Which combo shall I buy?

[LeeJ]

Im a lead guitarist in a country band. We're on the road 3,4 sometimes 5 nights a week. Im currently using a Fender 65 hotrod deville & a '62 strat.

But, the Deville has been letting me down a lot over the last few months. Constantly breaking up. Sometimes it sounds awesome but other times it sounds thin. It's doing my head in bigtime.

So, Im in the market for a new combo.

We play anything from large clubs to holiday camps to festivals. The whole band is miked up through the PA. My Deville is 65 watts valve power and is plenty.

Any ideas? Laney? Peavey?

I need that good solid country tone!

[apl]

Hey, LeeJ,

You might want to check out this Carvin. Here's a review of this series, and a thread on their amps.

There are very good about letting people try and return here in the US. I don't know how it works in the UK.

[spankenstein]

When I think country I think Twin. As an alternative the '65 Deluxe Reverb would be good but at only 22 watts breaks up really easy. If you're micing everything then it should be a problem.

[Chill]

The Traynor YCV80 is pretty similar to the HR Deville.

Ampeg VT22 or VT40, loud and clean...earlier 70's models break up earlier than the later 70's models. And they're relatively cheap.

Orange OR80 if you can find one, Bedrock if you can find one, Matamp if you can afford one.

[Outlaws]

I have a Super Reverb and get the best country tone I can think of. A DeluxeReverb might be a bit better if you don't need as much headroom and want the breakup sooner.

[Middleman]

Fender amp
10 inch speakers for that midrange tone
12 inch speakers for that midrange scooped tone
MXR compressor

If you want the authentic experience, Telecaster in a 12 inch Fender amp.

[Peter Lancaster]

LeeJ,
I'd go with a Carvin Bel Air for what you want. You can buy them new from Nevada in Portsmouth. I bought mine second hand on e-bay. There aren't too many in the UK so second hand ones are fairly rare.

The clean channel is awesome (one of the best) and the amp is very, very loud. If you want to use the dirty channel lots you may want to consider a valve change. I got some JJs from Eurotubes in the USA. It was cheaper than buying the same valves in the UK. They've really improved the dirty channel although I now have a bit too much distortion courtesy of Carvin's circuit design that includes some clipping diodes that act a bit like a distortion pedal, so I may mod the amp and remove them. This and other Carvin Nomad/Bel Air mods are detailed here http://www.geocities.com/rlhassebrock/nomad.html

The current Bel Air speakers (GT12) sound very much like Celestion Vintage 30s so you probably won't need to upgrade them if you buy a new amp. I'm thinking about changing the VL12s in my Bel Air for a Celestion Vintage 30 and a Celestion G12H.

I've been playing guitar in bands for 17 years and doing live sound for bands for 6 years and I have not heard a better vintage sounding amp than the Carvin Bel Air. That's why I own one.

Pete.

[Peter Lancaster]

I hear Laney and Peavey amps in use every week with bands and their sound doesn't come close to the Carvin Bel Air. The best amps I've heard in use other than the Bel Air were a Messa Boogie Mark IV and a Fender Prosonic, but both of those amps are a whole world away in terms of price.

I use a Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive overdrive pedal with the Bel Air's dirty channel and it really lights it up. Absolutely fantastic.

Pete.

[ausrock]

If you can find one second hand, have a look at a Rivera 5512..........they have two channels with boost/overdrive on each. For a 55watt, single 12" they are impressive .........it will match our Marshall quad for volume at any sensible level...........and it sounds sweet regardless of whether we are running a Gibson, Strat, Tele or Eggle through it.

[LeeJ]

Thanks guys - had a real one to one with my Fender Deville 2x12 last night. We talked about life, women, money & music over a couple of budwiesers.
I had a real good twiddling session, hooked up a boss compresser & I think i've got a good country tone. I will monitor it through this weeks gigs & report back later. In the mean time Im off to try a Mesa Boogie & a carvin.

CHEERS GUYS!

Outlaws - what make of amp is a super reverb? not heard of it.

[foo]

A Super Reverb is a Fender amp.

About 45 watts or so - all valve and 4 x 10" speakers. Great gigging amp for blues, country and just about everything else not requiring lots of distortion.
You get a nice gentle crispy overdrive which kicks in at about 7 with a Strat or 6 with a humbucker.

Great amp.

You may want to try a Matchless - they're pretty pricey but have good reviews. My personal amp is a Boogie Mk IV - also expensive but definitely delivers the sound for just about everything. Real glassy clean sound - lots of 'shimmer'.

Good luck.

[Be Loveless]

I saw a roland JC-120 on ebay today for a buy it now for $298.00!!!!!!! I have a JC-77 and play clean rock with a bit of twang and bend. I love that amp. Check out a Roland JC 90 120 77 whatever. They sound great, always reliable and built like tanks. Get rid of your tube amp hassle. I used to have a real 1969 fender twin, I sold it to buy a JC-77.

[Sir_Matthew]

Originally Posted by Middleman

Fender amp
10 inch speakers for that midrange tone
12 inch speakers for that midrange scooped tone
MXR compressor

If you want the authentic experience, Telecaster in a 12 inch Fender amp.

Fender Deluxe 112, baby. Can't go wrong.

[Major Tom]

But, the Deville has been letting me down a lot over the last few months. Constantly breaking up. Sometimes it sounds awesome but other times it sounds thin. It's doing my head in bigtime.

If there's something wrong with it, why don't you get it fixed?

[LeeJ]

It gets fixed everytime but after 4-6 months of on the road it breaks down again. Ive head it 3 years, it cost me £780 and I've spent £490 on repairs and £150 on 3 valve changes.

Rather expense to run me thinks.