Amp suggestions?

[Twinfan]

From what you've just said, you have a wealth of options and I would test drive all the following:

Blackstar Artisan 30 combo - twin channel, very nice modern amp
Marshall Bluesbreaker combo -  a classic, would benefit from a tweak or two from a tech to get it sounding it's best
Fender Bassman reissue - the father of the BluesBreaker and a bit cleaner
Vox AC30 - another classic, lots of variations so you need to try a few (CC, Top Boost etc)
Matchless DC30 (or clone) combo - expensive, but does the 'posh Vox' thing very well

My own rig, which sounds superb clean or with a Tubescreamer up front, would also suit you nicely:

Hand wired Martamp (JT) M45 head and 2x12 cab - how a Marshall JTM45 reissue should sound, but doesn't!

[dave_mc]

If you need good clean headroom and 30-50W, forget about class, which in any case influences tone less than other factors such as biasing system, NFB amount and valve type. In true class A, you'll struggle to get more than 20-30W.

agreed. the vast majority of claimed class a amps aren't.

[Ratrod]

I'm recomending the big unknown hero.

The Engl Classic Tube. It's alot like a blonde Fender Bassman with a little Marshall JTM thrown in. It's a two mode amp, I wouldn't call it channels cause you can make clean and dirty sound exactly the same. You can dial in the amount of grit and dirt on the clean mode with the gain control. Keep the gain low for clean headroom.

I guess I want 30-50 watts.      50W
Good clean headroom.               As much or as little as you want
Rich class-A harmonics.             Not Class A either, but  very rich sounding, think Gomez El Sodino
6v6 tubes like in the Venus 6?  6L6/5881 Valves
Must have 3-way EQ.                Treble, Bass, mids + a bright and deep switch
Small form factor - probably a 1x12.     2x12 or 2X10
Two channels would be useful but not essential.    lo gain and hi gain mode

http://www.engl-amps.com/index2.html

[tomjackson]

Not so sure about the Marshall Bluesbreaker Reissue, I used to use one at a rehearsal room and it was a dog.  It was pretty lifeless, I don't think anything was wrong with it. For the £££ I'd go elsewhere for that amp type.

MartinW, Is your Roadstar 36 not in a similar ball-park to a Bluesbreaker? 

I've got my eyes on the Roadstar 18, What are the cleans like?  I always think of 18W amps as 60's crunch amps, but want a portable amp with sweet cleans and to mild breakup at resonable volumes.

[Twinfan]

Martin's Roadstars are gainy beasts!  They sound great when wound up and screaming, but Martin will tell you they don't do a loud clean or loud lightly breaking up.  They're mini-Marshalls......

[martinw]

Just tweaking what TF said slightly, the 18W Roadstar does a good clean, up to classic rock crunch. Many people say that the clean/just-breaking-up on the 18W type amp is amongst the best they've heard, and they are highly acclaimed as blues amps.
The crunch sounds like a Marshall, as opposed to a Vox, as TF said. For volume, they can keep up with a drummer when cranked, but if you have a loud drummer, they wouldn't be the best choice for clean headroom, especially if your clean needs to be properly clean.

The 36W (being more harmonically complex) appears to break up sooner, but is capable of giving a good semi-clean chime at band volumes as well. This is a loud amp. When cranked above 5 it roars and gives a proper rock sound - again, Marshall like.

Both of them have Hi/lo inputs, and the Lo inputs give more headroom, and both can be tweaked to give more or less gain. Both can be fitted with master volumes, Power Scaling or both. Not the first choice for Fender-like, clean shimmer, but they can do chimey, ringing chords and picked arpeggios, then full on power chords just by varying your attack.
There's some good clips here:
http://www.ampmaker.com/ak03x.asp
Cheers!  :)

[Twinfan]

Sorry Martin - I should just keep my mouth shut shouldn't I?  :oops:

[martinw]

Don't you dare....my sales would plummet!  :)

To be fair, neither of us are over inclined to explore the cleaner qualities of any amp that comes our way!  :twisted:

[Matt77]

Just tweaking what TF said slightly, the 18W Roadstar does a good clean, up to classic rock crunch. Many people say that the clean/just-breaking-up on the 18W type amp is amongst the best they've heard, and they are highly acclaimed as blues amps.
The crunch sounds like a Marshall, as opposed to a Vox, as TF said. For volume, they can keep up with a drummer when cranked, but if you have a loud drummer, they wouldn't be the best choice for clean headroom, especially if your clean needs to be properly clean.

+1 My Roadstar cleans up well with the volume controls.
Great for Billy Gibbons sort of tones.
I keep meaning to post a proper clip.
Will have a go over the next few days.
 

[Twinfan]

Don't you dare....my sales would plummet!  :)

:lol:

To be fair, neither of us are over inclined to explore the cleaner qualities of any amp that comes our way!  :twisted:

That is a very fair point, although I got a great Black Crowes 'just dirty' tone through the M45 earlier...

[MartinS]

I sure like the look of that Hiwatt Studio/Stage. Not too many knobs, 2x12, relatively compact. TUBES! (Forgive me - I've never had a tube amp.)

But they're all so bleeding expensive! Ho hum.

[martinw]

I sure like the look of that Hiwatt Studio/Stage. Not too many knobs, 2x12, relatively compact. TUBES! (Forgive me - I've never had a tube amp.)

But they're all so bleeding expensive! Ho hum.

It always surprises me how much people are willing to spend on a guitar, then skimp on the amp. As the amp is AT LEAST 50% of your instrument (and some would argue more) then you should budget accordingley.
A Squier Strat played through a great amp would sound great.
A Custom Shop Fender played through a cr@p amp would sound cr@p.

None of the amps mentioned are expensive. Remember, Valves not toobs!  :x :lol:

[sgmypod]

Yeah never skimp on an amp..have only done it a couple of times, always regretted it.

When you get a great amp, speakers, a great guitar and great pickups you can't beat it....oh yeah anyone giving away great talent at a price..I'd be in the market for that

[MartinS]

OK. Maybe I should sell my 335, get a cheaper guitar and a VALVE amp!

Someone has recommended the Laney Lionheart L20 head and matching 2x12 cab. Anyone have experience of these? Good, rich cleans? Loud enough for gigging?

Cheers.

[Stevepage]

I'd suggest Cornford Roadhouse.

Or, buy a Fender Twin or Hotrod Deluxe and use a tubescreamer for the bluesy rock moments.