Ambient/post-rock/shoegazers

find a vintage traynor. hand-wired, built like tanks, BEST transformers ever made, take pedals amazingly. ive had a yba-4 bassmaster, ygm-3, and ysr-1 custom reverb. they're all awesome, but if you want a more midrangey amp, find a bassmaster. you can usually find the yba-1 bassmaster heads on ebay or craigslist for $350-$600. actually i think someone has a good deal on a modded traynor in the emporium right now.

fwiw, i love shoegaze... check out the band, fleeting joys... that dude uses a bassmaster.

 

What about a Fender Deville 410?
I played post-rock with one for years and it was great. I never used anything but the clean channel, turned up about half way it sounds great with a slight breakup.
They can be had cheap...not the most reliable amp though.

 

Silverface bassman, any of the 2 power tube sunns, the traynor is another great idea.

 

A different way to go: get an extention cab for your traynor. Instant volume and headroom boost.

 

I'm using an Egnater Rebel 30, it really fits the bill.

 

You can probably land a used Twin Reverb for less than 800 bucks. Incredibly loud with enough headroom to smash windows before breakup.

 

I used a YCV40T for a few years in the ambient rock band I was in (link in sig.). It worked well; I liked the cleans with the volume around 5...slight edge of breakup but still clean, and took pedals nicely. I'd check out the 40 or even the 80 if you want a big amp...especially if you dig the Traynor vibe. Otherwise a Bassman or Bandmaster head.

FWIW I had a YCV20 too for a while, but experienced the same dilemma...just not enough clean headroom there.

 

That's more or less my experience.

 

I believe that rule of thumb is that you need 10 times the wattage to double your volume, given that you are using the same speaker or cab. Doubling your speaker surface area will get you the needed volume boost a lot sooner.
I think that there are a few major threads on this but i can't find them while i'm on my phone.

 

Your impression is confirmed by my experience(s)

Fender HRD would be pretty nice. You can find 'em cheap ($400) too.

 

Blackface or early silverface bassman. If you don't mind going solid state, Sunn concert or beta leads are cool, as are 70's Acoustic amps (don't know about the newer ones). I just picked up a early 70s Acoustic 150 head for $200. Plenty of volume, cool clean sound, and takes pedals great.

 

This.
Friends pushed me this way and I'm so glad they did. I picked up a 70's YGM-3 under $500 complete with all original Hammond Iron and Phillps-labelled Mullards all around. (Craigslist is your friend, $300-$500 depending on condition) Tried a G12H30, as the original Marsland speakers are known to be shite, but prefer it with a Celestion Blue to help bring the EL84's a little Voxier chime outta this thing. Keeps up with the band just nicely, and remains mostly clean the whole way up. Excellent pedal platform, and the Bright switch brings instant smiles. Oh, did I mention Reverb and Tremolo too? Only downfall: Looks like a rejected droid. Oh well, I'm sure everyone in the band is gorgeous too, right?

 

i don't know Traynor personally but have heard many good things. i would definitely try one if it were me, fwiw. also the Sovtek Mig 60 is an inexpensive take on the Fender Bassman iirc. this one i have heard in person and it's another good budget option, with a little more power than the Traynors even.

 

Don't forget about the YBA-1, the king **** of f*** mountain!

I love mine!