The most desirable guitar amp

psyx · 2014-10-10T23:05:08+00:00

So what would you say is the most desirable guitar amp? A Dumble overdrive special...? Or maybe a Trainwreck express? Or a Marshall plexi?

ezietsman

I should add that my first, not that super neatly built, amp is still by far my favourite amp of all time. And not only because I built it, these 18 watt amps really are basically the perfect blues/rock amp. I guess they're not more popular because of the difficulty in getting one, because you have to either buy a boutique one (without power scaling, usually) or build one. So the barrier to entry is quite high in both cases.

chris77

ez wrote
chris77 wrote EZ, what would you suggest be the best way for somebody with little electronics experience to go about? Building something from scratch using a kit, or buying something close to what you want secondhand (like the Laney for instance) and modding it?
I wouldn't go the modding route myself. Most modern amps have printed circuitboards so modding them is not easy or possible at all, in most cases.

My main issue is getting something which sounds good at low volume (like in 5W is already too loud because I only really get to play later at night), or has a headphone out. Headphones and Valve amps apparently don't go together well, so the ideal would be something with power scaling that allows to drive the valves a bit without disturbing folks too much. Would it be that much harder to just add power scaling to a second hand amp?
Currently my needs are catered to with modelling amps and pedals which sound great to me with the headphones on and I can't really complain, but I bought some vintage speaker cloth at an antique store a while ago (still with the receipt from Wild & Marr dated 1960 something) for R50, and I can get an old bee hive structure that has amp cab written all over it, so ja, my little mind is working overtime. :-[

ezietsman

chris77 wrote
ez wrote
chris77 wrote EZ, what would you suggest be the best way for somebody with little electronics experience to go about? Building something from scratch using a kit, or buying something close to what you want secondhand (like the Laney for instance) and modding it?
I wouldn't go the modding route myself. Most modern amps have printed circuitboards so modding them is not easy or possible at all, in most cases.

My main issue is getting something which sounds good at low volume (like in 5W is already too loud because I only really get to play later at night), or has a headphone out. Headphones and Valve amps apparently don't go together well, so the ideal would be something with power scaling that allows to drive the valves a bit without disturbing folks too much. Would it be that much harder to just add power scaling to a second hand amp?
Currently my needs are catered to with modelling amps and pedals which sound great to me with the headphones on and I can't really complain, but I bought some vintage speaker cloth at an antique store a while ago (still with the receipt from Wild & Marr dated 1960 something) for R50, and I can get an old bee hive structure that has amp cab written all over it, so ja, my little mind is working overtime. :-[

I can play my amp at ridiculously low volumes, lower than TV volume, say, and it would have been lower if I didn't have 100dB speakers in my cab. Just to be clear, an 18 watt amp at full wattage is really loud. I never gigged it at full power, probably 8 watt maximum with my cab. So the power scaling is a must, for these amps.

I just had a quick look around the net and this looks pretty neat, for a first build:

http://www.ampmaker.com/store/P1800-plexi-amp.html

and here's the only demo I could find:

Edit: You can hear the strings in that vid so he must have been playing at pretty low volumes. Of course, they sound better turned up a bit (like home movie volume), the power scaling is almost like magic but it will only get you so far.

It has power scaling and a few other goodies and the price is pretty decent and there's a comprehensive online manual. I would look around at what's available. If you want super awesome quality parts, Trinity and GDS amps have the stuff, but these Ampmaker and the Brownnote stuff looks pretty good too. I wouldn't go for Tube Amp Doctor or Mojotone. The guys on the 18 watt forum don't rate them much.

TomOlsen1

Hi Guys

Most desirable? JUST ONE?!?

I suppose it comes down to what YOU'RE looking for. Some great choices here already, and in each case it comes down to finding a good example of the breed.

If volume, funds, and portability weren't limiting factors I'd love the following:

12 000 series Marshall Super Lead ('68) + 2x 4x12" cabs with pre rola greenbacks (in fact, I'd just settle for the cabs to use with my current amp)
Early 80's vertical input JCM800 2204 + matching cabs (G1260s I think. Maybe one more cab with V30s)
Early 60's Vox AC30 Top Boost with alnico blues
Blackface Super Reverb (There's a reason they call it super)

Trainwreck or dumble? Hmm. Honestly, my favourite albums weren't made with those.

