I need a used amp:

[electricity17]

I play a Vox AC30 that I think is great, it's a Korg reissue with Greenbacks. It has great clean sounds when turned down, and sounds very close to a Marshall when you crank it. It's loud as hell so I use an attenuator at gigs (no master volume), only complaint is that it's heavy. That's my recommendation, good luck!

[Jolly_Rogers]

Originally Posted by electricity17

I play a Vox AC30 that I think is great, it's a Korg reissue with Greenbacks. It has great clean sounds when turned down, and sounds very close to a Marshall when you crank it. It's loud as hell so I use an attenuator at gigs (no master volume), only complaint is that it's heavy. That's my recommendation, good luck!

Is that a UK Korg reissue or a China reissue? I am not sure what the difference in sound is if there is one.

[electricity17]

Late 90's Korg reissue, made in the UK. I'm not sure what the difference is between them, apparently the circuit has been changed somewhat, it's got a master volume so you've got a definite difference there. I had my amp in the shop for some minor repairs and amp tech was talking about AC30's with me, his comment was that he liked the new ones less and that the circuit had been changed slightly. I haven't done any comparisons personally, don't think I've played the newer models so I don't have any personal experience.

Anyways, I personally tend to like "British" sounding amps like Marshall, Vox or Orange more than the Fenders or Mesas, maybe it has something to do with the mids. Out of those, I like the Vox clean sound the best whereas I feel like I can get a great overdriven sound out of any of them (as long as they aren't high gain models or something).

I always loved the Stooges "Raw Power" album and found out that all the rhythm guitars and some of the leads on that record were done with a Les Paul Custom into an AC30 TB (Marshall amp for some of the leads), I'd always assumed it was all Marshall but it gives you an idea of how close an AC30 can get to that Plexi sound.

[Jay-]

I just got a fender Mustang 2 and the mustang 3 is 2x12.

My Botique amp cost $2500, but I prefer for recording the Mustang as I can dial in any amp modeling. Iv had pretty much everything, pod line 6, those Boss GT-10 and they all were a huge let down.

Any way, im a toob amp snob, even went as far as to only use the first year tube screamer, TS-808, cost almost $1000 for that one effect alone!

Any way, go to guitar center or what ever and demo the mustang 3!

I am getting ~EVERY~ Fender amp tone ever *PERIOD* Love it, assuming only fender can pull this shit off, and im getting so much more recoding done and not "Looking for my tone" blah...blah..... cost me only $100 used lol... ehe

[DerekJ]

Search Youtube, see if you can find better sounding amps:

Top Hat Super Deluxe Fat Sound Guitars Amp Demo by Greg V. - YouTube

TOPHAT KING ROYALE DEMO - YouTube

TOPHAT EMPLEXADOR DEMO - YouTube

TOPHAT AMBASSADOR 50 DEMO - YouTube

[Jay-]

DerekJ, thats what I have. 1999 Tophat club royal. Soon to get sent back for a master volume mod. blah..
Also the tophats are sexy!

[tribedescribe]

Sounds like your leaning to the fender clean and/or Marshall lead type sound. Mesa's have their own unique style for clean/drive that not everyone likes.

I think a used Rivera would be perfect for you. They do the fender/marshall thing for a good price especially used. Check out the clubster/chubster series. It nails the fender/marshall thing and can be found for a big discount used.

[Jolly_Rogers]

Originally Posted by tribedescribe

Sounds like your leaning to the fender clean and/or Marshall lead type sound. Mesa's have their own unique style for clean/drive that not everyone likes.

Exactly but its a hard choice since i can only have one for the time, plus if i have to fly anywhere it will cost too much to bring two amps, and two amps takes up twice as much room in vans an onstage. So its a matter of Marshall lead or Fender clean. I really was not satisfied with the clean on my Mesa, good sound but not right for my songs, i think i want more mids, i was always boosting the mids using that graphic EQ.

Do i sacrifice clean tone for the good overdrive of Marshall or sacrifice amp overdrive for the clean tone of Fender or Vox and get-by with pedals (which never do it for me)? I am trying to ask myself how often i play with overdrive, probably 40-50 percent of the time.

