Egnater Rebel/ Amp suggestions (Page 1 of 2)

Haha we love amp talk around here.  Okay sounds like you are after something gainy (mentioned Rebel 20 and Bugera).  It may help if you clarified your musical tastes, guitars, pedals, favorite tone(s).  For Rock music, it's going to be hard to dethrone Marshall.  For $600 you may be able to find a used JCM900 or JCM2000.  If you have pedals and just need a clean platform to build upon a Fender Hot Rod amp would more than suffice at that price.  I like the Blues Jr. amps as well, easier on the back too.  Do you have anything to trade?  I was able to trade a Fender Twin Reverb RI and about the cash you mentioned for my Dr. Z Maz and that got me into boutique land just by getting rid of something I didn't use much.  Also for slightly more money (when you include shipping) I would check out Ceriatone amps.  For those on a budget you can have very close approximations of vintage Marshall, Fender, Matchless, Trainwreck, Dumble, Hiwatt etc.  I'm currently jonesing for a Trainwreck Express or Liverpool. IMO the ultimate rock amp of all time for $700...

Yeah the Trainwrecks are really starting to get outrageous in price some going for over $40,000.  A well known Trainwreck player Glen Kuykendall has the Ceriatone Expression (TW Express clone) and an original '89 Trainwreck Express.  He said the Ceriatone gets about 90% there which is a steal at 1/50th the price of an original.  Trainwrecks are very aggressive by nature and were certainly favored by '80s rockers.  But for Page and Slash tones I'd say you would probably be better off with a Marshall.  I personally LOVE my JCM2000 head.  For those that read some of my posts it's no secret that I'm a big supporter of Ceriatone.  I just have a hard time spending the money on amps from Fender, Marshall, Vox, etc that use cheaper PCB and parts and then charge the prices they do.  Honestly after buying a JCM2000 on EBAY and factoring shipping etc. you might as well get a HANDWIRED PTP Ceriatone Marshall clone...

Stratpaulguy,

just got my first Ceriatone deivered today.  It's the 36w. TMB EF86 with the half power switch.  Just amazing.  Really took the pedals well too.  I was concerned about that since it does not have an effects loop.  My chain is

R8  -  OCD  -  DD6  -  Holygrail

Sounds very good and VERY LOUD.  I ordered it on March 9th and it arrived April 3rd.  Not bad!

Already planning the next buy from Nik.  Maybe OTS or JTM - 45.

I'm now a very big Ceriatone fan!

Jim

Matt B-  The Peavey Classics are good, I use to own a Classic 50 which was very nice.  The only issues with it were that it was a tad on the bright side.  I would definately go with the Classic 30.  The Classic 30 is much darker and more "Marshally", has a fat switch, and is a little more club/practice friendly.  Guitar Center does do business with Peavey, but for some reason I see many more at Sam Ash.

jimR8- Congrats man on the 36w, I've heard that they are fantastic.  I can certainly recommend the OTS and it may be the one amp in my collection that I would have the hardest time letting go.  The JTM45 is definately interesting for all the Clapton/Bluesbreaker fans.  I love Nik's amps, and God bless him for making them.  I've got the Dumble, Marshall, Fender, Vox, and Hiwatt tones covered with my current collection.  There is only a couple of frontiers left to explore...TRAINWRECK.  I'm almost 100% sure that's my next Ceriatone!  Maybe a Liverpool with a half power switch?

So am I. Fantastic value for money.
I already have their JTM-45 Bluesbreaker combo and the OTS. My JCM800 and all my Fenders are gathering dust now. The Dizzy 30 is next on my list. Looking for that Vox tone.

I'd suggest that if this is your first "Real" amp, get one you can easily afford.

    You'll need to experiment a little, to see what you actually like or don't like. Those Peavey Classics, or something in a similar price range. And a year from now, you may like something completely different.

