General Question on Guitar Amps……..
Question:
I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use with a Gibson ES137. Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. Any suggestions would be appreciated…. D.DaddyDave — /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living"
Response:
>I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use >with a Gibson ES137. >Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. >Any suggestions would be appreciated…. >D.DaddyDave >– >/s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living"
I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet….
Response:
Depends were your going, and what volume you need. an ES135 should talk to any Fender from the 60s or early 70s nicely. JBLs rule. Peace Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use >with a Gibson ES137. >Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. >Any suggestions would be appreciated…. >D.DaddyDave >– >/s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" > I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet….
Response:
Hi, Nomad? Yuch! Tony – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use > with a Gibson ES137. > Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. > Any suggestions would be appreciated…. > D.DaddyDave > — > /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" > I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet….
Response:
> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use > with a Gibson ES137. > Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. > Any suggestions would be appreciated…. > D.DaddyDave > — > /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living"
Hmmm… "medium power" is different things to different people. To me, it’s 20-35 (tube) watts. I consider anything close to, or above 50 watts to be high powered. Also, are you wanting a new w/warrantee amp, or would a used amp be ok? Preferences for tube/solid state; modern PCB/vintage point-to-point construction? How portable (big/never moved or easy tote to the jam/gig or vice-versa)? What are your tastes in clean/distortion tones (music styles)? There are only about a million choices, narrow it down a bit for us… John King http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/rockinamps.html
Response:
forth: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi, >Nomad? Yuch! >Tony >> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use >> with a Gibson ES137. >> Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. >> Any suggestions would be appreciated…. >> D.DaddyDave >> — >> /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" > I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet….
The Nomad is awesome. I have the 50/100 and it is very versatile. Probably a nice combination for jazz with the ES137. And lots of tone, swap out the 6L6 PTs for EL34 and get a very crisp sound with lots of bite on overdrive. But, seeing as you said yuck, YMMV. BTW, yuck doesn’t tell us much. Your opinion is probably more easily rationalized by other readers if you would state your reasons.
Response:
Hi, Had Nomad 55, 4×10. Stayed with us for a couple months and sent it to new home. I guess everyone has different taste. Only Boogie left in the house is DC-3 with V30 in it and 1X12 EVM ext. cab. After doing a amp clearing out, Marshall 9100, Guytron GT-100, Rivera M100 is all left with. Just picked up a Roland Cube 30 for lower level practice. Noticed my Nomad had channel bleeding problem and poor build compared to older Boogies. Tony – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > forth: >Hi, >Nomad? Yuch! >Tony >>>I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use >>>with a Gibson ES137. >>>Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. >>>Any suggestions would be appreciated…. >>>D.DaddyDave >>>– >>>/s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" >>I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet…. > The Nomad is awesome. I have the 50/100 and it is very versatile. > Probably a nice combination for jazz with the ES137. And lots of > tone, swap out the 6L6 PTs for EL34 and get a very crisp sound with > lots of bite on overdrive. But, seeing as you said yuck, YMMV. BTW, > yuck doesn’t tell us much. Your opinion is probably more easily > rationalized by other readers if you would state your reasons.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use > with a Gibson ES137. > Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. > Any suggestions would be appreciated…. > D.DaddyDave > — > /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" > Hmmm… "medium power" is different things to different people. > To me, it’s 20-35 (tube) watts. I consider anything close to, or > above 50 watts to be high powered. > Also, are you wanting a new w/warrantee amp, or would a used amp > be ok? > Preferences for tube/solid state; modern PCB/vintage point-to-point > construction? > How portable (big/never moved or easy tote to the jam/gig or vice-versa)? > What are your tastes in clean/distortion tones (music styles)? > There are only about a million choices, narrow it down a bit for us… > John King > http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/rockinamps.html
Thanks for your response, John. Maybe I can narrow it down to half a million or so . . . . I play blues/popular/Western-swing types of music from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. Lead, rhythm, vocal accompaniments. It’s doubtful my rig will ever leave my basement. I use it for my own enjoyment and with friends. I have the ZOOM MRS-1044 portable mixer/rhythm device and will probably be cutting some CD’s, etc….. I don’t need a big/powerful sound by any means. But, would like something with a good base reponse and good fidelity. For an instrument, I now have a cheap/decent Epiphone El./Acoustic but have never liked that sorry pre-amp or the controls on the pre-amp itself. For Amp and speakers I’m now using some Radio Shack stuff about 10 years old and it leaves much to be desired. POWER: 40 W would probably be more than I’d ever use. NEW/USED: I’d consider a used Amp/Speakers. I’d want to try them out before buying… WARRANTEE?: Not if I could try it out. TUBE/SOLIDSTATE:?: I wouldn’t object to tubes as long as replacements are not too had to find and a schematic was available. I hear they still sound better than solid state and I always liked the warm/soft glow of those filaments! (I’ve been a HAM Radio Op since 1950—now KD4JIO). PORTABILITY? Nope. Consider it stationary. If I ever go portable, I’ll get special equipment for that. TASTE IN TONE? What can I say? — — — If Chet Atkins or Lawrence Welk would have liked it, I probably would also. I like C/W with a good rhythm and base. Thanks again for you comments. McDave in McMaryland
Response:
Thanks, Dave; I’ll see what I can find about about them.. McDave in McMaryland
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use >with a Gibson ES137. >Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. >Any suggestions would be appreciated…. >D.DaddyDave >– >/s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" > I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet….
