• From: East Tennessee
  • Registered: 2006-04-25
  • Posts: 240

Topic: seeking an opinion

Joe,

First off, the Nashville show was at least a 9 (your score), I'd go for an 11 (see Spinal tap). That was my 6th show and the second with the new lineup. What a progression from Sweet Caroline's a couple of years ago (not that that wasn't great, but I'm sure it's hard to make magic when the drummer's head is literally in a bucket.) Saturday night was to me a showcase for an artist who is on the way to creating something brand new and we can only hope the market niche you're carving keeps widening.

Okay, now for the opinion. In case you get bored with another day off, here's a question to ponder to help an old road dog rocker turned blueser turned United Methodist preacher. I play in church every Sunday and have a blues/gospel band that plays for all sorts of functions, usually church-related requiring relatively low sound levels. I have a Hot Rod Deville and use a stock Blues driver for a touch of overdrive and it sounds nice with my American Strat. I also have a Keeley modded DS-1 for a thicker, Marshall tone that really sounds good with my 56 Les Paul Special (stock P-90s). But I'd really like to get the real-deal Marshall/Mesa, etc. tube tone by adding a second amp. The probem is playing at lower volume means relying on preamp gain to get overdrive and the combos I've played at those levels don't sound a lot better than my Keeley DS-1.

Do you have any suggestions for a direction for a 2nd amp that I can warm up the power tubes and get some sustain and harmonics without rearranging the old guy's toupe in the third row?

BTW, if anyone else wants to wade in, I'm an equal opportunity opinion receiver.

Blessings,
Larry

"...play skillfully and shout for joy." Psalm 33:3b (honest, it really says that)
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Re: seeking an opinion

I would get a marshall 30 anniversary combo 100w and a THD power soak.  The 30 anniversarys are nice cause they have a great crunch setting and a killer clean tone.  U can also drive the clean setting by lowering the bass and adding a bit of reverb.  You ll need a 16 ohm soak (I think) Just depending on how the amp is run with one 12 inch speaker.. 16 or 8 will be the only two options there.. A DSL 2000 single 12  or a Mesa lonestar would work too. 
Good Luck
Joe Bonamassa

  • From: East Tennessee
  • Registered: 2006-04-25
  • Posts: 240

Re: seeking an opinion

Thanks for taking the time, Joe. Have a great Christmas.

"...play skillfully and shout for joy." Psalm 33:3b (honest, it really says that)
  • Registered: 2007-09-04
  • Posts: 5

Re: seeking an opinion

My husband (I am reading and posting under his name!)was at that show with the sick band members!  He drove 7 hours and yet he says he would do it all over again!  IF the show had gone as planned it would have been a really personal concert he says.  I have been with Dave (my husband) to three concerts and I am truly an addict.  I saw him on Thanksgiving Eve in Pittsburgh and he was incredible.  Dave has been a street team member for years, and I can't count the number of people he has steered towards Joe.  Buying them CD's, sending them concert links, having beer and cigars on our porch to watch DVD's.  I thought it was rather overkill until I went to my first concert!

5 Reply by Carol-Ann_Amps (edited by Carol-Ann_Amps 2007-11-26 22:15:49)

  • Registered: 2007-09-03
  • Posts: 36

Re: seeking an opinion

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I would get a marshall 30 anniversary combo 100w and a THD power soak.  The 30 anniversarys are nice cause they have a great crunch setting and a killer clean tone.  U can also drive the clean setting by lowering the bass and adding a bit of reverb.  You ll need a 16 ohm soak (I think) Just depending on how the amp is run with one 12 inch speaker.. 16 or 8 will be the only two options there.. A DSL 2000 single 12  or a Mesa lonestar would work too. 
Good Luck
Joe Bonamassa

+1 on the 30th Anniversary. I actually own one of those 1x12's myself, it has an 8 ohm 12" EVM-12L speaker in it....probably a reason Joe likes it to. Best guitar speaker ever, bar none.

Naturally, I could also recommend a 50W or 100W EL-34 Carol-Ann OD-2 combo with a 12" EVM-12L.....it is has a master setup designed to keep the tone intact even at very low volumes and the OD never gets thin and buzzy.....a little more expensive than the Marshall or Mesa though.

Alan Phillips.

  • From: Live Free or Die State
  • Registered: 2007-11-30
  • Posts: 11

Re: seeking an opinion

Go see Johnny A,  http://www.johnnya.com/tourdates.htm

He swears by the 30th Ann's. and pretty simple set-up on the pedals.  His sound is thick from what I have seen/heard.

"Orange is young, full of daring,
But very unsteady for the first go round
My yellow in this case is not so mellow
In fact I'm trying to say it's frigthened like me" ~JMH
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: seeking an opinion

what are some good Johnny A songs to get me hooked?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Live Free or Die State
  • Registered: 2007-11-30
  • Posts: 11

Re: seeking an opinion

Do a search on youtube to see and hear are a couple to keep an ear out for:
Oh Yeah--clean
2 wheel horse--overdriven--slightly saturated
I Had to Laugh-- country twang

You name it, he plays it..real smooth...

"Orange is young, full of daring,
But very unsteady for the first go round
My yellow in this case is not so mellow
In fact I'm trying to say it's frigthened like me" ~JMH
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: seeking an opinion

hmmm thanks silverjub!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool