Best amps for the Blues baby!

[hamfist]

As for AC30s, the current ones have rubbish transformers, I'm not kidding you - it makes the top boost channel sound really WIERD (phasey).  I recently replaced the output transformer on one with a Mercury Magnetics one and the improvement was night and day (now a really tasty amp).  So, I'd say to get an AC30CC, but ONLY if you budget to have the OT upgraded (an extra £150, plus £50 to have it fitted).

 I'm surprised to hear you say that. The CC's are now very common amps, and I have read a LOT of opinions on them, and never heard any particular huge criticism of the transformers. Yes, it seems to be generally agreed that a good Mercury Magnetics OP is beneficial, but many folks with good ears seem happy with the standard transformers.
  My Handwired AC30HH certainly has no wierd phasey stuff going on. I would guess that it uses the same transformers as the CC, but I'm not sure of that. Trying to find out actually.

It's just that typical wierd midrange that the AC30 top-boost circuit has but when mixing the channels it was worse.

I'm not exaggerating, the MM OT upgrade improved more than I was expecting - its a SERIOUSLY nice amp now.  I'm even considering buying one myself.

Which MM OT was it ?  The Woden seems popular at PP.

[HTH AMPS]

As for AC30s, the current ones have rubbish transformers, I'm not kidding you - it makes the top boost channel sound really WIERD (phasey).  I recently replaced the output transformer on one with a Mercury Magnetics one and the improvement was night and day (now a really tasty amp).  So, I'd say to get an AC30CC, but ONLY if you budget to have the OT upgraded (an extra £150, plus £50 to have it fitted).

 I'm surprised to hear you say that. The CC's are now very common amps, and I have read a LOT of opinions on them, and never heard any particular huge criticism of the transformers. Yes, it seems to be generally agreed that a good Mercury Magnetics OP is beneficial, but many folks with good ears seem happy with the standard transformers.
  My Handwired AC30HH certainly has no wierd phasey stuff going on. I would guess that it uses the same transformers as the CC, but I'm not sure of that. Trying to find out actually.

It's just that typical wierd midrange that the AC30 top-boost circuit has but when mixing the channels it was worse.

I'm not exaggerating, the MM OT upgrade improved more than I was expecting - its a SERIOUSLY nice amp now.  I'm even considering buying one myself.

Which MM OT was it ?  The Woden seems popular at PP.

I'd not surprised the Woden is popular, it's the most Beatlesy sounding of the AC30 output transformers.

The Haddon and Albion are more Marshally (i.e. more grind, less 'chime').

The 'RS' OT that I used is representative of the earliest AC30s.  This is the same OT that Marshall used in the Bluesbreaker and has various taps to select the primary Z (it was basically a multi-purpose OT, but happened to sound heavenly in AC30s and Bluesbreakers).  The RS has a thick, rich tone that loves to be overdriven - I'm gonna get another to try in a JTM45 sometime down the road.

[hamfist]

I'd not surprised the Woden is popular, it's the most Beatlesy sounding of the AC30 output transformers.

The Haddon and Albion are more Marshally (i.e. more grind, less 'chime').

That's interesting to know. I like a bit of "Marshall" in my Vox, if you get what I mean.

[PPPMAT]

Findng an amp thats good with all types of guitar is harder - I would second the orange ad30 or maybe the rockerverb as the clean channel is very hifi and very peter greeny (his cleans anyway) - the gain channel has loads of gain but you can dial it back.....

Cornford would be good too

[fbloke]

I'm a big Peter Green fan and I'm getting great results with a Rivera Chubster 55 - it has two channels, one voiced like a classic Fender and the other will sound like a Marshall or Hiwatt, classically British.  It's like getting two amps for your money and the range of tones due to the sensitivity of the pots is amazing.  I also tried a Mesa Boogie Express 5:25 today and it gave me the raging horn - very expressive slightly compressed sounding clean tone which accompanied a Les Paul very well.

Please remember that in Peter Green's day they'd use any decent valve  amp that was available and get a similar tone.  The sound is contained in the feeling  that is in the gut, which transmits to the fingers and is expressed in a big way by the pickups you are using. I would highly recommend alnico II magnets in whatever pickups you are using - any good traditional PAF wil get you in the ballpark but the BKP PG set are particularly good.

And practice yer vibrato !