An amp for blues jams

[Bhobb]

Hi Guys,

I'm working my way towards attending my first blues jam night in the not too distant future.

What amp would you guys recommend? I'll be playing a Highway 1 strat.

Here are my criteria:

1. Something with nice cleans. I know everyone has their own definition of "clean". For me, think Robert Cray's tone on his early albums.

2. It has to be portable, something I can comfortably carry in one hand, with my guitar in the other.

3. It has to be loud enough to do the job. Whatever that means :)

4. Tube or SS? Most people seem to be in favour of tube amps, but are there any SS contenders that would suit a novice?

5. They tend to gouge us on gear Down Under, so a price guide would be up to US$800.

All advice appreciated.

[doc]

I'd look for one of the recent Ampeg Jet J-20s.

[landorff]

I own a Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue and suits your definition pretty well, actually perhups not exactly the kind o' clean and a little heavy ;)
But you should anyway consider it.

[Dave_C]

Hi Guys,

I'm working my way towards attending my first blues jam night in the not too distant future.

What amp would you guys recommend? I'll be playing a Highway 1 strat.

Here are my criteria:

1. Something with nice cleans. I know everyone has their own definition of "clean". For me, think Robert Cray's tone on his early albums.

2. It has to be portable, something I can comfortably carry in one hand, with my guitar in the other.

3. It has to be loud enough to do the job. Whatever that means :)

4. Tube or SS? Most people seem to be in favour of tube amps, but are there any SS contenders that would suit a novice?

5. They tend to gouge us on gear Down Under, so a price guide would be up to US$800.

All advice appreciated.

I believe Cray is a huge Matchless fan. That's what he's played when I've seen him live...I believe DC-30.

[TBIRD Phil]

A fender hot rod deluxe would be my first suggestion. They are in your price range and will definitely get the job done.

[Dale]

Tweaker perhaps as well as used deluxe reverb.

[bigben55]

I have never brought a amp to a blues jam at a bar. There's always been amps there to just plug into and play. But if you're looking for a sturdy, reliable loud enough amp for blues jams on a budget that wouldn't make you suicidal or homicidal if it got f'ed up or ripped off, a Peavey Classic 30 would be hard to beat.

[doc]

Oh, and welcome to the Gear Page! :dude

[wrxplayer]

There are several makers of 5-8 watt tweed combo amps w/ 10 or 12" speakers. They're perfect for this application and many make great small jam or practice amps.

I think there's a Carr Raleigh in the emporium now. That's a super amp for this purpose. Other options: Li'l Dawg Mutt and Dr. Z Mini Z.

[T Wilcox]

You might get a DC-30 from ceriatone for near $800
They have a few amps that fit the criteria, Dont know of too many amps that will rock a blues club and can be carried out in one hand though.
I have an OTS from ceriatone and will do some serious blues, the head cab can be carried in one hand but you will need to hook up to speaker cab somewhere

[mule73]

Used Peavey Classic 30
Used Fender Deluxe Reverb Re-issue
Used Crate Vintage Club
Carvin Sweet 16 or Nomad
Bugera V22 or V55

Lotsa ways to skin this cat and have money left for drinks for the ladies.

[champster]

The Palomino V16 is a nice sounding, easy to carry blues amp. I prefer Fender amps but I picked up a V16 in a gear trade and was really surprised by how sweet this amp sounds. Normally I don't get along with EL84 amps.

[ksandvik]

Also go to jams and in most cases the house band or other guitar players don't mind you borrowing their gear. This way you could compare and then go for something you like. And share the joy by letting someone else try your amp then later at a jam.

PS: That's how I tried out a HD-500 at a live situation (jam) -- didn't like it :-).

[Troy T. Blues]

Can't go wrong with a Deluxe Reverb RI.

[mc5nrg]

Use the house amp(s). I know folks who bring amps to open blues jam nights but I don't. Too much effort and part of the challenge is using what's there.

[Dale]

Take a Screw Driver or Zendrive and use a clean house amp and go.

[scottlaned]

Blues Junior with a speaker change! Nice breakup, nice cleans, plenty of middle ground. I put a Mojotone BV-25m (greenback) in mine, sounds better than many expensive amps I've had.

[bc-cosmo]

Another vote for using the house amps. I've seriously never been to a "blues jam" that did not have a backline of some sort. The premium in these situations is getting the stage turned over quickly, so less gear and a more heads-up, cooperative mindset are usually best. Oh, and don't forget to have fun!

