Need a new amp......

[TelePaul]

Need a new amp. That I can play at home without pissing anyone off - that's becoming a recurring problem from me. I'm gonna sell my TSL 601 but need advice as to where to go from here.

I quite like most solid state amps - they're reliable and sound pretty good to my ears and tend to take pedals quite well. But I know that if I want a really nice sound I should probably stick with valves. And that's where the problem is. What output should I be looking at? I would like something that can be heard over a drum kit. But that's usable at bedroom levels.

I know this is general but I'm still looking for an amp that makes me go 'wow'. I have 50 watt marshall SS which I really like, and an Epi valve junior combo which is limited with just one control. I need something that combines the aspects of both amps,a nd have plenty of time to reserach as I need to get rid of the Marshall before I have the cash for a new amp.

[legionserial]

I have one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marshall-Valve...QQcmdZViewItem

It's a hybrid, but it's from the line of valvestates that didn't suck. I really like the sound of it, and it's pretty versatile. It's 80 watts. I've used it for playing in bands, recording and general 'bedroom' use, playing a variety of different genres, and it's served me very well. I will never part with the thing. Up until I last year when I got my 6505, it was the only amp I used, and I've had it for about 12-13 years without a problem. The analogue reverb on it is pretty nice too. You could do a lot worse. Especially if you are open to SS/hybrids.

[TelePaul]

Looks quite like my 50 Watt AVT! Great sounding cleans. I'm unsure of my budget right now, but it'll probably be somewhere between 600-800. I'm leaning towards Fender, I havn't had much opportunity to apr a Fender guitar with a Fender amp. Could be good.

[Gear_Junky]

think about the Fender Super Champ XD - it has advantages of both worlds. It has a true Class A/B dual 6V6 power section, but has a digital modeling preamp, which has nice vintage fender sounds and also some "british" tones.

It's 15 watt, but sounds nice at lower volumes too, you don't have to crank it like a classic tube amp.

there's TONS of reviews. Mostly raving.

[RandyW]

Well if it has to be small and low power how about a nice
deluxe reverb?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/sear...?s=65deluxerev

I've tried some alternates such as Traynor but the only way to
get Fender clean is with a Fender. I've tried some hot rods and
blues deluxes but they don't have the clean sound of deluxe
reverb or other top of the line models.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by RandyW

Well if it has to be small and low power how about a nice
deluxe reverb?

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/sear...?s=65deluxerev

I've tried some alternates such as Traynor but the only way to
get Fender clean is with a Fender. I've tried some hot rods and
blues deluxes but they don't have the clean sound of deluxe
reverb or other top of the line models.

That looks like a lovely amp but it's just beyond my budget - it's about a thousand euro online here.

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

That looks like a lovely amp but it's just beyond my budget - it's about a thousand euro online here.

You should be able to pick up a used DRRI within your budget. I just sold mine for about $650 US, which is about $300 US less than they go for new.

I enjoyed mine, but I sold it to pay for a Marshall 18-watt kit from Weber that I'm going to build. (If you're handy, by the way, you can get a sweet sounding amp for a fraction of the boutique price if you're willing to build yourself.)

If I would have kept the DRRI, I probably would have replaced the speaker. I think that was the weakest link. Probably the filter caps too.

But, it is a pretty good all-around amp.

[famous beagle]

Better yet, I'd suggest trying to find one of these Vox AC15 amps used. They're very nice amps, and sound about perfect for your power needs.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ker?sku=482626

[TelePaul]

There isn't a MASSIVE market for sued amps in Ireland - I'm somewhat worried by this, and I hope I don't run into difficulty selling mine. I'll keep an eye out for that Fender, and as for the Vox I can get a VOX AC15 CC1 for €600. Seeing as you've sold second hand amps, what would you consider a decent price for a TSL 601? Near perfect condition although it has an upgarded ouput transformer.

[famous beagle]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

There isn't a MASSIVE market for sued amps in Ireland - I'm somewhat worried by this, and I hope I don't run into difficulty selling mine. I'll keep an eye out for that Fender, and as for the Vox I can get a VOX AC15 CC1 for €600. Seeing as you've sold second hand amps, what would you consider a decent price for a TSL 601? Near perfect condition although it has an upgarded ouput transformer.

It looks as though TSL 601's are going for about $600 USD, which is about 380 Euro.

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by famous beagle

It looks as though TSL 601's are going for about $600 USD, which is about 380 Euro.

Hmmm not too shabby. I checked some local listings, there's one going for €600...Might try get the edge on him. I'm going to ask around the bigger music stores and see if they'll accept it as a trade-in.

[Topcat53]

My small "in the house" amp is a Trace Elliott Velocette which is basically a Vox AC15 clone. It is rated at 15w and I have had no trouble being heard above a drum kit without coming close to cranking it. So if you like the AC15, it would do fine for you power wise.

[punkin]

THD Univalve...has a built in hotplate.

[Anfontan]

If you are wanting a small practice amp you might consider one of the Roland solid state amps with the COSM modelling and effects amps. Looks like quite a few features for a low price.

