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JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

Just curious to find out what type of amps Ibanez lovers like?

JohnS
What? I can't hear you!
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

Stacks of Marshalls, man ... what else?

Oh yeah ... mine goes up to eleven. :0
JohnS
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

Looks like I shoulda enabled password protection. The riff raff have already come out of the woodwork. :-)
Carl
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a old wood boxed Crate II R
That I bought new in 77 or 78
Has reverb and master volume and a pot activated 3 band EQ , great little amp , never been in the shop, although the pots are getting noisy .
Carl
John Shanley (Johns)
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

Carl:

I'm not up on Crate amps, so is this a tube or transistor amp? What kind of wattage and speakers?

Except for a brief stint with a Fender Twin Reverb in the mid 70s, I've had 2 Peaveys. Was wondering if I should go for something tube driven.

JohnS
Dustin
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I'm using a 73' Bassman head through a 4-10 basket weave Marshall cab(lots o beef). And a 100w jmp through a 60's 4-12 mars cab. For an axe i use a Strat and my Musician. I don't use the Musician through the jmp because the pickups are to bright, with the bassman i got a real warm sound. Tube amps are great, but there are solidstate amps out there that will really surprise you! If you can get your hands on a Carlsbro 80w,your laughin! Sounds like a tubed marshall! but for less than half the price. If you find one,JUMP ON IT!
Carl
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

>
It's a 50W singel 12 solid state .
This amp was purchased to go with my 1977 Ibanez "Alembec " it is a pre artist "Artist with on board EQ and the whole reason to get this combo was to be "Clean"
so the solid state was the way to go for that sound kinda wanted a Frisco/Nashville kinda thing . This set up works great as it will mimic Strat LP and dose a fair job of imitating even acostic sound . Odd thing I just picked up a 79 artist EQ with a booster known around here as the "Steve Miller Modle " and it is so harsh that it really overdrives this amp . haven't yet really got myself around this set up but showes promise of being the "Swamp Rock " set up to end all . Never was really happy with any Fender amp that I had they always seemed " all Hat and no Cattle " an other set up I have that I like is a Pevy 220W base head and an Alembec 15" folded horn , I play the Crate through it as a preamp and it is great for loud and clean .
Carl
Harold Wherry
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use several Fender tube amplifiers:
* 1970's Vibrolux
* 1965 (Black Face) Deluxe Reverb
* 1980's Concert 1-12" & 2-10" speakers configurations
Also:
MUSICMAN RD50 amplifiers, 50 watts of power!
RD50 with 1-12" & 1-10" speaker configurations
Small in size, Large in Tone!
Hats off to Leo Fender!!!
Oliver Pfaender
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a 19"-system including a

* Marshall JMP-1 Tube Preamp
* Marshall 9200 Tube Poweramp (2x100W)
* Rocktron Intellifex
* Behringer Autocom

into one or two Marshall 4x12" cabinet(s).

plus some pedals (Volume, Wah, MIDI).
eddie webb
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a Mesa boogie MKIV combo(Ev Loaded) and play a JEM7VWH.A great combination,I also have a Zoom 8080 & Dunlop 535q Wah although I haven't been using the Zoom lately.
Eddie Webb
BEGINNER
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

(PSSST... COULD ANYONE TELL ME WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TUBE-DRIVEN AMPS AND SOLID-STATE ONES??? I'M A BEGINNER, I'M AFFRAID)
Nick Liebrecht
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I have a Mesa-Boogie Mark IV half stack. Right now, i'm using a Morley Bad Horsie, a Dunlop Crybaby that I modified, and a Dunlop Rotovibe.
I usually use my Ibanez Jem777VBK and Jem555BK.
Both have Dimarzio Evolutions.
Chris
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

i have a creat 160 watt head solid state
and i have a 60 watt crate combo
also solid state

the head has a very normal distortion but the combo has a biting heavy as hell distortion

i use these amps with my roland gs-100 preamp/multi effects
and i use the preamp section to drive my head to the top with its mesa and peavy 5150 amp simulators

and i use my Rg 550 my FGM 100/saber and my S540 r radius guitar

and my new Schecter Avenger 7 string

and i use a bad horsie with an ernie ball volume pedal and a roland FC or SC 100 not sure...pedal board

this is my setup...hopefully soon i get a real MESA triple rectifier

well keep shreddin
Martha
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use
* Musicman HD130 head w/ a Musicman 212 cab.
* Vintage Rat pedal
* My guitar is a Ibanez ST-50
If anyone knows any thing about my guitar please
tell me, I can't find any info on it.
xskyxfellx
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

i use a new marshall valvestate 120/120 power amp thru two 1960a cabs. my guitar goes into a very old tech21 sansamp rackmount. in the bypass loop of the sansamp i run a whammyII into an rp-1 and back into the sansamp. it's not a very good sounding setup, but it'll do until i can afford decent stuff to go with my guitars.
pleasant dreams, and thanks for listening.
-mark
spiro
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a

