• Registered: 2007-12-30
  • Posts: 12

Topic: Need amp-buying advice!

Here's my deal... I'm in the market for a new amp to get a warm blues-rock tube tone, similar to Joe, Eric Johnson, Warren Haynes, etc. My goal is to keep this endeavor under $1500, so I'm probably limiting myself to a combo amp. I play mainly a nice Les Paul with Burstbucker II pickups, with a Strat and an Epiphone hollowbody at times. I've got plenty of pedals (Ibanez ts-9, Boss Blues Driver, Marshall Guv'nor, Boss DS-1, Voodoo Lab fuzz) if I need a boost.

I don't really need death-metal ultra distortion, or goofy stuff I'll never use. I've had a modelling amp, too, and I'm moving past that. My real tone-liking is warm and creamy, not bright. What are a few of my best options? I'd love to hear Joe's, and anyone else's, advice. Thanks!

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

I know Joe's not a fan of them but I love my 95 Fender Blues Deville. It's been tweaked by the boys at Voodoo Amps. voodooamps.com I'd cry like a little girl if it ever was lost or stolen. However my suggestion would be to do what your doing here, ask questions and do the same at your local music store. Try as many amps as they'll let you then hit the next store and do the same. Good luck to you in your search.

Spider

  • From: Oakley, CA USA
  • Registered: 2007-05-24
  • Posts: 40

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

I got a great idea...buy my Rivera Fandango! 55watts...2-12 combo

Good amp...has what your asking for...I'm headin another direction...
see the post next to yours. RE Cat 5
1200.00  new spkrs, preamp tubes, link below shows ya the whole deal...

http://www.rivera.com/products/fandango/fandango.php

Sorry all, I know this isn't Craigs List...couldn't resist.

CURRENTLY: CAT5 JB PLEXI 50W, CAT5 1900 50W, Split 4x12 cab.
Fender Strat, Tele. Gibson LP including ole #174 JB Goldtop...

In heaven right now with the CAT5 rig!!!
  • Registered: 2007-12-28
  • Posts: 4

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

Try looking at a Budda Superdrive 18 or 30 1X12 combo. They have tone to die for. Great for blues/ rock. Its a 2 channel amp with a clean thats sort of AC30ish due to the EL84s. The dirty channel smokes, real thick and dynamic the harder you dig the the more it grinds. If you shop around  im pretty sure you can find either in you price range. I used to own a Superdrive 30 combo and i can tell you it was plenty loud for any club gig i ever did. I used it outside a couple of times but it was miked for those situations. Good luck
Owen

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  • Registered: 2007-12-03
  • Posts: 59

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

Hi all, bear in mind the three guys tones you listed above, (Joe, Eric, and Warren) all have similar tones in the sense that they are all incredible, (TONEMASTERS!!!) but have very specific and different ways of going about getting them.  Also, when listened to side by side they all sound different, partly because of their rigs but because mostly of who they are.  To sum up, first realize tone lies greatly in the hands of the beholder.  That being said a couple questions will help you narrow it down.  What sized venues do you play?  If you stick mostly to bars and small indoor venues a good tube amp between 20 and 50 watts (depending on how loud you actually need, 50 tube watts is LOUD!!) is a great place to start.  Do you really dig that fender clean overdriven sound ala SRV and Kenny Wayne, or a more marshally driven sound like Joe B or Warren Haynes.  Both Fender and Marshall (and countless other manufacturers) make great amps in both veins that are in the price range you specified.  When you do finally pick an amp spend time with it, tweak it, stroke it....Just kidding smile.  If the sound doesn't work for you let a fellow player who you trust adjust it the way they like then try it for a while.  If it still isn't just right swap speakers, have a reputable amp tech go through it. I pesonally believe most all amps have a good sound in them ,it might not be our sound but it is in there we just have to find it.  As Joe has said before get a good sound from your amp first then add effects and pedals.  Spend just as much time with the pedals as you have the amp.  Remember one weak link in the signal chain can destroy a good tone.  The point I am getting at is these guys listed above spent countless hours getting the tones they have and it didn't happen overnight for them just as it probably won't for you.  But, in the search lies the real fun.  Hope any of this advice helps and you weren't just looking for a list of amps.  The quest for tone is a long and painfull one, just ask the women in our lives smile!
Mike

