Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: everton_fc on April 18, 2007, 10:05:23 AM
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Hi, wondering if anyone can suggest anything...
I'm after (preferably).... Single channel amp, with the kind of depth of a Fender Twin type amp but with smooth overdrive. Ideally 50watts (no more) in either a 2x12" or 4x12".
I'm not into modern tones like a TSL or DSL or similar and I'm not looking for an all out blues sound either. Kind of thing I'm lookin for is very full sounding, lets the guitar shine through, a fair amount of bottom end.
I thought maybe a Soldano Hot Rod 50 but that sounds quite modern sounding too. I also thought a JCM800 but that lacks a bit of bottom end for my liking (well in the combo I played through)
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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The new Marshall Vintage Modern combo might be right up your street. I tried one out the other day and was VERY impressed. I'll be picking up a head in the future when used ones start knocking about. KT66 valves gives a very vintage tone with a nice spongy midrange. I wasn't impressed with the high gain setting but on low gain it sounded brilliant.
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Check out http://www.matamp.co.uk/kinghead.htm
Best British built amps today.
Or visit them at the LGS in a few weeks.
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I've tried the King Street too - better than the Marshall :D
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How about a Fender Custom Vibrolux Revereb?
I've heard great things about this amp. I'm interested in one myself.
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(http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/ved1980/CIMG1979.jpg)
Here's mine. I love it.
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Though these guys are starting to sway me towards the matamp, the other option is the Cornford Hellcat or MK50, both beautiful amps to play
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have you tried the Fuchs ods50?
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(http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/ved1980/CIMG1979.jpg)
Here's mine. I love it.
Ahhh I thought it was you Ted. Nice to see another matamp forumite on these here boards :)
I know the Kingstreet has been mentionned by a few people, but what about a 1224 as well? Single channel, smooth sounding overdrive, full sounding, lets the guitar shine through? Ticks all of those boxes in my book.
*Rahnooo*
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Matamp would be good, but probably quite expensive?
If you like british tones, a Laney would be good. I believe Laney have more low mid than your typical Marshall, so could perhaps give you more of a deeper sound. With 6L6's in it, I imagine the sound would have more bottom end and grit, I've not tried them - I may at some point though.
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Hey Rahnoo - Tis true, but I've never played the 1224, but can thoroughly recommend the KS.
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Matamp would be good, but probably quite expensive?
If you like british tones, a Laney would be good. I believe Laney have more low mid than your typical Marshall, so could perhaps give you more of a deeper sound. With 6L6's in it, I imagine the sound would have more bottom end and grit, I've not tried them - I may at some point though.
Worth every penny tom. And its hand-built in this country.
I know very little about Laney, other than Tony Iommi uses one :roll: . Not sure where they're made either, this was important to me.
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I've been looking at Hiwatt's on the net today - like the look and sound of a Hiwatt Custom 50 head - anyone tried these?
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Single channel, full sounding, overdrive:
-Dr Z
-Bogner Metropolis
-Bogner Duende
-Plexi reissue or replica (ceriatone seems to be good)
>1 channels:
-Fuchs ODS => VERY expensive but awesome
-Bogner Shiva (between vintage and modern tones)
and many more ...
If I could afford it, I'd get a Bogner Duende or a Fuchs ODS
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a GREAT amp that i don't think I've ever seen anyone on this forum even mention is a Fender Bassman - very full, thick, crunchy, 4x10 (not 4x12 but nearly).
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I know very little about Laney, other than Tony Iommi uses one :roll: . Not sure where they're made either, this was important to me.
the tube ones are made in UK.. for the rest i have no idea
as for matamp.. they're expencive, but that's the price you pay for tone IMO.
i cant wait to go to the factory!!!
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I know very little about Laney, other than Tony Iommi uses one :roll: . Not sure where they're made either, this was important to me.
the tube ones are made in UK.. for the rest i have no idea
as for matamp.. they're expencive, but that's the price you pay for tone IMO.
i cant wait to go to the factory!!!
Yup, valve Laneys are made in Birmingham I think. Others are probably from the far east most likely China. The new Lionheart series will be completely handbuilt and wired apparently.
I work in Huddersfield, which is where Matamp's factory is. I haven't paid them a visit yet, but hope to one day. Do you have to pre-arrange the factory viewings or can you just turn up? To those of you who have been there, how far is it from the Huddersfield train station?