*Rocktron Velocity 250 power Amp
*Rocktron Pihrana Pre amp
*Rocktron intelliflex Effects Unit
*Rocktron Custom Made angled Quad Box
*Rocktron Midi Controller

Yes I know Rocktron Rocktron Rocktron Rocktron
No this is not an AD (Well sorta???)

Extremely Happy with the lot, Thanks Rocktron...
mango
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

i use a 3 watt synsonics amp and baby does that thing cook. i have my jem hooked through it and me and my friends jam with it all the time. i have to turn it down sometimes though because i cant hear my friends drums
Aaron Hancock
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I've got a Peavey Classic 50 4x10 all tube, and absolutely amazing! And for my smaller/more portable amp (yeah right) is an old Marshall Master Lead Combo 30watt I believe with a 12inch celestion. Both amps are rockin! The Marshall is my college amp, the Peavey is my home system :)
AC
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

i currently plug my S540 LTD into a Marshall JCM2000 DSL 401. sadly the overdrive on this amp isn't quite like the JCM2000 DSL head. i'm currently enjoying its clean channel though, very good played clean or with FXs hooked up. do save up & get a mesa/ soldano/ VHT
Bobby E Day Jr.
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

A Marshall JCM 900 SLX head with a Carvin 2X12 Legacy Cab. Also a Digitech RP3 for lower volumes. And last but not least, a Crybaby. I will someday get one or two of the 4X12 Legacy cabinets, but it's a lot to carry around. I just love the high-low switch on the back of my Marshall. It goes from a 50 watt to a 100 watt depending on what I need!
John
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I just received my Rivera Fifty Five Twelve. 55 watts of power, 12" celestion. 2 EL 34s, 5 12AX7s

It is an amazing amp. Highly recommended. 2 Channels, Reverb, Presence, Mid-notch in channel 2 at 550 and 250 hz. This notch emulates the notch in 50s Fender tweeds (550 hz) and blackface amps (250 hz) it is one of my favorite features of the amp.

On your next Amplifier purchase, check out Rivera. They are extremely affordable for an expensive, high-end amp (if that makes sense) considering the build quality, and most importantly, the sound.

-John
dwalmz
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a Fender BXR200 Bass Combo and a Peavey TNT130 Bass Combo. As you can guess, I am a bassist. Besides owning a SR505 5 string in black I also own a Tobias Deluxe5, a Fender Jazz, and a Yamaha RBX fretless. I use a Zoom 506 effects pedal and Boss Bass Chorus, Limiter/Enhancer and Noise Gate.

Peace
SixStringFiend
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a crate GFX212 with a Peavey 412ms Speaker Cabnet. The cabnet has Four 12" Sheffield™ 1290 speakers per enclosure and I have no idea what the Crate has. I use a Boss Metal Zone petal set so I get a low growl and massive speaker buzz when I mute the strings near the 1st fret. This setup is for those who want a heavy crunch crunch sound.
Steve Peters
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I use a Peavey Sheffield Bandit 112 with a zoom and can get many different sounds. I love this amp and the tube sounds I can emmulate.
I've never played through a Marshall, but have owned a few Fenders, but prefer Peavey! And the sounds I can create with my 540s.

Steve...
Noah
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I play my custom made 7string(I made it myself in shop class) thru a Mesa/Boogie trem o verb combo or a triple rectifier w/ 4x12 mashall 1960 cab.
Jeff L
Posted on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

Marshall SL-X 2100 into a Marshall 4X12...various wah and overdrive pedals and a Digitech rack-mount effects unit. I also have a little Crate VC 2112R which I adore. Peace out :)
Steve (Gitfiddle1)
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - 3:50 pm:   

I've had good results with Crate. Currently I've got;

-GFX30 (30W solid state combo, 1x12", 2 channel, on-board digital effects) My workhorse!
-GFX1200 stack (120W solid state, 2 4x12 cabs, 3 channel, on-board digital effects) Brutal gain!
-BV50 Blue Voodoo 1/2 stack (BV50 head and matching 4x12 cab, 3 12AX7's and a pair of EL34 power tubes) It's tubes, Man!

