Let's Talk About Amps!

[FREDDI]

I'm using a Fender Pro Jr. that is good for playin' at home,and I'm thinkin of changin' its speaker, now that Celestion starts to build the 10 inches version of various Greenback,Blue,Vintage30 etc.(I guess I'll check a "Gold")
I often hear to talk about guitar models,or fuzz and stomp effects,but the amp is the other 50% of your sound.So I'd like to know some impressions about in your experience.

[Jónbjörn Birgisson]

twin reverb ftw! new spring reverb.

g&l legacy and gibson sg standard and very old gibson accoustic guitar from the 40tys or 50tys.

 

some yellow mudhoney overdrive, vox wahwah, peace of shit fuzz from beringer

and more peace of shit petals that aren't worth for mention.

 

yeah

[ChazMatthews]

I'm gonna agree on this one. I too, used to have an Ampeg Reverberocket. I was using a Gibson LP Jr at the time and it sounded amazing through this. I have an Epiphone Galaxie all tube from the mid 90s now, which is pretty close.

kopper said:

I used to have an Ampeg Reverberocket. That thing was awesome. Wish I still had it!

[Duke Of Earl]

Old Ampeg reverberocket is what I like. I tried a 90s one at a friends house as well as a more recent ampeg reverberocket headand. The newer ones didnt have the same raunch factor. This is with a junior lester as well. I like the fuzzrite in front of it, or seymour dunkie pickup booster set to the treble boost for more fenderish clean chime.

ChazMatthews said:

I'm gonna agree on this one. I too, used to have an Ampeg Reverberocket. I was using a Gibson LP Jr at the time and it sounded amazing through this. I have an Epiphone Galaxie all tube from the mid 90s now, which is pretty close.

kopper said:

I used to have an Ampeg Reverberocket. That thing was awesome. Wish I still had it!

[The Owsley Brothers]

For recording or playing at home or small shows i use an Alamo Dart. all tube rated at 40watts, but it's really pushing about 10.They have a very unique soung and break up great! You can still find them pretty cheap on ebay. i paid $50 at a music store for mine..

When I need volume I have a Sovtek Mig 60 + 2x12 cab. I bought it in 1997 for $200 with the cab. That thing is a total beast..Its loud as hell, amazing distortion when tha pre-amp section is cranked up. If you can find one of these BUY IT!!! But only the mig 60.The 50 & 100 watt models arent nearly as good..

[Time For Tiffin]

I tend to try and get the cleanest sound poss. from my amp then add a Tonebender pedal.

Been using an early 60's Fender Bandmaster head as piggyback on an early 60's Vox 2 x 12 cab for the last 15 yrs and it's never let me down.

Using just the pedal also helps when you play abroad as you don't have to spend time searching for a killer tone on someone else's set up.

[Mardy Pune]

Yep, If yer outta town and borrowing amps then having pedals you know and trust is a godsend!

Time For Tiffin said:

I tend to try and get the cleanest sound poss. from my amp then add a Tonebender pedal.

Been using an early 60's Fender Bandmaster head as piggyback on an early 60's Vox 2 x 12 cab for the last 15 yrs and it's never let me down.

Using just the pedal also helps when you play abroad as you don't have to spend time searching for a killer tone on someone else's set up.

[Rob Poyton]

A Solton Turbo rotary for me - a lot cheaper than a lesley and louder too....

[KK Dirty Money & Las Drogas]

I have a bunch of different amps, all different sizes. But the one I am really proud of: I just scored a good-condition 67 Fender Super Reverb from a music shop right down the street. I paid $400 cash plus about $200 worth of some other vintage stuff, so I feel like I scored the deal of a lifetime. I've wanted a Super since I was a kid. I never expected to get one, let alone one like that for such a rediculous price.

Peavey also makes some great little tube amps. I have a tweed Delta Blues (30 watts, 15' speaker, tremelo & reverb). That thing is pretty awesome. If you search Craigslist, there is always one of those Peavey Classics on there. 

 

[Mark_McIntyre]

1484s are awesome.  i've had two.  unfortunately amp techs in town are clueless and i couldn't get them correctly service.  so i traded them in.  i now use a early 60s bandmaster head with the 2 x 12 silvertone cab.  not the same at all, but great tone and control nonetheless.  

Ryan Thomas LeGere said:

I prefer my Silvertone 1484. The amp is from the 1960s and breaks up real nice. I went to Nashville some months back and on the way back I found her in a Cleveland guitar shop. Ever since I got her, my Fender Twin has been all by her lonesome.

[Jill The Destroyer]

Although this is probably inappropriate, since I play bass, but... 

I play through a Ampeg B-15R Portaflex. I paid a ton for TONE! I never ever thought that little amp would do me justice in a two 100+ Watt  guitar setup (Fender Twin Reverb '65 Reissue and an Ampeg ReverbRocket Reissue) live or recording - It did. Good tube amps are 100% worth the money seriously. In all honestly no matter what you play, no matter the watts. I think that probably 50% is your attitude and how you play it off, 45% your amp and 5% your instrument. Yeah, shitty instruments suck, but you can really get past that or weed out the ones that stink. A good amp with good tubes and speakers are key. You can dial in a killer sound on any instrument just out of the warmth.

Honestly, I'm not trying to be a gear snob. I've played all sorts of cheap shit for years and loved it! With that said, I've never had as much ease at getting decent tone out of that Ampeg as I've ever tried on "real vintage" gear or cheap shit. Never ever had needed a pedal, compressor, etc. Just easier and I'm much happier for it. Whatever upgrades you're going to do to a tube amp will cost a lot of money, but seriously - it makes the dirty sound dirtier and the clean sound cleaner.

I know that didn't help much with the decision, but invest in your amp! Even the small tube guys scream and cry for those who aren't wise!

 

 

[Scott Karg]

I know it doesn't scream garage, but I just use a Les Paul with P90s or a 61 RI SG direct into a Mesa/Boogie Class V on the green channel, sometimes with a but of overdrive in between. Works great. I have a marshall coming from Fed Ex today that Im anxious to try. My other guitarist has an Epiphone semi-hollow into an old Bassman.

[DammitDave]

I normally play through one of these (picture stolen)

 

but I when I play with a group, I use a Vox AC30 reissue that is part solid state and has one tube to make it sound real.  I love it.