Morgan AC20 Thoughts?

[Unicorn Warrior]

I am potentially getting ready to be in the amp market again. I miss my HW AC15 and 30 but want something a bit lighter. I'll be going for the combo

All reviews I read on them are positive, but I've heard that they eat power tubes. Anyone else have any experience with these?

Before I go for the Morgan I'm going to try the new Stapleton Princeton out in a shop to see what's up...completely different beast, but it's intriguing

I made the switch to a Jc-120 some months ago and miss the tube sag after all. I also am tired of carrying a heavy amp such as this

[fever606]

Following with interest as this amp has popped up on my radar as well...

[Domm]

I've had a few Morgan ac20's at different times. they were not gigging amps for me(I play a matamp thru a 4x12 with my band)more studio or home playing. They were ok but I prefer the dr z offerings in that type of amp. I did not feel as the Morgan's were very sturdy from a construction standpoint.

[601210]

This is all hearsay but I've heard less-than-good things about their build quality and customer service. There are quite a few threads about it on TGP and the like.

[thisisnickpaige]

Another vote for sound great but not reliable.

Build wise i've been told by people i know who have owned them, plus the scouring of countless forums to come to this conclusion.

Their customer service is notoriously bad, and they burn through tubes worse than an AC30. So even though they sound good, they aren't very practical.

I had to let go, and go another way.

[601210]

Slightly unrelated, but I remember there was also that bit of controversy regarding the Morgan NKT275 Fuzz that turned out to didn't actually have NKT275s.

I mean, I personally don't care what type of magic crystals are in my fuzzes as long they sound good, but it's a little weird when they're actually named after them and the marketing is all about how rare and special they are.

[Unicorn Warrior]

Yeah..that's enough to turn me off on them I suppose. Thanks for all the input.

Now the question is...do I splurge and get the new Stapleton Princeton or do I do the logical thing and get a normal PR with left overs to buy effects and chip into the audio interface fund

[CorporateDisguise]

Have you looked at the Badcat Cub? It seems to be in a similar vein. I've been lusting after one for a few years now.

[kingmedicine]

Seems like you already reached a conclusion, but I ended up keeping my AC15HW after having both a Morgan AC20 (not the deluxe) and the HW at the same time. I thought the HW sounded better (the Morgan was a little too dark for my tastes, and I play mostly through the normal channel on my Vox). I also bought the Morgan mostly for the hopes of lighter weight as well, but it only felt lighter by maybe a couple pounds.

If you’re looking at the prices of the Stapleton Princeton, would you consider some sort of Brownface clone? Like a Little Dawg amp or something (I think he makes one called the Chocodog that’s a brownface Princeton clone, but with the option for a 1x12).

[marqueemoon]

Allen does a brownface Princeton too.

[Unicorn Warrior]

Have you looked at the Badcat Cub? It seems to be in a similar vein. I've been lusting after one for a few years now.

They look big. Ill have to see how much they weigh. If it weren't for the size of the HW15 combo I'd just go that route because I loved the tone. Just wanting something easier on my back

[CorporateDisguise]

My bad. Yeah, the 1x12 combo is 48 pounds and the head is 31.

[Embenny]

If you miss the way tubes feel but want something easy on your back, have you considered a Kemper?

It took a bit of time to get to know mine, but funnily enough there's a free Morgan AC20 profile that quickly became one of my favourites when I first got one, which is why this thread caught my eye.

Boy does it ever save a load of weight too. Just food for thought.

Here is a little taste of "Kemper does Morgan" without worrying about reliability issues

[thisisnickpaige]

If you miss the way tubes feel but want something easy on your back, have you considered a Kemper?

It took a bit of time to get to know mine, but funnily enough there's a free Morgan AC20 profile that quickly became one of my favourites when I first got one, which is why this thread caught my eye.

Boy does it ever save a load of weight too. Just food for thought.

Here is a little taste of "Kemper does Morgan" without worrying about reliability issues

That's actually what got me into the morgan AC20, was Brian Carl's Morgan AC20 profile. It was, for the past four months my only profile. But now i'm selling my Kemper because i got a Benson Chimera....no regrets. But i will miss the easy of sound, use and weight.

[Sid Nitzerglobin]

Zero issues w/ my Morgan AC20 after a year, but then again I'm not touring w/ it or some such. Seems pretty darn well constructed to me, certainly more so than the AC15CC1 or AC4C1-12 I had or the AC30CCH the AC20 replaced, but

For the price I got it at it seems like whole lot of great sounding amp. YMMV, etc.