Response:
> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use > with a Gibson ES137. > Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. > Any suggestions would be appreciated….
Try a Fender Delux Revereb (the blackface 65 re-issue). It should be just what you’re looking for. –litepipe
Response:
Orange! http://www.geocities.com/sonicrevival/jgear.jpg Chris
Response:
Many thanks. I’ll try one out. Maybe tomorrow. McDave
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use > with a Gibson ES137. > Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. > Any suggestions would be appreciated…. > Try a Fender Delux Revereb (the blackface 65 re-issue). It should be just > what you’re looking for. > –litepipe
Response:
>Many thanks. I’ll try one out. Maybe tomorrow.
If you are going to try a Deluxe Reverb be sure to try it at the highest volume that you will be playing at. They are great amps but they are only 22 watts. Pt
Response:
TUBE/SOLIDSTATE:?: I wouldn’t object to tubes as long as replacements are not too had to find and a schematic was available. I hear they still sound better than solid state and I always liked the warm/soft glow of those filaments! (I’ve been a HAM Radio Op since 1950—now KD4JIO). if the amp you end up getting is not *all tube* then you can forget ever getting that fantastic tone that so many of your guitar-god idols had. solid state amps are a joke, kind of like AOL, they are just for the new folks who don’t know any better.. and now with ebay, there is an almost unlimited supply of vintage tubes available as well as the best vintage tube amps ever made, at prices less than new for the ultimate! I just bought the same tube amp that Stairway to Heaven was recorded on!
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> TUBE/SOLIDSTATE:?: I wouldn’t object to tubes as long as replacements are > not too had to find and a schematic was available. I hear they still sound > better than solid state and I always liked the warm/soft glow of those > filaments! (I’ve been a HAM Radio Op since 1950—now KD4JIO). > if the amp you end up getting is not *all tube* then you can forget ever > getting that fantastic tone that so many of your guitar-god idols had. > solid state amps are a joke, kind of like AOL, they are just for the new > folks who don’t know any better.. > and now with ebay, there is an almost unlimited supply of vintage tubes > available as well as the best vintage tube amps ever made, at prices less > than new for the ultimate! > I just bought the same tube amp that Stairway to Heaven was recorded on!
The very same one? And you got it off ebay? Baahhhhhahahaaaa
Response:
> TUBE/SOLIDSTATE:?: I wouldn’t object to tubes as long as replacements are > not too had to find and a schematic was available. I hear they still sound > better than solid state and I always liked the warm/soft glow of those > filaments! (I’ve been a HAM Radio Op since 1950—now KD4JIO). > if the amp you end up getting is not *all tube* then you can forget ever > getting that fantastic tone that so many of your guitar-god idols had. > solid state amps are a joke, kind of like AOL, they are just for the new > folks who don’t know any better..
BB King, CCR and a few others may disagree with that statement – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> and now with ebay, there is an almost unlimited supply of vintage tubes > available as well as the best vintage tube amps ever made, at prices less > than new for the ultimate! > I just bought the same tube amp that Stairway to Heaven was recorded on!
Response:
> I just bought the same tube amp that Stairway to Heaven was recorded on! > The very same one? And you got it off ebay? Baahhhhhahahaaaa
Wait a minute, I thought I bought that one!! <g> 
–litepipe
Response:
> solid state amps are a joke, kind of like AOL, they are just for the new > folks who don’t know any better..