My girlfriend's mum said she worked for an amp company in Huddersfield, so I was like "holy shitee you work for Matamp?!!" but then it turned out it was an audio amp manufacturer not Matamp :(
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Fender Supersonic - now people are beginning to understand them and QC problems of the early rush are over, they are getting good reports - I had a go with the head and thought it a great amp.
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I know very little about Laney, other than Tony Iommi uses one :roll: . Not sure where they're made either, this was important to me.
the tube ones are made in UK.. for the rest i have no idea
as for matamp.. they're expencive, but that's the price you pay for tone IMO.
i cant wait to go to the factory!!!
Yup, valve Laneys are made in Birmingham I think. Others are probably from the far east most likely China. The new Lionheart series will be completely handbuilt and wired apparently.
I work in Huddersfield, which is where Matamp's factory is. I haven't paid them a visit yet, but hope to one day. Do you have to pre-arrange the factory viewings or can you just turn up? To those of you who have been there, how far is it from the Huddersfield train station?
My girlfriend's mum said she worked for an amp company in Huddersfield, so I was like "holy shitee you work for Matamp?!!" but then it turned out it was an audio amp manufacturer not Matamp :(
cr@p I hadn't realised that! I'm from Brum originally but not sure where the Laney factory is / was.
If you want to pop to Matamp, they're located in Meltham which is a village outsite Huddersfield.
Out of courtesy you will need to phone to let them know you're coming, but as long as they know its cool. I spent 8 hours at the factory chatting to Jeff (Matamp owner) and his wife Liz about amps, bands, music, life etc while he was finishing my first Matamp. Great day out!
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the new eastwood airline combos maybe? Might be tough to get in the UK though.
or you could look for an old silvertone amp.
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JTM45 with a master volume installed (or a hotplate if you want the expensive option).
:twisted:
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Great to see YET More Matamps appearing.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/lexlurid/MatampGT1Custom005.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/lexlurid/MatampGT1CustomInnards001.jpg)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/lexlurid/MatampGT1CustomInnards004.jpg)
Can't keep a Good Amp Down!!!
This is my Modded GT1 which has been causing inexplicable cases of Deafness in Cambridgeshire recently! :D
Rob
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what you changed on it?(modded)
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It has a Lower Output than a Stock GT1. This one is Rated at 55 Watts.
It also has Dave Green's version of "EPS" (Power Scaling) added.
All runs through the Hot 100 Loaded 2x12.
I also have a Nifty Footswitching system so that I can change "Voice", "Master" and "Drive" (Boost) on the Fly.
Absolutely delighted with it, does everything that I wanted.....and then a whole lot more besides.
Cheers
Rob
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Sweet amp Rob! ;) Love the cab badge!
Matamp build excellent amps at a price which compares incredibly favourable with their mass produced competition. Well worth considering. Someone mentioned the 1224, and I can say that it is a truly awesome amp. Not only do you have power scaling, but also triode & pentode operation, but the choice of Class A (1 or 2 valves) and Class AB operation (2 or 4 valves). It's the companies flagship amp, but compare the price of that to the price of say a Cornford MK50 or one of the hand built Orange's or Marshall's, or even a Mesa/Boogie, and the Matamp beats them all on price and features! :O
When I was looking around for a new amp, the 1224 was the top choice, but I compared the prices of the alternatives (especially the Cornford), but the 1224 was the cheapest and it was built to my specs and finished to my request. They even went out & bought a roll of vinyl just to cover my amp. Show me another amp company that'll go that extra mile for the customer.
http://www.matamp.co.uk/home.htm
And here's my 1224 and BKP loaded Tokai:
(http://mysite.orange.co.uk/misericordedoom/DSCF5706a.jpg)
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Sweet amp Rob! ;) Love the cab badge!
Matamp build excellent amps at a price which compares incredibly favourable with their mass produced competition. Well worth considering. Someone mentioned the 1224, and I can say that it is a truly awesome amp. Not only do you have power scaling, but also triode & pentode operation, but the choice of Class A (1 or 2 valves) and Class AB operation (2 or 4 valves). It's the companies flagship amp, but compare the price of that to the price of say a Cornford MK50 or one of the hand built Orange's or Marshall's, or even a Mesa/Boogie, and the Matamp beats them all on price and features! :O
When I was looking around for a new amp, the 1224 was the top choice, but I compared the prices of the alternatives (especially the Cornford), but the 1224 was the cheapest and it was built to my specs and finished to my request. They even went out & bought a roll of vinyl just to cover my amp. Show me another amp company that'll go that extra mile for the customer.
http://www.matamp.co.uk/home.htm
And here's my 1224 and BKP loaded Tokai:
(http://mysite.orange.co.uk/misericordedoom/DSCF5706a.jpg)
SWEET JESUS THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!
