plexi style amp for a cover band

[fr8_trane]

I have always wanted a plexi style amp and the gas has hit me hard lately. My dilemma is that I have always used clean fender style amps with pedals or channel switchers. I like amps that have good base clean tones and the ability to switch from spanky to dirty with the touch of a button. But there's something about the musical crunch of the plexi that keeps calling to me.

My question is how much of a compromise in tone and functionality will it be for me to use a plexi style amp in a situation which calls for clean, semi clean, crunchy and full shred. I am particularly worried that the clean tone will be lame or not clean enough and that my absolutely essential delay pedal will be rendered useless in front of a distorting amp.

I would basically set the amp up for a mild crunch tone like "alright now" and either roll the volume off for clean with strats and teles or switch to the neck with the volume pre-rolled off on my humbucker guitar. For more gainy tones I would use combinations of OD and clean boost pedals.

Anyone else doing this to good effect with a nice variety of usable tones. I'm guessing RnB, reggae and country stuff might be... ummm.... challenging with this vintage style rig.

[studiodunn]

Channel switchers just make so much sense in cover band situations. I've done limited covers on a single channel Plexi style head, but you really limit yourself on what songs you can pull off. IMHO, you have to have a lot of headroom to start. @ channels just make life easier.

[bluessyndicate]

I think it could work..I have an Aiken Invader 50watt, and I get great plexi rolled back cleans, and when rolled on have a nice crunch. I augment that with an RC booster and an OCD pedal to take me anywhere from pristine cleans to full out hard rock.

The Invader has reverb which is great.

The only issue I see is the delay pedal...I don't think that will sound good when gained out, as you obviously are aware.

So perhaps a plexi with a little reverb will be great for rolled back, and for when distorted to add some ambience..and you can save your delay for anything less than full gain.

Otherwise, yes, a channel switcher might also be nice.

[fr8_trane]

I've already got a clean amp and pedal setup which works quite well. I'm just wondering if I can make the plexi versatile enough to do blues, roots and classic rock covers with the occasional clean number.

[mlj_gear]

Plexi cleans can be very nice. Clip the bright cap and you might find yourself good to go.

[Madsman]

Works just fine. You simply have to get comfortable rolling back your guitar volume to go clean. Not hard to do. Sounds great.