Author Topic: Finally got round to saving some money for a new amp.... (Read 9000 times)

CaffeineJunkie · « **on:** February 19, 2007, 07:08:36 PM »

hey guys

eventually managed to get through most of my january exams without losing any major limbs, so i figured i'd treat myself to a new amp... at last :D

i've been looking at a couple of different amps, primarily vintage-style marshalls:

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:14:50 PM »

valve recto gives a softer bass end that compresses as you turn up the amp - nice for blues. most AC/DC solos are recorded with a plexi JTM45 to give you an idea.

Will you be using this mainly in the house or to gig with? if it's the former, don't buy any of these amps. if it's the latter, I'd go for the 50w plexi reissue (1987) if you MUST have a new amp.

fwiw, I wouldn't buy a new Marshall at all - you can get an old JMP 2204 (50w single channel master volume) for around £400 - these are MUCH more useable at ANY volume and have enough gain to deal with any indie/rock right upto metal if you use a SD-1.

:twisted:

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:21:33 PM »

kool, isn't the 2204 the early jcm800???

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:32:06 PM »

Quote from: CaffeineJunkie

kool, isn't the 2204 the early jcm800???

the 2204 and 2203 were introduced during the JMP-era, some of the very earliest ones were in 1975 but are very rare. they went into heavy circulation around '76 or '77 and many people think the JMP-era master volume amps are superior to the JCM800 counterparts (including me).

Try to find a '76 as you'll get one with the metal 'panel' swicthes and the thin box-style - just because I like the old head-cab look.

:twisted:

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:33:55 PM »

hmmm... sounds good, does it have lots of gain, or is it fairly clean/low gain breakup sound??? (excl. pedals btw)

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2007, 07:36:48 PM »

well, it's got 'lo' and 'hi' gain inputs that offer lots of tonal variation by themselves. you also have a gain pot so you can get those old plexi clean/breaking up tones upto an AC/DC Back In Black tone.

8)

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:03:01 PM »

hmmm.... not sure

personally i think that the handwired 2061x would be better, as it's a lot smaller, and probably better suited to my style of playing, as i primarily use only just enough gain to make my picking and volume controls decide how overdriven the sound is

it is also for home use primarily, although i might take it to uni with me if i feel so inclined at the time

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:08:15 PM »

please yourself, but I'll warn you that any of those non-master volume amps are WAY too loud to use at home. I've gigged with 20w valve combos before, they are still LOUD.

Try one in a music store and you'll get an idea of what they can do at what volume.

I personally wouldn't buy new either - you've lost around a third of the amp's value soon as you walk out the door.

:twisted:

_tom_ · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:09:37 PM »

Have you considered an Orange Tiny Terror? I kinda wish I waited and got one now, after hearing all these clips from a guy on HC -

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=608016

Sounds really good and its not too expensive, plus it comes with a snazzy carry case :lol:

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:21:41 PM »

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

please yourself, but I'll warn you that any of those non-master volume amps are WAY too loud to use at home. I've gigged with 20w valve combos before, they are still LOUD.

Try one in a music store and you'll get an idea of what they can do at what volume.

I personally wouldn't buy new either - you've lost around a third of the amp's value soon as you walk out the door.

:twisted:

i was just looking on ebay and there is one going for about £500, so if that hasn't sold by the time i get paid then it looks like a reasonable deal

only problem with trying one in a music store is that the only fairly good music store in my area doesn't keep any decent amps in stock, only the newest range, and they don't like you cranking any amps at all, so i can't really try it out

as for the orange TT, from those clips it sounds like it has a lot of gain, which i'm not really after .... hmmm *ponders*

_tom_ · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:28:44 PM »

You can lower it you know ;)

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:42:03 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

You can lower it you know ;)

yeh, but if it naturally has a high-gain voice, then it won't sound as good for what i want to play, for example, you wouldn't pick a JCM800 if you wanted to play clean/slight breakup all the time

Pieter-Jan · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:51:27 PM »

Are you sure the Tiny terror will be loud enough for rehearsal + small gigs?

_tom_ · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:52:24 PM »

Quote from: Pieter-Jan

Are you sure the Tiny terror will be loud enough for rehearsal + small gigs?

I dont see why not 15w valve is pretty loud.

indysmith · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2007, 08:59:34 PM »

Quote from: CaffeineJunkie

Quote from: _tom_
You can lower it you know ;)

yeh, but if it naturally has a high-gain voice, then it won't sound as good for what i want to play, for example, you wouldn't pick a JCM800 if you wanted to play clean/slight breakup all the time

you've clearly never played a jcm800 - i consider it to be an EXTREMELY low gain amp. especially if you're going to be using it at bedroom volumes. use the lo-gain input and set the gain to 5, and it's on the edge