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I don't normally get GAS over amps - I'm much more interested in guitars, even basses, and I've never needed a big amp anyway. I read the reviews, but I never really think "I want to buy one of those".
However, those Matamps look absolutely awesome!! :o
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I never really think "I want to buy one of those".
ohhhhh i do :( god damn Mesa Lonestar...
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SWEET JESUS THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!
And it sounds better than it looks... :D
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SWEET JESUS THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!
And it sounds better than it looks... :D
And THAT is THE Thing about Matamps!! They might NOT look as Radical as many (Depending of course on how YOU chose to have Your Matamp Finished) But it's THAT Sound. Mine was designed with one particular Player's Sound in mind and My Goodness.......It's there in Spades!
I agree though.......Your Blue Rig and Your LP look GREAT! :D
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Have....serious....GAS....for Matamp......am...drowning...in....the....fumes!
Skybone, nice guitar
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yeah get it for amps too always wanted a 5150(tried it then didn't like it) then was for a fender twin deluxe(great when gigged, but on half power and 2 valves down was still too loud at 1 in house)
Just wish I never sold my hiwatt 1970 50wat head and 4 x 12 cab(was you and still lived at home, also was a problem with my first car)
And now really like the mesa boogie rect amps(not practical) and am wanting to try the matamps
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Skybone, nice guitar
Your Blue Rig and Your LP look GREAT!
It is the sound... IMO they sound so transparent and impart very little of their own character on your tone, so what you hear is your guitar and your playing. They also react very quickly to your playing and amplify everything, especially the little mistakes that most other amps would hide! :?
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They also react very quickly to your playing and amplify everything, especially the little mistakes that most other amps would hide!
Hmmm, that's put me off a bit. Mistakes are my "playing style". :?
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The thing is though Phil, they make you play better ;)
I loved the King Street when I tried it out at the factory.
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I bought a VHT pittbull 30 watt combo amplifier class A
It sounds fantastic especially the drive chanell
I recomend you VHT very good amplifiers
I own 3 guitars:
1.Fender stratocaster SRV.
2.Tokai LS-180
3.Mayones setius pro Lizard
All of my guitars sounds great on my new amplifier.
VHT combo and heads have a real good sound personality.
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3.Mayones setius pro Lizard
Ooooh!
How is it? :o
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They also react very quickly to your playing and amplify everything, especially the little mistakes that most other amps would hide!
Hmmm, that's put me off a bit. Mistakes are my "playing style". :?
At least you have a style
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For the tones your describing I would check out Swart amps
http://www.swartamps.com/amplifiers.htm
I bought one at the start of the year and I am very pleased with it. I bought the 5 watt version mainly for recording/practice and it's very loud! I usually keep it around 2-3 and they go up to 11!!! :twisted:
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3.Mayones setius pro Lizard
Ooooh!
How is it? :o
I bought that guitar from the shop that i am working
the guitar is just perfect ...the body is mahogany and the top is amazaque
(Amazaque=exotic wood) dimarzio pro evolution pickups rosewood fingerboard.....its sounds perfect with my super 30 pittbull VHT.
The guitar is bolt on instrument but it has much sustain very good warm sound
So you dont have to give all your money to buy a PRS
If you have a dealer go and play one.
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At least you have a style
Thanks, Rob! :D
I suppose I do have a style - "every note a wrong 'un".
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All the right notes, not necessarily in the right order!
;)
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Reminds me of our Old Bass Player's ALL TIME Famous quote about Me!
"Your Playings Just Like Your Pool Playing! All Balls And Accuracy!" :D
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3.Mayones setius pro Lizard
Ooooh!
How is it? :o
I bought that guitar from the shop that i am working
the guitar is just perfect ...the body is mahogany and the top is amazaque
(Amazaque=exotic wood) dimarzio pro evolution pickups rosewood fingerboard.....its sounds perfect with my super 30 pittbull VHT.