Wow!! You better contact all of my students and tell them I don’t know any better because sometimes I use a Roland JC120. Don’t stop there, you better tell the people I’ve done sessions for and gigged with that I need to give their money back considering I don’t know any better. I’m not a new "folk" to playing either. Where have I been all these years? In the dark? I must really be a poor musician to dare play a solid state amp!! Really, there is nothing worse than bedroom musicians who read to much propaganda about what gear is best. –litepipe p.s. I do use tube amps most of the time but I’m not foolish enough to say all solid state amps suck.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> solid state amps are a joke, kind of like AOL, they are just for the new > folks who don’t know any better.. > Wow!! You better contact all of my students and tell them I don’t know any > better because sometimes I use a Roland JC120. Don’t stop there, you better > tell the people I’ve done sessions for and gigged with that I need to give > their money back considering I don’t know any better. I’m not a new "folk" > to playing either. Where have I been all these years? In the dark? I must > really be a poor musician to dare play a solid state amp!! > Really, there is nothing worse than bedroom musicians who read to much > propaganda about what gear is best. > –litepipe > p.s. I do use tube amps most of the time but I’m not foolish enough to say > all solid state amps suck.
Good post litepipe, Same here, I’m primarily a tube amp guy, but I like a good solid state amp too when they’re called for. Anyone that hasn’t found good use for a powerful SS amp, has either very limited experience or musical scope. John King
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanks for your response, John. Maybe I can narrow it down to > half a million or so . . . . > I play blues/popular/Western-swing types of music from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. > Lead, rhythm, vocal accompaniments. It’s doubtful my rig will > ever leave my basement. I use it for my own enjoyment and with friends. > I have the ZOOM MRS-1044 portable mixer/rhythm device and will probably be > cutting some CD’s, etc….. I don’t need a big/powerful sound by any > means. But, would like something with a good base reponse and good > fidelity. > For an instrument, I now have a cheap/decent Epiphone El./Acoustic but have > never liked that sorry pre-amp or the controls on the pre-amp itself. For > Amp and speakers I’m now using some Radio Shack stuff about 10 years old and > it leaves much to be desired. > POWER: 40 W would probably be more than I’d ever use. > NEW/USED: I’d consider a used Amp/Speakers. I’d want to try them > out before buying… > WARRANTEE?: Not if I could try it out. > TUBE/SOLIDSTATE:?: I wouldn’t object to tubes as long as replacements are > not too had to find and a schematic was available. I hear they still sound > better than solid state and I always liked the warm/soft glow of those > filaments! (I’ve been a HAM Radio Op since 1950—now KD4JIO). > PORTABILITY? Nope. Consider it stationary. If I ever go portable, I’ll > get special equipment for that. > TASTE IN TONE? What can I say? — — — If Chet Atkins or Lawrence > Welk would have liked it, I probably would also. I like C/W with a good > rhythm and base. > Thanks again for you comments. > McDave in McMaryland
Well Dave, Based on your criteria, (clean/warm tone, and plenty of bass), I’ll recommend a few amps worthy of checking out: Peavey Delta Blues 1-15": 30 watt tube amp, clean channel is warm and punchy, 15" speaker has plenty of bottom end. Fender Deluxe Reverb: Reissue or original. You might want an after market speaker to get the bass you want. Beautiful warm tones at a medium volume. (Every guitar player should have a Deluxe Reverb at least once in their life.) 70’s Fender Vibrosonic Reverb: Big, heavy, powerful, all tube 1-15" combo amp preferred by steel guitar players. (Probably a lot more amp than you need, but plenty of bass.) Peavey Session, or Nashville: Big, heavy, high powered solid state combo amps with 1-15" Black Widow. I noticed that you mentioned plenty of bass several times, and that’s hard to get from a little bedroom sized amp, so most I mentioned (with the exception of the Deluxe Reverb) are powerful amps with plenty of bass and clean headroom (desirable for that sparkling clean country sound). Another good value in country picker’s amps is the 1980’s Peavey Special 130. They go for around $200 on eBay and in pawnshops. You might also consider getting two amps, one powerful solid state for crystal clean, and a medium/small tube amp for warmth. With careful shopping that can be done for less than $1000. Good Luck! John King http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/rockinamps.html
Response:
>Same here, I’m primarily a tube amp guy, >but I like a good solid state amp too when >they’re called for.
What are some solid state amps you like? I’ve never found one that really did much for me. The JC120 mentioned in the former post is fine, so long as the chorus is on, but pretty sterile IMO when dry. >Anyone that hasn’t found good use for a powerful >SS amp, has either very limited experience or >musical scope.
This is as narrow minded as the guy who said all solid state amps are a joke. I keep a decent solid state amp around as a backup and for a drum machine when I need it, but have never found an application where I’d prefer solid state to a good tube amp. I’m definitely not of limited experience and don’t really think I’m limited in musical scope. Seriously, for some reason, I’ve been curious about checking out a good solid state amp lately. I don’t need another amp or anything. I’ve actually just been curious if there’s any out there that I’d actually like. Ross
Response:
> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use > with a Gibson ES137. > Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. > Any suggestions would be appreciated…. > D.DaddyDave > — > /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living"
sovtek mig-50.
