Help me pick my next amp(s) - $3400 budget

cg · Feb 23, 2008

I use Les Pauls and Strats. I hope to add a Tele soon, especially if I don't spend my entire $3400 budget on amps.

Favorite artists/tones are The Jayhawks, Big Head Todd, David Grissom, Wilco, Son Volt, Ryan Adams, SRV, Black Crowes, AC/DC, Zep and Hendrix.

I love Vox/Matchless chime/grind/OD and Marshalls cleans/OD. I also like a little delay at times.

I primarily play at home, but I can crank it up a bit. As an example, an RSA23 wasn't too much of a problem, althought it was impossible to use when the kids were sleeping.

Amps I have in mind include the folowing:
* Komet 60: I would LOVE to own this amp, but I think it would completely over power my needs.
* Matchless Clubman, Lightning or DC30. The Independence also looks interesting. I do like to crank the gain up on a regular basis, but I am not sure how effective the master volume is on this one.
* 65 Amps Marquee. The London didn't have the clean headroom or sparkle I was looking for.
* Marshall JVM410. I tried one and was extremely impressed.
* Bad Cat Panther - love the tone Grissom gets (I know - he could get it with a cyber twin, but still..that tone!)
* Germino Club 40. I owned one very briefly and recall liking it very much.
* Vox AC30 Heritage edition or Custom Classic - I had a Custom Classic and liked it a lot. A Tele into a Klon into the AC30 was one of the very best tones I've ever heard.
* Carr Vincent - the 7/33 watt power switch looks attractive. Not sure it has the lower mid girth I love.

What else should I consider?? I am tired of shipping amps and want to find something to keep for a long time.

I have a strong preference to buy used. Willies has a couple of used Matchless Lightning 210 combos in stock. I'd prefer to have a head and cab set up, but haven't seen a head for sale in a ong time.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. I have tried many of the usual suspects (Shivas, Hot Cat 30, etc), but perhaps I've missed something.

pjrhd28 · Feb 23, 2008

First, I hace one for sale so there's my disclaimer....

To blend the SRV and classic rock tones from Zep, the Crowes, a Boogie Lone Star Classic would for the bill pretty well, and that usually means a Bogner Shiva will work well, too.

Buckeyedog · Feb 23, 2008

Egnater Mod 50. You will be able to do all you want with that.

nuno81291 · Feb 23, 2008

I say an AC30 and a plexi of some sort would do all of those tones with ease.

DøøG · Feb 23, 2008

If you like the 65 line, try the Soho. Interesting mid bump thingee that gets you into gainier territory without changing the overall tone all that much. I liked it more than the Londoner, and the Marquee was too much for me. And try it with a 2x12, G12H30 and Blue (it's a stock combo for 65), great!

02Singlecut · Feb 23, 2008

I was fortunate enough to be yak'n with Grissom @ NAMM in January in the PRS booth. We were talking gear and I told him I was kinda on an amp quest. He asked if I'd played a BadCat in which I replied no...as we don't have any dealers here in Seattle. He said.....hey lets go downstairs to their booth and I'll introduce you and show ya their Panther..... Great amp....and It's in my top 3 as of right now. Now if I could only buy Dave's fingers!!!! :munch

frank62 · Feb 23, 2008

57 Fender Twin or the HW AC30. For 3400 I would go with a Nocaster and The Twin Amp. Right now I think a used AC30 CC at around 800 is the best deal out there on amps. Used Twins are around 1200 and the HW AC30s are 2000 new.

cg · Feb 23, 2008

frank62 said:
57 Fender Twin or the HW AC30. For 3400 I would go with a Nocaster and The Twin Amp. Right now I think a used AC30 CC at around 800 is the best deal out there on amps. Used Twins are around 1200 and the HW AC30s are 2000 new.

I did own a 57 Twin and it was nearly perfect for me. It was a wonderful amp and I do think about buying another. Good call!

My set up at the time was an AC30CC2x (blues) and the Twin. It sounded great!

steve10358 · Feb 23, 2008

None of the amps you listed won't wake up the kids. FYI.

cg · Feb 23, 2008

steve10358 said:
None of the amps you listed won't wake up the kids. FYI.

I will use my POD late at night when I need to be really quiet.

v-verb · Feb 23, 2008

Try to find a used TwoRock with master volume. I had an Emerald 50 and it had nice reverb and I could play at whisper volumes if needed with the master and the loop at teh back tuned down.

They used to be well under $2K used - not sure now.

If volume was not a problem I consider the Komet Constellation a modern masterpiece.

