Looking for cool new amp

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cerealchamp2000

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Just sold 3 of my tube amps because that's what gear junkies do. I played the Cyber Twin at NAMM and loved it. I played it again at Guitar Center and the tone was a little thin. Different room I guess. Based on reviews, Players either love or hate this thing.

My budget is 1,500. Need good all-purpose studio amp. I don't care for flame thrower scooped tone. Yet I need more edge than Bassman and good verb is a plus. Less is more (1-12, 15-20w), I use volume on guitar as tone control.

I'd like to hear about some off the beaten path amps that you may like and are a pleasure to record with.

Any Cyber users wanta comment?
 
Hands down the best amp for you is the Rivera R-30. It's a 1x12 30watt amp with EL34's in the power section. It has every great tone. You can get a great clean tone and distortion....unbelievable. It takes some tweaking because the tone controls actually...change the tone! Spend some time with one, dialing in the sounds that you like and you won't be disappointed. Definitely not scooped in the mids. Please...play one.
 
cerealdude-

Have you ever played on a Vox AC-30. (Not one of these new things that LOOK like AC-30's) I have got one that is from the 60's (i dont know exactly when), a JMI. The sound is really sweet. They are very different. You should try one out one time just for kicks.

H2H
 
There are alot of amps for $1500

I'm not sure where you are located, but if I were in your shoes, I would get out and play 'em.

I would probably start by trying to find a real (not re-issue) blackface deluxe reverb or vibrolux. Small power, tone for days. Add a klon centaur for dirt as required.
 
oh uhm a question; what about engl? what do you guys think of it? heard they had a pretty distinctive tone...

guhlenn
 
Hard2Hear said:
cerealdude-

Have you ever played on a Vox AC-30. (Not one of these new things that LOOK like AC-30's) I have got one that is from the 60's (i dont know exactly when), a JMI. The sound is really sweet. They are very different. You should try one out one time just for kicks.

H2H
Click to expand...

I played a real AC30 about 12 years ago. I remember liking the tone and it had a 'snappy' feel. It was loud too. I played a reissue about 5 years ago but it wasn't happening.

What's market value on a AC30? (LA area)
 
Re: There are alot of amps for $1500

schwa said:
I'm not sure where you are located, but if I were in your shoes, I would get out and play 'em.

I would probably start by trying to find a real (not re-issue) blackface deluxe reverb or vibrolux. Small power, tone for days. Add a klon centaur for dirt as required.
Click to expand...

That's just it. In LA we have the usual Guitar Center stuff. Mesa Boogie also. But even here it takes some doing to go find cool off-beat stuff. What's the turn around on the Klon? I almost got one but couldn't wait 6 weeks.
 
I bought my AC-30 for sround $1200, but I don't know what it would be in LA. I imagine close to the same. The way I got it so cheap was that I found an ugly one, there was a tear in the crillcloth and some rips in the tolex that were big. But the electronics and the speakers are perfect, and the sound is all there.

My secret to buying vintage amps is to buy the ugly ones. It seems like the colletors don't want these, and I want the tone, not the look, anyways.
 
good things come to thos who wait...

I had to wait for mine and they're made locally (I live in Boston). I hear they're better now, and sometimes are even found retail. Great pedal though.

I thought LA was amp central. I would pick up an issue of Vintage Guitar, and get out to some shops. Trying out suff when I have the cash in hand in one of my favorite way to spend the day. Have fun.
 
Buy a Boogie, live happily ever after.

You should be able to get a really clean used Mark IV and a cabinet for your $1,500, and that will do absolutely everything really well.

Blackface Vibrolux Reverb (2 x 10's), or Deluxe Reverb (1 x 12), or Princeton Reverb (I think it's a 1 x 10) but may need to be mic'd for a gig (depends on what you play) also good choices for a different vibe.

Vox AC-30 great amps (virtually all those British Sixties hits done on one - and Jim Marshall worked there before he founded Marshall) - but allegedly not real reliable for road work - too temperamental.
Matchless have built a virtual replica that is road-ready.

