• From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2009-03-26
  • Posts: 107

Topic: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

I am looking for a new amp. There are so many out there it seems like the more research I do the more confused I get. My current amp is a Blues Junior. The volulme it can achieve is fine as I usually play small bars and can't even crank the Blues Junior. I usually have my Volume knob at about 6:00 and the Master at about 4:00. I play mostly Les Pauls and sometimes a guitar with single coils. I want something that sounds more like a Marshall but I am not familiar enough with newer Marshalls to know which would be best. I have a 50 watt JCM 800 but I just think that it is too much for the size gigs I play, but that is the kind of sound I am after. I am not really partial to Marshall so if there are other brands out there that would do what I am after that's fine. I have tried using a TS-9 pedal and a new Digitech Tone Driver pedal but not really happy with how they sound through the Blues Junior. I would be open to using a combo or a small head with a 1x12 or 2x12 speaker cabinet. I have considered the Class 5 (have not actually played one yet) but I am afraid that 5 watts may not be enough, especially with its smaller speaker. I have also considered the HAZE series but am not thrilled with the DSP it has (reliability?) Any suggestions?

www.chrisadamsband.com
www.onceinabluemoonmusic.com
Les Paul Blues

cmadragon's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

TS-9 in front of your JCM 800 would be your best bet, much better sound than the Haze or one of the small wattage amps your looking at. Get a good 112 or 212 cab and adjust the volume as nessary.

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2009-03-26
  • Posts: 107

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Big E wrote:

TS-9 in front of your JCM 800 would be your best bet, much better sound than the Haze or one of the small wattage amps your looking at. Get a good 112 or 212 cab and adjust the volume as nessary.

Thank you for your reply. I hooked up the JCM800 to a 1x12 cabinet last night and I loved the way it sounded. So, I think that's what I will do for now.

www.chrisadamsband.com
www.onceinabluemoonmusic.com
Les Paul Blues

cmadragon's Website

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Glad you like it the JCM 800 is a nice amp, my brother in law has two JCM 800 combos going unused its really sad!

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Fender Blues Jr. amps.  If it were me, I would run the Blues Jr. with a healthy amount of reverb and medium gain, emphasizing the midrange especially.  Then put the TS-9 in front of that to REALLY make to mids pop forward.  Now, like you said, a Marshall would come in to play.  I would try something of similar wattage ratings so you don't blow the Blues Jr. away and besides, you mentioned that you can't really crank the amps up real loud anyway.  Okay, if you are happy with the tone of your JCM800 I would search out a 1x12'' version.  They can be had cheap because everyone wants the big heads and stacks.  Also, a boosted 1974 combo or clone would be sweet.  I would recommend trying the Fargen Mini Plex for Marshall plexi tones at smaller gig volumes.  It's about 12 watts but it's PLENTY loud.  You can also run whatever tubes you like in it for even more output.  I found one locally for less than a grand.  That amp and some delay would be the perfect compliment to your Fender IMO.  Good luck amp shopping!

          -Justin

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

I play a 1974x and the other guy in band a blues jnr, they are tonally very dif and churn out the same sort of volume. Tis a very nice mix.. I play the 1974 on about 6 and hes running his about midway too

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

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

VOX AC30.  If you ever can buy an amp give that one a try.  The new ones are great.

  • Registered: 2008-11-05
  • Posts: 190

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

You should try the Class 5 if you can find a  music store that has it. Small but packs a punch. I was very surprised at the tone and volume that the amp could produce. Happy Hunting

"Music Washes Away From The Soul, The Dust Of Everyday Life"
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2009-03-26
  • Posts: 107

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Just want to say THANKS to everyone who chimed in on this. As I'm sure it is with most guitar players who are into their gear, I am constantly experimenting trying to come up with the best sound I can. I just wanted to hear some other opinions and see if there was anything I hadn't thought of. Once again, thanks to all. Amp shopping is fun!

www.chrisadamsband.com
www.onceinabluemoonmusic.com
Les Paul Blues

cmadragon's Website

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Budda 18 Watters are ideal for what you're wanting. I highly recommend them.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
  • Posts: 453

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Like startpaulguy said you could run the blues junior with the mids dialed up and a tube screamer in front. As far as the power of the marshall you could always try a power attenuator. THD hotplate or similar. This will save you a bit of money. Do you know anyone who as an attenuator you could borrow and try it out?

Fuzzblues

12 Reply by CincinnatiSi (edited by CincinnatiSi 2009-10-02 23:16:29)

  • Registered: 2008-01-08
  • Posts: 39

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

I'll second the Budda Superdrive 18.  I saw a really nice demo on youtube by a jcv220 or something like that.

13 Reply by ken

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

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

I'll 3rd the Budda Superdrive 18 amp. It will rip your head off, cuts through,  tons of gain, great clean channel too. Beware, it will not hide your mistakes... great all around blues rock (or just plain rock) amp at reasonable volumes.

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

ken wrote:

I'll 3rd the Budda Superdrive 18 amp. It will rip your head off, cuts through,  tons of gain, great clean channel too. Beware, it will not hide your mistakes... great all around blues rock (or just plain rock) amp at reasonable volumes.

Ken sure makes any guitar he plays through that thing sound GREAT.

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

+1 for the 1974x, fitting pair for the Blues JR.  Plus it looks pretty cool!

Ben

  • From: Qc,Canada
  • Registered: 2009-01-24
  • Posts: 27

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

All suggestion seems to be great !!
Try couple of them.
Vox AC30 are great amps. BLues Junior with Ts808 or other pedals could be the solution. Budda is very good quality too.
Other Fender models do a great job. Think about Super Reverb or Deville. It could depends of the sound you are searching for too. Are you searching for Bluesrock tone or more purist tone. In the style of Joe , or more SRV or B,B king ??
Take a look at Rivera amp too. I'm playing a fandango models for 7 years and still like it as the first day.

I don't believe in psychology....I believe in good move - Robert James (Bobby) Fischer
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2009-03-26
  • Posts: 107

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Once again I want to thank everyone for their input on this topic. I have made a list of all of the amps that everyone has suggested so that I can check them out. What I have actually decided to do is build an amp from scratch. It will be a version of the Marshall 18 watt amp without the tremolo circuit. Most of the information about it I have found on a website called 18watt.com. I plan on doing it as a combo because it is easier to deal with a combo at most of the small gigs that I play. I am going to document the build so that I can post info and pictures and such. I have all of the parts ordered and hope to get started on it this coming weekend. I'll keep everyone up to date on how it goes. I am also going to check out some of the amps that people suggested in case the build doesn't go well or I don't like the tone. I have always wanted to build an amp anyway so I figured I would give it a go.

www.chrisadamsband.com
www.onceinabluemoonmusic.com
Les Paul Blues

cmadragon's Website

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: Looking for a second amp for blues/blues rock

Sweet!

    Can't wait to see the PIX, and read all about the build.

   D.I.Y. is F.U.N.!

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner