New Amp Time?

[MrBump]

OK, there's currently a "what amp" thread out there, but mine's a little different, and I don't want to hijack...

I may be in the market for a new amp.

Don't have a budget as such, not really at that stage.  Lets just say that I'm unlikely to be looking at Dumbles or Mesas...  Unlikely to pay more than a grand.

I'm looking for a practical, giggable valve amp, no more than 50 watts (although that's in no way a limit) - I just have no requirement for a 100 watter - too impractical.

Don't need anything particularly high gain...  Most of what I play with the band it "clean on the verge of breakup" - an almost-on Tube Screamer sort of sound.  I combine that with a few numbers that are more gainy - using a Crunch Box with the drive set at about 12 o'clock on a Mules driven guitar, if you can picture the sound.

It would be nice to achieve this with a switchable amp...

I guess from a practical sense, a head or a 2x12 (or even 2x10?) combo would be good - the combo particularly if I can run my Framus 2x12 as an extension cab...

I like glissening, Fendery cleans. 

Been looking around Thomann for ideas, and there does seem to be a great range of amps out there.  I like the look of the Egnater range - they seem to have some very neat features, and they look like they come in the right packages.  Laney also seem to be making come great stuff at the moment...  And Blackstar - was put off them because I fell out of love with my HT Dual years ago, but the amps look amazing...

Any ideas/opinions, chaps?

Mark.

[Twinfan]

You say you like Fender-y cleans, so I'm assuming you want something a bit different to your Orange.  For that, I think you need to be be looking at 6L6 powered amps as these tend to be voiced towards that kind of tone (but not always).  I'd also suggest using your existing 2x12 and getting another head.  Cheaper, and more practical.

A couple of very reasonably priced suggestions from me would be:

* Used Fender Bassman or Ceriatone Bassman head - my recommendation, speak to "Horsehead" about how he likes his
* Marshall (or otherwise) JTM45 head
* Laney GH50L head (or maybe the LH50?)
* Fender Blues Deluxe or Deville combo - only use the clean channel with pedals, the drive sections are bad.

Both the Marshall and the Laney can have 5881/6L6 valves in the power section with the appropriate bias change.

As a final note, both myself and Martin W have found that a JTM45/Bassman with pedals is the benchmark amp for a gigging pub band....

[shobet]

There was that MJW in Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester for around £700 for the head and 2 x 12"

http://www.johnnyroadhouse.co.uk/view-basket/details/1683/10/secondhand/martamp-jtm45

[Ian Price]

* Fender Blues Deluxe or Deville combo - only use the clean channel with pedals, the drive sections are bad.

Absolutely - I had a Hot Rod Deville (2 x 12) and the drive channel was pretty bad. Cleans were great though.

[Twinfan]

There was that MJW in Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester for around £700 for the head and 2 x 12"

http://www.johnnyroadhouse.co.uk/view-basket/details/1683/10/secondhand/martamp-jtm45

That would be perfect - and it's a great amp!  I played a it a few times before it went to  the original buyer.  Get it bought  ;)

[_tom_]

Laney GH50L gets my vote, had mine for about 3 and a half years now and it's still great! Doesn't do "glistening fendery cleans" though I guess.

[Matt77]

There was that MJW in Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester for around £700 for the head and 2 x 12"

http://www.johnnyroadhouse.co.uk/view-basket/details/1683/10/secondhand/martamp-jtm45

That would be perfect - and it's a great amp!  I played a it a few times before it went to  the original buyer.  Get it bought  ;)

You could easily knock the price down. You would be hard pushed to get a better amp for the £650 - £700 you would get it for.
Unless you need an effects loop or reverb - which it doesn't have

[Fourth Feline]

You say you like Fender-y cleans, so I'm assuming you want something a bit different to your Orange.  For that, I think you need to be be looking at 6L6 powered amps as these tend to be voiced towards that kind of tone (but not always).  I'd also suggest using your existing 2x12 and getting another head.  Cheaper, and more practical.

A couple of very reasonably priced suggestions from me would be:

* Used Fender Bassman or Ceriatone Bassman head - my recommendation, speak to "Horsehead" about how he likes his
* Marshall (or otherwise) JTM45 head
* Laney GH50L head (or maybe the LH50?)
* Fender Blues Deluxe or Deville combo - only use the clean channel with pedals, the drive sections are bad.

