Which combo amp to buy?

[ecbluesman54]

I know this question is posted every other day, but I figured I can post some of my personal preferences, and see any of you can help me.

I am looking for a 1x12 combo amp. Not too long ago I owned about 12 fairly high end amps, and have recently decided that I want to be in the less is more, and quality over quantity department. I sold 11 of them, and kept my Bad Cat Panther head and 2x12 cab.

Like everyone else I am looking for the right amp for me. here are some of the things i am looking for:

1x12 combo
Wattage - 18 - 35 watts is what I am thinking (loud enought for med. gigs)
Want reverb
Dont really care about channel switching
Something that sounds great with both single coils and humbuckers
Dont really care about an effects loop, w/ or w/o is fine
I am unbiased on master volume, with or w/o is fine.
I will be running a pedal board, so taking pedals well is a must, as well as being fairly quiet w/ them
Weight can be a determining factor as well

Music styles are everything from classic rock, blues, and 90's alternative.

Some of the amps I have been thing about, and reading up on are:
Bad cat - tonecat, hotcat, and black cat
Dr Z - Maz18 and 38
Matchless SC-30

Price doesn't really matter. I know the Tonecat is going for around $3400 locally. Like I said I just sold 11 amps, and I am using that to fund this purchase.

Any help would be great to help me get pointed in the right direction, or a new direction.
Thanks!

[MrJacko03]

Hmm.... I checked out the same matchless, but I went for the Badger instead. I just love the voicing....no verb though.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=321135

I was just about to order the combo, but instead I went for head/cab. Not so heavy and a little more versatile cab vise...

I would think the only thing you'll miss is the verb, but that's an easy fix with zilla in the loop.

[guitardr]

The various "incarnations" of the Mesa Boogie Lone Star Special are good, reliable amps. The 1-12" combo is a superb recording/jobbing amp, with a gteat/quiet FX loop, wattage adjustments "+", fan cooled, superb reverb, et al. Go to Harmony Central, various threads at TGP, and then to a store and check it out. Chime to decent slime tones as well...AND: not too heavy.

[ecbluesman54]

Hey thanks for the quick replies. The Badger is interesting, I haven't had a chance to play one, but I will read up on it a bit more.

I actually just sold my Lonestar Spc. I played with it for a few months. I personally disliked two things about it. I thought the bottom end could be a little tighter. I thought it would often fart out on some of the bass notes with humbuckers. I also wasn't real impressed with single coils into it.
The second was it didn't seem to take pedals real well, and that was important for me. Once I played a MAZ 18 I realized that it was a better amp for less $ than the LSS

Here are some of the amps I have recently sold:
Budda SD 45 - too much amp for me
Bogner Shiva - again too much amp, initially had reliability issues
Blockhead BLK 45 -very close to a keeper which is why I might like Badger
Marshall Bluesbreaker - HEAVY
Dr. Z Prescription ES - This amp needed a master volume. Amps sweet spot was real loud. Must be why the now offer the ES jr.

[gtrshow]

Check out the Heritage line. The Victory, Briton and Patriot would all suit your purposes. Your short list indicates that you're looking for something with EL84's. That would be the Briton.

[ecbluesman54]

Thanks Ill go check them out now.

[fender23]

Since money is not an issue, how about a vintage BF SuperChamp? Pristine ones can still be had at the right price, and would seem to meet many of your wants w/o compromising on many of your don't-wants.

[Bo Faulkner]

D13 SJT 10/20.. great with strats , Pauls,.. has reverb, very gigable.. takes pedals,.. clean to mean depending on which input you use..

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=763419&content=songinfo&songID=5910236

Here is a clip featuring the 10/20 (mine was head with 2x12) Les paul ryhthm track and Strat lead.. no pedals

[gkoelling]

Look at a Gries 35. I like it with HB's and single coils and it works great with pedals.

[FFTT]

Not sure where you can find one to try out, but you may want to consider
the VVT Amps Fralin model or their Blue Belair.

Very well built, all hand wired 10 year warranty.

Also see the thread here about the Komet Concorde

Reeves amps, built like a tank

The Tone Cat is certainly up there with the best, but so many alternatives
in that price range.

The Catagory 5's also sound interesting.

You may also want to talk to TGP member Moods about building you something

[FFTT]

May I ask a question...

You owned 12 amps, used your pedalboard through 11 of them, and none of the 11 amps were the right amp for you?

What exactly did you do with the 12 amps, are you a professional recording guitarist, or a touring band guitarist?


Agreed, it would help to clarify your goals as far as a recording amp vs
a live performance amp.

For recording, I'd try the Emery Sound Superbaby with a variety of tube and speaker configurations.

[mude]

I'm a big fan of the D13 10/20 and it seems to fit your description. Has a great big tight bottom end for a low wattage amp and really nice warm fat tones. Fantastic pedal platform and the 1x12 format is one of the best grab and go gigging amps around I think.

The downside is that they are not cheap and not many around. Worth a look if you have a chance though.

Evan.

[trap]

two rock jet, 22 to 35 watts, 39 lbs. great tr cleans, D overdrive, reverb. loop. great w single coils- hb. just used mine last night and it kicked butt. lots of compliments on the sound.