Alright, that's the dream stuff. Most desirable real world studio/gigging amp? Ah! Now that's another story. And yes, I'm a bit biased here as I'm recommending the route I took.

Put together a list of what you really want out of an amp. With so many manufacturers providing so many options chances are someone makes something pretty damn close to what you want.

However, If what you want is boutique tone from a no nonsense all killer circuit, building your own amp can be rewarding. But keep it simple. The satisfaction from a well built simple amp is huge. The frustrations from a poorly built overly ambitious bird's nest are horrendous.

Ibanezguy

If I had roadies then please set up a Soldano SLO100 for my cleans and crunch and a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier for my heavy drive and metal tones- ta muchly 8)
Sadly I gig in the old fashioned way so I will stick to my Blackstar ID30TVP for now till I get famous LOL ?

arjunmenon

Those Blackstar ID TVP amps are highly underrated IMO.

aubs1

The best tone I have ever heard ....... Dominic Miller with two of these!

Mesa Boogie LoneStar. (My pics wont load !!!)

@ Zark ..... that amp is awesome !!!

studmissile

Arjun Menon wrote Those Blackstar ID TVP amps are highly underrated IMO.

That Craig Amp of yours in the classifieds looks awefully sweet!

Psean

ez wrote
Psean wrote Hmmm. The most desirable or the one I want most?

Dunno exactly what I'd go for yet. Haven't played enough amps to know.

I'd go for something 15-20 watts with a single Brit voiced channel 12" combo, probably with a G12H (55) and some sort of attenuation/power scaling.

Now, who makes one like that? Laney get close but not quite...

8) I had this problem some years ago. YOU know what I did in the end ne?

Uh huh ? I worry about working with high voltages though...

But that power scaling sounds like exactly what I need to eventually get. For the majority of the venues we play at the moment, my VC15 is pretty much spot on for a three-piece with a quietish drummer. But even with a little 10" speaker (and only 95ish dB iirc) I've had to turn the master volume down a bit in small venues ☹ But then when I have space to really crank it, the little speaker can't handle the amp on full without getting to the end ugly speaker distortion. I understand a 12" and power scaling should solve both problems.

Psean

studmissile wrote
Arjun Menon wrote Those Blackstar ID TVP amps are highly underrated IMO.
That Craig Amp of yours in the classifieds looks awefully sweet!

+1
If I had cash to blow on an amp right now that would be one of the places I'd look first. Maybe a Craig with some custom specs 8)

Psean

Thomas Selmer-Olsen wrote If volume, funds, and portability weren't limiting factors I'd love the following:

I'd be keen on one of those Hiwatts like Jimmy Page use in the Royal Albert show.

Chocklit_Thunda

I'll see your DUMBle and raise you an Ibanez MiMX 65 8) I've got all your amps AND built in effects 8) 8) 8) Plus at bedroom volumes

Psean

Chocklit_Thunda wrote I'll see your DUMBle and raise you an Ibanez MiMX 65 8) I've got all your amps AND built in effects 8) 8) 8) Plus at bedroom volumes

Chocklit_Thunda

Not trolling ? I've got a Twin Reverb, a Roland JC-120, a JCM800, Vox AC30, Hot Rod Deville, Ecstacy 101B, Soldano, Peavey 5150 II, JCM2000, Mesa Dual Rectifier and Ibanez Psycho in one unit 8)

Sean

Chocklit_Thunda wrote Not trolling ? I've got a Twin Reverb, a Roland JC-120, a JCM800, Vox AC30, Hot Rod Deville, Ecstacy 101B, Soldano, Peavey 5150 II, JCM2000, Mesa Dual Rectifier and Ibanez Psycho in one unit 8)

Throw in those 3 year old set of strings and margarine lid/bread clip plectrums you use and you must have tonal nirvana ?

psyx

With amp modelling you have 30-90% of the said amp through the model, depending on the platform. Like my cube. I love the models, but I know its only 60% there... It cannot match the dynamics of tubes. It will not behave in the same manner under all conditions. That doesn't mean that its not fun and good sounding though

arjunmenon

studmissile wrote
Arjun Menon wrote Those Blackstar ID TVP amps are highly underrated IMO.
That Craig Amp of yours in the classifieds looks awefully sweet!

