and not quite sure what to get.

I play mostly rock & roll type stuff. Think: Black Crowes, Allman Bros Band, Guns 'N Roses. I do stray into the heavier and/or more modern styles (think: Alice In Chains, RHCP), and I'll play some country from time to time as well.

I want a good amp, but it doesn't have to be absolutely top shelf/top dollar, and it doesn't have to have mad dog power (if I ever gig with it, a PA line out will do just fine). I do pretty much require it to be all tube powered.

I don't need any silly ass effects built in, although a reverb would be nice. Other than that, I have an effects rack if I want it, but I mostly play guitar-->Vox wah-->amp. If I want an overdriven sound, well, that's part of why I want a tube amp. I have a Big Muff if I want hard distortion.

I have a couple of ideas, but I'm mostly open to suggestions.




[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 11:11 AM. Reason : asdfasdfa]

8/14/2006 11:07:12 AM

get a 50-watt marshall jcm 800

8/14/2006 11:21:32 AM

more power and probably more expense than i need

i'm fine with (and plan on buying) a combo, although i guess i'm not strictly limited to going that route.

8/14/2006 11:55:03 AM

i have a marshall half-stack (dsl 100 head and jcm900 1960A 4x12 cab). sounds beautiful and you can get just about any sound out of it. i do like the crunch/distortion from mesas/orange but the marshall is very good as well as is marshalls clean (the best imo).

8/14/2006 12:19:57 PM

yeah, i love Mesas. a smallish Mesa combo is what i'm leaning towards right now, but i haven't played enough of them to know which models are my best bet.

8/14/2006 2:42:25 PM

i LOVE the dual rectifiers for a half stack. but pricey and i not a combo

i dono much about combos. Orange makes some GREAT combos tho with some great rock distortion and beautiful clean channels. but i think oranges are pretty pricey even in combos. not 100% sure

i like my 120W crate combo for practicing but its definitely a metal focused combo.

8/14/2006 2:46:17 PM

well depends...you want tube or digital? of course tube is preferred in my opinion (even though some digital ones come close to sounding like tube amps)...

8/14/2006 2:56:59 PM

I have a marshal head I am looking to sell. It is an AV50H or something like that. Tube preamp. I can get the exact specs if you are intersted.

8/14/2006 3:11:24 PM

If you want a classic rock & roll sound and you have the money, there is no choice other than a Vox AC30.

8/14/2006 3:47:05 PM

^^^i won't consider a solid state amp

^^how much do you want for it? is it just tube preamp, or is it all tube?

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 3:51 PM. Reason : ^]

8/14/2006 3:51:05 PM

hot rod deville

8/14/2006 3:54:10 PM

A Hot Rod Deville is a good value choice. I used one in jazz band in high school and it always served me well. Personally, I use a Peavey Classic 50 4x10 combo that can do pretty much any sound I need it to short of grinding metal, and I think I only paid $350 for it. 50 tube watts, loud, and sounds great.

Also, if you're going for novelty value, dig up a Fender Super Six Reverb. It's a Twin Reverb chassis on a 6x12 combo. The thing has wheels on the side because it's so big, and it's so loud you never have to turn it past five, but it's a super-cool amp with perfect reverb and sparkle.

8/14/2006 4:04:14 PM

yeah, i have a Peavey Triumph 60W right now. it needs new tubes. i'll sell it if anyone wants it, but the shipping to NC would probably be brutal.

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 4:20 PM. Reason : haha, i def don't need a 4 speaker combo...a pair of 10s or 12s will have volume to spare]

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 4:28 PM. Reason : or option B is to replace the tubes and hot-rod the Peavey.]

8/14/2006 4:18:22 PM

A have a '77 Super Reverb that sounds great, but it's been broken for about a year and I'm too lazy to get it fixed.

8/14/2006 4:19:37 PM

I had a line 6 spider for a while, which I remember being pretty nice.

8/14/2006 4:25:08 PM

i don't want a modeling amp.

8/14/2006 4:28:43 PM

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitar/navigation?N=100001+306271&page=1

that should help narrow your search. What's your price range?

8/14/2006 5:52:40 PM

got to play through a vintage twin reverb in high school

loved it. awesome clean tone and could even get a little bit of crunch out of it.

8/14/2006 6:31:08 PM

It is an AVT50H. It has tube pre-amp, but it is not all tube. I am looking for ~$250.

