Ideal Amp

JCM 2000 DSL does it all.  Cheap too.  Very versatile amp.  Available in combo form also if you're not a "head and cab" guy.

To me 15 to 30 watts does all I need for shows.  I have a Modded Blues Jr.  15 watts is on the low side because you'll miss the clean head room but you'll like the fact you can crank the an amp that low in wattage and really roar.  Really we need to know if you have the pedals or not.  If you got the pedals I'd say Marshall vintage style amps would be the way to go.  If you don't have the pedals go for a Marshall style Pre Gain amp like whats been suggested like the DSL, I've heard good things of the JVM as well.  I had an old JCM 800 and it was EPIC, I wasn't playing out much then and thing was just more amp then I needed.

Nah I don't have any pedals. I am using a PODxt at the moment to get my sound at home and for recording and it is a really great piece of equipment when you sit down and learn how to use it! But I need something such as the DSL for live use in the future.

Joe Bonamassa2011-03-28 22:30:43
Re: Joe's Marshall DSL Settings (10 replies, posted in Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear)
No problem sharing.. I use the DSL-s with EV speakers for BCC.. 
I use the clean channel with the drive at 10/ and the volume at 6.5   I use the the treble at 2 mid at 5 bass at 4 and presence at 3 ..  I use one the bass shift in and one without and the front end is a reissue Tubescreamer  808 with the gain and and vol at 10 tone is set at 11 o'clock.
Hope that helps..
Joe B

Sure thing.  For future reference, if you need to look up something Joe or anybody posted, you can click on their profile and select "all posts".  They're in chronological order too so that helps.  -Seth

I have both, Vintage Modern and DSL heads.  The VM is cool, different than a DSL but the DSL would be the one I kept if I had to get rid of one.  VM isn't as thick, and is more vintage sounding, but on the high dynamic range it's very guns n roses type tone.   EQ knobs don't really do much, you have to use the Body and Detail knobs to shape your sound.  It has a broader voice range than you might think at first, but not as versatile as the DSL.  It's a good amp but I think people either love em or hate em. Does go well with a DSL cause you can use it as your "mid" tone and the DSL for the thicker sound.  Also can switch the effects loop out of the circuit on the VM, very slight change in tone (actually for the better) but will only power cabs of 8 & 16ohms.  Sounds really good with an 808 in front on the low dynamic range.