19 Reply by airportdon (edited by airportdon 2012-10-18 15:48:13)

  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I love vintage solid state amps especially Lab Series...
Joe B

These are the solid state amps made by Gibson and B.B. King uses these. There's quite a lot of knobs on them, and look like they'd all drive me crazy.

http://www.coveramp.com/uploads/AmpRang … s%20L5.jpg

.
Gives you more knobs to turn up to 11 !!!!  Although I think they only go to 9...

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

So when I modded my amp I chickened out on drilling the holes in the circuit to add the adjustable bias.  So the amp does run hot.  I'm not really wanting a modeling amp I'm wanting a amp that has a good clean sound that is loud I doubt I even use the distortion side of an amp like this.  The Mustang just was appealing because I'm without any pedals currently and it would have given me all this in spades.  BTW the Blues Jr is going no where I'm keeping it, but last gig I had we were not expecting anybody to show up, at sound check my jr started acting up and I had a Vox tv4 there that I thought would be ok since nobody would be there anyway.  We ended up packing the place out and I gave the bars sound man a workout!  Rhythm sounded great but when the heavy songs came up I was in trouble.  So the sound guy would have to watch us the entire night and raise the volume up and down as me and our other guitar player would take solos.  He jokingly asked me never to bring the 4 watter vox back.  With the Frontman I already know what the amp is capable of.  I don't think it will get lost like a Line 6 or a modeling amp would.   Also if money wasn't an issue I would go and buy me a great sounding tube amp all day long, however $300 is my budget right now and I don't have the money to buy a tube amp used just go around and have to retube it after I purchase it.  I suppose I could sell a guitar to buy something nicer but that would put me selling my Baja Telecaster and that just doesn't seem like a good idea no matter how nice the amp.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

Oh one other point I should make is I'm playing at some bars that are one step away from having chicken wire up around the stage!  So I would like to not take my best stuff to some places.

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  • RickB
  • RickB
  • BONAMEGAMETAL
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  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

AD3THREE wrote:

Oh one other point I should make is I'm playing at some bars that are one step away from having chicken wire up around the stage!  So I would like to not take my best stuff to some places.

Those boys don't deserve good tone, and probably wouldn't know it if they heard it.

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

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  • From: NSW Central Coast, Australia
  • Registered: 2012-07-24
  • Posts: 95

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

Deezer wrote:

If you like a tone, it doesn't matter what type of amp it is. Do what feels right.

+1

Here's my machinery, gives me a little first hand experience...
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x215 … AG0125.jpg
The indestructable 50W Bandit I bought in '82, the Ultra 112 (4x 12AX7, 2X 6L6 powered) in about '97. The latter was to (and does) do justice for my Les Paul which I'd had for a few years then.
Incidently, according to the serial number, it's that guitar's 20th birthday tomorrow - maybe some pics would be in order smile

I would still say my No 2 guitar, an Ovation Breadwinner, which I bought new in '77 (when I was about Stefan's age!) sounds better throught the solid state amp. Clean - which is beautiful - or driven (usually via OD-2). Is it as wondrous a noise than the Gibson, bridge pup, 10 and 10 through the Crunch or Ultra channel on the Ultra? Well... not much is - but I can still set up good tone with the Gibson through the Bandit.

I tend to use the Bandit for practice coz its lighter, the Ultra for gigs coz its better for my No 1 but not universally.

As far as tubes cutting through better, anything miked the PA can be turned up to cut through for mine!

  • From: Adelaide, South Australia
  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 1,339

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

shadowblue wrote:

when I was about Stefan's age!

Can't have been that long ago!!

http://www.stefanhauk.com

stefanhauk's Website

  • From: NSW Central Coast, Australia
  • Registered: 2012-07-24
  • Posts: 95

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

stefanhauk wrote:
shadowblue wrote:

when I was about Stefan's age!

Can't have been that long ago!!

1. Ha ha! Do the maths! Doesn't feel that long ago / I don't feel any different - still love the music.

2. Long enough ago for the first international touring act I went to being Queen in Sydney when A Night At The Opera was out - still one on the finest shows I've ever seen. Last international touring act Isaw - JOE BONAMASSA big_smile

  • From: Burlington, Ont Canada
  • Registered: 2010-04-01
  • Posts: 365

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

I have a Henriksen Jazzamp 1X10 that has the best cleans I have ever heard. Solid-state, 100w and weighs a ton but the size of Bjr. I use it for jazz and it sounds huge and has the most amazing reverb - really pure sounding.