\http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Cube20X/

Or if you are looking for tubes--heres a tube amp that I bought last year that I've used on a lot of recordings and I'm quite happy with it. It's closer to 15 watts I think, and the overdrive is closer to a classic rock sound-you can always add a distortion pedals though..

http://www.instrumentalley.com/Johns...-p/ja-t25r.htm

[TelePaul]

Originally Posted by Anfontan

Or if you are looking for tubes--heres a tube amp that I bought last year that I've used on a lot of recordings and I'm quite happy with it. It's closer to 15 watts I think, and the overdrive is closer to a classic rock sound-you can always add a distortion pedals though..

http://www.instrumentalley.com/Johns...-p/ja-t25r.htm

Certainly looks awesome! Yeah I have a ton of pedals, so an amp that's receptive to stomp boxws would be cool. I see it has an effects loops also. I'm not familiar with that brand though, I might have trouble sourcing it here. What about Fenders? Any blues or pro junior players here?

[Topcat53]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

I'm not familiar with that brand though, I might have trouble sourcing it here. What about Fenders? Any blues or pro junior players here?

Don't own one, but have played through both several times. If you like the Fender sound, you would likely be pleased with either one. I like the blues junior better due to the 12" speaker, reverb, and "fat" switch.

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

Certainly looks awesome! Yeah I have a ton of pedals, so an amp that's receptive to stomp boxws would be cool. I see it has an effects loops also. I'm not familiar with that brand though, I might have trouble sourcing it here. What about Fenders? Any blues or pro junior players here?

I played a Blues JR for about a year.... you can get them to sound pretty decent if you work very hard at it... without pedals forget it... just a bunch of flagellation when you want to get it to distort... the pre- on that thing can't take much bass... you'll need to roll it off plenty in your pedals.

For a few years now I've been using one of these here At 30 watts class A tube, it's still a right smart loud, though. If you can get by without an effects loop, you can get it's smaller cousin, seen here. Both are outstanding. To my ears, they make the Fender Hot Rod and Blues Jr sound like screechy toys...
By the way, people will say that there is quality problems with the Crate name. Well, I own two of these amps, and haven't been let down yet. YMMV.

Peace!

~Shawn

[jonnyc]

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, Peavey has a line of small amps out now that have built in attenuators, I think the little Satriani jobber has one, I know the Windsor does as well.

[Topcat53]

You might want to check the new Blackheart amps out as well:
www.blackheartamps.com/index.html

Guy I correspond with on another forum that owns pretty much all high end stuff and whose opinion I respect bought one last week and has been raving about it since. And at the price, you might not have to sell the Marshall.

[elenore19]

Originally Posted by Gear_Junky

think about the Fender Super Champ XD - it has advantages of both worlds. It has a true Class A/B dual 6V6 power section, but has a digital modeling preamp, which has nice vintage fender sounds and also some "british" tones.

It's 15 watt, but sounds nice at lower volumes too, you don't have to crank it like a classic tube amp.

there's TONS of reviews. Mostly raving.

I second this.
The Super Champ XD is fantastic. I just got it this year, not too long ago, and I'm still loving it. The clean is AMAZING. Period. Absolutely gorgeous. And the distortion?...takes a little time to dial it in, but once you do, it kicks ass as well. Very tubesque. Best investment I've made. Only 300 (us$).

[Lt. Bob]

I have a Blues Jr. and I can't stand it so it's gonna be a base for major mods.

My main small gigging amp is an Orange Tiny Terror which I like a lot and is definitely loud enough to get over a drumber unless he's super loud.
Not a very clean amp though. Excellent crunch and a nice full bodied tonality ..... sounds a lot like a bigger Orange.

[DrewPeterson7]

Have you tried running your Marshall wiith an attenuator? My Hot Plate is the difference between a Mesa Rectoverb combo being absolutely unusable in an apartment, and an awesome apartment recording rig, and a Rectifier is about as volume-sensitive as most Marshalls...

The other thing is does the 601 have the emulated speaker out and silent switch like the TSL100? I was actually quite impressed by that, for what it was, back when I owned one for a wile - that, an XLR-1/4" cable, and a good stereo could make your existing rig more apartment friendly.

[Lt. Bob]

Originally Posted by TelePaul

I'm still looking for an amp that makes me go 'wow'. .

you're just gonna have to try a bunch 'o' amps.
Fender Hot Rod deluxe is a great amp.
I think the Orange will be too limited.
A lot of folks like the Vox Valvetronix line ...... I don't personally like modelers but an awful lot of people like those.
Also ..... I want to get a customized Ceriatone amp. http://ceriatone.com/ ...... a lot of choices from those guys.

[Topcat53]

Originally Posted by Lt. Bob

I have a Blues Jr. and I can't stand it so it's gonna be a base for major mods.

My main small gigging amp is an Orange Tiny Terror which I like a lot and is definitely loud enough to get over a drumber unless he's super loud.
Not a very clean amp though. Excellent crunch and a nice full bodied tonality ..... sounds a lot like a bigger Orange.

There's a mod out there from one of the amp builders (think it might be Torres Engineering) that adds a "Presence" circuit to the Blues Jr. I've heard from a reliable source that it makes a world of difference.

[legionserial]

Originally Posted by jonnyc

If it hasn't been mentioned yet, Peavey has a line of small amps out now that have built in attenuators

You mean a volume control?

Sorry. Couldn't resist.