Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: MartinS on November 21, 2009, 05:49:21 PM
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OK, now I've got my guitar sorted I'm thinking about my amp!
I've got a Laney Lionheart L20H and matching 2x12 cab. It's a great amp, but it's a pain to take anywhere -- I'd love something 1x12 combo sized.
Something high quality and well made. I'm mainly clean/slight breakup, maybe a second channel for more grind.
Any suggestions?
Cheers.
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I recommend looking at a Cornell Romany Plus. I have one and utterly love it. It's a tweedy 10 watt 1x12 all valve combo. It's single channel but you can switch out the tone circuitry for extra gain. The Plus has reverb and it and the non reverb version are now switchable between 10 and 0.05 watts over 4 settings. It never fails to put a massive smile on my face.
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I recommend the Egnater Renegade, great sounding amp and super versatile. You could also check out the Rebel 30 for a more simplistic approach.
http://www.thomann.de/de/egnater_rebel_30_112.htm
http://www.thomann.de/de/egnater_renegade_112.htm
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MJW Roadstar 36, with some mods to tailor it to your needs
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what about a cornford combo? hurricane?
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I like the look of Cornfords, Cornells, etc. Small, simple amps. Ideally it would be something that would approach slight breakup at gig levels. I found this yesterday which looks mega portable, but is somewhat expensive!
http://www.barnettdavies.com/index.php (http://www.barnettdavies.com/index.php)
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I like the look of Cornfords, Cornells, etc. Small, simple amps. Ideally it would be something that would approach slight breakup at gig levels. I found this yesterday which looks mega portable, but is somewhat expensive!
http://www.barnettdavies.com/index.php (http://www.barnettdavies.com/index.php)
Well if you're fine with spending that kind of money then I'd add some other suggestions:
Budda Superdrive 30 or 18 (awesome, I owned a 30 and its cleans and drives kick ass): www.budda.com
Blackstar Artisan Series http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk
Carr Rambler, Mercury or Slant 6V http://www.carramps.com
Obviously the Bogner Shiva or Duende Combos!!!! http://www.bogneramplification.com/
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MJW Roadstar 36, with some mods to tailor it to your needs
These look nice, and well priced.
Thinking about it, I like an amp that responds when I play harder. Sometimes I want a little more overdrive, but not often. If I could get an amp that'll give me the clean(ish) sound I'm after at gig volumes in a small package, I could always get a pedal for more overdriven sounds.
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I like the look of Cornfords, Cornells, etc. Small, simple amps. Ideally it would be something that would approach slight breakup at gig levels. I found this yesterday which looks mega portable, but is somewhat expensive!
http://www.barnettdavies.com/index.php (http://www.barnettdavies.com/index.php)
Well if you're fine with spending that kind of money...
I figure I could get £600 for my Laney - I could justify an extra couple of hundred quid, I guess.
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Oh.... or go classic:
http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Marshall-1974X~ID~6137.asp
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MJW Roadstar 36, with some mods to tailor it to your needs
These look nice, and well priced.
Thinking about it, I like an amp that responds when I play harder. Sometimes I want a little more overdrive, but not often. If I could get an amp that'll give me the clean(ish) sound I'm after at gig volumes in a small package, I could always get a pedal for more overdriven sounds.
Thats exactly how i use mine, then add an overdrive pedal or two to distort it further.
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You can't go wrong with an MJW ;)
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You can't go wrong with an MJW ;)
When I saw this thread appear I was waiting for this response. :)
Very true of course. I have an MJW and it is very nice indeed!
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I know I'm biased, but I seriously believe there's nothing that can touch the quality/price ratio of Martin's amps.
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I know I'm biased, but I seriously believe there's nothing that can touch the quality/price ratio of Martin's amps.
Yep. Great stuff if you ask me - although I'm aware that I haven't tried out any other non-mainstream amps. Probably because I don't need to :)
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I know I'm biased, but I seriously believe there's nothing that can touch the quality/price ratio of Martin's amps.
+1
I've tried a few or Martins amps out lately and I think they are in a league of their own. I think the Roadstar 18 TT would fit the bill and 18 watts is certainly gigable as long as your're not after clean cleans at that volume. The combo would be light and portable and it is a very dynamic amp.
The Cornell amps do look really nice but at £1400 for the 18/20 combo pretty expensive!
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Exactly.
If I was looking for MJW alternatives, I'd be looking at Cornells or Dr Zs. But look at their prices in comparison.....
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Thanks for the nice words guys, always appreciated.
