Author Topic: Finally got round to saving some money for a new amp.... (Read 8985 times)

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2007, 09:04:17 PM »

Quote from: indysmith

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

ok, but would you go and buy one if you were going to use it pretty much entirely for blues??

indysmith · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2007, 09:11:15 PM »

to be honest no i wouldn't - unless you're meaning slash-style blues rawk.

For bedroom use i think you should be looking more in the fender blues junior, matamp minimat, cornford harlequin vein.

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2007, 09:59:51 PM »

ok, so what amp would be best if i wanted to play blues and then kick in a overdrive/fuzz pedal and play something a bit harder, i.e. muse style

jcm800? or would the 1987x handle that? or even the jtm45?

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:17:24 PM »

I sold my 40 watt Traynor a couple of months ago as it was too loud for home practicing. I then bought a 5 watt PTP hand wired amp from Swart Amps (one of the best amps I've ever tried) in the US thinking it would be a lot quieter but I was wrong! You should check out the Plexi range from Cornell:
http://www.dc-developments.com/cornell_plexi.htm - particularly the 18/20 watt.
You can switch between valve or SS rectification and even switch from 18/20 watts for gigs down to 5 watts for home practice!

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:27:02 PM »

Quote from: Canadian Steve

I sold my 40 watt Traynor a couple of months ago as it was too loud for home practicing. I then bought a 5 watt PTP hand wired amp from Swart Amps (one of the best amps I've ever tried) in the US thinking it would be a lot quieter but I was wrong! You should check out the Plexi range from Cornell:
http://www.dc-developments.com/cornell_plexi.htm - particularly the 18/20 watt.
You can switch between valve or SS rectification and even switch from 18/20 watts for gigs down to 5 watts for home practice!

oooo .... that cornell looks nice, bit expensive, but very, very nice ...
..

..

..

*does sums*

..

..

..

should be able to afford one in april, provided i don't go out drinking, or buy anything during the next month or two..... or eat..... hmmmm..... *ponders*

indysmith · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:30:18 PM »

http://www.ampmaker.com/ak01x.asp
might be worth considering making an amp - looks quite straightforward, and would be a lot of fun - with a lot of satisfaction for sure.

I think a minimat would suit you - also you can choose between an el84 and a 6V6 power valve... my minimat responds fantastically to pedals. Especially my friend's Fuzz Factory!

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:31:13 PM »

There is one on Ebay for a lot cheaper but it doesn't have the power reduction or valve rectification:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200079162107

Cornell makes amps for Eric Clapton as well!

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2007, 10:31:47 PM »

Quote from: Canadian Steve

There is one on Ebay for a lot cheaper but it doesn't have the power reduction or valve rectification:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200079162107

Cornell makes amps for Eric Clapton as well!

yeh already seen that one, but i'd want the valve rec

LazyNinja · « **Reply #23 on:** February 20, 2007, 08:36:08 AM »

Quote from: indysmith

http://www.ampmaker.com/ak01x.asp
might be worth considering making an amp - looks quite straightforward, and would be a lot of fun - with a lot of satisfaction for sure.

I think a minimat would suit you - also you can choose between an el84 and a 6V6 power valve... my minimat responds fantastically to pedals. Especially my friend's Fuzz Factory!

lol when I was reading this thread I was going to suggest exactky the same thing. I was thinking of getting those amp kits. Looks good and a lot of fun, plus you will learn what does what in an amp (if you decide to modify it). Minimats are supposed to be great and I heard you could get them to do a custom job for you if you ask and buy direct from factory (e.g lower/higher gain, bright/dark voicing etc).

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #24 on:** February 20, 2007, 10:28:27 PM »

Quote from: LazyNinja

Quote from: indysmith
http://www.ampmaker.com/ak01x.asp
might be worth considering making an amp - looks quite straightforward, and would be a lot of fun - with a lot of satisfaction for sure.

