Tube amp for maximum clean

[darkbluemurder]

What would be your suggestion for a tube amp with the most powerful, sparkling yet warm clean tone - apart from a Fender Twin Reverb? Ideally I am looking for something more portable than a Twin Reverb.

Any input would be very much appreciated.

[MikeS]

Originally posted by darkbluemurder
What would be your suggestion for a tube amp with the most powerful, sparkling yet warm clean tone - apart from a Fender Twin Reverb? Ideally I am looking for something more portable than a Twin Reverb.

Any input would be very much appreciated.

Not ALL tube, but how 'bout a Musicman HD-130 head, and a extension cab? If I was looking for "sparkling/warm/clean" with lots of power, the lack of preamp tubes wouldn't be an issue.

Just an idea.

[JWK]

The only thing more portable is going to be an amp head. Gee, a showman comes to mind.

Other than that, I would recommend doing a search. There has been at least one giant thread on "clean" amps within the past year.

Once you get into "loud and clean", you're usually talking about four power tubes and a minimum of 80 watts. The list then becomes miniscule compared to all the other 20, 30 and 50 watt amps.

Read the old threads and tell us more of your wants and desires if you still want feedback. HTH.

[theelectic]

Originally posted by MikeS
Not ALL tube, but how 'bout a Musicman HD-130 head, and a extension cab? If I was looking for "sparkling/warm/clean" with lots of power, the lack of preamp tubes wouldn't be an issue.

Just an idea.

+1, I was going to suggest a 1x12 Musicman. Almost as powerful as a Twin, rugged and much more portable.

[MojoHand]

Hiwatt. One of the best clean sounds ever.

DR201 - Six EL34s @ 200 watts.
DR405 - Six KT88's @ 400 watts

[Robboman]

If you could find one... 70's Garnet BTO. 4 EL34s, 120 watts, huge trannies.

[Pearly Gator]

Fender Pro Reverb. The 70 watt version can be blackfaced. My '78 is real loud and real clean. They are a steal at ~$500.

Did I mention it is loud?

Gator

[Roe]

Originally posted by darkbluemurder
What would be your suggestion for a tube amp with the most powerful, sparkling yet warm clean tone - apart from a Fender Twin Reverb? Ideally I am looking for something more portable than a Twin Reverb.

Any input would be very much appreciated.

a marshall major (200w), marshall lead 2000 (200w), hiwatt,
or a orange (140w), musicman (130w)

[GCDEF]

The best clean I've ever heard came from a Gibson GA-30RVS.

[tacorivers]

Silverface Twin would be my choice.

[myles111]

Originally posted by darkbluemurder
What would be your suggestion for a tube amp with the most powerful, sparkling yet warm clean tone - apart from a Fender Twin Reverb? Ideally I am looking for something more portable than a Twin Reverb.

Any input would be very much appreciated.


Dr Z KT-45

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/doctorzamps2a.html

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/sitebuilder/images/z45-2-391x227.jpg

[fullerplast]

A Fuchs Jazz Classic 50 combo would likely get you what you want. Very clean, very loud, great tone, reverb, small, and fairly light with a 1x12.

[dave s]

Good suggestions so far. In the portable / combo config a good choice would be a 112 musicman. Those things are brutally clean, but possess some of what makes a fender amp sparkle.

On the head / cab side, can't beat an 80s JCM800 50 or 100w head. I run into the low input of my 50 watter, run the master on 10 and use the preamp knob to control overall volume output. You want clean? This is it--but with a really nice marshall flavor.

dave

[Killa-B]

Roland JC-120
Acoustic Amps
Z Delta 88
Hiwatt

[matte]

Ampeg SVT

[drbob1]

Ampeg V4
Marshall Major
Sound City PA200
Sunn 2000s

All heads, all pretty heavy but more portable than any !30w combo. Add a nice light birch ply 412 with Jensen Neo's and you're done.

[SuperSoundMusic]

My favorite high powered ultimate clean amps with a nice amount of spank factor (sparkle) but still retains warmth are the Matchless Thunderchief, Superchief, and Chief heads. Whenever I've needed the tone you are seeking, those amps have never let me down. The only problem is finding one of those amps for sale. You just never see them.

[GAT]

Bruno Cow Tipper 45 or 90 heads into a good 1x12 cab. There are some for sale now on the GP. Great clean headroom, and they take pedals great. :)

[Norjef]

Look for (and try out) a Sundown head or combo--kinda like a 1-12" twin combo. Pretty heavy for small combo, tho.

Jeff

[eddyrox]

Custom Audio Amplification - OD100. Ch1. Pure bloom.

[myles111]

Originally posted by Killa-B
Roland JC-120
Acoustic Amps
Z Delta 88
Hiwatt


A Z KT-45 has more clean headroom than the Delta 88 actually.

[Roe]

the best clean amp I've heard - besides a fender - is a 200w hiwatt.

if your into multi channel amps with great clean sounds, consider:
diezel herbert (180w +, esp. with kt88/100 or 6550).
Koch powertone II (120w +, esp. with kt88/6550)
koch multitone 100 (100w + esp. with kt 88 or 6550)
Rivera Duane Eddy sign (140w + with 6550)
Matchless thunderchief (200w with kt100/88 plus tube rectifiers)

Also consider:
Marshall jtm45/100 or Germino monterey special
Marshall super bass or Germino headroom 100 bass version
Alessandro working dog series jazz amp (60w with 6550)

[michael30]

Has anyone who thinks a Marshall Major is more portable than a Twin actually owned one and used it live (without roadies)?

A Marshall 50 W head modified to use KT-88's and a 1X12 cab with a JBL would probably fit the bill.

[bscepter]

How 'bout a Sound City 120?

[pureoldsound]

I have to say Voodoo amps Baka. I owned one, and that think was super clean. You can turn the MV up to 8 and it will still be clean. To get it to OD you had to get it to 10! and it will only have a slight break up. Mine had a PPIMV, gain control, Treb, Mid, Bass, and the bottom control. It also had two toggle switches one was a treble boost and the other was either a mid or bass boost.....Of all the amps I've owned that has to be by far the cleanest and biggest headroom amp that I've played. I have a pro reverb and I think the Baka was a bit better than the Pro. Although no contest when it comes to the reverb….

[darkbluemurder]

Guys,

Thank you so much for all your input. This is all great stuff.

Rock on!

[darkbluemurder]

Originally posted by myles111
Dr Z KT-45

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/doctorzamps2a.html

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/sitebuilder/images/z45-2-391x227.jpg

Myles,

Thanks for the tip. However, I read in an advertisement of a German dealer that the KT-45 is no longer produced (so is the SRZ-65). There is only the 2-channel 6545 which is in fact a combination of the KT-45 and the SRZ-65.

I'll check with Dr. Z's site whether this is true.

[Jim Fairbairn]

I just received a new KT45 that I had ordered. It is still very much available. And as Myles states, it has LOTS of headroom, much more than I expected.

[darkbluemurder]

Jim,

Thanks for the reply. I have now checked Dr. Z's website which confirms your experience. It seems that the dealer in Germany does no longer stock KT-45s - what a pity.

[myles111]

Originally posted by darkbluemurder
Myles,

Thanks for the tip. However, I read in an advertisement of a German dealer that the KT-45 is no longer produced (so is the SRZ-65). There is only the 2-channel 6545 which is in fact a combination of the KT-45 and the SRZ-65.

I'll check with Dr. Z's site whether this is true.


That is not true .... the KT-45 is still produced.

[larrylover]

Alessandro makes a jazz amp that is loud and clean. Can't recall the model name. His website will have it.

[Laroosco!]

Tweed Champ

[Roe]

Originally posted by SuperSoundMusic
My favorite high powered ultimate clean amps with a nice amount of spank factor (sparkle) but still retains warmth are the Matchless Thunderchief, Superchief, and Chief heads. Whenever I've needed the tone you are seeking, those amps have never let me down. The only problem is finding one of those amps for sale. You just never see them.

my band is using a thunderchief as a bass head. Sounds good but it eats tubes. Which tubes would you recommend?