I'm hoping to get some further clips on my MySpace site soon, and one addition will be a superb Roadstar 18 demo done by our own Tom Jackson. :wink:
Thanks to Tom and his mate Dom for sorting this out. :)
The downside of buying from me (and many other smaller builders) is waiting time; currently my waiting list is about 12 weeks.
On prices, mine are low at the moment and will stay that way for a time. At some point though I am going to carry out a full review of prices (and the range of models etc) and it's likely that there will need to be some rises.
Cheers! :D
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You lot are not helping my curently suppressed MJW gas!
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Go on, you know you want to ;)
I've got an MJW on 'simmer' at the moment.....
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Put the Peavey classic 30 on your list as well.
It's better than you think.
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Put the Peavey classic 30 on your list as well.
It's better than you think.
Although probably the worst amp to repair if something does go wrong.
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emailed MJW. No reply. :?
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I've not received anything. :? Did you use the link on my website? It usually works ok. :)
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I sent it to the email address at the bottom. (mj.gs@virgin.net) I'll try using the form...
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Can't find a form!
I know some people like folks to phone to demonstrate that they're "serious", but I hate using the phone, plus, it's more time consuming.
I'll post the message here instead. If you want you can reply to msketchley@mac.com
I've currently got a Laney Lionheart L20H and matching 2x12 cab, Gibson 335. It's a great amp, but to be honest it's a bit of a pain to take anywhere. I'd love something 1x12 combo sized.
I want something high quality, well made. I'm mainly a clean/slight breakup kind of guy. I like an amp that'll respond when I play harder. Sometimes I want a little more overdrive, but not often. If I could get an amp that'll give me the basic sound I'm after I could always get a pedal for that. The gigs we do are usually miced, but I'd need some headroom.
Someone has suggested a Roadstar 36. Could you advise?
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You got the right email address MartinS, I'd try sending it again. Meanwhile I'll point MartinW to this thread....
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Know what you mean about the Classic 30 - I have one and really like it - when I took it to be 'repaired' for a minor fault (little niggle, rather than a real problem) the conclusion was "Err, I'd leave it alone if I was you - taking it apart is more hassle than it is worth!"
Nice amp though - does clean and will crunch up with no problem - little on the heavy side.
One of my mates has a Brunetti Maranello which is a good portable amp - no reverb but you may be able to live without that..
Mike
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Can't find a form!
I'll post the message here instead. If you want you can reply to msketchley@mac.com
There isn't a form, just the links on the web pages. The link and my email address are working fine; had several this morning! Very strange. Could the problem be at your end?
Anyway, I have replied to your email as above and hope you get it. :)
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Martin - I got one email from you yesterday but none after that. Could you try again or just post here?
Rehearsed today. Have come to the conclusion that in an ideal world I want an amp that does full yet clean cleans at gig volumes, in a small package.
The Laney is just too dark sounding and although arguably "clean" it sounds very rich when playing chords at volume.
So, can you help?
Cheers,
Martin
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I've PM'd you Martin with the text of my emails.
Maybe a phone call on Monday would be the best way?
Cheers. :)
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The Laney is just too dark sounding and although arguably "clean" it sounds very rich when playing chords at volume.
Just my ten pence worth. I had a Lionheart L5T112. A great little amp but with the same 'issues' i.e. too dark sounding. I now have the Martamp Deluxe - a box of Fender based majesty. Although the deluxe wouldn't provide the cleans at gig volume you are looking for I can say that it is a significant step up in quality to the Laney. I know for a fact that when I start gigging again (a few years away yet) Martin will be at the top of a very short list for making an amp for me that provides me cleans at volume.
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I like my ENGL screamer 50 v. much. Superb clean and overdriven.2 channel both with lo/hi gain.£1k with the excellent footswitch , well worth trying. Very versatile v.g value
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+1 on Martamp stuff for quality . I use a Goldstar Power amp for my shop rack and it's great
Another suggestion I will happily make is try a Randall RM20
This is the 18w version of the modular amp so you can change the amp type at will
You could have a blackface module for doing Fender clean - it has a solo / boost function too
But you could also swap out the module for a tweed or a Marshall Plexi or whatever
Or even put in a high gain module to fool around with - so many options once you have the amp itself
Very versatile idea!