I think a minimat would suit you - also you can choose between an el84 and a 6V6 power valve... my minimat responds fantastically to pedals. Especially my friend's Fuzz Factory!

lol when I was reading this thread I was going to suggest exactky the same thing. I was thinking of getting those amp kits. Looks good and a lot of fun, plus you will learn what does what in an amp (if you decide to modify it). Minimats are supposed to be great and I heard you could get them to do a custom job for you if you ask and buy direct from factory (e.g lower/higher gain, bright/dark voicing etc).

only problem with that is that i've never soldered in my life and i really don't have the time to build it unfortunately

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #25 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:10:12 PM »

I would seriously look at the Cornell range
I have seen bads using them and they have a better Plexi tone than almost anything I have ever seen (I used to have a 1965 JTM45 - so I have to say almost)

You could always contact Dennis and he will make whatever variation of his amp that you like.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #26 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:11:32 PM »

If you want 'blues' out of yer Marshall, gotta be JTM45 all the way - they just have the voicing for it. the Bluesbreaker combo is the same amp but with tremolo added.

I personally prefer 4x12s so I'd go with a JTM45. I also had a Bluesbreaker for a while that I used with an old Marshall 2x12 - that was a 'best of both worlds' rig :D

Alternatively, I think old Selmer amps slay ANY reissue Marshall - these are what I used after the Bluesbreaker rig since the Selmer was very similar but had a punchier tone with more harmonic complexity. Best bit is that you can pick them up on ebay for £150 all day. They're point-to-point wired and totally bomb-proof. Spend another £50-£100 and get a revalve and cap-job for a solid gigging amp.

:twisted:

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #27 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:16:04 PM »

actually, if you want a combo this one is REALLY nice... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-Thunderbird-Twin-30-amplifier-early-60s_W0QQitemZ270091735873QQihZ017QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bernard Butler used these for recording quite a bit - they're sort of halfway between an AC30 and JTM45. If it stays at £400 then it's a bargain but in that condition I wouldn't be surprised to see it clear a grand easy. Worth keeping an eye on.

:twisted:

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #28 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:17:40 PM »

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

actually, if you want a combo this one is REALLY nice... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-Thunderbird-Twin-30-amplifier-early-60s_W0QQitemZ270091735873QQihZ017QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bernard Butler used these for recording quite a bit - they're sort of halfway between an AC30 and JTM45. If it stays at £400 then it's a bargain but in that condition I wouldn't be surprised to see it clear a grand easy. Worth keeping an eye on.

:twisted:

looks kool, i was just looking at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Selmer-Truvoice-TV6-Popular-Guitar-Amp-1959_W0QQitemZ140086629683QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
unfortunately i don't know which models are good and which aren't

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #29 on:** February 20, 2007, 11:53:46 PM »

Quote from: CaffeineJunkie

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL
actually, if you want a combo this one is REALLY nice... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-Thunderbird-Twin-30-amplifier-early-60s_W0QQitemZ270091735873QQihZ017QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Bernard Butler used these for recording quite a bit - they're sort of halfway between an AC30 and JTM45. If it stays at £400 then it's a bargain but in that condition I wouldn't be surprised to see it clear a grand easy. Worth keeping an eye on.

:twisted:

looks kool, i was just looking at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Selmer-Truvoice-TV6-Popular-Guitar-Amp-1959_W0QQitemZ140086629683QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
unfortunately i don't know which models are good and which aren't

they're nice, but a bit quirky with the elyptical speaker. it's only got a single EL84 too so you're not getting much mileage with it. otoh, it WILL do a great blues tone if you only want it for the bedroom. If the original speaker goes then it's gonna be a pig to replace (or repair)

I'd stay with the Treble & Bass model Selmers, can't go wrong with 'em (I've had two mkI crocskin heads and another two mkII 'vox' style ones with the cloth front). These are the best T&B models imo and you shouldn't pay over £350 for either. The mkIII and mkIV heads are pretty ugly but are still point-to-point wired with the same circuit and sound great.

:twisted: