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Post by mdmitch2 on May 14, 2015 12:58:44 GMT -6
I'm trying to help a client purchase a new amp... he's in high school, so budget is limited, but he was getting ready to buy a Marshall half stack, which I didn't think was a great idea considering he's a SRV style strat player, and I'm guessing the basic marshall tube amps are garbage anyway. I've seen a lot of people recommending Dr Z and Bad Cat, but those are probably a little out of the price range. Probably doesn't matter much if it's a combo or head (in which case, I'd probably advise him to get an avatar cabinet). Speaking of which, what speakers are people using for this style of music? I've always used vintage 30's, but they've never really wowed me. He'll be using the amp live in small venues and for recording, so I'm not thinking a ton of wattage is needed. Maybe somewhere in the 20-50 watt range? Nothing too fancy or digital... just a basic tube amp with a couple tone controls, and maybe reverb. I see that SRV played a Fender Super Reverb, but are the current re-issues worthwhile? I would assume there's something better for the money. Blackheart? Divided by 13? Diezel? Orange? So many brands I know nothing about..... I've played guitar for 20 yrs, but I'm way out of the loop  |
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Post by mrholmes on May 14, 2015 13:18:36 GMT -6
I'm trying to help a client purchase a new amp... he's in high school, so budget is limited, but he was getting ready to buy a Marshall half stack, which I didn't think was a great idea considering he's a SRV style strat player, and I'm guessing the basic marshall tube amps are garbage anyway. I've seen a lot of people recommending Dr Z and Bad Cat, but those are probably a little out of the price range. Probably doesn't matter much if it's a combo or head (in which case, I'd probably advise him to get an avatar cabinet). Speaking of which, what speakers are people using for this style of music? I've always used vintage 30's, but they've never really wowed me. He'll be using the amp live in small venues and for recording, so I'm not thinking a ton of wattage is needed. Maybe somewhere in the 20-50 watt range? Nothing too fancy or digital... just a basic tube amp with a couple tone controls, and maybe reverb. I see that SRV played a Fender Super Reverb, but are the current re-issues worthwhile? I would assume there's something better for the money. Blackheart? Divided by 13? Diezel? Orange? So many brands I know nothing about..... I've played guitar for 20 yrs, but I'm way out of the loop Long time SRV fan. Yes he played the super reverb but also the baseman and some marshals. As far as I know SRV was an AMP Junkie he used EV Speakers. Anyway with the years I did not want to carry around all this heavy stuff anymore. www.bugera-amps.com/EN/products/V5.aspxThis one a Vintage 30 speaker and a tube screamer got me back into the SRV sound. Maybe you cant do every nuance he did, but its overall there.... The most of it is in you fingers..... tell that your client..... |
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Post by ragan on May 14, 2015 13:19:41 GMT -6
Fender Blues Jr is a pretty smoking little amp for that kind of thing. If he wants to be able to open it up at all in a small venue, I'd try to stay under 20ish watts. I also REALLY like the Pro Jr. Tone for days, though it doesn't have much for controls. If budget allowed, there are 2 or 3 Dr Z models that would knock it out of the park.
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 14, 2015 13:33:50 GMT -6
mrholmes -- Never heard of Bugera -- I'll check that out. ragan, which Dr Z amps would you recommend for that style? Maz 18 jr? I'd like to give him a higher end option in case he can come up with the money -- Thanks!
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Post by jcoutu1 on May 14, 2015 13:35:25 GMT -6
I do live sound at a Blues venue and most of the cats coming through are using Vintage Fender or Fender style clones like Victoria. I've worked with a handful of the artists listed on the Category 5 Amps page too and they were all smoking. www.category5amps.com/Edit...I just saw the Category 5 price list and they appear to be over budget....for most people. Wowzer. Personally, I would look for a deal on an old Fender. |
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 14, 2015 13:47:35 GMT -6
Edit...I just saw the Category 5 price list and they appear to be over budget....for most people. Wowzer. Personally, I would look for a deal on an old Fender. That Tsunami amp looks like just the ticket if it weren't for the price. Definitely something to keep in mind |
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Post by jimwilliams on May 14, 2015 13:51:51 GMT -6
I've been playing that stuff for decades. Get an older Fender amp, no more $ than those new copies and clones. It will hold it's value as well. I use old Showman heads for volume, a Deluxe Reverb for less SPL's. I got them years ago for pennies when no one wanted them.
A Bassman head will let you play around with cabs and speakers, that's where all the fun is. Hendrix used a Bassman on Voodoo Child with Steve Winwood.
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 14, 2015 14:13:38 GMT -6
A Bassman head will let you play around with cabs and speakers, that's where all the fun is. Hendrix used a Bassman on Voodoo Child with Steve Winwood. I would definitely go that route if I was buying for myself, but I think he needs something in the next couple weeks, so I'm not sure that will work. I did find this one though on craigslist.... were there both 50 and 100 watt bassman heads? winstonsalem.craigslist.org/msg/5021596964.html |
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Post by mrholmes on May 14, 2015 14:18:38 GMT -6
There is nothing wrong with using a clone as long the quality is good.