Oh definitely! It is a very very good amp - pity i have to sell :-[

Psean

psyx wrote With amp modelling you have 30-90% of the said amp through the model, depending on the platform. Like my cube. I love the models, but I know its only 60% there... It cannot match the dynamics of tubes. It will not behave in the same manner under all conditions. That doesn't mean that its not fun and good sounding though

+1
I have no experience with Ibanez's modelling but I suspect it's in the same ballpark as Roland and Line 6. I've played on Cubes quite a bit and use Line 6 Pod software on my PC for late night practice. The Cube and Line 6 win when you need to play at low volumes. I also discovered that tremolo is an effect I like by messing around on a Cube. These amps have their place and are definitely good at what they do. But the Cube in particular frustrates me most other times. It SOUNDS good, and I've heard other guys sound really good with them, but it just never FEELS right. And although you have all those different tones, I reckon my Laney (which cost me less than a Cube 80) or any similar amp covers a lot of the gain range of the Cube (all but the super clean or Metal oriented models) and actually sounds better - yes it may not sound like Tweed one minute and an AC30 the next but I still think it sounds better than the models and it'll give you a fair variety of real valve tones with real valve response. I also find the Cube flattens out the difference between different guitars quite a bit.

Psean

Sean wrote
Chocklit_Thunda wrote Not trolling ? I've got a Twin Reverb, a Roland JC-120, a JCM800, Vox AC30, Hot Rod Deville, Ecstacy 101B, Soldano, Peavey 5150 II, JCM2000, Mesa Dual Rectifier and Ibanez Psycho in one unit 8)
Throw in those 3 year old set of strings and margarine lid/bread clip plectrums you use and you must have tonal nirvana ?

:roflmao: :roflmao:

Chocklit_Thunda

Sean wrote Throw in those 3 year old set of strings and margarine lid/bread clip plectrums you use and you must have tonal nirvana ?

A wise man once said, " If it looks stupid, but it works, it ain't stupid." ? And the correct term is vintage, road worn strings ?

psyx wrote With amp modelling you have 30-90% of the said amp through the model, depending on the platform. Like my cube. I love the models, but I know its only 60% there... It cannot match the dynamics of tubes. It will not behave in the same manner under all conditions. That doesn't mean that its not fun and good sounding though

For me 90% is enough. Playing a gig or a jam, chances are no one else can hear all the magic your amp may posses. Dynamics and all that are pretty much lost after they reach your ears. (Although this isn't the case with recordings)
Also, I'm not tone chasing and I think that's where the difference is. The tones I get are the tones I use as opposed to trying to crank the AC30 channel to sound like Brian May. Chances are, even if i get my amp 99% close to that tone, I still wont sound anything like BM because my playing style is so different.

Psean wrote It SOUNDS good, and I've heard other guys sound really good with them, but it just never FEELS right. And although you have all those different tones, I reckon my Laney (which cost me less than a Cube 80) or any similar amp covers a lot of the gain range of the Cube (all but the super clean or Metal oriented models) and actually sounds better - yes it may not sound like Tweed one minute and an AC30 the next but I still think it sounds better than the models and it'll give you a fair variety of real valve tones with real valve response.

That's what I'm saying though. Feel only goes as far as you and then it's lost on the crowd. Also, you're never gonna get anywhere if you play a SS the way you'd play a valve amp. You can get dynamics and responsiveness from a SS, you just have to alter your style and the way you attack and lay into the strings. Valve amps have all that in spades. minimal effort is required to get those toanz. SS amps force you to try harder. Then when you get to a valve amp you sound like a geetar god 8)

I also find the Cube flattens out the difference between different guitars quite a bit.

Not at all. None of my guitars sound the same through the Ibby ? In fact they're worlds apart. Even the strat and tele are nothing alike.

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