Amp-less and Need Ideas

[MikeVB]

Note: I wound up getting a DRRI for two reasons:

1. everyone should own Deluxe Reverb
2. I got a great deal on a used one in good shape
3. okay, 3 reasons, it's a relatively inexpensive and versatile workhorse amp that can play utility infielder when I trade boutique free agent amps around.

But it's still worth reading this thread cause there's lots of good suggestions.

The good news is I'm finally going to own a Les Paul Goldtop after 34 yrs of craving one since 6th grade. We had a student teacher come to our guitar class and rip off a killer cover of Strutter with one through a Marshall half-stack.

The bad news is I traded my beloved BF Vibrolux Reverb for it. I loved that amp as it had the most spectacular cleans of anything I've personally ever played. But I need an amp to start gigging in a 90's cover band in a couple months. And I didn't want to worry about blowing up a transformer or something and cutting it's value by a 3rd, not to mention the possibility of theft.

Now I'm guitar rich and amp broke...well okay I'll only have a tele and the LP, but you get the point.

So, what's out there in the:

- 25-35 watt range
- good warm cleans
- decent overdrive or at least pedal-friendly to various dirt
- neighborhood of $1,000 used
- I'm not married to on-board reverb or trem necessarily

I've owned and played quite a few amps over the past three years looking for overall sounds I preferred. My favorites were the BFVR and Germino Club 40 with my tele. Had an SG for awhile that sang through that Germino. I've come to think I lean towards EL34, 6L6, single channel, Non-MV amps in the 30 watt neighborhood. The EL84 amps just didn't connect with me very strongly.

The Vibrolux was the perfect combination of weight, fullness, clean, headroom, etc. for my needs. I could get a vintage silverface one I suppose, but people are starting to ask more for them over the last year or so. And it's still an old amp that I'd have to worry more about failing at a gig.

I know there are lots of threads I could read through, but I wanted my very own dang it. So if you're angry I've taken up virtual real estate please don't post admonishments of how I should just "try a search."

 

[ScioBro]

bandmaster reverb head is same as vibrolux rev. ....no?
less valuable.
Those era amps are so easy to service..even a blown tranny
but, you're right, it'd be a bummer and lost value to lose one in a
Vibrolux

 

[MikeVB]

bandmaster reverb head is same as vibrolux rev. ....no?
less valuable.
Those era amps are so easy to service..even a blown tranny
but, you're right, it'd be a bummer and lost value to lose one in a
Vibrolux

I'm pretty ignorant about Bandmasters. Should've mentioned I don't have to have reverb.

Also, bands whose guitar tones I gravitate towards in my own playing are the Black Crowes, Derek Trucks and ABB, LZ, James Gang (Joe was a badass in his Cleveland days).

 

[[email protected]]

The Vibrolux was "perfect", you "loved that amp", and so... you traded it away and you want ideas for an amp that you'll like?

 

[ChorusCrackpot]

The Vibrolux was "perfect", you "loved that amp", and so... you traded it away and you want ideas for an amp that you'll like?

Good point.

 

[MikeVB]

The Vibrolux was "perfect", you "loved that amp", and so... you traded it away and you want ideas for an amp that you'll like?

Good point.

Give me a break guys. If you don't have anything positive to contribute to threads why bother? Do you feel cool now that you've put me down?

 

[ScioBro]

I use a reverb pedal

but the reverb feature of the VR and the BMR adds a gain stage, makes the amps a little gainier...using the rev. or not.

So a Princeton Rev. may sound better to you than a Princeton
and a Deluxe Rev. may sound better to you than a Deluxe

bandmasters don't have reverb and don't have a rect. tube.
bandmaster rev.s have (obviously) the reverb AND they have a rect. tube

I think BMRs and VRs (from same yr) are the same chassis. Just diff. cab. and faceplate

Twin Reverb and Super Six Reverb is another example

Admittedly I'm on a BM kick right now:

1) I got a 65 BM as part of a cash/trade on a matchless. Wasn't really looking for one...didn't know about them. But that amp has turned out for me to be a gem....awesome fender cleans....40 watts

2) So further research indicated to me that I might like the BMR with it's rect tube and extra gain stage. and I found a molested one and I just got her going and I think its gonna be another gem

I didn't like the Super Rev I had ( basically same as BMR but with 2 Ohm OT)
it was too clean...didn't break up until at high volumes.)
Great amp, but I was never in the right gig situation to make proper use of it.

Lots of new amps out there that are essentially a BF/SF fender channel style....and not PCB constructed.
So you could get your F. sound and new amp reliability and even find one constructed in the same manner as a 50s/60s/70s Fender

Headstrong and Marsh are mnfr.s to check out for that vein of amp.

I also use a DR clone that was made by a small builder.......couldn't afford a real BFDR

With a VR and a Germino in your past, I think you'll be harder to please than the average Joe.

