Reeves Custom 18 vs. Fargen Olde 800 MkII

[noserub]

I'm looking for a JCM 800 style amp at lower volumes, but with enough headroom to do small gigs (dive bars). I am normally a bedroom rocker, but I do play with a heavy hitting drummer every so often and the occasional gig (2-3 a year or so). I have a house with a jam room where I can crank it a bit, but I'm looking for some killer JCM 800 tone with less wattage than the original. I am not interested in anything over 30 watts or less than 15 watts at this point.

I've narrowed it down to the Fargen Olde 800 MkII and the Reeves Custom 18 (also like the Custom 30 for different reasons), but since I cannot try them before pulling the trigger I wanted to see if anyone has played both that could give me some insight? Overall impressions, build quality, versatility, tone, any problems you may have had, etc...

Thanks in advance for your help!

-Brian

[mmunguia]

I've owned both amps. I did not like the reeves custom 18, has too many switches, sounds more modern than the Fargen. I ended up keeping the custom 18 for about a week and flipped it! The Fargen I've kept. I love reeves (I have a super '78) that I love, its more modern sounding than the Fargen.

Get the Fargen, I sold my 2061x, 1974x, JCM800 2204s, the Fargen can do it all, and the master volume is awesome!!!! bedroom level are no problems, and its loud!!!!

[Uli Jon Blackmore]

For your needs, you may want to check out the Fargen Miniplex. It is really amazing (I mean stupendous classic Marshall tone) and does awesome tones right down to TV/speaking/bedroom volume. I find that it is really easy to cover hot-rodded Marshall tone on a budget but classic (45, plexi, non-modded 800) is far more rare/valuable. Unless you are playing a larger club, the Mini should cover it. If I am wrong, the 800 will kill. I know because they share many tonal characteristics.