hmmm...what amp am I looking for?

[zhivago]

I wanna get some opinions here, guys...I wanna research a few things basicaly so I can get the best possible sounds.

maybe there is something I've missed in my search and I don't want to get an amp that will not work for me (I'm getting tired of the amps saga)

I guess it sucks that I can't try out amps out, so I'll give you guys the lowdown of what I need from an amp:

1. EL84s - I have played through loads of EL84 amps lately, and I'm developing a soft spot for them. I find them darker, and the Super Duper through them makes my Jazzmaster sound HUGE and so controlled.
2. Tightness in sound....I play loads of percussive stuff at times, I hit harmonics everywhere, let open strings ring a lot, and I play behind the bridge quite a bit too...I need a musical amp that can bring every little detail of my playing
3. glassy unforgiving response that is also fat and "even" (if that makes sense) - I hate amps farting out...keep in mind I'll be using a mosfet booster to get distortion...I don't want to try other pedals, I'm happy with the Zvex.
4. The amp has to be point-to-point for easy repairs
5. I don't need reverb
6. I don't need channel switching, but being able to jumper channels would be great
7. I don't need tremolo....or an FX loop....in fact I don't need any effects whatsoever...just great sound
8. It'll have to hit that slight overdrive/responsive bit at manageable levels - I need to gig it, and we are mic'd 99% of the time.

in order to get as close as possible to the above, I am now open to head + cab combinations, ANY make of amp too (don't stick to Marshalls etc BUT they have to be new and reliable)

one more thing to keep in mind is that if I'm gonna go head + cab, the largest cab I'd go for is 2x12, and that would take a lot of persuading (we play loads of upstairs gigs for some reason!)

a 1x12 cab (with an amazing speaker) would be ideal...I could buy a run of the mill Marshall cab and stick an amazing speaker in there


I suppose 36watt Marshall clones could maybe be near to what I need...I know they are about the same watts as my Tremolux, which is too loud for mic'd gigs, but they are meant to hit that edgy sound earlier...

I've looked at the new Hiwatts too and they seem ridiculously expensive (and apparently don't have the Hiwatt sound which is near to what I need I guess from what I'm reading)

so what else is there? Vox Clone? Matchless Clone? Orange? Matamp? Marshall Clone? Hiwatt Clone (does one exist?)

I do like valve rectifiers, but I don't mind transistor ones too much - in fact, they might just work better for what I need.

I don't want to use attenuators either...it's yet another thing that can go wrong at a gig (cable going etc etc)


oh, and it'll have to be able to take drastic EQ changes, I got some really bassy settings that I'll be throwing at it too.

price-wise...well...I dunno...shoot your suggestions, and we can take it from there

I need to gig this thing and I want it to sound the best it can...I hate uninspiring sounds....I'm picking up a few things gear-wise for all the ddd gigs coming up and I need reliability and great sound

please, please, please don't just post an amp name/make...tell me why you think it would work


ok, I know I ask for a lot, but hit me with it...

[i love sharin foo]

It isn't point to point, but the Fender Blues Jrs are good little amps. 15 watts from 2 EL84s. They can be pretty glassy sounding and the attack seems to stay pretty brash at most settings. Sort of "clangy", but in a good way. Mine was real tight and never mushed out. They have a master volume too. They come stock with a 12" speaker, so  you could swap pretty much anything in there if you wanted. They are priced pretty well too.

Other than that, have you checked out any of the Reeves amps? They look BEAUTIFUL! Based on some sound samples I have heard, I think they do a nice take on the Hiwatt sound. Build quality is top notch and they're all ptp. There's lots of different models too and the prices aren't to bad and seem to be inline with other high end amp makers. David bought one of the little 6 watt heads a while back and I think he's really happy with it. They make an 18 watt model that they say is loosely based on a plexi, but with some changes. Here's a link:

http://www.reevesamps.com/amp_custom_18.htm





Justin

[zhivago]

hey Justin, nice one, I'll look into these....

the Reeves looks extra hot!! 

[Jay]

My 18watt combo sounds pretty close to what your after... check out a ceriatone maybe?

[zhivago]

My 18watt combo sounds pretty close to what your after... check out a ceriatone maybe?

this is great to hear as they are quite cheap.....is yours a normal 18 watt clone?

I see Ceriatone offers three different models....I guess the normal one is really what I'm looking for....

what's the headroom like on your 18 watter, Jay?



(must go to sleep....it's 3.25am here...back online in a few hours)

[Taylorplayer]

I'm going to throw in one that doesn't ~quite~ match up to what you asked for... it's not point to point but it is mainiclly well made..

Soldano Atomic 16.
20 watts, EL84s, unforgiving, not channel switching, no verb, order it without a loop, not trem or effects offered, (Reverb model is called the Astroverb), it's got lovely mids, great purcussion.

Knobs that go to 11 man. these things have a great 'hairy' clean and better crunch than any 1x12 on the market. Handbuilt in seatle. very cool.

I had an Astro and thought it was awesome.