Another thing is, how much wattage do i really need? Most venues mic the amp anyway. I have definitely seen bands doing fine with 15-watts mic'd up. One amp i was wondering about is that Budda Superdrive 18, i was thinking that might get me the Vox clean and the Marshall dirty. I do like the Orange Rockerverbs but they're too expensive.

[chucks]

Check out the Fender Supersonic 22 - DR-ish plus some dirt. I play the clean side with pedals, but there's a lot of love for the overdrive side out there. I've seen a couple of used ones around.

[litepipe]

Deluxe isn't enough volume?!?! I haven't been in a situation where that amp isn't loud enough and I play very large venues sometimes. That's plenty of power unless you want a lot of clean headroom. That thing is loud!!

[tribedescribe]

22 watts is the cut off point. I have been a gigging club guitarist for the last 15 years and have went through many amps. The 15 watt amps are not nearly enough for clean headroom.

As for micing, I personally do not recommend it unless you have a competent sound person listening and mixing. It can be done but its not really practical unless you really have the time to spend to do a proper mix and sound check if you are doing your own sound. 9/10 of my gigs everyone arrives late and the first song is the sound check. Plus it just sucks to be one stage and not have the ability to just turn yourself up to hear yourself without the fear of losing your clean headroom.

[FFTT]

Find a clean used Silver Face Vibrolux Reverb and have it refurbished
as needed.

The most versatile clubbing amp ever built.

[litepipe]

Originally Posted by tribedescribe

22 watts is the cut off point. I have been a gigging club guitarist for the last 15 years and have went through many amps. The 15 watt amps are not nearly enough for clean headroom.

As for micing, I personally do not recommend it unless you have a competent sound person listening and mixing. It can be done but its not really practical unless you really have the time to spend to do a proper mix and sound check if you are doing your own sound. 9/10 of my gigs everyone arrives late and the first song is the sound check. Plus it just sucks to be one stage and not have the ability to just turn yourself up to hear yourself without the fear of losing your clean headroom.

This is all true. I wouldn't use anything less then 22watts if there is a Drunmer. I also don't like to mic the amp for small venues.. I hate guitars in the monitor. A 15watt amp just isn't loud enough. I have yet to get a deluxe on 10 tho. It does start breaking up tho which I like, but if clean is your thang you'll need more watts. I often use a 35watt tube amp. That's plenty of headroom and juice.

[nedorama]

You're only going to get Fender clean from a Fender, and you can add crunch with pedals; it doesn't work as well with some other brands of amps. Just my take on it.

If you like the sound of the Deluxe Reverb, I'd get that; part of the great sound of that amp is the 6V6 tubes and tube rectifier. You'll never get that sound out of a Twin, Showman, etc. -- they're built for clean for days and unless they're insanely loud don't break up. There's a reason why there are so many Twin Reverb Reissues for sale.

I have nothing against being mic'd if a Deluxe Reverb isn't enough for the venue; I also bring my own Sennheiser E906 with me to have the best mic and we get monitor mixes when we play out so hearing ourselves isn't an issue. If we're playing where there isn't monitor mixes or we don't need to be mic'd (bar), I'll bring my Bandmaster 2x12 combo (in pic below) vs. the Princeton Reverb. Outdoors it's the Showman. But 22 watts can definitely compete with a drummer.

If you're still concerned about volume, I'd suggest getting a silverface Fender Pro Reverb (pre 1975). 40 watts, tube rectifier, and sounds great. Past 1975 the Pro Reverb became an ultralinear circuit, 75 watts, and is a pain to convert back as you have to replace not only board components, but transformers... The Super Reverb is similar in that it's a great amp; before 1975 you should be fine. On the Deluxe Reverb, the circuit didn't really change that much so you could buy a used silverface, although the Reissue is well built.


Avoid the current Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb -- it sounds very little like a Vibrolux and is hissy noisy. There's a reason there's a lot of them for sale.

If you like the sound of a Vox, you owe it to your self to try the Dr. Z Maz 38. EL84, but great sounding; can be had with or without reverb. They do pop up used from time to time. Even the Maz 18 is a very loud 18 watts.

[DerekJ]

Originally Posted by Jay-

DerekJ, thats what I have. 1999 Tophat club royal. Soon to get sent back for a master volume mod. blah..
Also the tophats are sexy!

I don't know, that's a rightous amp as is. At any rate, Tophats are the shizzle. I don't have one...yet. I've got several vintage brownface and tweed amps, few clones, Marshalls etc. Again, TH amps are f'n awesome.