[cr8z4life]

I'm a big fan of the D13 10/20 and it seems to fit your description. Has a great big tight bottom end for a low wattage amp and really nice warm fat tones. Fantastic pedal platform and the 1x12 format is one of the best grab and go gigging amps around I think.

The downside is that they are not cheap and not many around. Worth a look if you have a chance though.

Evan.

I second that! I just bought a new one and put it head to head with an FTR37 through a 2x12 and it sounded just as good!! Tons of bottom and will hold up in a mix.

[ecbluesman54]

I appreciate all the replies. I will be using the amp for both live shows, and some home studio use. Some of the other amps I have tried and am unsure of are the Two Rock Jade, and Fuchs ODS 30 SLX. Both of these are great amps, and of the two the Fuchs was better overall IMO.
My current list I have put together through all of your suggestions is:

Dr Z Maz 18 Jr
Bad Cat - Tone Cat, Hot Cat 30R, and Black cat
Suhr Badger
Heritage amps
Gries 35
Divided by 13 - 10/20

I am going to read up on these, and see if I can narrow it down some.
Again thanks so much for the replies, its very appreciated!

[FFTT]

In Divided By 13 also consider the new RSA 23 with Master Volume or for
a bit more kick the FTR 37

It really narrows the field when you add a good reverb circuit.

The Gries 20 and 35 and the VVT Fralin have you covered of Reverb.

Also think about the 65 Amps Soho and Marquee.

Top Hat also has several fine EL84 amps.

[bjjp2]

Carr Rambler
Tone King Meteor II

[cr8z4life]

Another great amp for what you are looking to do is the Top Hat Ambassador 35. I had this in a head and absolutely loved it! Unbelievable reverb, great fender cleans and one of the best platforms for pedals I have ever used. The issue is they do make it in a combo but its a 2x12 and its not light!! As far as the other divided by thirteens suggested if you can find an FTR 37 in a combo it too will be in 2 x12 and very heavy and the new rsa 23 combo doesnt have reverb, so you are back to the 10/20....this is a combo you will never have to make an appology for!!

And yes Top Hat does make some great el 84 models like the club royale which is one of the best but Between the 10/20 and the club royale I would go with the 10/20.

[bigjoeblue]

The Goodsell Super 17 might be just what you need. Great sounding amp.

[ecbluesman54]

Any experience, opinions, or thoughts on the Bogner Duende?
There has been a lot of suggestions for the /13 10/20. Iread up a bit on both the Gries 35, and the Suhr Badger. Both sound great.
Difficult decision....:confused:

[ecbluesman54]

Thanks on the heads up on the Duende.

I think I have narrowed my list down a bit more.

Dr Z Maz 18 jr. w/ rev
Bad Cat Hot Cat 30R
Divided by 13 10/20

Any of you happen to own any of these? I am still taking price considerations into these 3 as well. I am not sure the Bad Cat is $1200 better than the Z, I guess the same goes for the D13.

Still learning about:
Heritage (all models)
Suhr Badger

Thanks!

[dkochan]

Very similar needs here: I was looking for a recording amp that I could play out with. I went with the Badger combo. It's a great amp, records very well. It sounds HUGE - definitely does not sound like any other 1x12 I have ever heard.

It's very responsive to playing and guitar volume. You really have a huge range of tones available without touching the amp.

The power scaling just adds an additional dimension to a solid amp. It works, and it works well.

In all fairness, I must state: I am going to sell mine. I bought it mostly to record with, and as I said it does record very well. It also needed to fill in for the occasional jam. Have not taken it out of the house yet (OH no I am a bedroom player with great gear!!!) but have no doubt that this would be a fantastic gigging amp.

I am finding that most of my recording time is while my daughter is sleeping (funny how that works ;) ) and sure the power scaling works a treat, but you have to have some sound there for the mic to pick up :) and we have a small house.

So that's how you get from "best-sounding amp I've ever owned" to "the amp is just not for me." :(

Dave

[bjjp2]

You really should consider the Rambler. It fits your criteria to a T.

[Ray1960]

You own it to yourself to check out a Goodsell Super17

[thesooze]

Man, I just picked up a Briton combo in a trade, and it beats the hell out of my Mesa Lonestar Special... SHEESH, this amp is nice, man. Solid build, great responsive controls, and a tone to die for.

I'll post pics later, and sound clips if anyone wants.

[Jatmosphere]

+1 on the Goodsell Super 17. As well, on my inquiry, Richard put in an extra 8 ohm speaker jack and an fx loop in @ no extra charge?! :cool: Just an amazing combo amp w/ tone for dayz. Sonically it's parts tweed/vox/matchless/marshall, not to mention it's a very (good) loud 17 watts. I still haven't needed to really crank it up in a medium sized gig setting too... and it's got plenty of good warm clean headroom?! Also, he turns them out in a very timely fashion. Mine was door to door in less than 2 weeks. :AOK

[ecbluesman54]

Thanks to everyone that helped me look for the right combo. I ended up going with a Matchless SC-30, and am very happy with it. Right away it is easy to tell that it is far superior to the Lonestar special.
Thanks again, it was much appreciated.

Andrew

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff288/ecbluesman54/12-6003.jpg