Check out a store in LA just off Sunset called 'Amp Crazy'

(Hope it's still there ;) )

foo
 
foo said:
Buy a Boogie, live happily ever after.

You should be able to get a really clean used Mark IV and a cabinet for your $1,500, and that will do absolutely everything really well.

Blackface Vibrolux Reverb (2 x 10's), or Deluxe Reverb (1 x 12), or Princeton Reverb (I think it's a 1 x 10) but may need to be mic'd for a gig (depends on what you play) also good choices for a different vibe.

Vox AC-30 great amps (virtually all those British Sixties hits done on one - and Jim Marshall worked there before he founded Marshall) - but allegedly not real reliable for road work - too temperamental.
Matchless have built a virtual replica that is road-ready.

Check out a store in LA just off Sunset called 'Amp Crazy'

(Hope it's still there ;) )

foo
Click to expand...

I'll check out AMP CRAZY. Thanks. (I don't like even going into GT especially Hollywood) I've had a studio pre and a 22 watt combo. Both were good but were possibly a little 2 dimensional in the clean channel. Does Mark IV mimic any Fender clean sound? Does any Boogie mimic a super?
 
cerealchamp, go for the Cyber-Twin! The only way to really get to know it and hear what is capable of is to get one and play it for about two weeks. This is an amazing amp! Of those "bad" reviews that I've read, it seems that people are going by what other people have said about the C-T or they just demo'ed one for a few minutes to a few hours. You just cant do it like that. I've had mine since Feb. 19 and the more I play it the more I love it. This amp all tone tone tone. The DirtyThirty preset is like a driven Vox AC 30, it's got the chime and balls.. The clean Fender tones are wonderful and with the built in stereo effects is huge and very full sounding. For heavier distortion (Marshall type..) you may want to use a humbucker guitar for extra crunch. (The Fender ProSonic distortion is in there too.) All I can say is get one from a place that gives you a 20 day trial period or something, and get use to it. Everything changes on this amp from preset to preset, from tone stack to tone stack, from tube type to how hard the tube is driven, to the timbre (tube tone, eq) Dude! Its all in there! Go for it, and if it sounds a little weak or dry, let me know and I'll tell you how to fatten it up or whatever!
 
DaBluez

So what I was feeling at NAMM is true? That was the MOST fun I ever had on an amp. I've downloaded every sample and song from the Cyber site and can find no fault in the tone. I should listen to my heart instead of naysayers in Harmony Central Reviews. Thanks Blues. I'm glad to hear guys are dialing this thing in. Thanks to others for fresh input as well.
 
guys,
I picked up my CyberTwin on Friday (after waiting 3 weeks or so) and so far, it is really great. I do think it will replace most of my other amps that I currently lug around to shows. I will post a review with some samples in the next couple of weeks here.

But that being said....it still isn't my AC-30 ;)

H2H
 
Hard2Hear, check out that DirtyThirty preset and let me know what you think! Oh, one other thing. Get familiar with the Timbre setting, If your anything like me you'll need to change some of the presets' Timber setting to the RazorsEdge. This fattens and warms up the tube sound (EQ) and fixes what a lot of the harmony-central reviewers complain about with the Cyber-Twin sounding "weak or dry.." Enjoy!

cerealchamp, go for it man! Another great feature about the Cyber-Twin is the XLR out-puts in the back. I've got a Delta 66 audio card so I got two cables that are XLR on one end and 1/4 on the other. I just plug those two cables into the Delta 66 and i'm off recording. I haven't even needed to adjust the knobs for tweaking the sound for recording. I just keep the preset as is and play away.
 
dabluesman- thanks for the tips. I've been so busy that I haven't gotten to play with it very much. I just love those rotating knobs though! (so i'm easily amused) The sounds I have heard so far sound really great. The nice thing is that I have several guitars to play with, so I get many sounds out of one setting.


H2H
 
I'd say that at end of April I'll pull the trigger for C2. Finances at work are in a funk right now so I'd rather wait for vibes to improve before I go shopping. If the tone is in the amp and guys are FINDING it, then it's there. 'Sides, GT has 30 money back.

Cereal
 
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