Response:
Thank you, my friend. And, THANKS TO ALL THE OTHERS who took the time to respond to my questions ! McDave /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" .
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks for your response, John. Maybe I can narrow it down to > half a million or so . . . . > I play blues/popular/Western-swing types of music from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. > Lead, rhythm, vocal accompaniments. It’s doubtful my rig will > ever leave my basement. I use it for my own enjoyment and with friends. > I have the ZOOM MRS-1044 portable mixer/rhythm device and will probably be > cutting some CD’s, etc….. I don’t need a big/powerful sound by any > means. But, would like something with a good base reponse and good > fidelity. > For an instrument, I now have a cheap/decent Epiphone El./Acoustic but have > never liked that sorry pre-amp or the controls on the pre-amp itself. For > Amp and speakers I’m now using some Radio Shack stuff about 10 years old and > it leaves much to be desired. > POWER: 40 W would probably be more than I’d ever use. > NEW/USED: I’d consider a used Amp/Speakers. I’d want to try them > out before buying… > WARRANTEE?: Not if I could try it out. > TUBE/SOLIDSTATE:?: I wouldn’t object to tubes as long as replacements are > not too had to find and a schematic was available. I hear they still sound > better than solid state and I always liked the warm/soft glow of those > filaments! (I’ve been a HAM Radio Op since 1950—now KD4JIO). > PORTABILITY? Nope. Consider it stationary. If I ever go portable, I’ll > get special equipment for that. > TASTE IN TONE? What can I say? — — — If Chet Atkins or Lawrence > Welk would have liked it, I probably would also. I like C/W with a good > rhythm and base. > Thanks again for you comments. > McDave in McMaryland > Well Dave, > Based on your criteria, (clean/warm tone, and plenty of bass), > I’ll recommend a few amps worthy of checking out: > Peavey Delta Blues 1-15": 30 watt tube amp, clean channel is > warm and punchy, 15" speaker has plenty of bottom end. > Fender Deluxe Reverb: Reissue or original. You might want an > after market speaker to get the bass you want. Beautiful warm > tones at a medium volume. (Every guitar player should have a > Deluxe Reverb at least once in their life.) > 70’s Fender Vibrosonic Reverb: Big, heavy, powerful, all tube > 1-15" combo amp preferred by steel guitar players. (Probably a > lot more amp than you need, but plenty of bass.) > Peavey Session, or Nashville: Big, heavy, high powered solid state > combo amps with 1-15" Black Widow. > I noticed that you mentioned plenty of bass several times, and > that’s hard to get from a little bedroom sized amp, so most I > mentioned (with the exception of the Deluxe Reverb) are powerful > amps with plenty of bass and clean headroom (desirable for that > sparkling clean country sound). > Another good value in country picker’s amps is the 1980’s Peavey > Special 130. They go for around $200 on eBay and in pawnshops. > You might also consider getting two amps, one powerful solid > state for crystal clean, and a medium/small tube amp for warmth. > With careful shopping that can be done for less than $1000. > Good Luck! > John King > http://www.angelfire.com/blues/rockinjohn/rockinamps.html
Response:
I’ll second the yuck. Versatile does nothing well. yuck any way. Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > forth: >Hi, >Nomad? Yuch! >Tony >>> I need a good Guitar Amp. with good base response and medium power to use >>> with a Gibson ES137. >>> Would like to keep cost down to $1,000 or less. >>> Any suggestions would be appreciated…. >>> D.DaddyDave >>> — >>> /s/ David E. Nixon in Maryland "A Faire Lande of Pleasant Living" >> I’d go for a Fender twin or a boogie nomad. Sweeeet…. > The Nomad is awesome. I have the 50/100 and it is very versatile. > Probably a nice combination for jazz with the ES137. And lots of > tone, swap out the 6L6 PTs for EL34 and get a very crisp sound with > lots of bite on overdrive. But, seeing as you said yuck, YMMV. BTW, > yuck doesn’t tell us much. Your opinion is probably more easily > rationalized by other readers if you would state your reasons.
Response:
> I have played with expensive full stacks and, besides the better-larger > speakers I see little difference between them and my V-Amp/SS combo. Is > there a difference? Yes, there is, but it is not a great one, especially > considering the difference in cost, maintenance and having a big box in you > house.
Are you saying that the V-Amp reacts to your fingers and pick just like a tube amp? …and the knobs on the V-Amp accurately recreate the dynamics of the real thing? I find that hard to believe.
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