Best amps for the Blues baby!

[Swedey the cat]

Well i'm looking for a new amp now boys (and girls)
Got to be able to do the blues a la peter green at anything from home volumes to small gigs with  various geetars inc strat tele and LP types.
Any suggestions?

[MajorPentatonic]

As I understand it he's used a whole bunch of different amps over the years, Marshall, Orange (Matamp), Vox and Fender. Guess he's living proof that tone is in the fingers, and not just the equipment.

If you want something suitable for home and gig use, how about one of the Mesa Boogie Express models?

The 5-25 is EL84 and can be switched from 5 to 25 watts (hence the name). Alternatively there's the 6L6 powered 5-50, which will go to 50 watts.

I haven't tried the 5-50, but I almost bought a 5-25 before I got my Cornell. Beautiful sounding amp, and very versatile. Would certainly get you in the right area for Peter Green style blues.

[Twinfan]

Depends how much you want to spend?  Combo or head?  Do you need an effects loop?  Do you need clean/dirt channels?

Lots of options, need to narrow it down a bit first  :)

[the_bleeding]

just from an outward thing like that... i'd say jtm45, or a fender princeton or fender bandmaster with a dirt pedal. Both those bands do my buddy well, and hes been giggin his princeton for 20 years.

[hamfist]

Well i'm looking for a new amp now boys (and girls)
Got to be able to do the blues a la peter green at anything from home volumes to small gigs with  various geetars inc strat tele and LP types.
Any suggestions?

As Twinfan said, its all down to your particular tonal tastes. I think more than almost any other style, the phrase "the tone is in the fingers" is the most true of blues.
  But having said that, many folks would look at great low gainers like a Jtm45, Fender Deluxe Reverb or Vox AC30 for blues.

[Johnny Mac]

Mesa Lonestar?

Fender Twin?

They're are loads to choose from. Lots of fun trying them all too.

[HTH AMPS]

For PG you could do worse than look at a Deluxe Reverb - 22w from a pair of 6V6s, thats one SWEET tone.  There are alot of US boutique guys making real quality repros of the originals too - checkout the likes of Carr Amps & Victoria.

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).

[Swedey the cat]

Thanks guys knew id get some good suggestions out of you.
Peter was a genius when it comes to the blues and to get anywhere near his tone would be a honour!
Think maybe a twin might be the answer as you cant beat the cleans out of a fender imo.
Maybe ill get some PG pickups just to make sure!! :P

[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.

[Ratrod]

Fender Blues Deluxe with a Keeley Tube Scraemer or Blues Driver.

[hunter]

Our singer just got a new AC 30 and it's great, also Reverb and Trem are really top class (for that green manalishi all out washy reverb).

I think either that, or a Bluesbreaker Combo, or a tweed Fender or an Orange AD would all be great amps for blues.

And then you could start with all the bouteek stuff, Bogner Duende - AWSUM, Matchless, Cornell, etc ...

[Spitfire]

orange ad30... mmmm ad30!!

[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.

[CUBE]

the Fuchs ODS30  or a DrZ stang Ray with a decent overdrive

[Tellboy]

As you mentioned Peter Green I would recommend the Cornford Hurricane.

There is a Peter Greenish soundclip of the Hurricane at this link:-

http://www.cornfordamps.com/launch.html

Select "sounds" from the menu - it is 10th on the list - "How Green - Ansley Lister". I use a Les Paul, SG, Strat and Tele through mine and they all sound good - and the Hurricane is not just good for blues.
Great amp although I don't use it as much as I used to now I have a Hellcat Combo.