4xEL84's)

Single 12 speaker. They are not offering a 2x12 at this point.


I'm also very impressed with the Hand wired Vox AC30. It's a great amp as well. They have a lot of similar features.

i've got to find another Vox to play soon for comparisons.

I wasn't as impressed with the Hot Cat (2xEL34's)


Here's the real pisser... Bad Cat ran a limited run of 5e3 Tweed deluxe based amps. Only 50 bucks more than what I paid for all the parts I bought for my kit.

Their amp sounds sooooo much better than mine. No suprise, huh? Well, they have taken both sides of the phase inverter tube and are using it in a way that they get a tremendous amount of clean headroom that my amp doesnt' have. Could be the Vintage 30 speaker they use... hmmm... maybe I can get them to give me a hint as to how to rewire mine...

So, I'm a bit closer to finally ending up with a great amp, but there are really too many choices.

Tomorrow I"m supposed to get to go by Matchless if I have time.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

Hey Scott, if you go to Matchless, ask them how much for a black Chieftain headshell
with a reverb tank. Tomorrow, when you're at my rehearsal studio, you can hear the Chieftain wide open. I like the sound so much through a closed back cab, I'm considering getting that headshell, just to have it as a head.

You'd appreciate having a Badcat with EL-34's if you cranked it with your Paul.
The EL-84 amps have a clean shimmer that is the other side of the coin.
Badcats and Matchless' are like crack, I tell ya. LOL

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

I cranked up the Hot Cat. Just didn't grab me like the Chieftain did the otehr day in that shop. Also, the EL84 amp thing just really grabs me by the nads.

 

[Lee_M.]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

Scott,

Which speaker is in the Trem Cat?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

Here's the real pisser... Bad Cat ran a limited run of 5e3 Tweed deluxe based amps. Only 50 bucks more than what I paid for all the parts I bought for my kit.

Their amp sounds sooooo much better than mine. No suprise, huh? Well, they have taken both sides of the phase inverter tube and are using it in a way that they get a tremendous amount of clean headroom that my amp doesnt' have. Could be the Vintage 30 speaker they use... hmmm... maybe I can get them to give me a hint as to how to rewire mine...

Hey Scott, The Vintage 30 is so much more speaker then the reissue Jensen P12Q you're using...that's where the biggest diff is. The V30 is about twice as efficient as that farty reissue P12Q!

As for the phase invertor thing, just call Bruce ( 303-423-4103 or http://www.missionamps.com ) and talk to him about it...I'll bet he'll tell you how to do it if it can be done. There's not much to work with in a 5E3 design tho...I wonder if Bad Cat added another preamp tube?

So you're saying you could have bought a complete Bad Cat 5E3 copy for $50 more than you paid for your 5E3 kit? How in the world could they do that and make a buck on it? I'm going to ask Bruce to take a look at this thread and comment. As far as AC30's go...I thought mine was among the best amps I've ever owned. Just to loud and heavy for me to use. Lew

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

I wish I'd have taken a closer look at the insides of that Classic Cat. But truly, they are selling them at a dealer (tone merchant) for 699. I'll have to ask james if they added another preamp tube.

Like I said, it could have been the modified V30. It's the same speaker they use in all their amps. I'm thinking of putting a blueback celestion into the 5e3 but I'm not sure I want to sink any more money into it.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

I wish I'd have taken a closer look at the insides of that Classic Cat. But truly, they are selling them at a dealer (tone merchant) for 699. I'll have to ask james if they added another preamp tube.

Like I said, it could have been the modified V30. It's the same speaker they use in all their amps. I'm thinking of putting a blueback celestion into the 5e3 but I'm not sure I want to sink any more money into it.

Scott,

A great speaker like the Celestion Alnico Blue will make all the difference in the world in that amp! Everybody I know who's tried it complains about the Jensen Reissue P12Q farting out and having a small tone.

I think Mark Sampson does something similar to Bruce's acetone trick to the Vintage 30's to improve the bass response.

This is the same trick Ted Weber always talks about...only Ted rarely mentions where the trick came from. Bruce turned Ted onto it...they're buddys.

One way is remove the speaker and have it sitting face up on your work bench, hook it up to a signal generator ( or stereo ) so it's making some low frequency noise, and then paint the edge surround with acetone...Bruce uses a soldering brush to apply the acetone.

The acetone is a solvent and removes some of the dope around the edge and also penetrates the paper fibers and soften them a little like they would be in a speaker that'd been broken in over a long time of playing.

You can actually hear the speaker getting deeper and louder.

Get a bowl and fill it with acetone and then just keep painting the edge surround of the speaker. Everytime you dip the brush in the bowl swish it around to remove whatever dope is in the brush...then apply more acetone to the speaker.

Have a fan or do it outside or in a ventilated garage or something because that acetone is stinky stuff...don't want to get a headache.

This trick would work on your P12Q too...but it'll still not equal the Vintage 30.

The V30 is a very, VERY efficient speaker...I've used them alot over the years.

I had one friend who put the V30 in his Deluxe Reverb and actually complained that the amp was now to loud, present and clean! He played mostly in a church rock band tho!
Lew

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Which Amp to Choose???

As much as I can understand your desire to try all the amps out there...I've never even SEEN a Matchless & I know I want one!...all your comments keep coming back to the AC30.........................If it still sticks out after playing all of these other amps, it just might be the one for you!