What amp are you missing?

Headache

Headache

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We all have our favorite amps, and a lot of us already own our "holy grail" amplifier.

But let's entertain the thought that there is still a tone, or a special amp that you have yet to get your grubby string benders on as of yet.
Whether it's unobtainium, or just too expensive, too vintage, or your wife already said enough is enough..... Whatever the reason.


Let's say Santa was bringing you just one more amp to fill out your collection...... Which one would it be?
 
Done finally. Found the 2 that after years of searching, nail it for me. can't find any better than these.

Marshall JCM 800 2204 xtra tube mod
68 R/T SL 100 modded up

The 2204 will go over, sit right on and cut trough anything you ask it to do live or in the studio
The SL100 the thickest tone for layering upon for foundations of my songs. With the 3 settings Hvae 68 SL, Super Bass & R/T brown sound

Have others but finding out do way better with these 2 core tones for my recording & band use. Its fun to run the plexi in the band sometimes, it backs us down a tad and we become slightly bluesy hard rock . So fun to be able to play the set 2 dif ways depending on the gig(if we pound em or lay back out of respect)

On the curb are 4 that are good but distract more
Orange Rocker 30
JVM410h
JTM45ish clone with el34's Black flag"ish set up
Bug v22 (darn good amp)


Really tho, its about the cabs you pair with, changes the outcome more than changing amps at times.
 
I guess if I was in the market to purchase a new amp and I was going after my "Holy Grail," I always thought an AC30 would be the one I'd want. But since I won't be gigging any time soon and am basically a bedroom player, the current choice would be the AC15. Guy in worship band had an AC30 and with its two 12s it was just too loud. He finally bowed to pressure and showed up with an AC15. Still sounded great and way less volume when he hit its sweet spot.

Besides..... if the AC30s are good enough for Sir Brian May, PHD in Astrophysics.... it's good enough for this fumble fingered guitar player. Only thing that would make it better would be a Red Special to go along with the amp.
 
I had a massive collection at one time one thing I did learn most of the early Marshall's none of then sounded the same
none of them sounded bad but others had the voice of GOD turned into a case by case study on the transformers all
measured different most parts used were 5% tolerance or more. When I started building my own if I used a 5% resistor
would buy 100 and match them most of the time would buy 1% mill spec if I could find them then adjust my dropping string
to exact voltages worked most of the time but transformers are all wound different I understand why Dumble would take
up to five years to build a amp Ken my amp teacher would reject 65% of all new built transformers.
The amps I play ODS 50 V-1 pin 1&6 200 VDC V-2 pin 1&6 200 VDC Pi 250 VDC with a 7.4 volt differential then adjust by ear clean sustain
EL34 or KT77 471 plate voltage -34 bias a little on the cold side but tubes are still running strong 15 years later.
A few I miss that I sold 1967 50 watt Black Flag 1966 JTM 45/100 11 JTM 45 Marshall's one was a 4 x 10" type one combo rare bird.
a bunch of Black Face Fenders
 
Well , I can't say I'm in need of a holy grail. I don't need anything in the amp dept right now, I am very happy with what I have. My Orange Crush 35RT does everything i need. My other amps mostly used at my summer place. They get the job done.
 
[ know Leo Fender was not pleases guitarist were buying tweed bassmans so he invented the Concert amp i have a early
one serial #### 47 1960 TRIAD transformers it has a sound Marshall's dream of but fall short Marshall was copying the bassman
the Concert amp was next level. Plus the best $100.00 guitar amp i ever scored black plate RCA 6L6GC 1959 date code
6 UK Mullard 12AX7 all tested better than new.

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Far Rider said:
The last amp I bought commercially was the reissue of the Marshall DSL100H. Ever since, I got into amp building and have just about every tone possible. I haven't yet attempted a Fender Blackface build, but it's on my radar.
Click to expand...


The Blackface Princeton that I built off of the AA964, and slightly modded is about the best Blackface that I have heard in a while. I personally prefer to hit the front end for my Reverb and Tremolo, and bypass all the Fender ( almost Holy Grail ) built in's on those. I kept the circuitry of the AA1164 to add some more gain from the stock anemic Non-reverb AA964, but deleted the tank portion, the Tremolo portion, added a Mid Pot , and went cathode bias.

And yeah every time I fire an amp up here I think there is one more missing somewhere. Just don't know which one yet
 
I don't know, I'm pretty happy with what I have now. I haven't tried many amps really so I don't know what my holy grail would be. I've chased a certain thing for years and I've pretty much only just now gotten in the ballpark. There are several amps I'd like to try if only I had the coin.
 
Having gone through a handful of Marshalls, I would agree that the JVM does ALL of the Marshall tones and therefore I don't need another Marshall

My high gain exotic itch has been scratched well with my ENGL Fireball..... It only does 1 thing, but it does it extremely well.

I've got American muscle in the 6505 that cuts through and stays tight ..

I don't like vintage tones at all myself .....

That leaves me scratching my head as to what else is there that I've always wanted.
The ENGL Savage.... A Randy Rhoads white Marshall for aesthetics. ...? A Kemper for all the amp flavors ?
Something rich ..like a Mezzabarba, or maybe a Diezel? I just don't know....

For now I think I'm good.
 
I need another amp like I need another hole in my head. But ……..
I still hear my buddies )way back in the day) Park amp in my head as the best tone Ive ever heard, oh and a 59 bassman oh and that 55’ Deluxe that I played once oh and that original Marshall 18 watt and, and , and……..
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