The guitar is bolt on instrument but it has much sustain very good warm sound
So you dont have to give all your money to buy a PRS
If you have a dealer go and play one.
How much did you pay?
Haven't been able to find many prices on the web...
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3.Mayones setius pro Lizard
Ooooh!
How is it? :o
I bought that guitar from the shop that i am working
the guitar is just perfect ...the body is mahogany and the top is amazaque
(Amazaque=exotic wood) dimarzio pro evolution pickups rosewood fingerboard.....its sounds perfect with my super 30 pittbull VHT.
The guitar is bolt on instrument but it has much sustain very good warm sound
So you dont have to give all your money to buy a PRS
If you have a dealer go and play one.
How much did you pay?
Haven't been able to find many prices on the web...[/qu
Guitar cost 1700
go there : http://www.musicstore.de/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/MusicStore-MusicStoreShop-Site/en_EN/-/EUR/ViewProductDetail-Start;pgid=?SKU=GIT0008824-000&ProductUUID=0&JumpTo=OfferList
They sell it for 1500
I recoment alnico 5 pickups for this guitar not the installed Dimarzio Evolution
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Matamp would be good, but probably quite expensive?
If you like british tones, a Laney would be good. I believe Laney have more low mid than your typical Marshall, so could perhaps give you more of a deeper sound. With 6L6's in it, I imagine the sound would have more bottom end and grit, I've not tried them - I may at some point though.
You beat me to it Tom,
When I was last gigging, I sometimes used my Laney LH50R-II, which was like having a mixture of my Fender Twin and a convincing switchable gain stage if needed. I use N.O.S Jan-Philips 6L6WGB output valves which certainly do give plenty of clear bottom end and tasteful breakup when using the gain channel. As you may gather, it is not a single channel - but the layout is along one single row - and therefore remains uncluttered. For some it may not be as 'sexy' as as Matamp - but it is a very nice and affordable option if you can find one second hand.
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Fender Tonemasters have a smooth vintage-flavoured overdrive, lots of bottom end and thick as a whale omelette.
:twisted:
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I've got a late nineties Twin on long term loan at the mo and it ticks all the boxes you said. Very good thick bassy 'plummy' overdrive when pushed a bit...and with the 25 watt mode it breaks up relatively early, although still at some volume. It's no 'house' amp!
Main reason for posting though is because I've tried a newish 'The Twin' and a Matamp King Street side by side. I'm a fan of Matamp (I've got a Chino) but the Twin just blew it out of the water. It made the KS sound flat, honky and with no depth, and the KS is a pretty good amp. To be slightly fair this was at relatively low volume, but having a Chino, which shares the KS power stage, I'd say even flat out it would struggle. My Chino sounds very good indeed with my Les Paul copy though, probably because the preamp doesn't impart a great deal of character, which the LP compensates for.
The second reason for posting was because I had to buy some new power valves for the Twin a couple of weeks ago, and I just thought it was extremely unbelievably weird that out of hundreds of 6L6s, I chose NOS Philips JAN 6L6WGBs, which is what Fourth Feline put in his Laney. Weird.
To sum up at last - I'd never considered a Twin before because it's such an obvious, non boutique choice...but I tell you there's a very good reason they're an industry standard!!
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Just thought I'd post so I can add to the wierdness but I put NOS Philips Jan 6l6's in my amp recently too!
Got them from Watford valves, where'd you find yours? If it's from Watford valves, they must be thinking that something is going on!
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I've put Tung Sol 5881's in my Ampeg Superrocket. Same kind of valves as the Philips JAN 6L6WGB's. Awesome tubes. Very lively.
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Just to complete the circle, my Fender amp is also a late 90s 'Twin Amp' .
I got turned onto the N.O.S. Jan Philips ( for my Laney ) by Derek at Watford valves. I specifically wanted a 6L6 that had better headroom than the stock Sovtek 5881s, but would break up creamily if pushed. I envisaged that to be the task required of my Laney.
For the '97 'Twin Amp' ( A.K.A. evil twin ) - I have a set of N.O.S 7581s which give an even bigger sound stage - and begin to break up after small animals and children have been stunned by the sheer clean volume. Thank goodness there is a 25watt / 100 watt switch on the back ....
( Is this one like the one you have on loan Underground Player ? ).
