Recommend an affordable 15-18W head

[playthecray]

I am seriously considering buying a low watt head and pairing it with a 2x12 open back cab. There are a couple of amps that have really peaked my interest of late. I haven't played through any of the following amps, but I have read and listened to a lot of available clips: 1) Goodsell Super17 2) Dr Z Carmen Ghia 3) Kingsley Keep. I would like to keep my budget in $800-$1100 range for the amp and $300-$400 for the 2x12 cab.

I am really looking for a nice sounding clean amp that is not too bright and doesn't require a lot of tweaking. I play mainly blues and rock. The amp needs to love all types of pedals which I will continue to use unless of course I am inspired by the amp to use less. I will be using the amp mostly in the home as well as smaller bar type venues. I appreciate your opinions.

[Rick360]

Howdy,

My Carmen Ghia is a blast! I've got it paired with a Dr. Z 1-12 cab loaded w/ a Weber AlNiCo Silver Bell. One of the great things about the Ghia is it's compatibilty with a variety of guitars. Let that sink in for a minute..Oh and pedals? I haven't a clue; never owned one.
This baby sounds fantastic with my Tele, Rickenbacker 360, ES-335 and so on. It even has good clean tones on tap-at low volume for your Stratocaster. Good luck!

Rick360

PS: The Ghia has just two knobs. Refreshingly simple. Play with it's tone knob; your sound is there.

[mwhy]

Check out Frenzel for the amp: http://www.frenzeltubeamps.com He has a cool 15w with EL-84s.

[fenderball]

really like my GOODSELL Super Seventeen 5/17

this thread will confuse you because you are going to hear from a bunch of happy people....

i use mine with a 1x12 and gotta say...great tones....
and richard is a really good guy.....


also have a great top hat supreme 16...but more pricey....great amp also

[spkrbldr]

I agree with fenderball, the Goodsell is great, 3 knobs,takes pedals and you can't beat Richard to deal with.

[Gasp100]

I agree with fenderball, the Goodsell is great, 3 knobs,takes pedals and you can't beat Richard to deal with.

I have yet to play a Dr.Z, I've heard really good things about the Kingsley Keep, but the Goodsell is just fantastic. The Master volume allows you to play it in any context, the tones are just sweet, chimey and unique. Great amp!

[soundchaser59]

I played a Dr Z yesterday. That sound is gonna be hard to beat......

[fenderball]

i am back again....

use my goodsell with my band 2x/week...

takes pedals great...sounds great...handles tele/strat/ernie ball and lester beautifully

[James BCM]

Good bud of mine owns Ugly Amps in LA. He asked me to run one in my booths at the Nashville Amp Expo. I was really impressed by this amp with either humbuckers or single coils. It is a great 18 watt Marshall amp.

Best thing about it, price is $995.00 for USA made, well built amp.

Can't go wrong there.

LB
BCM

[Juice Jenkins]

I've always wanted a Goodsell Super 17.... hopefully someday I'll be able to swing it. I'd also be looking at the Goodsell Black Dog 20 head. That thing most smoke. If you're on a tight budget, the Egnater Rebel and Vox Night Train are amps that give great bang for the buck. I love my Rebel... variable wattage and being able to mix 6v6 and El84 power tubes is a great thing.

[klippbuzz]

You should check out a Trinity amp at http://www.trinityamps.com/

These are great sounding amps, hand wired, and built well. I just sold my Trinity 18w a few weeks ago. I don't think you'll be get a better 18w amp for the money.

[neville5000]

+1000 on the Dr. Z's. As far as affordability and tone go it's hard to beat them. Carmen Ghia is awesome; super touch sensitive. If you want more control over the tone, the Maz 18 might be the ticket. I'm a less is better kinda guy, so the Ghia would be my choice. :munch

[Bad Juju]

If you could find a used Reinhardt MI-6 I think it would cover what you're looking for based on your description. It would probably be at the top of your amp price range, but well worth it.

It's not a real bright amp and there's not a lot to tweak, or any need for it. Mine takes pedals extremely well, though I find myself using them less and less. The drive is very thick - perfect for blues and rock.

At 22 watts, it's out of your wattage requirements, but sounds great at low volumes (mine does not have the power scaling). It does sound best when pushed and would have no problems being heard IMO in smaller venues.

Noticed in your sig you have an LP Std and Strat - I have the same and both styles of guitar sound killer through it. Good luck with the search!

[toneboy]

the kingsley keep sounds killer.
its a great rock&blues amp.
input 2 will also take you into some pretty high gain.