[FFTT]

Put the word out that you are looking for a Silver Faced Fender
Vibrolux Reverb at all the repair shops within a reasonable commute.

They may know of someone who might offer you a deal on a workhorse,
VR.

[Jolly_Rogers]

I thought the Pro Reverb was solid-state rectified which is why i didn't mention it, i haven't really liked the clean tone of the solid-state rectifier amps. So that is why i said Super Reverb, more headroom than the Deluxe yet still tube rectified. Also, if i am getting the Fender for clean i may as well have the headroom to go with the clean amp. 22-watts might indeed be enough volume but not necessarily enough headroom, and i'm not looking for Fender-style breakup.

[nedorama]

The Pro Reverb, Super Reverb and head-only Tremolux were tube rectified; the Bassman, Bandmaster, Showman and Twin are all solid state rectified. I have both and the sound depends on a lot of things including speakers but more importantly wattage. I've been extremely happy with my Warehouse Speakers G12C's in my Bandmaster cabinet under my Showman, and that cab sounds ridiculous plugged into the Princeton Reverb...

If you don't want the breakup of the Deluxe, then the Pro, Super or Vibrolux Reverb would be the ticket. If you don't need the reverb, blackface Bandmasters and Bassmans are relatively cheap and you can run it as head/cab or do what I did and turn a Bandmaster into a mythic '65 2x12 combo... the beauty of these old Fender amps is they don't have a lot of parts inside; with a good amp tech even beat up ones are easy to bring back to health.

[Jolly_Rogers]

Originally Posted by nedorama

You're only going to get Fender clean from a Fender, and you can add crunch with pedals; it doesn't work as well with some other brands of amps. Just my take on it.

If you like the sound of the Deluxe Reverb, I'd get that; part of the great sound of that amp is the 6V6 tubes and tube rectifier. You'll never get that sound out of a Twin, Showman, etc. -- they're built for clean for days and unless they're insanely loud don't break up. There's a reason why there are so many Twin Reverb Reissues for sale.

I have nothing against being mic'd if a Deluxe Reverb isn't enough for the venue; I also bring my own Sennheiser E906 with me to have the best mic and we get monitor mixes when we play out so hearing ourselves isn't an issue. If we're playing where there isn't monitor mixes or we don't need to be mic'd (bar), I'll bring my Bandmaster 2x12 combo (in pic below) vs. the Princeton Reverb. Outdoors it's the Showman. But 22 watts can definitely compete with a drummer.

If you're still concerned about volume, I'd suggest getting a silverface Fender Pro Reverb (pre 1975). 40 watts, tube rectifier, and sounds great. Past 1975 the Pro Reverb became an ultralinear circuit, 75 watts, and is a pain to convert back as you have to replace not only board components, but transformers... The Super Reverb is similar in that it's a great amp; before 1975 you should be fine. On the Deluxe Reverb, the circuit didn't really change that much so you could buy a used silverface, although the Reissue is well built.


Avoid the current Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb -- it sounds very little like a Vibrolux and is hissy noisy. There's a reason there's a lot of them for sale.

I agree that only Fender does the Fender clean, the question is can i live without the Fender clean or without the Marshall or Vox drive? Yeah i figured what i was liking about the DR was the tube rectifier, so i wouldn't really feel comfortable buying one of the solid state rectified Fenders.

The thing about the Deluxe Reverb is if i am going for a clean amp i may as well have headroom for days hence the Super Reverb, although a Vibrolux would be cool too. I thought the Pro Reverb was solid state rectified so that is why i didn't consider it, if i am going clean tone i want it to be tube rectified.

I have heard the noise complaint about the Custom Vibrolux, thanks for reminding me about that, plus its solid state rectified so i'll forget that one.

Clearly there is a few models of Fender that will work, lots of used amps for sale so it is a reasonable option.

The real issue for me is i am having trouble committing to either the Fender sound or the Vox sound. I think i would go Vox before Marshall because i prefer the tube rectified clean tone of Vox. Then the raw tone of a Mesa always tempts me too.

One thing that helps to narrow it down is i'm pretty sure i want a combo for ease of transport, especially when flying, i think that will make things cheaper and easier.