[Jay]

I've actually built a Trinity SIII which is a TMB 18watt with the preamp modified to be more like a plexi Marshall.  A TMB 18watter is a bit more of a distortion box then mine.  Mine will definitely stay clean if you want it to.  I think Ceriatone will put one together at either spec as well, not just TMB.  The Reeves looks awfully sweet though.  I think I'd go with that if money wasn't an object and you didn't want to put something together yourself (you'd have to buy a separate cab & speaker).  They're just beautiful.

[tremolite]

I concur with the Reeves Amps suggestion. I've been lusting after a Custom 12 myself. 

Or perhaps the Orange Tiny Terror?

[zhivago]

I've actually built a Trinity SIII which is a TMB 18watt with the preamp modified to be more like a plexi Marshall.  A TMB 18watter is a bit more of a distortion box then mine.  Mine will definitely stay clean if you want it to.  I think Ceriatone will put one together at either spec as well, not just TMB.  The Reeves looks awfully sweet though.  I think I'd go with that if money wasn't an object and you didn't want to put something together yourself (you'd have to buy a separate cab & speaker).  They're just beautiful.

ahhh...ok...yeah, I need cleans, so I guess I should mention that to Nik at Ceriatone....The Reeves looks very nice indeed....the 18 watt head especially....

I'll research things a bit more...I need to get this absolutelly right.....


thank you for the suggestions guys, I'll look into the soldano as well as the Tiny Terror.....


many thanks

[sookwinder]

Yannis,  I can recommend the Reeves 6  which I have had for 4 months or so... the 18 watt version sounds like even more fun.....

Reeves amps have no features  (no reverb any of that type of stuff) as such just damn fine quality design, manufacture and best of all great sound... yeah something like a hiwatt , but with a more richer and to my ears at least fuller sound.

I have a lounge room strat that I practice with and it is the "dullest" of all my strats/jags/Jms,  but even it sounds rich and with great timbre when I plug it in to the Reeves.

The cost may be a bit prohibative for some people ...  but I wanted the sound and just saved up a bit..

I think what I like a bout the reeves is tyhat it is so simple and such a great sound, that I have never got a bad sound from it when ever I have plugged anything into it (guitar/pedal or what ever)


I  am sure there are other amps out there  (boutique) which will also serve your needs, just I do not have any experience with them

[mynameisjonas]

i wouldn't mind having one of those reeves either. i love that they come with the power scaling feature, seems like the perfect "master volume". to bad the custom 100 don't come with it. that would be the ideal amp for me - the sound of a cranked 100W Hiwatt at any volume level!

[idiotbear]

and $1500 or whatever is actually pretty damn good considering what you can easily pay for a more "full-featured" (i.e. more cluttered signal) amps. Lot of money, still.

I second Justin's Blues Junior idea, actually. I played through one recently and was really surprised at the full, glassy sound I got out of it with my Jaguar. Might not have the headroom you're looking for, though.

Yannis, I'm looking for an amp myself right now, cos the other guitarist in my band can't afford a good one. I, on the other hand, can't afford the ulcer that listening to his Carlsbro Assmaster will inevitably give me, so I'm taking this opportunity to buy amp no. 2 and MAKE him play through it. 

I have my eye on a number of things on eBay right now, so whatever I get I'll let you know. Hod Rod Deluxe is a possible, as are a number of smallish heads. Now that I have my Mac and a decent pre-amp, I'm going to post sound clips of my full rig: various guitars, various amps, various pedal combinations. That should be fun!

[Superfuzz]

If I'm not going wrong, Neils Cline loves to record with a Blues Jr...I wish I bought it too since I've sold my soul to the devil when I was 16 to buy a Hot rod Deluxe and everytime I can't past the "2/1.5" because it's too loud to mic in poor gigs and too loud to play at home too.. :-\

[mjet]

I think it's the Pro Junior that Nels Cline has been associated with. There's a blurb from his webpage that mentions it but then there are other sites (such as Kid Congo Power's) in which the Blues Junior is mentioned.

Blues Junior (15w, 1x12" speaker)


Pro Junior (15w, 1x10" speaker)


Both seem to have their fans...

[thewizardofaz]

The Marshall 1974 model is a great little amp. At 18 watts, it's got enough punch for small venues, but great for home use too. However, it has two drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the price @ over $2300.00. The second is the power tranny. It's pretty much thought of as a very poor replica of the orignal. The suggestion of a clone is perhaps your best bet. I bought a Marshall 18w chassis from Ceriatone. It cost just over $500...delivered. Tubes, a cab and an Eminence GB Legend brought it to just over $1k. For less than half the price you get a dynamite amp that rocks. My Jazzmasters sound so freaking good through it that it is my favorite JM amp. The amp/speaker combo give me a really nice, tight bottom (dirty minded guys), clarity, great clean but a really great break up when pushed. I've got a tweed deluxe 5E3 clone with a Tone Tubby Alnico in it that is just not near it for the Jazzmaster, though it sounds great with other guitars. Just my 2 cents. Check out http://www.18watt.com for a lot of good information and suggestions too.