Both the Marshall and the Laney can have 5881/6L6 valves in the power section with the appropriate bias change.

As a final note, both myself and Martin W have found that a JTM45/Bassman with pedals is the benchmark amp for a gigging pub band....

I am putting a (flight cased ) mint condition Laney LH50R (Mark II) and matching 2x12 cab up for sale. I have pulled out the Sovtek ( short bottle ) 5881 output valves, and installed N.O.S Jan / Philips 6L6WGB.   :)

As I never really used  the creamy 'hot' channel, still have my Fender Twin - and am now only envisaging using Jazz Amps , It will not get used and appreciated  as it should.  Only gigged gently a few times, as the band broke up not long after I bought this.








I do not have a fixed price in my head, but the whole package can go for a very nice price subject to negotiation.

I am up t'North in Leeds , but could do to arrange 'buyer collect' - as I have no transport of my own .

[MrBump]

You say you like Fender-y cleans, so I'm assuming you want something a bit different to your Orange.  For that, I think you need to be be looking at 6L6 powered amps as these tend to be voiced towards that kind of tone (but not always).  I'd also suggest using your existing 2x12 and getting another head.  Cheaper, and more practical.

A couple of very reasonably priced suggestions from me would be:

* Used Fender Bassman or Ceriatone Bassman head - my recommendation, speak to "Horsehead" about how he likes his
* Marshall (or otherwise) JTM45 head
* Laney GH50L head (or maybe the LH50?)
* Fender Blues Deluxe or Deville combo - only use the clean channel with pedals, the drive sections are bad.

Both the Marshall and the Laney can have 5881/6L6 valves in the power section with the appropriate bias change.

As a final note, both myself and Martin W have found that a JTM45/Bassman with pedals is the benchmark amp for a gigging pub band....

I am putting a (flight cased ) mint condition Laney LH50R (Mark II) and matching 2x12 cab up for sale. I have pulled out the Sovtek ( short bottle ) 5881 output valves, and installed N.O.S Jan / Philips 6L6WGB.   :)

As I never really used  the creamy 'hot' channel, still have my Fender Twin - and am now only envisaging using Jazz Amps , It will not get used and appreciated  as it should.  Only gigged gently a few times, as the band broke up not long after I bought this.








I do not have a fixed price in my head, but the whole package can go for a very nice price subject to negotiation.

I am up t'North in Leeds , but could do to arrange 'buyer collect' - as I have no transport of my own .

Sent you a PM...

[tomjackson]

I do like Laney amps but glissening, Fendery cleans is not what I'd associate with them.

Sounds like a blackface fender would be best for that, what about a Super Reverb Reissue?

I've played one and they are very nice, lovely cleans, reverb and trem.  The downside is they are very loud when breaking up and pretty heavy.  With a tubescreamer though you could cover a lot of ground.

Or for a lighter and more club friendly option, what about a DRRI?  for a grand you could put a Celestion Gold in there and really crank it at gigs.

[Ratrod]

As long as you don't use pickups over 12K, try to find a used Engl Classic Tube 2X12 combo.

It doe a great job at fender clean on the verge of breakup. The hi gain mode takes it a bit further, as if you put a blues driver in front of it. You can hook up extra cabs too.

The DRRI is very nice too. Cool 60's clean and because of it's low wattage you can crank it into power tube overdrive. Works very well with a tubescreamer.

[tekbow]

I've been gas'ing for one of these badly, i think jesse does it in a 40W version too, plus he's an absolute gent

http://lazyjprojects.com/lazyj20.html

[choucas09]

Blackstar Artisan. OR on the cheap my new Bugera V22 does edge of break up divinely (as well as all the other tones).

[sgmypod]

Horseheads amp is great...but doesn't crunch until pushed and even though is under 50w that is loud, sounds great with pedals as well...would suggest more the plexi 50 kinda sound
or the bassman but with pedals (or with a master vol) ..cleans can't be beat

[gordiji]

You could do worse than a engl screamer 50 . i have the 1x12 combo and think it's great. The cleans are very fendery and stay clean at good vol . It's 2 channel both with hi and lo so youv'e clean chrunch chrunchier and overdrive.it's very expressive and less than 1k with the footboard. it's good at low volume but becomes full of character when cranked. Well worth a look. I don't know anything about the myriad of other stuff available but this can cover anything , very versatile