Best Pedal Platform 1x12 Combo?

[((TechnicolorSkyline))]

I know this is probably a common theme here, but I figured I would post while researching some old threads.

Not gigging much these days and downsizing the rig. Looking for a great all around 1x12 with beautiful cleans that takes pedals well so I can have some nice dirt when needed. Doesn't need to be crazy loud, just decent enough for jamming with friends and small gigs here and there if I decide to do that again. I don't need something dirt cheap, nor do I need a $2-3k boutique either, but rather something reasonably priced that will still knock your socks off.

What should I be looking at?

DRRI? Maz 18? Vox AC15HW?

 

[Drewboy]

Bad Cat Cougar 15 would be my first choice, The M12 Dr. Z, Maz, or DRRI would be other options to research too.

 

[Pietro]

DRRI works well with every pedal I've thrown at it. So did the Maz 38, and I bet the Maz 18 is similar in that regard.

 

[JaminJuno]

I borrowed a friends Egnater Tweaker 15 a while back and ended up buying one. It really took me by surprise. Great clean tones, a very useful tone stack switch which gives you quite convincing Fender, Vox and JTM45 tones (in fact I actually checked out an AC15 recently and decided the Tweaker actually does a better Vox sound). It has more headroom than you would expect from 15 watts and you can drop in EL34's, 6L6's or 6V6 (which come stock) without having to manually rebias. I did find upgrading the stock tubes did improve things noticeably. The stock speaker is great and it is small, light and portable. Plus it is ridiculously cheap for the tones that come out of it. I use a bunch of pedals and only run my amps clean (but cooking) - the Tweaker loves anything you throw at it. Definitely worth a look.

 

[AtlMusicMan86]

I would totally go for a Bad Cat Cub II combo from TheGearPort. He sells them at a great price and is an awesome guy! These amps are outstanding with pedals and has beautiful cleans.

 

[Funky54]

I've owned many many amps. Currently I have a DRRI a vintage AC30tb. A 18watt bluesbreaker clone and a class 5

I would go for a Carvin 30 watt. Or maybe the nomad. Highly under rated, dirt cheap and very flexible. Dual channel, decent reverb, line out and loop. For a used price of $250-300? Can't go wrong.

If you want a fancy boutique name that's fine. It really is a horribly overlooked amp. Way more flexible than anything I have right now. Rock, Country, Blues even jazz. El84 amps.

 

[demea26]

USA Made Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

 

[Fro68]

I can personally say that both the Dr Z Maz18 and the Mesa Express series take pedals very well. Dr Z just came out with the M12 that is advertised as designed to be used with pedals.

 

[weshunter]

DRRI with a speaker swap unless you need something with a loop. there's a Marsh BFDR in the emporium right now (no affiliation with seller), which is what I have and it's an unbelievable amp, especially for less than $1000 used -- that's worth a look.

i've had a few tweakers too and they are great if you want to get something on the cheap. probably the best bang for the buck out there in amp-land. i'd get a head and cab though, if you go that way because the combo cabs are built really cheaply.

but for sure, my blackface DR is in a completely different league than the tweaker, but costs 3 times as much too.

 

[bukowski]

Dr.z Carmen Ghia nice cleans and

 

[440gtx6pak]

Basically most dirt boxes made are likely tested to work well with a Fender Tweed type amp. You can't go wrong with one because of that.

 

[Fendegibs]

I have both a Maz 18 (w/ a celestion blue and brake lite) and a DRRI and they are both great for clean sounds and take pedals very well.

 

[buddaman71]

USA Made Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

many good choices here, but this is extremely hard to beat. i've played MANY festival shows where the HRD or the HRDeville is the supplied backline and never have any issues where either didn't take just about any pedal like a champ...

unlike Twins and some other Fender models, the warm sounding clean channel on the HR series doesn't turn to shards of glass when hit with an OD/distortion pedal...

 

[tonecontrol]

for me it`s been a Fryette Memphis 30 1X12 combo, great amp and it takes pedals well

 

[FFTT]

Bad Cat Cub II or Custom Classic
Gries 12 or 35
Reeves Custom 12, 18 or 30 with or without power scaling
Suhr Badger 18
Magic Amps Vibro Prince or Vibro Deluxe
Allan Amps Sweet Spot

 

[67mike]

DRRI.

 

[kirkham13]

This is what I use.... fender inspired.... so many good choices....
Not as popular on the forums but the Sams have some advantages like an attenuated volume the others don't, its also very ballsy and light with the neo.

http://rebel-guitars.com/samamp-vac-23-series-3-teal-tolex/

 

[Dave_C]

Dr. Z M12, specifically designed as a pedal platform:

Jerry’s Blues: Suhr DSH bridge HB into Jetter GSR
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11793615&q=hi&newref=1

Chitlins: Suhr FL SC neck/middle into BB
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11793611&q=hi&newref=1

Blues is Alright: Suhr DSH bridge HB into Jetter GSR
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11793617&q=hi&newref=1

Change My Mind: Suhr FL SC neck/middle into BB
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11793620&q=hi&newref=1

Cold Duck Time: DSH bridge HB into Jetter GSR
(Accidentally didn’t switch the OD on at first, so you hear clean to mean transition on the bridge HB.)
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11798310&q=hi&newref=1

Katy: Suhr FL SC neck/middle into BB
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11793619&q=hi&newref=1

 

[demea26]

many good choices here, but this is extremely hard to beat. i've played MANY festival shows where the HRD or the HRDeville is the supplied backline and never have any issues where either didn't take just about any pedal like a champ...

unlike Twins and some other Fender models, the warm sounding clean channel on the HR series doesn't turn to shards of glass when hit with an OD/distortion pedal...

Not to mention you can pick one up on CL for under 400 all day long

 

[altimas]

Take a gander at the VHT 12/20 Special RT. It's basically built for pedals and the reverb is to die for!