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New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 12:36 pm
by øøøøøøø
SO here's the deal.

I'm going to need a couple of brand new amps soon.

I have exclusively owned old amps for, like, forever. I've exclusively backlined DRRIs and PRRIs for a long ass time. I have not kept current with the newest boutique offerings or even stuff from major manufacturers not named Fender.

I need something that will make me happy in the same way that vintage tweed, brown, black, and sometimes silver Fenders make me happy. Reverb a non-essential plus. Tremolo a non-essential plus. No channel switchers need apply. I'll want something larger than a Deluxe; maybe Vibrolux-sized at a minimum, ideally a tweed Bassman or Super Reverb sort of world in terms of power and loudness.

I know enough to know that the new Supro stuff, while pretty cool, is not what I will need in this instance. I'll need something a little stiffer, a little punchier, a little easier to get to "cut," a little more-suited to highly-rhythmic music.

The Victoria stuff was the first to come to mind, and could be a great fit. But I need other options. Anyone tried the new Magnatone stuff? Matchless might work, but I'm a bit more-interested in the Fendery world than the Voxy world, for this situation.

Any other names to throw into the ring?

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 12:38 pm
by Telliot
Swart? I really love their amps, and find them to be more Fender in their voicing.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 12:42 pm
by zhivago
The Matchless Lightning killed my amp quest years ago...you actually played mine, but at living room volume, I know, hehe! :)

Cool amp though..1x12, 2x12 or a head version could work 8)

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 1:13 pm
by øøøøøøø
Telliot wrote:
Thu May 23, 2019 12:38 pm
Swart? I really love their amps, and find them to be more Fender in their voicing.
They did cross my mind. But I'm not sure they'll be QUITE the right thing in this instance. I'd love if there was a 2x12 or 4x10 or even a 3x10 sort of setup

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 1:38 pm
by tdbajus
Kendrick might be nice for you. I have his Solo7, which is brilliant but possibly slightly more stiff than I like. I haven't played much of his stuff, but what I have played has been very nice.

+1 on Victoria. Everything he makes is pretty wonderful.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 2:20 pm
by marqueemoon
Another vote for Swart.

Benson (specifically the Monarch)

At Mars (technically re-purposing of old amps). I love my Specialist. Sold my Dr. Z Carmen Ghia to buy it.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 2:24 pm
by Kinx
How about Marble? Their tweed stuff rocks.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 3:21 pm
by jthomas
LeonC (very nice guy) builds new amps based on original Valcos. http://www.valclone.com/HOME.html

Plus, I suspect that he could build another one of these Dearmond R15T/Martin 112T clones. I dearly love the sound of this thing. It probably is not for everyone, but I do love the punch it gives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fkny_LNIJs

Leon has lots of videos on his YouTube channel showing his vintage amp collection and the Valclone copies. I know that you are a pro with this stuff, so please let me know what you think.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 4:02 pm
by rumfoord
FWIW, I've been super happy with my Alessandro Working Dog Rottweiler.

http://alessandro-products.com/


I once bought a pedal from someone that had replaced his AC30 with a Morgan amp, and was extremely happy about it. They make Fender style amps as well.

https://morganamps.com/amps/amplifiers/pr12/

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 4:18 pm
by Maggieo
If I had the $$$ and could justify it, I'd buy a Tone King in a heartbeat.

Lou Reed and Aram Bajakian used them on Lou's final tour- you could ark Aram about 'em on FB's messenger. I've played them in stores and they're absolutely unimpeachable.

I liked my Swart AST, but when I got my Pierce Custom Instruments "Secret Agent," I dumped the Swart, because I realized it really did sound boxy. I'm sure the head/cab version would fix that, but for the same price, you can get a Tone King combo.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 4:32 pm
by Singlebladepickup
Maggieo wrote:
Thu May 23, 2019 4:18 pm
If I had the $$$ and could justify it, I'd buy a Tone King in a heartbeat.

Lou Reed and Aram Bajakian used them on Lou's final tour- you could ark Aram about 'em on FB's messenger. I've played them in stores and they're absolutely unimpeachable.

I liked my Swart AST, but when I got my Pierce Custom Instruments "Secret Agent," I dumped the Swart, because I realized it really did sound boxy. I'm sure the head/cab version would fix that, but for the same price, you can get a Tone King combo.
They look the business, too. I still think the secret agent is probably the most perfect amp.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 6:24 pm
by Gavanti
Carr would be worth a look. The Slant 6v is really versatile, and they go for reasonable money used. The 2x12 I had was plenty loud.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 6:31 am
by Telliot
Singlebladepickup wrote:
Thu May 23, 2019 4:32 pm
Maggieo wrote:
Thu May 23, 2019 4:18 pm
If I had the $$$ and could justify it, I'd buy a Tone King in a heartbeat.

Lou Reed and Aram Bajakian used them on Lou's final tour- you could ark Aram about 'em on FB's messenger. I've played them in stores and they're absolutely unimpeachable.

I liked my Swart AST, but when I got my Pierce Custom Instruments "Secret Agent," I dumped the Swart, because I realized it really did sound boxy. I'm sure the head/cab version would fix that, but for the same price, you can get a Tone King combo.
They look the business, too. I still think the secret agent is probably the most perfect amp.
I came to say this, after rethinking my Swart suggestion. Tone King make some seriously beautiful amps.

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 6:45 am
by øøøøøøø
Tone King is a good suggestion.

I don't think Swart is really a fit, nor Carr (I never could get massively into the Carr amps I've tried, for whatever reason).

Re: New amps that I'd like if I like old amps?

Posted: Fri May 24, 2019 9:28 am
by Maggieo
Singlebladepickup wrote:
Thu May 23, 2019 4:32 pm
Maggieo wrote:
Thu May 23, 2019 4:18 pm
If I had the $$$ and could justify it, I'd buy a Tone King in a heartbeat.

Lou Reed and Aram Bajakian used them on Lou's final tour- you could ark Aram about 'em on FB's messenger. I've played them in stores and they're absolutely unimpeachable.

I liked my Swart AST, but when I got my Pierce Custom Instruments "Secret Agent," I dumped the Swart, because I realized it really did sound boxy. I'm sure the head/cab version would fix that, but for the same price, you can get a Tone King combo.
They look the business, too. I still think the secret agent is probably the most perfect amp.
I'm gonna concur.

From Ty's Flickr:

Image
PCI_SecretAgent_DSC_0708 by Pierce Custom Instruments, on Flickr

Image
PCI - Secret Agent Amplifier - Circuit 02 by Pierce Custom Instruments, on Flickr

Image
PCI_SecretAgent_DSC_0707 by Pierce Custom Instruments, on Flickr