If you do go solid state with a rock/blues band be prepared to mic the thing.

Gits: '03 Gibson Historic R7 Goldtop, '06 Gibson R8 Plaintop, MIJ '62 RI Strat,  and others...
Amps: '99 Marshall 1987x Plexi RI, 1969 Fender Super Reverb

My band: www.meanbones.com

27 Reply by airportdon (edited by airportdon 2012-10-19 06:58:42)

  • Registered: 2006-06-30
  • Posts: 2,835

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

I forgot another one...many years ago in North Carolina( mid 90's )..I picked up a Fender M-80 ( Like the firecracker)....cool amp..It was 90 watts...100.00
built like a tank...It sounded great...should have kept that one......The only dislike -I did not like the carpet- like covering on it...

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

AD3THREE wrote:

So when I modded my amp I chickened out on drilling the holes in the circuit to add the adjustable bias.  So the amp does run hot. Also if money wasn't an issue I would go and buy me a great sounding tube amp all day long, however $300 is my budget right now and I don't have the money to buy a tube amp used just go around and have to retube it after I purchase it. .

That's good because...
The BillM mods give you 'mini' adjusters that are super small. Take your amp into a tech, and have them install normal ones like Marshalls have. It might run you $50 to have them installed, but your tubes will last much longer with adjustable bias. cool ...and it would cost less than $300. Stick with the BJR IMHO.

- 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: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

I think I'm past this now.  I work with my other guitarist and my dad at the same job and our guitar player has been telling my dad that we would be better off if I had a little more head room.  My dad had me talked into selling some stuff and buying something with more power, but honestly I don't think I need it.  But I'm not willing to part with my Telecaster just to have my dad match the money I get from it to buy something.  I guess my point is I love my telecaster and my Blues Jr isn't that bad.

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

So when I modded my amp I chickened out on drilling the holes in the circuit to add the adjustable bias.  So the amp does run hot. Also if money wasn't an issue I would go and buy me a great sounding tube amp all day long, however $300 is my budget right now and I don't have the money to buy a tube amp used just go around and have to retube it after I purchase it. .

That's good because...
The BillM mods give you 'mini' adjusters that are super small. Take your amp into a tech, and have them install normal ones like Marshalls have. It might run you $50 to have them installed, but your tubes will last much longer with adjustable bias. cool ...and it would cost less than $300. Stick with the BJR IMHO.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Raleigh, NC USA
  • Registered: 2010-07-23
  • Posts: 18

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

What mods did you do to your BJ? What brand tubes are you using?
It seems to me that a BJ, even without the bias mod should yield much longer tube life than that. Are you giving it time to warm up? and at the end of the gig are you giving time to cool down before you move it?
Another thing to consider is the use of an extension cab so that the sound pressure of the speaker isn't beating on the tubes.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

All I can tell you is the tubes I replaced the first time were 10 years old, the second time I replaced them was because they were microphonic.  As for the Jr, the band played a gig tonight that I just got back from.  I must say the tubes I selected were a perfect fit.  I chose Eletroharmonix EL-84 tubes.  They offer 3 grades of tubes, soft breakup which breaks up the power amp earlier, medium breakup which is sort a middle of the road tube, and then the hard breakup which you guessed it breakup later and offers clean head room because it has less gain on tap.  The hard breakup was what I used and it was much louder... maybe not louder but clearer at high volumes so I was very happy that it worked well.  I had enough volume on tap for boost pedal.  Normally it compresses the amp and no boost is there.  Another gig this friday and maybe things will stay in good working order for a while!

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Raleigh, NC USA
  • Registered: 2010-07-23
  • Posts: 18

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

Good luck and a shout out to fellow North Carolinian. Sounds like just a bad set of tubes. I love my BJr, but, over time,  have also done EVERY mod out there to it except an upgraded power transformer. Eurotubes.com sell these little doughnut type thingys that slip over the power tubes which are suppose to dampen vibration on the tube glass and help prevent microphonics.

cheers

  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

AD3THREE wrote:

All I can tell you is the tubes I replaced the first time were 10 years old, the second time I replaced them was because they were microphonic.  As for the Jr, the band played a gig tonight that I just got back from.  I must say the tubes I selected were a perfect fit.  I chose Eletroharmonix EL-84 tubes.  They offer 3 grades of tubes, soft breakup which breaks up the power amp earlier, medium breakup which is sort a middle of the road tube, and then the hard breakup which you guessed it breakup later and offers clean head room because it has less gain on tap.  The hard breakup was what I used and it was much louder... maybe not louder but clearer at high volumes so I was very happy that it worked well.  I had enough volume on tap for boost pedal.  Normally it compresses the amp and no boost is there.  Another gig this friday and maybe things will stay in good working order for a while!

So are the valves staying then?

  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

One thing is for sure, folks starting out playing guitar these days have it much better than I did in 1972.  There's a ton of gear for short money and most of it is decent.  Solid state?  Well, todays' S.S. gear is better than most tube amps were in those days.  Maintenance free and reliable as heck.
I bought one of the first batch of the Retro Channel RR-1 amps when they first came out.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  If I was to own only 1 amp, that would be the one.  Thru an 8 ohm 2x12 cab, it's all it appears to be in Lance Keltner's videos.  Add a delay in the loop and a wah out front and you're golden.  I tried to get by with low watt tube amps. I tried an Orange Tiny Terror(still have it) and Blackheart Handsome Devil, Egnators, and others, but they sound good in the house and fall apart cranked up.  Not so with the Retro Rec.   At home levels and at full stage volume, it's amazing.  I think the new Vox ac30 Valve Reactor amp with a few pedals would also be a great first rig. Overdrive pedals are MUCH better these days too!
But, as for me, I went back...  Marshall 100 watter and a Dumble clone from Ceriatone.  As you can imagine, my wife is thrilled...  Hauling around two 4x12 cabinets again may get old soon, but I'm smiling big until then.  I gotta get off the G.A.S. train, but it never really ends. I was completely Happy with the RR-1 and a 2x12, but then I saw a Marshall head with a price too good to pass up, and, well, then one thing led to another, SIGH...

35 Reply by PSmith1946 (edited by PSmith1946 2012-11-16 14:53:45)

  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

The last couple of years I have been playing using a Line 6 Spider 4 30w modelling amp, and whilst for home use I could never quite get the sound I wanted. I intended to buy something like the Marshall Haze or DSL but recently I had the chance to try out a Line 6 Spider Valve, and am amazed at the final result. Once you have fiddled with the factory settings and had your fill and begun to find your own sound the thing comes alive. I had seen the you tube stuff and am aware that you can never assess the sound via a computer, however I am truly surprised at the truly vast improvement. I haven't had it long however I am definitely in the ballpark of the sound I want. I only use a small amount of the delay, tape echo provided and use my own pedals for tube driver and chorus( both by Cromwell). At 40 valve watts it is massively loud but controllable. Powered by two 12AX7B pre-amp tubes and 2 5881 power tubes you really get the tube feel, the modelling being done prior to the pre amp. I got a truly great buy and I would recommend anyone to try one if looking for a new amp and not sure whether to go modelling or tube, why not try both at the same time.
I know there are a lot of Line 6 haters out there but unless you have tried one of the valve series ,try one before passing judgement. big_smile big_smile big_smile

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Talk me out of a Solid State amp

My Blues Jr got retubed...  The Power amp was the issue, as well as V1 on the preamp.  Tapped on it and it went crazy (the 12AX7) swapped it out and things cleaned up a lot, but I had some Power amp tubes (EL84) tubes on order so I swapped those out too.  The Electroharmix brand tubes I order I like a lot better then the JJ Electronics I had.  JJ's were good but I think they distort early and If I turned up loud the amp would compress very quickly or the tubes were ready to be replaced and should have been done sooner.  Either way my EH brand EL84 have the latest breakup I could find on the market which I think is a great thing because now I'm going to gigs and turning up to 3 and its almost too loud, this is with 15 watts!  I tried to get the sweet spot at about 12 o'clock but sound man and the band begged me to turn my amp down.  So I'm thinking I'm not going to use the gain from the amp anymore and just run the amp clean.  Plans are to buy some dirt pedals because they can do the job I think better then me getting everyone in the band pissed again.  Since I'm not buying an amp now (which I was considering Tube amps as well) I'm looking at the Lovepedal Kalamazoo for medium overdrive tones and the bulk of my playing, and the one I am really wanting now is a Wampler Plextortion.   This and a Tuner pedal and I'll be ready for anywhere, except playing outside.

AD3THREE's Website