Alternative to a BF clean sound?

[tlainhart]

I've got an Allen Old Flame, and I'm looking for a different "clean" sound. I was wondering what folks here would recommend as something different.

Are the cleans on a Fuchs or Brownnote similar enough to BFs as to not be considered? What about a Juke?

 

[sector9]

How about a good EQ pedal.

 

[DanD]

tlainhart,
Check out a Barber BarBQ pedal.
Gives you tweed twin, and JTM45 tone stacks.

Good luck,
DanD

 

[Dana Olsen]

If you want to try a bigger rig, Hiwatt cleans are an amazing thing to experience.

Vox cleans are another flavor that can be absolutely hypnotizing - think "A Hard Day's Night".

Hope this helps, Dana O.

 

[mcgriff420]

I know el34's aren't usually considered great tubes for clean tones but my mark Sampson gainstar has my favorite clean tone of all time (two channel). Star amps also has some other stuff that's more clean based.

I would definitely consider all of the Sampson stuff, ie.

Matchless
Badcat
Star Amps

 

[ROKY]

EL34s are great for cleans !

Vox AC50, Hiwatts, old Marshalls all have benchmark cleans,IMNSHO ..

I hear the Matchless amps have gotten some pretty serviceable cleans
using EL-34s also .

 

[ROKY]

To the original poster :

I haven't played an Allen, but I know he put some features in those amps
to be able to get tones other than pristine BF clean - the ablity to add
hair to the clean tones via the raw control as one key example.

I would think that different speakers would influence things also; not sure
what you're using, currently, but I'm guessing Emi Patriot series ?

Also wondering about EQ'ing that amp away from the big treble and bass
response that is classic BF tone.

Does the mid control work independantly of the bass and treble ?
Maybe turn the bass down and scale treble, back to allow more mids .

 

[mude]

Might consider a Bruno UG30 or a Louis Electric KR12. Not cheap, but both have some of my favorite cleans.

Most of the less expensive amps with cleans that I really like tend to be Fender-style I think. Perhaps consider things like a Alessandro Working Dog or Mesa Maverick for lower priced good cleans that are not pure blackface.

Evan.

 

[picnic]

When I tested a Bogner Metropolis 15 watt, I never expected to get such clean of a tone out of an el84 amp. Bell like clean, shimmery chime. It can get crunchy, but I like the amp more than my Allen Accomplice, DRRI or Mesa Lonestar Classic for clean.
Nice surprise to my ears.

 

[Tag]

I've got an Allen Old Flame, and I'm looking for a different "clean" sound. I was wondering what folks here would recommend as something different.

Are the cleans on a Fuchs or Brownnote similar enough to BFs as to not be considered? What about a Juke?

BRUNO UG 30 or VOX CC AC30!

 

[tlainhart]

To the original poster :

I haven't played an Allen, but I know he put some features in those amps
to be able to get tones other than pristine BF clean - the ablity to add
hair to the clean tones via the raw control as one key example.

I would think that different speakers would influence things also; not sure
what you're using, currently, but I'm guessing Emi Patriot series ?

Also wondering about EQ'ing that amp away from the big treble and bass
response that is classic BF tone.

Does the mid control work independantly of the bass and treble ?
Maybe turn the bass down and scale treble, back to allow more mids .

I'm using a 2x10 configuration, w/ Copperheads. I've tried a 1x12 with a Commonwealth, and I think that I might like the 1x12 configuration better. Different speakers is a good suggestion.

Allen Amps do have a "Raw" control, which progressively removes the tone circuitry from the circuit. That's actually an interesting touch to the amp, and can tone down the mid-scoop somewhat.

I really like the brightness of the amp, which makes me wonder about some of the other suggestions of Vox and Matchless.

 

[slopeshoulder]

+1 on VOX!!! But, for $250 a new Menatone Top Boost in a Can into a BF amp will get you very very close. Set the gain low (9:00 max). Try it!!

 

[lousyatit]

Have you ever tried a Lab.

 

[riffmeister]

Roland JC120 is a classic.

 

[CitizenCain]

Ampeg

 

[tlainhart]

Roland JC120 is a classic.

Thanks - I owned a JC120 many years ago, and liked it, mainly for its nice chorus. I forgot all about that.

What I hated about the amp was its weight, and the distortion mode. Alas I don't think that I have the upper body strength to carry that amp any more .

 

[tlainhart]

Have you ever tried a Lab.

I have a Pearce G1 that was mod'd into a G2 many years ago by Dan. It's really a great amp, and can come close to tubes, but isn't a tube amp.

But I still love the amp. I wish Dan was still making amps.

 

[ROKY]

+1 on VOX!!! But, for $250 a new Menatone Top Boost in a Can into a BF amp will get you very very close. Set the gain low (9:00 max). Try it!!

I wish I still had my old 4-knob TBIAC .

 

[Defendant]

Try a brownface fender style amp. Thicker than blackface but not quite tweed. Tweed is also a good time, though you'll have to look at the high power tweed twin if you want any real big stage headroom.

As far as EL84 goes, it's hard to go past a nice vox or matchless. Mesa's Blue Angel has a really nice clean sound, a tad warmer than your average AC30, with superb reverb. If loud clean headroom isn't an issue the 65 London's EF86 channel is beautiful.

If you're looking for a more subtle variation on BF clean, the Carr Vincent is an absolute peach of a clean amp.

 

[Buckshot]

AMPEG V or VT series !!! - most of the other great clean amps made the list already