Here's some info:

Quote :

"Product Description The AVT50H is the head version of the AVT50 combo and is armed with the exact same features. Powering the purpose-built AVT412A (angled) and/or AVT412B (straight) 4x12 in., 200-watt, Celestion loaded cabinets, the AVT50H will deliver crisp clean sounds and roaring crunch in abundance. Switching to Overdrive takes you from those classic rock tones right through to the most contemporary slamming sounds. You will feel all the extra depth and sheer tonal weight of which only a head with a 4x12 is capable! For even greater power and projection, the AVT50H will also drive the "industry standard" 1960 4x12 in. cabinets. What is AVT? In Marshall's quest to give players the ultimate tone at a realistic price, they have combined the latest innovations in valve, solid state, and digital technologies to achieve optimum sonic performance. AVT has evolved from their original, critically acclaimed Marshall Valvestate technology, but is vastly improved so it emulates the tone, feel, and response of their world-renowned, all-valve amplifiers with unerring accuracyáwithout using valves in the power stage. Marshall's long history and experience in the field of valve amplification was utilized in the development of the new AVT power amp. This extremely responsive and warm sounding circuitry was then coupled with the specially voiced, ECC83 (a.k.a 12AX7) valve-driven pre-amp section, to provide 100% valve/analog warmth from input to output. Combined with numerous user-friendly features, they believe we've created the best value-for-money range of Marshall amplifiers ever! Valve Drive Pre-Amp From the compact AVT20, right up to the thunderous roar of the feature packed, 4-channel AVT150H, each model in their brand new AVT line boasts a pre-amp stage that is driven by an ECC83 Dual Triode valve. Unlike certain other hybrid amps out there, this valve isn't merely acting as a pilot light. Instead it is playing the central role in the gain, distortion, and tone-generating circuitry. They have gone to great lengths to ensure that this precious device delivers maximum sonic benefit at all settings and volume levels. The resulting clean sounds ring with the bell-like harmonics that only a valve pre-amp can deliver and the break-up is never harsh or unnatural sounding. Whenever you select an AVT Overdrive channel, the ECC83 is saturated to its limit, providing dynamics and feel worthy of a place in the Marshall hall of fame. Power Amp Delivery The same, unrivalled design expertise that went into the pre-amp was also channeled into the design of the AVT power stage. Using frequency dependent power amp damping and their proprietary, dynamic clip level technology (which emulates the HT supply of a valve power amp), each AVT power stage creates the warm, musical feel and 3-dimensional sounds that made Marshall's all-valve power amps world-renowned. Also, all AVT products will deliver the goods in the often hostile and unpredictable environment of the live performance stage - which is why the AVT power amps of 50 watts and up are fan cooled for optimum reliability. DFX Onboard The AVT100, AVT150, AVT150H, and AVT275 all have onboard DFX (Digital Effects). Here the greatest care was taken to ensure that the highest level of signal integrity was maintained at all times. They achieved this by successfully integrating DFX into the tonal topology of AVT without adding any of the nasty-sounding, artificial "grain" often associated with DFX. To make the 16 custom-voiced DFX as controllable and user-friendly as possible the relevant models are all supplied with an LED equipped foot controller which allows you to switch the amp's DFX on and off, as well as change channels. The flexibility of the AVT150, AVT150H, and AVT275 is further enhanced by having 2 DFX sections, 1 for the Clean and Acoustic Simulator channels, and the other for the 2 Overdrive channels. Extended Response Loudspeakers Knowing the importance of the relationship between power amplifiers and loudspeakers, Marshall have worked extremely closely with Celestion to develop a range of speakers that will re-define the cutting edge in rock guitar reproduction. These speakers allow the compact, closed back cabinets used in the Valvestate 2000 AVT range to maintain the bottom end delivery normally associated only with a full 4x12 extension cabinet set-up. Technical Info Output (RMS): 50 watts Impedance: 4 ohms Speaker: None #Channels: 2 Acoustic Simulator: No Digital FX Section: No FX Select Switch: No Accutronics Reverb: Yes FX Loop: Series FX Level Switch: No FX Mix Controls: No Scoop Switch: No Bright Switch: No Emulated Line Out: Yes Headphone Jack: Yes Master Volume: Yes Presence Control: No Speaker Outputs: 2 ext. CD Input: Yes Footswitch: PEDL-10001 included Dimensions: 674 x 250 x 254mm Weight: 12.4 kg"

I believe I paid about 400-450 new.