:D
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Fender Supersonic - now people are beginning to understand them and QC problems of the early rush are over, they are getting good reports - I had a go with the head and thought it a great amp.
+1 If I was looking for another amp I'd probably go for a supersonic- you've got a Bassman channel for meaty clean to thick crunch tones, a vibrolux channel for sparkley cleans and a burn channel for superb modern high gain sounds. Remember these are not amp sims either its an all valve beasty!
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Has anyone looked at the dates on this thread? It's oooooooold.
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"Mesfigas" revived it. :lol:
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Yep that's the one mr Feline, just like 'mine'.
Saying that I thought the latest Twin on the Fender website was identical to mine, but the bias section of the rear panel is slightly different and mine is supposed to be biased at a (worryingly high) 80Mv instead of 60. I think Fender must have given the amp a sly makeover recently.
I got those Philips from Watford Valves too, on the strength of their NOS-ness, military-ness and apparently early breakup. I'll see if I run out of headroom tonight...somehow I doubt it!
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Yep that's the one mr Feline, just like 'mine'.
Saying that I thought the latest Twin on the Fender website was identical to mine, but the bias section of the rear panel is slightly different and mine is supposed to be biased at a (worryingly high) 80Mv instead of 60. I think Fender must have given the amp a sly makeover recently.
I got those Philips from Watford Valves too, on the strength of their NOS-ness, military-ness and apparently early breakup. I'll see if I run out of headroom tonight...somehow I doubt it!
I agree that you'll not run out of headroom. That is one of the nice things about that 'Twin' and those valves - the fact that the 25watt option is not really much quieter, but rather it's character changes to encourage an earlier breakup on the hot channel whilst a quick switch back to the 100watt option restores optimum headroom using the same valves. I see from the schematic, that it is simply reducing the voltage coming off of the mains rectifier, so giving something like that effect which E.V.H got by putting a variac on the mains supply of his Marshall. I never ran out of headroom with those valves the Laney, unless I switched to the hot channel.
The other restraint I had to consider is that the Laney in the picture ( mark II with low profile and slope front ) - will only take 'short bottle' 6L6s due to lack of physical space in the back. As I therefore could not switch to EL34 bias without modding the amp, I found a nice Jan / Philips 6L6WGB made inroads into the Rock side of things and gave me quality on the mellow side.
Thanks for telling me about your kit Underground Player, I enjoy reading how people use the same kit - and news of how other variations work.
Cheers ! :D
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you might want to try out the Fender Champ 600, it has a true vintage tone (if you want 40's, 50's and 60's) they have just re-issued the vibro-champ as well from the 70s. Also the Fender Super Reverb reissue, Orange 5A, Marshall vintage reissue's, Vox AC15 Heritige, Vox AC 30 CC. None of them are cheap! except the Fender Champ 600 :wink:
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Nice to see a Twin !When i was younger :oops: ,my amp was a Traynor 100w (1974),2 channels and very similar to the Twin...Very sweet sounding with my Strat...I lost them when my place burned down..There are new Traynor made today but they looked very different.Is there anybody out there who knows them?
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Hi, wondering if anyone can suggest anything...
I'm after (preferably).... Single channel amp, with the kind of depth of a Fender Twin type amp but with smooth overdrive. Ideally 50watts (no more) in either a 2x12" or 4x12".
I'm not into modern tones like a TSL or DSL or similar and I'm not looking for an all out blues sound either. Kind of thing I'm lookin for is very full sounding, lets the guitar shine through, a fair amount of bottom end.
I thought maybe a Soldano Hot Rod 50 but that sounds quite modern sounding too. I also thought a JCM800 but that lacks a bit of bottom end for my liking (well in the combo I played through)
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Intitially i though of a Fender Prosonic, but that might be to hard to get your hands on. The JCM800 head 50w with a V30 cab or greenback cab will surely do what you want. The 50w JCM800 heads are alot more bassy/bluesy then their big 100w brothers. The V30 cabs have better bass response, allthough the greenbacks, if kicked in the rear a bit will give you a sweet vintage tone like the bluesbreaker but with a bit more balls and with a warmer, deeper sound. The stock JCM800 G12T-75 speakers in the combo are definately not what your after.
If you have a chance, try the prosonic though its a very good amp. And dont think 10" speakers have any less low end, they often have better low end than larger cone speakers.
GL, Henk