What's Your Favorite Amp?
- Thread starter guitarweasel
- Start date
RVA
Ambassador
Both great. For me, the JVM combo hits the mark and gets the #1 spot
Col Mustard
Ambassador of Perseverance
I have several of course, like some others here... I really like Bea's rig, that looks like some serious
tone control. Thanks for posting, that's fascinating.
The Mesa TA-30 that Kerry posted also caught my attention. From the description, that sounds like a
very versatile piece of equipment with a small footprint and an easy load in.
My current fave is this little Orange Micro Terror, played through a couple of home made cabs
which it runs with no sweat. This little beast looks like a toy, but it is not. It's plain and simple
but works well with pedals, and the 20 Watts gets plenty loud for most of the places I'd use it.
I also own a Senheiser 609 to mike it if needed for a larger venue.
The bottom cab holds a couple of Jensen MOD speakers, a 12" and a 10"... The combination
sounds great to my ear, and the little Orange amp runs them with no sweat. The top cab has an 8"
Eminence Legend which I like well as a practice rig. I can couple them together for a very
interesting sound.
My older but still fave amps are my Vox VT-30 and my Blackheart Little Giant. Each has their own voice
and useful space. The Blackhearts gets plenty loud for small room gigs, and it's easy to carry in and out.
I bought the Sennheiser 609 to mike this amp, and that works great when needed. The Vox has plenty
of muscle for the gigs I play, it's actually overkill most of the time. The tone is great when it's off the
floor on its stand. I painted the chrome grill flat black, to cut down obnoxious reflections.
Do I have to choose only ONE favorite? If I do, it's got to be my Roland CB-60XT... I take that to every
gig. It's a 60W bass amp, but has an XLR out in the back of the amp, so I can send the signal to the
board. I play acoustic and bass mostly, bringing an electric to selected gigs. So my go to amp is this
Roland Cube Bass amp. It's also a modeling amp like the Vox VT-30, and I've settled down to a couple
of tones that I like, and ignore the rest.
Logistics becomes important, the older I get. I love being able to walk into a venue with my bass in one hand
and my Roland amp in the other. That ten inch rig packs a lot more punch that you'd think, probably because
of the ports on the bottom. It's got a tremendous sound for something so small and easy to load in and out.
tone control. Thanks for posting, that's fascinating.
The Mesa TA-30 that Kerry posted also caught my attention. From the description, that sounds like a
very versatile piece of equipment with a small footprint and an easy load in.
My current fave is this little Orange Micro Terror, played through a couple of home made cabs
which it runs with no sweat. This little beast looks like a toy, but it is not. It's plain and simple
but works well with pedals, and the 20 Watts gets plenty loud for most of the places I'd use it.
I also own a Senheiser 609 to mike it if needed for a larger venue.
The bottom cab holds a couple of Jensen MOD speakers, a 12" and a 10"... The combination
sounds great to my ear, and the little Orange amp runs them with no sweat. The top cab has an 8"
Eminence Legend which I like well as a practice rig. I can couple them together for a very
interesting sound.
My older but still fave amps are my Vox VT-30 and my Blackheart Little Giant. Each has their own voice
and useful space. The Blackhearts gets plenty loud for small room gigs, and it's easy to carry in and out.
I bought the Sennheiser 609 to mike this amp, and that works great when needed. The Vox has plenty
of muscle for the gigs I play, it's actually overkill most of the time. The tone is great when it's off the
floor on its stand. I painted the chrome grill flat black, to cut down obnoxious reflections.
Do I have to choose only ONE favorite? If I do, it's got to be my Roland CB-60XT... I take that to every
gig. It's a 60W bass amp, but has an XLR out in the back of the amp, so I can send the signal to the
board. I play acoustic and bass mostly, bringing an electric to selected gigs. So my go to amp is this
Roland Cube Bass amp. It's also a modeling amp like the Vox VT-30, and I've settled down to a couple
of tones that I like, and ignore the rest.
Logistics becomes important, the older I get. I love being able to walk into a venue with my bass in one hand
and my Roland amp in the other. That ten inch rig packs a lot more punch that you'd think, probably because
of the ports on the bottom. It's got a tremendous sound for something so small and easy to load in and out.
Kerry Brown
Ambassador of the Great Northern Bar Jams
As I get older the weight of my gear gets more important. I just sold a Peavey Classic 50 4x10 because of it's weight and bulk. The cleans were sublime but I hardly ever used it. It was too loud at home and too heavy to play out. For that matter lately I've been taking just my Epiphone acoustic to jams. It has an XLR out so I can go straight into the board. When it's time to go home I put the guitar in it's case and I'm on my way home.
OP
I'm very happy just using the AC-30, but still find it heavy.
I want the ES335 Lamp...
OP
SG John
Ambassador of Cool Guitars and Amps.
It's a tough call, but I think that my favorite amp is my DST Engineering DST-30. It is an AC-30 in the early style with a top boost channel and an EF-86 channel. If you want that Rory Gallagher sound, this has it, and then some. It's loud and pround, and an all around great amp. It is currently loaded with Telefunken EL-84s, and a variation of Amperex, Brimar, and Mullard 12AX7s, along with an Amperex EF-86. I've got a Goodmans Axiom 60 in the basement waiting for me to go visit Javamagic in either England or Ireland to get a second that needs a re-cone that he's holding for me. For now, it still sounds great, as is.
