Looking for something along the lines of a Princeton/Hiwatt

S

simpl

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I've been tirelessly trying to figure out what I'm actually looking for in an amp for the past couple months and I think I now know.

Firstly, I play mainly at home and record so I don't need anything too loud. I may play an indoor gig or something but if I did it'd certainly be miced so I don't think I want a Twin :p
I'm looking for an amp with great cleans that can possibly hit that edgy crunchy blues rock tone and takes pedals well (especially OD, delay, fuzz).

I think that'd put me along the lines of a Princeton Reverb/Deluxe Reverb, wouldn't it? But I don't know if that's the best choice for me. I'm looking for something that will last me a long time. I play stuff along the lines of Clapton, Knopfler, and some Gilmour though I do like my Black Sabbath a bit.

I'm not opposed to buying used. In fact, I'll be surprised if I don't buy used.
I'm not opposed to a head/cab route but I'd like to keep it under $800-900, especially because of how expensive pedals are.

So I'm sort of looking at a Clapton/Gilmour tone. For Clapton think Crossroads Festival and Layla album, and current Gilmour.
 
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IM4Tone

IM4Tone

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Messages
3,769
Fender Super Sonic 22. Clean channel much like DRRI, but no tremelo. "Drive" channel will go from Bluesy OD to major distortion and everything in between. Built on the DRRI platform according to Fender.

For much less $$$ check out the Ibanez TSA15 and add a reverb pedal. More volume than you'd expect!
 
S

simpl

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101
Thanks for the suggestions. Still looking into amps though. I heard a lot about the SS22 but I also heard that it's lacking in any sort of epic tone.
 
G

Greaser

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682
Do you have a local store with a decent selection of amps that you could try out? See if you can find a tweed bassman. I know it's bigger and louder than you may need, but it sounds better at low volumes than a DRRI, or a PRRI (IMO.) The tweed bassman has amazing cleans and takes pedals as good as any amp. The 4x10 speakers help give it a really full, 3D sound even at low volumes.
 
S

simpl

Member
Messages
101
Greaser said:
Do you have a local store with a decent selection of amps that you could try out? See if you can find a tweed bassman. I know it's bigger and louder than you may need, but it sounds better at low volumes than a DRRI, or a PRRI (IMO.) The tweed bassman has amazing cleans and takes pedals as good as any amp. The 4x10 speakers help give it a really full, 3D sound even at low volumes.
Click to expand...

My guitar center sucks. They mainly stock Voxes and Line 6s as well as the obvious DRRI, Pro Jr, and Blues Jr. Although, I don't expect them to be stock vintage amps much less boutique amps. I'm not sure if they have a bassman in there though. It would be pretty sad if they didn't.

And by tweed bassman, I assume you mean the reissue. I heard some rebiasing and tube/rect swapping needs to go on to get the RI running well on low volumes. Although I'd like something that can function live and at home, I'd prefer something that shines more at home. If I do play live, I can always have it miced. I don't see myself playing huge, outdoor gigs anytime in the near future.
 
G

Greaser

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682
I'm not playing huge outdoor gigs either. What I meant was my tweed bassman sounds better at home playing volumes than the DRRI, PRRI, or a vintage Princeton reverb (I've tried them all.). IMO of course. It does sound better turned way up, but it sounds great not turned up too.
 
Frankee

Frankee

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DonsPrincetonHiwatt.jpg
 
Dewey Decibel

Dewey Decibel

Are we there yet?
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simpl said:
I've been tirelessly trying to figure out what I'm actually looking for in an amp for the past couple months and I think I now know.

Firstly, I play mainly at home and record so I don't need anything too loud. I may play an indoor gig or something but if I did it'd certainly be miced so I don't think I want a Twin :p
I'm looking for an amp with great cleans that can possibly hit that edgy crunchy blues rock tone and takes pedals well (especially OD, delay, fuzz).

I think that'd put me along the lines of a Princeton Reverb/Deluxe Reverb, wouldn't it? But I don't know if that's the best choice for me. I'm looking for something that will last me a long time. I play stuff along the lines of Clapton, Knopfler, and some Gilmour though I do like my Black Sabbath a bit.

I'm not opposed to buying used. In fact, I'll be surprised if I don't buy used.
I'm not opposed to a head/cab route but I'd like to keep it under $800-900, especially because of how expensive pedals are.

So I'm sort of looking at a Clapton/Gilmour tone. For Clapton think Crossroads Festival and Layla album, and current Gilmour.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure where the Hiwatt comes in, is that for the Gilmour stuff? To me Clapner @ Crossroads and Layla are very different sounds, as is modern Gilmour.

None of those guys played one, but honestly I think you'd do well with a Marshall 18 watt or clone/variant. You can get an attenuator or master volume if it's too much to get that edge at home, but based on trying to cop all 3 of those sounds (and the other requirements) that's what I'd recommend. A lot of the clips out there are balls out rock tones, but they have really sweet cleans and killer edge of breakup sounds.
 
S

simpl

Member
Messages
101
True, but I just want it all! I don't NEED natural amp distortion though. I'm perfectly fine with using pedals for that. I guess that's what I meant by the Hiwatt part.
 
FFTT

FFTT

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Messages
29,477
Reeves Custom 12

Class A Hand Wired Mil Spec, very affordable.

To really get that Hiwatt Sound, a Reeves Custom 50 is dead on DR-504 Circuit.
To get that Overdriven Hiwatt Sound at lower volumes, the Custom Jimmy 50

Also Strong Recommendation for a Vintage, Hand Wired Ampeg Reverberocket
with a Fane Medusa 12" 100 ceramic
 
trwigg

trwigg

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Messages
741
FFTT said:
Reeves Custom 12

Class A Hand Wired Mil Spec, very affordable.

To really get that Hiwatt Sound, a Reeves Custom 50 is dead on DR-504 Circuit.
To get that Overdriven Hiwatt Sound at lower volumes, the Custom Jimmy 50

Also Strong Recommendation for a Vintage, Hand Wired Ampeg Reverberocket
with a Fane Medusa 12" 100 ceramic
Click to expand...

FFTT beat me to it! I have one of these Custom 12's loaded with the WGS Blawkhawk 50 and I think it would be perfect for what you seek and they are not that expensive. Good luck.
 
S

simpl

Member
Messages
101
Haha Reeves is what I was settling on until I heard that it was more Marshally than anything else (not a bad thing of course). However I could never find a fully clean demo. People seem to play mainly AC/DC gainy stuff with them
 
FFTT

FFTT

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Vintage Hand Wired '64 Reverberocket, Strat Plus with Golds and a 2001 Fane Axiom
12-75

 
1bender

1bender

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136
Perhaps this....'86 Marshall Artist 3203 w/410 cab....it's a 2 channel, 30 watt head with EL34, 12AX7 tubes and sounds great at any level. Smaller in size than the normal Marshall 1/2 stack.

3203a.jpg
 
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