8/14/2006 7:25:39 PM

Be a man. TRIPLE RECTIFIER

8/14/2006 7:31:44 PM

get one that goes to eleven

8/14/2006 7:35:20 PM

^ haha

8/14/2006 7:37:53 PM

avt is a horrible amp

8/14/2006 7:45:52 PM

Eric Johnson said this, and im starting to belive it, but good tone comes from a good clean. You can add the effects later, but a good clean is irreplacable. That said, I'm playing through a fender ultimate chorus and it rocks.

8/14/2006 8:08:13 PM

Quote :

"It is an AVT50H. It has tube pre-amp, but it is not all tube. "

yeah, i want all tube.


^he is a tone FREAK!

8/14/2006 9:07:23 PM

Interesting, because I don't like Eric Johnson's tone

He's prolly got a great clean though.

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 9:08 PM. Reason : .]

8/14/2006 9:08:16 PM

i believe i spelled belive incorrectly

8/14/2006 9:11:40 PM

my leanings initially were either Mesa-Boogie or something from the Fender ___-Reverb family. I checked out that link, though, and I think a Hot Rod Deluxe might be the ticket if I go the Fender route.

I might spend a little more for a Mesa, but I'm not really familiar with all of their models and what they sound like (not to mention their respective sizes and features). I just know that I've played a couple of different Mesas and LOVE their sound.


mmm...i like this a lot:

http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-Ltd-Edition-Hot-Rod-Deluxe-Guitar-Amp-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ270017954371QQihZ017QQcategoryZ38074QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Edited on August 14, 2006 at 9:43 PM. Reason : asdf]

8/14/2006 9:33:17 PM

Twin Reverbs are essentially perfect amps. Ten tubes of pure sparkle. The catch is that the crunch you get out of them is very raw, which doesn't work for everybody (especially the smooth, compressed distortion that you'd be looking for while doing a Crowes/GnR sound).

8/14/2006 10:34:31 PM

the first thing that comes to mind is hot rod deville, or maybe a peavy classic 30 or classic 50.

i actually play a classic 20 through a fender ultimate chorus (minus the chorus, of course). it sounds pretty good.

off topic - why did i ever think i would want an amp with built in chorus. . . .

8/14/2006 11:04:22 PM

I have a Marshall 1959SLP Reissue in mint condition that I will part with if the price is right. I gaurentee it sounds better than any other amp you have ever played.

8/15/2006 12:10:16 AM

Quote :

"Be a man. TRIPLE RECTIFIER"

our other guitarist had a double and triple and recently sold the double. personally i liked the double better. the clean channel on the doubles is >>>> clean channel on the triples. and i dono if it is his specific amp but i thought the distortion was just as good if not smoother on the double as well.

i love my peavey 5150 personally. but my clean channel blows. (its the I series so its got one EQ..but the I series is a lot better than the II for distortion imo)

8/15/2006 1:55:20 AM

i like a good crisp clean, not something muddied down but something clean and crisp but not necessarily crunch...i think marshalls clean is pretty good (but your humbuckers also make a difference)...

8/15/2006 10:36:11 AM

Boo humbuckers!

8/15/2006 10:47:26 AM

boo?

8/15/2006 11:01:02 AM

Yes. I recently finished fixing up one of my remaining humbucker guitars for sale. I'm all single coils now, P-90s, Mustang pickups, and lipstick tubes. I don't like the sterility of humbuckers.

8/15/2006 11:16:57 AM

triple recs aren't "man" amps. they're good if you're in korn or as i lay dying. jud jud skeet skeet. get that crap outta here.

8/15/2006 12:38:56 PM

I have a Strat (kicked around the idea of selling it and buying a Tele...but I don't know). My main guitar is a Gibson Firebird (with 2 mini-humbuckers). I also have an old solid-body Gretsch.

8/15/2006 4:03:21 PM

but this one goes to 11

8/15/2006 8:08:13 PM

get a very small (like 10") hand-wired tube amp. I got an Auble at Fat Sound a couple of years ago, and it's absolutely badass. They don't sell those any more but I know they have another local company building amps for them.

8/15/2006 8:35:37 PM