 

[BudLite]

Vox HW AC 15, 1199.00 w/ 15% discount at MF it will cost you 1025.00 shipped to your door.

 

[jmonk99]

This

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/1023338&highlight=allen

It's not mine. And you can thank me later

 

[MikeVB]

Vox HW AC 15, 1199.00 w/ 15% discount at MF it will cost you 1025.00 shipped to your door.

I have considered Vox, but I think I can get a better-built amp used for the same price. Plus it's an el84 amp, and call me shallow but I hate that ugly ass fawn tolex. Vox amps are supposed to be black dammit.

 

[ScioBro]

Give me a break guys. If you don't have anything positive to contribute to threads why bother? Do you feel cool now that you've put me down?

Yeah +1,
I post about what I'm doing and hope for positive chat.
I'm not here itchin' to debate other folks either.

It's not hard to be positive...read below:

congrats on the goldtop.....what year? P90's?
(see? totally positive)

seriously PF, tell us about the goldtop
I gotta buddy whose having trouble selling his '53 goldtop.
refin, almost no orig. hardwre, headstock crack repair
can't even get $10K for it

 

[BudLite]

The amp is built great and handwired, what amps are built better for a 1000?

I have considered Vox, but I think I can get a better-built amp used for the same price. Plus it's an el84 amp, and call me shallow but I hate that ugly ass fawn tolex. Vox amps are supposed to be black dammit.

 

[Vker]

Congrats on the GoldTop... A Deluxe?

I would go silverface pro reverb for a clean platform.
Your LP will thank you for the extra 10 watts or so..

 

[MikeVB]

Yeah +1,
I post about what I'm doing and hope for positive chat.
I'm not here itchin' to debate other folks either.

It's not hard to be positive...read below:

congrats on the goldtop.....what year? P90's?
(see? totally positive)

seriously PF, tell us about the goldtop
I gotta buddy whose having trouble selling his '53 goldtop.
refin, almost no orig. hardwre, headstock crack repair
can't even get $10K for it

Congrats on the GoldTop... A Deluxe?

I would go silverface pro reverb for a clean platform.
Your LP will thank you for the extra 10 watts or so..

It's just an R7 Historic, but described as minty with all the candy by Steve (aka TNJ here on TGP).

 

[bbutler123]

Give me a break guys. If you don't have anything positive to contribute to threads why bother? Do you feel cool now that you've put me down?

If you can find one, try out a Blackstar HT series.
They can sparkle and they can keep your feet warm.

Some guys are in love with them, other guys sound like tube sniffers when they talk about them. I'm one who loves them. $700 will get you new, 40 watts, 1-12". Cleans are great, so is dirt as far as I'm concerned. And there's a voicing of the cleans that reminds me of an old-time non-master volume amp.

 

[RupertB]

Not mine but...

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/1019146

+ $300 for an Avatar 1x12 = in business.

 

[MikeVB]

This

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/1023338&highlight=allen

It's not mine. And you can thank me later

If you can find one, try out a Blackstar HT series.
They can sparkle and they can keep your feet warm.

Some guys are in love with them, other guys sound like tube sniffers when they talk about them. I'm one who loves them. $700 will get you new, 40 watts, 1-12". Cleans are great, so is dirt as far as I'm concerned. And there's a voicing of the cleans that reminds me of an old-time non-master volume amp.

Do you think the Allen and/or Blackstar HT would get into this kind of sonic territory with an LP?


or this


or this


or this (I could go on with favorites all day)

 

[splatt]

used amps:
vht (fryette) pittbull45, run at 30w / cathode-biased.

i sold my all-original '65 vibrolux reverb, fwiw, and passed on a custom, one-off d•mble-build for one of these;
i still have the pb45, and i still play it.

 

[MikeVB]

used amps:
vht (fryette) pittbull45, run at 30w / cathode-biased.

i sold my all-original '65 vibrolux reverb, fwiw, and passed on a custom, one-off d•mble-build for one of these;
i still have the pb45, and i still play it.

That thing just looks like it might kill somebody

 

[bbutler123]

Do you think the Allen and/or Blackstar HT would get into this kind of sonic territory with an LP?

Let me say this without offending you. I'm not really the kind of player who goes after someone else's tone. Therefore, I am horrendously awful in comparing tones, or knowing how to get a certain tone out of an amp. I just turn the amp on and find a tone that sounds fine to me, and then I complete the issue with my playing.

So can you get those tones out of the Blackstar Club 40? I have no idea. ha ha ha. I would say probably, but I'm one of those 'tone is largely in the fingers' guys. Derek Trucks' tone sounds a lot like an SG tone though, that I'm not sure a Les Paul would truly satisfy.

And holy cow, that guy is a good player. I'll have to pay a bit of attention to him. He doesn't sound like every other player in the business, like almost every other player does to me. Thanks for the turn on.