I do appreciate all the insight on the Fender amps though because if i do decide on Fender that will help me pick.

Help me decide: tube-rectified Fender, AC30, Mesa, or Marshall? I'm like a kid in a candy store who is taking an hour to pick a candy bar.

[FFTT]

With limited resources, there's nothing at all wrong with adopting
a cosmetically challenged Pro, Super or VR and just having a head cab built.

In some ways it's better to avoid all the pitfalls of trying to retain collectible,
circuit integrity, when you need the amp to work reliably every night.

So find the circuit first and then consider what goes with it before you buy.

Even with a failed transformer a refurbished Workhorse Fender is way better than
anything you'll find new in a retail store as far as bang for buck.

[Jolly_Rogers]

Originally Posted by FFTT

With limited resources, there's nothing at all wrong with adopting
a cosmetically challenged Pro, Super or VR and just having a head cab built.

In some ways it's better to avoid all the pitfalls of trying to retain collectible,
circuit integrity, when you need the amp to work reliably every night.

So find the circuit first and then consider what goes with it before you buy.

Even with a failed transformer a refurbished Workhorse Fender is way better than
anything you'll find new in a retail store as far as bang for buck.

Oh i agree for sure. I could probably come up with the money for something new, but it would put me out too much. I am fine with used, never had a new amp anyway.

Yep, its simply an issue of US vs. UK amp tones.

I suppose i will only go Vox if i can get one of those UK made Korg reissues - plus i think i can get my money back on that if needed by reselling. Mesa's Blue Angel might work for what i want. A Fender Super/Vibrolux/Pro would do good clean sound, i can buy a King of Tone from Analogman whenever i want, maybe that could be good.

Marshall is a tricky one, i'm not wild about the JCM or JVM sound. A used JMP is kind of expensive and heavy. So it would probably have to be a used Vintage Modern. I think Jeff Beck is using that amp now, sounds very nice (with him playing anyway!).

Somebody talk me off of the ledge here.

[motone]

if you're in the business for vintage style affordable used amps, Sovtek is very much the way to go ... can be found cheap, and are great no-frills vintage-style tube amps ..
Mig 50 for Fender sounds
Mig 60 for plexi or jmp Marshall
Mig 100 for JCM type Marshall sounds
Mig 50H for Boogie sounds

[FFTT]

I'd be combing the countryside for a vintage DR-504 and just use pedals for FX.

If you find a workhorse quality DR, you can always have the transformer beefed
up to deliver 35-40 watts and improve the clean headroom.

[Jolly_Rogers]

Originally Posted by FFTT

I'd be combing the countryside for a vintage DR-504 and just use pedals for FX.

If you find a workhorse quality DR, you can always have the transformer beefed
up to deliver 35-40 watts and improve the clean headroom.

A deluxe reverb huh? They are cheaper than the bigger fenders.

[litepipe]

Why would you buy any of those amps and fly with them?!?! Just about every rental place has them avail. No need to fly and pay extra. I would only fly with stuff not normally avail.

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by Jolly_Rogers

A deluxe reverb huh? They are cheaper than the bigger fenders.

My old friend bought a BF DR that was beyond any true collectible
integrity and had the transformer upgraded and ran 6L6's, so 37-40 watts in a DR package.

Headroom for days and a very reasonable weight, compact set-up and way plenty loud enough for a live band.

Though he never tried it himself, with the upgrade
transformer and re-bias he could also run EL34's.

[nedorama]

If you do end up flying with your amp, please buy a serious roadcase. The ones on EBay for $250 aren't.

[string6theory]

I mainly use a '65 twin reverb and marshall vintage modern and couldn't be happier. They combine so well together! I also use many lower wattlers; hot rod deluxe, pro jr., champ, rebel20, old peavey heritage combo, and yes, a pignose

I picked up the vintage modern used on eBay and it was still mint.

Best of luck!

[Jolly_Rogers]

Originally Posted by litepipe

Why would you buy any of those amps and fly with them?!?! Just about every rental place has them avail. No need to fly and pay extra. I would only fly with stuff not normally avail.

Because what do i do if i am in Australia or Hungary and i can't find the amp i want? Plus the cost of renting must add up too, and besides, i can't not buy an amp for home and studio simply because i might be able to rent one when touring. Good idea, but i still need an amp for general use.