Amp recommendation for you in general, though... try a Fender Super Champ XD. Small, light, loud enough with a speaker upgrade, and can sound really good too. :)

[bigben55]

It helps when the house amps are awesome. The jam i go to every Wednesday night are:
Heritage Victory 112
Reeves Custom 18+Marshall 212 cab
Marshall Bluesbreaker RI

[nospickups]

1+on any of the lower watt peavey classic series, 20,30 or my favorite delta blues. These are great amps with the portability, reliability, and volume for blues jams at the local pub.:aok

[doublescale1]

Robert Cray has been playing through Matchless Clubman amps for quite a while now - everytime I have seen him in the last seven years or so it's been two green Matchless Clubman & 4X10 cabs and a Fender Vibro King sitting between the Matchless. Once upon a time, early on, he played through 4X10 Super reverbs but once he made the Matchless Clubman switch that is what you'll see unless it's a fly-in gig.

[straightblues]

Anything Fender Black Face or Tweed based. There are a ton of amps that would do it. You want something probably in the 30 watt or less range.

Peavey Classic 20, Classic 30, or Peavey Delta Blues
Ampeg J12R, or J20
Fender Pro Junior, Blues Junior, Blues Deluxe, Champion 600, Deluxe, Hot Rod Deluxe.
Vox AC15, Vox Night Train
Crate Vintage Club Series
Trace Elliot Velocette
Vintage Gibson tube amps
Supro/Valco Amps from the 50's and 60's.

[slider313]

This and a Fulltone Fulldrive II....................non mosfet of course.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/b376/slider313/Picture575.jpg

[amphog]

A buddy of mine runs a blues jam in the village in NYC, he brings a couple of blues Jr's. Volume wise, it fits the gig. The turnover at this jam would prevent you from using your own gear.

[JKjr]

Anything Fender Black Face or Tweed based. There are a ton of amps that would do it. You want something probably in the 30 watt or less range.

Peavey Classic 20, Classic 30, or Peavey Delta Blues
Ampeg J12R, or J20
Fender Pro Junior, Blues Junior, Blues Deluxe, Champion 600, Deluxe, Hot Rod Deluxe.
Vox AC15, Vox Night Train
Crate Vintage Club Series
Trace Elliot Velocette
Vintage Gibson tube amps
Supro/Valco Amps from the 50's and 60's.


I've never agreed with so many people at the same time in my life!Welcome to TGP. There are way too many good choices, so it'll be hard to go wrong. And I might add that the Trace Elliot Velocettes and the Gibson Goldtone amps are essentially the same amp, but you can get a 12" in the Gibbys.

[Bhobb]

Thanks a lot for the welcome, guys. And that goes double for the information supplied. Lots of great options in my price range (one of each, perhaps?).

I'll let you know how I get on.

Bob

[wrxplayer]

A buddy of mine runs a blues jam in the village in NYC, he brings a couple of blues Jr's. Volume wise, it fits the gig. The turnover at this jam would prevent you from using your own gear.

Where and when? Tnx

[Cue Dog]

I recently got a Nolatone Rotten Johnny with El84's that is very portable, but could be loud enough for gigging with an efficient speaker. The pre/post gain arrangement and the interactive tone controls allow you to dial in different shades of clean/grit/crunch at various volume levels. Tonight I had mine set up with the post gain cranked and the pre gain turned up to the edge of breakup - instant ZZ Top "Brown Sugar" with a Les Paul....

[bluesjuke]

Welcome to the Gear Page Bhobb!

[Bhobb]

I can get a Laney L5T for a reasonable price. Would that do the trick, do you think?

[amphog]

Big Ed's New Blues Jam, at the Grisly Pear, 107 MacDougal St., Monday nights 9:00pm, pros, and civilians welcome.

[GeraldCleveland]

Check out any 5E3 clone. They are small, light weight, and sound great. Many great players rave about the tone of mine at the blues jams. You can't go wrong.

[StanG]

As this is the gearpage there are the 1.5k boutique suggestions, when what the guy really needs is a used, $300, mass produced beater.

My fav is bf? Well, you could look for a $500 silverface or pay 2k for ....

[Eskimo_Joe]

Use the house amp(s). I know folks who bring amps to open blues jam nights but I don't. Too much effort and part of the challenge is using what's there.

I agree, you should use whatever the house band is going through, especially as a newcomer. If anything, bring a tuner pedal and maybe an overdrive if it suits your style.

[Fifthstone]

If you want to bring your own, I'd say Blues Jr. My first tube amp; still have and use it (among others). But I'd agree with Eskimo Joe and say use the backline and bring your favorite OD pedal and maybe a delay for some short slapback echo and you should be good to go.

[Bhobb]

Which do you think would be a better option:

An original Super Champ or a MIM Tweed Blues Junior.

Both around the same price. Super Champ slightly dearer.

[pula58]

Which do you think would be a better option:

An original Super Champ or a MIM Tweed Blues Junior.

Both around the same price. Super Champ slightly dearer.


IMHO neither of these amps will give you the headroom you need at most blues jams. At least, not if they are anythoing like the 10 or so different jams that they have around here.

I tried to get-by with a modded Princeton reverb (roughly 18W) with a very efficient 12" speaker..and..it was not doable...not enough clean headroom...I had to step it up to 30W to be where I wanted to be in terms of clean headtroom.