See modules here:
http://www.randallamplifiers.com/Amplifiers/MTS-Modules/ (http://www.randallamplifiers.com/Amplifiers/MTS-Modules/)
And there are guys doing great modified modules too
(http://www.randallamplifiers.com/images/stories/products/amplifiers/detail/combos/rm20bp.jpg)
RM20B
PREAMP
Single Modular Channel
MASTER CONTROLS
Presence • Density
POWER AMP
All Tube • (2) EL84 Tubes
POWER OUTPUT: 18 Watts
SPEAKER: 12” Celestion Greenback
FEATURES:
Series Loop
“Mic Eliminator” XLR Output
Tube Bias Section
World Voltage Selector
RF1 Footswitch
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OMG - found some RM20s at great prices
Check this out
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Randall-RM20-Combo-Amp-Blackface-Preamp-Module_W0QQitemZ300370871183QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item45ef7fc38f (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Randall-RM20-Combo-Amp-Blackface-Preamp-Module_W0QQitemZ300370871183QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item45ef7fc38f)
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+1 on Martamp stuff for quality . I use a Goldstar Power amp for my shop rack and it's great
Another suggestion I will happily make is try a Randall RM20
This is the 18w version of the modular amp so you can change the amp type at will
You could have a blackface module for doing Fender clean - it has a solo / boost function too
But you could also swap out the module for a tweed or a Marshall Plexi or whatever
Or even put in a high gain module to fool around with - so many options once you have the amp itself
Very versatile idea!
See modules here:
http://www.randallamplifiers.com/Amplifiers/MTS-Modules/ (http://www.randallamplifiers.com/Amplifiers/MTS-Modules/)
And there are guys doing great modified modules too
(http://www.randallamplifiers.com/images/stories/products/amplifiers/detail/combos/rm20bp.jpg)
RM20B
PREAMP
Single Modular Channel
MASTER CONTROLS
Presence • Density
POWER AMP
All Tube • (2) EL84 Tubes
POWER OUTPUT: 18 Watts
SPEAKER: 12” Celestion Greenback
FEATURES:
Series Loop
“Mic Eliminator” XLR Output
Tube Bias Section
World Voltage Selector
RF1 Footswitch
Can these be modded to access both channels of Egnater modules?
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No I dont think so - or not as yet!
The RM100s can but shipping them back to the USA is way too costly
But it's a good amp and there are mods that can be done to these
See here: http://mtsforum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=6163 (http://mtsforum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=6163)
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I recommend the Egnater Renegade, great sounding amp and super versatile. You could also check out the Rebel 30 for a more simplistic approach.
http://www.thomann.de/de/egnater_rebel_30_112.htm
http://www.thomann.de/de/egnater_renegade_112.htm
Thread hijacking, sorry - but I'm afraid the Blues Junior will not survive our new drummer :?
Hunter, have you direct experience with these amps (specially the rebel 30 FWIW) ? I've heard quite nice things (sound-wise) on youtube, but also found a few reviews rambling about severe reliabilaty issues...
Also, anyone here having some hands-on experience with Laboga amps (specially the alligator twin) ?
TIA
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I recommend the Egnater Renegade, great sounding amp and super versatile. You could also check out the Rebel 30 for a more simplistic approach.
http://www.thomann.de/de/egnater_rebel_30_112.htm
http://www.thomann.de/de/egnater_renegade_112.htm
Thread hijacking, sorry - but I'm afraid the Blues Junior will not survive our new drummer :?
Hunter, have you direct experience with these amps (specially the rebel 30 FWIW) ? I've heard quite nice things (sound-wise) on youtube, but also found a few reviews rambling about severe reliabilaty issues...
Also, anyone here having some hands-on experience with Laboga amps (specially the alligator twin) ?
TIA
I have played the Renegade like 20 minutes and Bruce was dialing in tones. People were stopping and looking, so it can't have been sounding so bad, especially with my playing LOL
But it sounded real nice, very musical and easy to play, with depth in tone and I am still Gasing for one :O)
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dammit! you've got me figuring out how i can afford that randall combo and which modules i'd need!
i should just get an MJW Orion and be done with it!
(let's see, Plexi, Blackface and a modern one, hmmm.... )
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dammit! you've got me figuring out how i can afford that randall combo and which modules i'd need!
i should just get an MJW Orion and be done with it!
(let's see, Plexi, Blackface and a modern one, hmmm.... )
I just liked the expandability so you can add to it later as funds or tastes allow.....
The valve boost seemed cool and the recording out is supposed to be excellant
I had to stop myself buying it because I already have 4 Egnater/Randall rigs (3 rack systems & the LynchBox half stack)
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the randall combo does seem like the perfect recording solution, with two or three modules you've potentially got every sound you'll ever need. but how much difference does the EL84 power section make? it's certainly not a valve associated with blackface or plexi amps.