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Post by jcoutu1 on May 14, 2015 14:24:06 GMT -6
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 14, 2015 14:26:56 GMT -6
Thanks -- there was another one on CL for over $2000, so $1300 looked reasonable in comparison. Probably have to avoid vintage stuff since I can't really babysit this purchase, and the buyer won't really know what to look for. (unless someone on this site has something they want to offer up  ) Maybe I'll put a up WTB ad for them if their time frame can stretch a little. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on May 14, 2015 14:35:17 GMT -6
Thanks -- there was another one on CL for over $2000, so $1300 looked reasonable in comparison. Probably have to avoid vintage stuff since I can't really babysit this purchase, and the buyer won't really know what to look for. (unless someone on this site has something they want to offer up ) Maybe I'll put a up WTB ad for them if their time frame can stretch a little. Good looking deal here too. reverb.com/item/666102-fender-bassman-50-watt-head-1967Guy says it has some of sozocaps, caps in it too. |
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Post by swurveman on May 14, 2015 15:22:20 GMT -6
I just saw a Vintage Fender Princeton Silverface amp - Non reverb circa 1979 (All original)sold for $640.00. That's what I'd buy.
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Post by stratboy on May 15, 2015 4:38:03 GMT -6
How about a used blackface Deluxe Reissue? 20 Watts might work a little bit better on stage and it will still record nicely. Takes pedals well, and goes for well under a grand.
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 15, 2015 10:16:26 GMT -6
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 15, 2015 10:20:15 GMT -6
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Post by stratboy on May 15, 2015 11:10:01 GMT -6
Yep. That's it exactly. I play with a guy now who uses one. Really nice tones!
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Post by svart on May 15, 2015 12:12:45 GMT -6
Bugera is Behringer's amp company. They are cheap quality, but sound good. I wouldn't gig with one because it would fall apart quickly, but I have no problem having a few in the studio (which I do).
Bugera will never have any resale value. A nice Fender Deluxe will though.
I guess it's up to the buyer to decide what matters more. I'd still say a cheap used bugera would be a good beginner amp to at least see if the tone is what he wants.
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Post by jayson on May 15, 2015 20:39:57 GMT -6
I've been pretty happy with Blackstar. To my ear it sounds really good for such a low cost amp. I've been using HT Studio 20H head through a Motion Sound SRV-212 rotary cabinet. When you hit the brake and the rotor points straight ahead it really nails that bluesy growl and of course there's nothing like a rotor for chorus/tremolo. The Blackstar also sounds really nice through a Marshall 4x12. If my memory doesn't fail me I think I managed to swing the whole amp & rotary cabinet rig for like $900. Might be just a tad on the high side of the budget but it's certainly worth a listen. |
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Post by mdmitch2 on May 16, 2015 13:42:07 GMT -6
jayson -- thanks, I had totally forgotten about Blackstar.... I'm gonna add the HT Studio 20H to the list in case he wants something with more straightforward clean/overdrive channels. svart and mrholmes -- thanks for the info on Bugera -- I didn't realize they were part of Behringer. Being that I'm the one recording him, I'll probably advise him to get something a little more 'tried and true,' but good to know that they're decent amps.
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Post by svart on May 16, 2015 13:46:24 GMT -6
jayson -- thanks, I had totally forgotten about Blackstar.... I'm gonna add the HT Studio 20H to the list in case he wants something with more straightforward clean/overdrive channels. svart and mrholmes -- thanks for the info on Bugera -- I didn't realize they were part of Behringer. Being that I'm the one recording him, I'll probably advise him to get something a little more 'tried and true,' but good to know that they're decent amps. One more word on bugera, all their amps are clones of something else. Trirec is a triple rectifier, the 6262 is a 6505+, the 1990 is aJCM800, 333 is a JSX, etc. |
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Post by Martin John Butler on May 16, 2015 23:03:06 GMT -6
Blues Jr, NOS, or Bad Cat Cougar 15. Blackstar's sound good, but they're too noisy for recording with.
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Post by levon on May 18, 2015 2:30:40 GMT -6
Marshall tube amps are garbage? Excuse me?
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Post by jayson on May 18, 2015 5:21:03 GMT -6
That did seem like a little bit of a broad brush statement, but to be fair I think he probably meant the Marshall amps at the price-point he was shopping.
Out of personal experience I'd say there can be a bit of a caveat emptor factor with Marshalls. I had purchased a TSL-100 back in 2002 and I definitely wouldn't say it was garbage - it sounded excellent, but it was a bit of a maintenance diva; the thing needed to have the bias tweaked every time I powered it up. It would drift pretty far and if you didn't adjust it there was a noticeable degradation in the tone. I tried a bunch of matched tube sets in it and and it never seemed to help. Plus it ran REALLY hot - after a few hours of use you could roast a turkey inside the damn thing. I'm not sure if it was that specific amp or just a shortcoming of that particular model. Seemed like I do remember hearing of other people having the same issue. I finally wound up selling it after a couple of years at a fairly substantial loss but I wouldn't say that turned me off to Marshalls in general, just made me think that I probably wasn't really a Marshall kind of guy. Tried a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe after that that I still have - although that's doing a lot more bass amp duty these days.
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Post by levon on May 18, 2015 7:20:36 GMT -6
I have a 1978 JMP and a 2007 DSL50 and both never gave me trouble. The one time that the output transformer blew was my fault. I would take a Marshall any day, but I'm a Marshall guy, ever since I saw Clapton, Hendrix and Page playing them in the 1970s. I even like the small anniversary 1-watters, they still have that tone. I'll be getting the Silver Jube reissue as soon as it's available over here. I like Fender clean and crunch tones, but not so much the overdrive, but I agree, it's a matter of taste and what rocks your world.
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) Maybe I'll put a up WTB ad for them if their time frame can stretch a little.