My tied for second is a '79 Marshall 100 watt JMP. Loaded with old NOS Mullards, this thing rawks! It's one of those Marshalls that sounds absolutely amazing without any pedals. With just a Les Paul, I can get Martin Barre, Paul Kossoff, and bunch of other classic players' tone. Since the bass player who I play with likes to play loud, this is my practice amp.
Then there is my JTM-45. It is also a great amp. It has served me well since I bought it in 1989 for just about every gig and recording I've done. Right now, it's loaded with Siemens EL-34s and Mullard 12ax7 tubes. Ever since I bought my 1970 8x10, it's been my main practice amp at home. It just sounds soooo luscious.
I also love my '70 Deluxe Reverb that's sitting next to the Marshall in the above photo. Loaded with all NOS RCA tubes, and a few other minor mods by Bob at DST Engineering, this thing smokes! I love recording with it. I've also used it for occasional gigs, and it sounds great. I can't believe how many people ask me about my sound or that amp when I take it out. it's a beauty, and a keeper for sure.
My tied for second is a '79 Marshall 100 watt JMP. Loaded with old NOS Mullards, this thing rawks! It's one of those Marshalls that sounds absolutely amazing without any pedals. With just a Les Paul, I can get Martin Barre, Paul Kossoff, and bunch of other classic players' tone. Since the bass player who I play with likes to play loud, this is my practice amp.
Then there is my JTM-45. It is also a great amp. It has served me well since I bought it in 1989 for just about every gig and recording I've done. Right now, it's loaded with Siemens EL-34s and Mullard 12ax7 tubes. Ever since I bought my 1970 8x10, it's been my main practice amp at home. It just sounds soooo luscious.
I also love my '70 Deluxe Reverb that's sitting next to the Marshall in the above photo. Loaded with all NOS RCA tubes, and a few other minor mods by Bob at DST Engineering, this thing smokes! I love recording with it. I've also used it for occasional gigs, and it sounds great. I can't believe how many people ask me about my sound or that amp when I take it out. it's a beauty, and a keeper for sure.
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bea
AmBASSador of the F Clef
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
Very interesting reads from you pros.
I'm a giggler, but not a gigger (as in gigging musician).
My favorites are -you guessed it- I dance with who brung me!
This is as far as my limited experience has brought me.
(TOP) Scratch build Fender Champ Circuit 5F1 with Princeton 5F2A tone and other goodies, and Fender Deluxe 5E3 circuit + goodies and more in the works.
Store bought Silkyn Super 50.
That U4LO (unidentified 4-legged object) is Ella, pulling guard duty on my LP Jr build, and trying to give me tips on my terrible photography skills.
I'm a giggler, but not a gigger (as in gigging musician).
My favorites are -you guessed it- I dance with who brung me!
This is as far as my limited experience has brought me.
(TOP) Scratch build Fender Champ Circuit 5F1 with Princeton 5F2A tone and other goodies, and Fender Deluxe 5E3 circuit + goodies and more in the works.
Store bought Silkyn Super 50.
That U4LO (unidentified 4-legged object) is Ella, pulling guard duty on my LP Jr build, and trying to give me tips on my terrible photography skills.
Only two responses....Really?!?!?
I sold my cherished SLP's and my JTM30 Combo a few years ago. The stacks were big, heavy, lacked reverb and the JTM30 had a tendency to overheat. When the value of the olde Marshalls' really went up in value, I sold them off.
After the sale, I used my owned since new 1997 Marshall Valvestate VS265 2X12 Stereo Chorus Combo.
I used the VS265 full-time from 2011 until I bought my two DSL40C' s last year.
One is all stock and one is modded. I plan to set up both identically once I settle on a good combination.
DSL40C #1 has a Genelex Gold Lion T12AX7 in V1, 7025-WA's in V2 through V4, a matched pair of Electro-Harmonix EL-34'S and a custom made 16 ohm, 12" WGS 50 Watt Reaper with the 55Hz cone option.
The DSL40C is the absolute minimum amp I would consider....
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67plexi
Ambassador of Amps
That's a hard call. Would that be the best sounding amp ??? or most valuable ??? Or the one I gig with ??? I'm not sure how many amps I own.
#1 The Green Hornet best sounding It has the same voltage chart as Jimmy Page's Axis amp but blow's it away inflate clean sustain preamp boost and a overdrive channel that is second to none.
Mahogany plywood cabinet EVM-12-S speaker 1968 Marshall 50 watt OPT JTM-45 PT Got lucky with that amp.
It's on the left front
#1 The Green Hornet best sounding It has the same voltage chart as Jimmy Page's Axis amp but blow's it away inflate clean sustain preamp boost and a overdrive channel that is second to none.
Mahogany plywood cabinet EVM-12-S speaker 1968 Marshall 50 watt OPT JTM-45 PT Got lucky with that amp.
It's on the left front
I like my Fender Mustang, it's great for easy access in my office. Due to the fact I can plug it into my computer for recording and I can get a plethora of tones from it, this would be my favorite amp for 6 string guitar playing. As for my bass amp, the Bugera is my one and only choice.