µ¿ z3®ø™ · Feb 23, 2008

cg said:
* Komet 60: I would LOVE to own this amp, but I think it would completely over power my needs.

go w/ Ur gut on this one. for all the tunes U mention, it would be a fantastic choice. the komet attenuator is very transparent and allows one to use the amp at any setting one wants and adjust it down to the dynamics of the drummer w/ little affect to the sound/feel of the amp.

cg said:
* Matchless Clubman, Lightning or DC30. The Independence also looks interesting. I do like to crank the gain up on a regular basis, but I am not sure how effective the master volume is on this one.

i've had a DC30 for a decade and a half and it has classic timbres, as well. again, the airbrake attenuator used for modest attenuation allows one to tailor the SPL to the natural dynamics of the band.

cg said:
* 65 Amps Marquee. The London didn't have the clean headroom or sparkle I was looking for.

i lust after a london. great sounding amp and it records like a dream. U're probably right about the clean headroom within a live context, tho'.

cg said:
* Germino Club 40. I owned one very briefly and recall liking it very much.

greg builds a great, classic sounding amp. i love my classic 45.

cg said:
* Vox AC30 Heritage edition or Custom Classic - I had a Custom Classic and liked it a lot. A Tele into a Klon into the AC30 was one of the very best tones I've ever heard.

i like both those amps, but i wouldn't overlook some of the other 'clones' from some of the small builders. classic tones all around and we're, seemingly, in the midst of an 'AC30 tones' renaissance. when even all the 'country' guys are using quad EL84 amps, U know it's a trend.

U listed the komet 60 first and said U would "LOVE to own this amp". i know quite a bit about 'komet love'. i have three of them. there are ways to tame these beasts down to the levels that U want.

kccheers · Feb 23, 2008

Buckeyedog said:
Egnater Mod 50. You will be able to do all you want with that.

+1000 on the MOD 50:BEER

silverface · Feb 23, 2008

Hi,

I would add one amp to your list: Gabriel Voxer 18

http://gabtone.com/voxer18.htm

Listen to the clips!

Best wishes,

silverface.

murkat · Feb 23, 2008

I'll sell you my Komet, and I'll throw in the Klon

FFTT · Feb 23, 2008

Are you keeping the RSA 23?

If so, you have a good cab already covered, so it's easier just looking for
a head that does what the RSA23 doesn't do.

For home use and recording how about the Vintone Simplex or the Emery Sound Superbaby?

If you need more headroom but also need volume control, how about
the Reeves Custom 50 or Custom Lead?

I'm also impressed with the specs on the Category 5 Tsunami and Andrew.

For Fender cleans, the VVT Amp Fralin is a great deal.

zekmoe · Feb 23, 2008

I have a DC-30, and it sounds great but likes to be loud. The master is ineffective IMHO. It takes away what's great about the amp.

pickslide · Feb 23, 2008

Harry Joyce? That is the live Black Crowes Rich Robinson tone.

Peppy · Feb 23, 2008

At least one of those artists mentioned has used a Swart Atomic Space Tone for live performances...not sure about recording. Used for around $1300. If not enough power (it bumps up a few watts when replacing the 6V6s with 6L6s...no re-biasing necessary) then the SST should do it. I own neither but have played both, the AST extensively, and have seen the AST in action with some local bands...it's in your tonal camp.

* velcro-fly * · Feb 23, 2008

Peppy said:
At least one of those artists mentioned has used a Swart Atomic Space Tone for live performances...not sure about recording. Used for around $1300. If not enough power (it bumps up a few watts when replacing the 6V6s with 6L6s...no re-biasing necessary) then the SST should do it. I own neither but have played both, the AST extensively, and have seen the AST in action with some local bands...it's in your tonal camp.

+10000000

Agreed all the way....I just about bought an AST a week or so ago, then a used SST fell into my lap the day before yesterday. Freaking awesome amp. For roots rock style tones it might be one of the best I've heard -easlily the best I've owned. Does all the AST stuff with a bit more oomph and you can run different cabs. I was never into reverb until this amp came aong, and the tube driven tremelo is just unreal.

For compact stuff though - the AST is a winner and easily the coolest looking amp I've ever seen in person. Check out Greg V's clips of the AST:

http://www.swartamps.com/sounds-AST_greg_v.htm
http://www.swartamps.com/

The SST is a perfect compliment to my Aiken Intruder head.

Steve E

Help me pick my next amp(s) - $3400 budget

cg

pjrhd28

Buckeyedog

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nuno81291

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DøøG

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02Singlecut

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frank62

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cg

steve10358

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cg

v-verb

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µ¿ z3®ø™

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kccheers

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silverface

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murkat

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FFTT

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Peppy

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* velcro-fly *

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