One amp to play blues, classic rock, 80's hard rock

[tjinca1]

If you could choose one amp that would cover all 3 territories, what would it be? Preferably $1500 or less, 50 watts or less, and something I can try (so no builders, clones, etc). Head or combo is fine. I play mostly an American Deluxe Strat with HSS pickup configuration. Thanks!

I like blues like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sayce, SRV, Bonamassa (so with some dirt to it, but the ability to clean up).

Classic rock like Zep, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Hendrix, Stones.

80s rock like Scorps, VH, UFO, Ozzy, Nugent

EDIT: NO PEDALS, all gain from amp.

 

[Dale]

5e3. Swanpro 20. Bassman LTD. Pedals.

 

[gregsguitars]

Fender twin reverb....

 

[Silentoctave]

5E3

 

[TubeStack]

Marshall Vintage Modern

 

[tjinca1]

Those won't get me 80's rock tones. I'm talking no pedals for Distortion.

 

[playthecray]

Budda Superdrive 18 or 30

 

[MissoulaGriz]

Right off the top of my head I'm thinking Marshall:

JCM800
JCM900
DSL50

 

[KWthinline]

Mesa LoneStar Special or LoneStar Classic

 

[8len8]

Channel switching ok?

 

[MikeyG]

Landry LS100 G3

 

[mitchanator]

Mini rec head or rectoverb combo. It will do all those tones with no problem

 

[mizzlfoshizzl]

Marshall DSL40C

 

[RockManDan]

sure no pedals? A plexitone will enhance your options significantly....

 

[Heady Jam Fan]

Mesa MKIII

 

[majorminor]

Just played the new Mesa Rectoverb 25 and it fits the bill. Especially if portable but still fairly loud is important. That new speaker rocks IMO.

 

[Fifthstone]

Fender custon 68 Deluxe Reverb and a couple of pedals. Done.

 

[tjinca1]

Channel switching ok?

For sure.

 

[telejammer]

You could try a Marshall JVM 50watt combo or 205H head, lots of options there for different styles of music and would be within your budget especially used gear.

 

[straightblues]

That is a lot of territory to cover with one amp. It is hard to get the Fender clean tones and the Marshall dirt in one amp. An out of the box sollution would be a Randall MTS amp. The MTS amp have separate preamp modules. You could get a Super Reverb module and a Marshall module and switch between them. I have one of these and they will cover all that territory and do it very well. (these amps are discontinued but are still well supported by third party vendors. check them out at the MTS forum. http://mtsforum.grailtone.com/viewforum.php?f=12 ) You could be all in on one of these for less than $1,000 and they sound great.