    I've seen too many people buy really nice gear, gear that they had heard about, or had always wanted. Then, that gear is so inappropriate for their uses, that they never got to actually use it. Like a Student who HAD TO HAVE a 71' Marshall 100 Watt 1/2 Stack. He found a really clean one, got a decent price, and played it for about an hour. After that, it sat in his corner, while he took the little Crate 30 Watt Combo every time he went to practice, etc. He got tired of carrying the 1/2 Stack to wherever he was going to play. He eventually sold it, about 2 years later, and got something he really found user friendly.

    So, I would HIGHLY suggest you go to some local shows. Listen to as many Bands (in person) as you can. When you hear a player who has great Tone, go up and ask them some questions, beyween Sets. Go get a good look at their Rig, to see what they use. Maybe take a camera phone, and snap a couple of shots of how they have the settings on the Amp. Then, go to a Music Store, and try the same gear, using those settings as a starting point.

I'm glad it's helping, Matt.

    Here's something else to consider. Part of the magic with Tube Amps, is how they "feel". They react to how you touch the guitar.
    This can be kinda uncomfortable, at first. Your hand rubs against a string unintentionally, and it makes a sound through the amp, etc. So give yourself a few hours playing time to get used to it. It'll come fairly easily. Just play some more.

    The good side of this, is that when you strum softly, the amp sounds pretty clean. When you "dig in" a little more, and play with a little more force, the amp will growl back at you. Pretty organic, and it feels good.
    Also, you get a whole other Tool to use in your playing. All the sounds and feels you can create with your Touch and Timing will be multiplied many times.

    Here's a way to start. Set the amp up something like this:

    Turn your Guitar's Volume all the way down.
    (This one is important. Don't want to blast everyone with huge Volume...........At least, not unintentionally! ).
   
    Turn all the Amp's Tone Knobs, Bass, Middle, Treble, etc. up to Noon. (Straight up.)
    Turn all the Amp Volumes, Masters, etc. up to Noon.
    Any Effects, Reverb, Tremolo, etc. turn all the way Down.
    This is a good, "Vanilla" sound from the Amp. Basically, a good starting point to what the Amp sounds like. Also, the Volume will be in it's general "Sweet Spot" for trying them out for the first time.

    Power the Amp up:
    If there is a Standby Switch, turn it to "Standby" position, first.
    Now, turn the Power "On".
    The Amp will need to wam up for a minute or two, then you can flip the Standby Switch to "Off".

    Turn your guitar up, and play. Notice how turning your guitar's Volume Knob up and down not only changes volume, but also how much "Grit", or Overdrive the Amp has. THAT'SWHATI'MTALKINGABOUT!  :D:lol::P:cool:
   
     Powering Down:
     Just turn the Amp off. Don't put in on Standby.

     Standby is for prolonging the life of the Tubes, by kind of putting them in "Idle" while taking that 15 minute break, between Jams.
     Also, it limits how much electricity is hitting the Tubes. This helps the Tubes to "Warm Up" (Literally, they are Glass, and need some TLC), before they get the full amount of electricity hitting them.
   

    Hope this helps!

In my experiences, YES!!!  I have a theory that buying what you really want will save you time and money down the road.  I would suggest trying a TON of amps from all price ranges (even the super boutique) and wattage levels to get a good idea what you like/dislike.  Most people don't NEED a 100 Watt firebreathing monster, but they DO have a certain sound and feel even at lower volumes.  The key is finding an amplifier that starts to hit it's sweet spot at volumes that you play at and others can tolerate.  Other things I look for is whether or not the amp is single coil and humbucker friendly on the same settings.  Finally, determine if you really need reverb, tremolo, delay, effects loops, 3 channels and all the other bells and whistles.  Some people need a Line 6 Spider Valve with 12 effects layered on top of each other, others can just plug right into a tweed Bassman and be satisfied.  So in short, just play the hell out of every tube amp available to you until one speaks to you.  Save your money and then buy it!