[playthecray]

I recently saw an ad for Ugly Amps in the Vintage Guitar Mag. I was not aware of their price point. I will check them out. I recently watched a great demo my GMD on the Maz 18 JR 2X10 combo. The Maz sounds great, just a beautiful rich full overdrive tone. The cut knob is very cool as well.

[playthecray]

The Trinity 18 also looks like a great amp. Unbelievable clean tones in the sound clips. Thanks for the recommendation. My list of choices is growing.

[trinian1]

It's too bad you didn't post this about a week ago. Someone was selling a goodsell setup, head and 1x12 cab for less than a grand. Wish I had been in the financial position to pull the trigger on that one. Goodsells are awesome amps, and that's what I would go with over the Zs, although the doctor makes a fine amp as well.

[coldfingaz]

Another vote for the Carmen Ghia. Amps are very personal choices so try to sample them before buying, but the Ghia is a monster for the type of music you're playing and I suspect it will leave you going to your dirt pedals less often.

[jonnyfishstix]

Winfield Cyclone
Vox AC15HTVH
Stulce

[Bandalero]

Another vote for the Goodsell Super-17. Excellent build quality, great tone and versatile at a competitive price. A one-of-a-kind amp from an honest, personable builder. You can't go wrong.

[playthecray]

The Ghia sounds like a great amp. I went to the DR Z forum and read several positive posts on the Ghia. Unfortunately, I live in NJ and will have to drive to NY to play one. The only knock on the Ghia that I read is that it lacks clean headroom. I don't think that will be a problem for me. I also don't mind a little hair on my clean tones, especially if the breakup is gradual, full, and rich sounding.

Someone recommended an Avatar cab which looks like a nice affordable option. Consider either 1x12 or 2x12 cab. Leaning towards the Vintage 2x12 with 1 Alnico blue and 1 G12H30.

[lakehaus]

I am really looking for a nice sounding clean amp that is not too bright and doesn't require a lot of tweaking. = 5E3

I play mainly blues and rock. = 5E3

The amp needs to love all types of pedals which I will continue to use unless of course I am inspired by the amp to use less. = 5E3

I will be using the amp mostly in the home as well as smaller bar type venues. = 5E3

Believe it or not, you just described a Fender Tweed Deluxe (or clone thereof). Fender makes a reissue of this combo beast.

I just picked up a Clark 5E3, which some say is better than Fender's rendition of its own product. I never played a Fender, RI or orig, so I couldn't confirm, but I will tell you this - I am really surprised at the rock and blues tone this thing is putting out. It has a smooth overdrive all itself, but when I push the TS-9, lush hell breaks out. I also wet the tone slightly (sometimes) with a Mr. Springgy, and use a Keeley comp - but not too much with this amp. The combo cab is subtle in design and is misleading if you've never heard a 5E3 circuit in action.

I'm experimenting with power tubes and speakers right now. It came with Tung Sol 6V6's, but I installed a set of NOS RCA JANs - man oh man... I've driven a Celestion Alnico Blue, a Celestion G12M Greenback, an Emi ceramic, and I have a 69 Jensen Vibranto in there now. Still wanna try a Jensen P12Q. So far, that Vibranto (when fed properly) is kickin' butt big time on the others.

My point? I have a 68 Bassman, a vintage 65 BFDR, and a Marshall JCM800 head - and had a slew of others, including Dr. Z's, Tophat, Mesa's... You described what I believe are characteristics of a 5E3 circuit. You may want to check those bad boys out while you're tone shopping...

[coldfingaz]

The Ghia sounds like a great amp. I went to the DR Z forum and read several positive posts on the Ghia. Unfortunately, I live in NJ and will have to drive to NY to play one. The only knock on the Ghia that I read is that it lacks clean headroom. I don't think that will be a problem for me. I also don't mind a little hair on my clean tones, especially if the breakup is gradual, full, and rich sounding.

Someone recommended an Avatar cab which looks like a nice affordable option. Consider either 1x12 or 2x12 cab. Leaning towards the Vintage 2x12 with 1 Alnico blue and 1 G12H30.


That cab would work well with a Ghia. I have a couple 112's that I use with mine, one with a Celestion Blue & another with an Emi Red Fang. Usually I just need one, it's a pretty damn loud 18 watts. These alnicos sound much, much better once they are broken in.

By the way, there were a couple used Ghia's for sale on the Z forum for pretty reasonable prices last time I looked (a couple or few days ago). I got mine used & haven't been disappointed.