6 Reply by ken (edited by ken 2007-12-31 10:24:18)

  • ken
  • ken
  • Titanium
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

Fandango1 wrote:

I got a great idea...buy my Rivera Fandango! 55watts...2-12 combo

Good amp...has what your asking for...I'm headin another direction...
see the post next to yours. RE Cat 5
1200.00  new spkrs, preamp tubes, link below shows ya the whole deal...

http://www.rivera.com/products/fandango/fandango.php

Sorry all, I know this isn't Craigs List...couldn't resist.

The Fandango is a good choice as is the Budda.

I would say the Fandango would be a little more forgiving and a little looser. It also has tons of tone shaping controls and options, great reverb, very fender like clean channel. I had a Rivera Suprema for years and loved it. The guy I sold it to plays roots rock and loves it. They are also extremely overbuilt and bullet proof amps.

The Budda is more straight forward, no reverb, also a nice clean and distortion, very tight sounding and not very forgiving of mistakes. I play a Budda 45 now and love it. I've owned the SD30 and loved it, just wanted a little more bottom end, and power so I changed to the 45.

Check out the sound clips from the Rivera website, they have a great soundclip section. For the Budda soundclips, go to Youtube and do a search for Budda Superdrives. There's a couple of guys out there with good video clips of Budda Superdrives. Joe even has a video clip of him going through the different sounds on a Superdrive 45. There's probably Fandangos out there too, I've never checked.

Another piece of advice (if you care) is never buy a new amp if you can find a used one in good condition. Most people are bedroom players and baby their amps or don't play them much. You can always find Riveras, Buddas, Fenders, Mesas etc. like new on Ebay for half the price of new. Just check the descriptions carefully and the sellers feedback. Also check the completed auctions to see the fair market value.

Good luck on the never ending journey...

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

I can suggest two different amps that will get you a great tone for well under 1500 bucks.

I have owned 2 late 90's Pro Tube Series Fender Twins. 2X12 100w or 25w power.  3 Channels. The second channel I find kind of useless however the clean is great and the gain is not bad.
It shines if you put a fulltone OCD or Fulldrive 2 in front of it. It sounds very very good with either my telecaster or my Les Paul.   I love this amp. I get a very Warren Haynes sound with my Les Paul.  Of course its hard to make a 58 reissue sound bad.

I just bought a Vox AC30 and use the exact same set up in front of it.  I am loving the sound from that even more than the twin. The fulltones make that amp sound so full and clear.  It is a great amp for lead and clean.  The down side is you need a A/B switcher on the Vox because there are 2 channels and no channel switching. Bummer.

I cant wait to get the twin back and put them side by side to hear them at the same time.

The twins sell for 600-800 and I just bought the Vox for 700.  The fulltones were 130 for the OCD and 150 for the fulldrive.

  • From: Gnashville, TN
  • Registered: 2007-02-14
  • Posts: 198

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

brother....don't feel you have to drop 1500 bucks to get good tone.  Go check out the Palomino V32 class A tube amp when you're checking out the others....

I'm a big fan of the Fender Vibro King.....you can generally find on EBAY for under $1500

if you play smaller rooms then either of these amps will supply plenty of power and tone.

"why isn't the number "11" pronounced "onety one"???....S. Wright.

Guitgator's Website

  • From: Springfield, MO
  • Registered: 2006-04-25
  • Posts: 112

Re: Need amp-buying advice!

Joe has talked favorably about the Mesa Lonestar several times on the forum, you might want to check those out.