I also have an Ibanez PT-4 effects unit. Nice little package with compression, EQ, chorus, and reverb. Ibanez calls this unit "Acoustic Effects", but it works great with the electrics too.

The GFX amps are great workhorses. My little GFX30 provides a wide variety of tone. The GFX1200 stack cost less than a lot of heads alone! It doesn't do warm, or bluesy stuff. 'Course I don't think that's what it was made for. *grins* It's clean, or crunch or MORE CRUNCH.

The Blue Voodoo has auto biasing on both pre and power tubes. This means you can change the tubes without paying somebody to re-bias them. The BV50 head came from the factory with 6L6 power tubes. I replaced them with EL34's to get the sound I wanted. I also removed the spring reverb unit as I prefer quieter digital effects. This package does everything well except gain-from-hell metal. The clean channel is so warm it'll make ya cry!

Cheers
Steve
Jörgen A (Jorgen)
Posted on Wednesday, April 11, 2001 - 5:29 pm:   

I rely on a Hughes&Kettner Edition Blonde 50W combo. Its a very versatile amp that you can get a wide range of sounds from. From good sounding clean sounds through crunch and more distorted sounds. I play mainly heavy rock and blues and it delivers what I want...
It has great tone!

/Jörgen
Skybone
Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2001 - 6:46 pm:   

Marshall JCM2000 TSL122

3 Channels,
100 Watts (with switchable "Virtual Power Reduction" which is still loud enough to drown out a 400 Watt Trace Elliot Bass Rig!)
2 x 12" Celestions

Typical Marshall really, lovely squashed driven valve tone on Ch 2 & 3 with the gain pushed all the way. Great clean tone on Ch 1.

Has an "Output Mute" button which switches the speaker circuit off in conjunction with a "Speaker Emulation" DI XLR socket on the back.

Versatile is its middle name.
Aki Rintamäki
Posted on Friday, April 20, 2001 - 6:22 am:   

I am always looking for that perfect amp for my use. It might be a Budda, but since I am not willing to pay that much, it is not suitable for me. Currently I use:

-Carvin XV-100 -combo. 100W all-tube /w 12" EVM.
-Mesa-Boogie Studio .22+ A little 12" tube combo.

I did use a Farfisa TR-70, which was the biggest sounding combo I've ever had. A marvellous tone, and weighs a ton. Sold it to get my back in shape again.. ;o)

Carvin is great! Very many-sided, but can get a bit "honky" if I don't tweak it well. 100W out of a 12" speaker is a bit too much, so the 60W version is one I'm looking for.
Mesa-Boogie does the job for smaller gigs. 22W all-tube is more than it looks on a paper, though. Need to try different tubes, might work better for my taste.

-Aki.
Arthur Kilinski (Venomboy)
Posted on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 1:51 pm:   

Peavey Tube Fex preamp
Rocktron Velocity 120 Power Amp
GK 2x12 cabinet (I think they're Celestions) with the metal grill and black fuzzy covering on the case.
Tim Walker
Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 - 2:23 pm:   

I started with a Vox AC30, which I wish I still had. It sounded great with my musician MC400. I then had an Orange head, then a Marshall JCM800, now I have a Valvestate S80 combo (sick of carrying 4x12 cabs around!) It sounds like a valve amp with a decent Ibanez through it...but I do miss the old 60's Vox.
John Muijen (Johnm)
Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2001 - 5:10 pm:   

I use a Kittyhawk The Kid tube amp. It has a 12" Celestion speaker and a nice clean sound. I never really liked the dirty sounds of this amp so I use a Boss Me-5 for that.

I also have a Marshall Lead 100 solid state amp which I used together with a 1 x 12" 150 Watt speaker cabinet I build myself. I did use this setup on stage for a stereo sound and to be able to hear my guitar everywhere on stage.
Cranky
Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2001 - 6:56 am:   

I currently use a Marshall JCM900 SLX 50 watt head, no reverb. Also a 74' Fender Twin Silverface. I love em' both. My Ibanez can either purr like a kitten or scream like a banshee.


Cranky
Russellw (Russellw)
Posted on Monday, December 17, 2001 - 3:25 am:   

Having a few spare minutes on my hands I thought I'd attempt an answer at the earlier question from The Beginner on the difference between Valve and Solid State amps.
Fundamentally the difference comes down to personal preference and the style of music you want to play and an understanding of the limitations inherent in most solid state amps.

To get this right (and save myself from being lynched) it is necessary to have a quick history of the Solid State (SS) amplifier.
The valve designs produced in the 50's by Leo Fender gave us the warm, easily overdriven sound that we've come to expect from amplifiers and has been the target for SS manufacturers since their inception.
Unfortunately these early attempts were driven by designers whose background was in audio amps and who applied the same desirable principles (clean, distortion free sound) when building guitar amps. Even more regrettable was the fact that they applied audio principles to the design of tone controls and speakers in these early SS designs and the sound was (at best) awful. This is still true of many SS amps on the market today but there are a number of manufacturers who've managed to come close (but ONLY close) to warm reproduction of guitar sounds in their SS amps.
None of this matters too much if you want to play jazz or an electric acoustic - the clean and distortion free nature of most SS amps is well suited to your needs. However if you want to reproduce the classic sounds of the last three decades then you'll need to shop around and listen to a lot of amps to find those few SS amps that perform this job well.

Having said all that (and no doubt started another controversy) there are pros and cons to the Valve amp -

Pros: Smooth clipping / smooth overdrives / high dynamic range.

Cons: More hiss and microphonics / heavy / need regular maintenance / expensive.

It is probably worth noting that using a good Multi-FX pedal (like those from Zoom, Roland, Line 6 etc.) can assist in the emulation of Valve amp sounds - still not the real deal but a lot closer than SS has managed to get so far.

On a personal note my own combo is a Laneay EA120 via a Zoom 505 Mult FX unit. This meets my needs to play both acoustic and electric guitars whilst utilising the emulations of several vintage valve amps provided by the Zoom unit. It's also reasonably powerful and not too heavy compared to some.

Cheers
Russ
Jer (Jer)
Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 10:43 pm:   

g'day folks

I've been thrashing a peavey classic 30 and a mesa V twin for a couple of years with my 550,you ain't gonna beat them tubes!!!!!! mind you i've just got a pod.......just let me tweak that knob arhhh...........I wonder?

keep lick'n J.
Jmarshall5 (Jmarshall5)
Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 1:48 pm:   

My immaculate 1968 Fender Princeton Reverb (80W tube). My dad bought this new and it never left his house until he gave it to me (and it has never left mine). I love this thing!

John
Oyo (Oyo)
Posted on Friday, February 15, 2002 - 1:29 pm:   

I have an 80's GK 250ML MKII "shoebox" combo amp I run through 2 1-10 JBL cabs (I'm looking for two Marshal 2-12's or a 4-12 stereo cab for some serious grunt though). At home I use the internal 6" speakers. This is one of my all time favorite amps in 25 years of playing- from sparkly clean to infinate sustain singing distorted leads in a tiny package.
I have a little 15 watt Crate I use to practice at lunch in the warehouse behind the office. It sounds really good for what it is, and the warehouse adds some of the most natural sounding reverb I've heard in years ;-)
Winnie_Thomas (Winnie_Thomas)
Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2002 - 11:18 pm:   

I use my own design and build. I call them "Elizabeth" after my German Shepherd who howls when I play. They are a little like Fender, but have their own tone.

Here's a couple pics:

http://soiuser.hyperchat.com/ax84/Elizabeth_Reverb_amp.jpg

http://soiuser.hyperchat.com/greybeard/Elizabeth_front.JPG

http://soiuser.hyperchat.com/ax84/tweed_collage.jpg

Winnie
Sixvsix (Sixvsix)
Posted on Sunday, March 24, 2002 - 7:40 pm:   

John

Having spent a long time looking for the right TONE! (don't we all) I'm left with.....

a 65' Fender Deluxe and a 71' 1x15 WEM Dominator
This depends on which one's working at the time. Both fit into the smallish gig category and are especially suitable for those - 'Excuse me, are you the leader of the band? Oh good; can you turn it down a bit please? type gigs. Little do they know that both these oldies can kick some serious arse if provoked.

For posh doo's (TURN IT UP MATE I CANT HEAR YA SOLO'S!!!!) its a Custom Audio pre-amp, a 295 Boogie Power amp or if i'm feeling lazy a VHT Pittbull Classic head. These are hooked up to either a very tatty 74'Marshall 4x12 (wired in stereo) or a pair of tatty old 71' Park 2x12 PA columns.

All said and done, if I could only keep one it would be the Fender. It's the most useable amp on the planet.

Lee
Tox (Tox)
Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 11:24 am:   

Hello out there!

I use a Fender 70s Musicmaster Bass Amp (Silverface) and a homebrew Fender Tweed Princeton-Clone. Proco Rat, homebrew TS808-Clone and a Fl-9 Flanger. My guitar is an AS200 playing jazz & fusion with me.
Joneellen (Joneellen)
Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 7:30 am:   

I use a Cornford Harlequin amp with my -83 Ibanez AM205.
This combination gives me warm/full jazz-tone in neck/middle position and a more focused/punchy tone in bridge position.
I advise you all to check out the Cornford amps (before they get too expensive).

Jone (Norway)
Johns (Johns)
Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 9:06 am:   

Jone:

I have never heard of Cornford amps. Can you tell me how to get some info on them?
Sixvsix (Sixvsix)
Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 8:11 pm:   

John

Cornford amps are made here in the UK in Kent (not far from me really). Here is a link to their site. http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/regular_htm/glossary.htm
A friend of mine has one. It's somewhat like an AC30 and it sounds pretty good although they do make a range of different models. They're well built and are starting to build a good reputation amongst players over here.
Sixvsix (Sixvsix)
Posted on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 8:23 pm:   

John

Forget that,it's the technical page. Try this:-

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/jun00/articles/cornford.htm
Ccs (Ccs)
Posted on Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 4:44 pm:   

For recording I just put together a new set up of a Marshall 9001 tube pre amp into,for now,a Peavey classic 60 power amp out to a Messa Boogie closed back 2 x 12 rectifier cab.A lot of balls in a little package.
Retired from the live scene I sold most of my backline but kept my pride and joys just incase:a 1986 Marshall 2210 100 watt 1/2 stack and two 1983 Marshall anniversary 50 watt 1/2 stacks.A 2204 master volume and a 2205 split channel.Enough to handle anything that might come up.Heres a pic of the '83 war horses,to hell and back and still kicking.
twins
Blues (Blues)
Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 3:43 am:   

Guys,

Anybody out there playing through a BRUNETTI "Maranello" 25 watt class A combo....?


IBZ_L5


BLUES
Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar)
Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 12:30 pm:   

Blues,

Never heard of it! But, I've never heard a "Class A" I didn't like. I wish more manufacturers would offer low-wattage 2-channel tube amps.

Cheers
Steve
Sixvsix (Sixvsix)
Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 1:00 pm:   

Steve:

They do. Here's a link to "Cornell" or "DC Development" amps here in the UK. Denis has been in the game for years and is currently builing amps for Clapton (EC).

There's also lots of tech info' on the site too.

http://www.dc-developments.com/reviews-g296.htm

six
Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar)
Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 6:39 pm:   

Thanx, Six! Nice stuff, but a bit outside of my budget.

Cheers
Steve
Mr_Roadstar (Mr_Roadstar)
Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 7:00 pm:   

After reading back through this thread, I thought perhaps I'd give an update. The current gear:

Line6 POD
Crate GFX1200H (head)
Crate TV112V cabinets (1x12's with Vintage 30's)

The Crate "Mini Stack" as the kids call it, doesn't get used much. Well, not by me! They love it 'cause it does the "Metal" thing well.

For practice/rehersal/recording, I run the POD direct to the studio mixer.

For live use I run the POD into a direct box. The XLR out goes to the board and the Hi-Z out goes into the effects loop jack on the Crate. This bypasses the preamp and turns the Crate into a stage monitor. The Vintage 30 speakers have a flat response that doesn't color the POD sound.

Cheers
Steve
Craigjc (Craigjc)
Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 8:14 pm:   

I'm not currently performing or recording; I'm doing laundry. But when I'm not washing the socks, I play through a 1983 (England) Hiwatt Bulldog 50 and a Peavey Pacer, both with EV speakers (bluddy loud), in "stereo". I use the usual Tube Screamer and a Mostortion, vintage Thomas Organ Cry Baby, vintage Morley volume, vintage Ace Tone stereo phaser, Boss Compressor and Trem/Pan, Vestafire stereo reverb, and A/DA digital delay. I really like hearing the tones swirl around the room, but most of the time I just plug in, bend a note, and listen to it sustain....must be those Ibanez guitars...!!!

Class A amps are cool. Aren't BadCat amps class A? They're supposed to be the cat's meow. Still, gotta love that Hiwatt.
Fredb (Fredb)
Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 2:17 pm:   

Currently using a Marshall Bluesbreaker combo, which is a LOUD 45W, along with either a Boss GT-5 or Pandora. Also have an ancient solid-state Yamaha 20W, which seems to work well with the effects processors' speaker sims. There's something to be said about combining the flat response of a solid-state with these processor gizmos...

Fred
Munch (Munch)
Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 9:39 pm:   

Hi Guys,

I have always been a tweed Fender guy, playing a 60watt 4x10" Blues Deville for years. However, all that has changed now.

A very talented mate of mine has taken to building valve amps as a hobby and is so good at it that it is quickly turning into a viable business opportunity. His amps have the general quality of tone that you will hear in amps from Matchless or Victoria, and because they are hand built, the tonal response can be tweaked to suit the owner's taste.

I recently took delivery of my new amp. Its a 30 watt point-to-point design using the Fender 5F4 Super/Dual Professional circuit from the '50's. It differs from standard in that it uses a bigger power transformer (a Victoria Bassman tranny), stronger Sprague filter caps, and a different slope resistor in the tone stack. It also drives 2x12" Weber P12NT Blue Alnicos in a narrow panel solid pine cabinet. The cab is decked out in blonde tolex with an oxblood grille-cloth. Even the chicken head knobs are oxblood cloured!

This amp is vintage tone heaven and unlike most Fender designs which go woofy in the low end, this baby keeps it tight and twangy, no matter how much the amp is breaking up. It seems a bit like a Marshall JTM 45 in the low end with classic Fender sparkle and twang in the mids and highs. You can't get much better - well, maybe if you went to KT66 valves perhaps - but dream on!!

I am running the following valves:

V1 - NOS 1959 Philips 12AX7A
V2 - NOS 1959 Philips 12AX7A
V3 - NOS 1958 Mullard ECC83 Long Plate
V4&5 - Svetlana 6L6 (420 plate voltage, 40ma bias)
V6 - NOS 1947 Radiotron 5AS4 rectifier

I have a line in some used RCA blackplate 6L6's which I'll grab if they are fairly closely matched.

As for effects, I don't use much. I have a Matchless Hot Box for gain, and am currently looking for an analog delay that doesn't suck tone nor add noise. I am unhappy with all the pedal type delays I have tried so far. I think I'll have a look at the Line6 Delay modeller, the Electro-Hamonix Memory Man, and a tape delay if I can find one.

I am also looking for a stand alone tube reverb unit. I tried out a line6 POD and a Behringer V-amp with my rig and was very dissapointed. I found them to be very harsh and shrill, and noisey.

Cheers,

Mark
Raceboy (Raceboy)
Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 4:06 pm:   

Here's a link to pics of my gear.
http://www.race2winradio.net/rbgear/
The guy playing my Bob Weir is the one that helped me get the guitar. I just put new strings on it and detailed it, and am now in the process of setting it up. I love this guitar!!!
Fredb (Fredb)
Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 6:58 pm:   

Mark,

Does your mate have a website?, sounds interesting.

Thanks,
Fred
Winnie_Thomas (Winnie_Thomas)
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 2:35 pm:   

Here's a little bit of self-promotion

http://www.rfd.cc/winamp

Winnie
Munch (Munch)
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 5:52 pm:   

Hi Fred,

No website, but his name is James Rogers and here's his email: roger3@iinet.net.au

Cheers,

Mark
Paddy_F (Paddy_F)
Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 6:31 am:   

been thru quite a few amps [and speakers] on the quest for the holy grail of tone, and have settled down with an old mk 3 boogie, but they do take a bit of setting up. Its just as easy to get a sour tone as a sweet one. Give Hank Marvin a Gibbo and a Marshall stack and he'd still sound the same.


Raceboy, very impressive setup, do you ever crank it up to the max? if you do, youre my hero, [are you still on speaking terms with the folks next door]?
Congrats on your new Bob Weir, very tasty.

Paddy.
Raceboy (Raceboy)
Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 10:30 am:   

Thanks, Paddy. I've honestly never had it cranked all the way up. It peels paint at 11:00!!!LOL
That said, we DID have it up to 12:00 for a few minutes yesterday while we were noodlin away. I did it as an ambush on my buddy, Rusty, while he was playing. He grabbed the volume knob on the guitar in a panic.LOL We had a Line 6 user group jam at my house a while back, and I invited all my neighbors to it so that nobody would call the law on us.;)
The setup on the Bob Weir was easy to do, and it plays like a dream!!! I love this guitar!!! My fingers love this guitar!!!;) The quality of all the components and the craftsmanship put into this guitar will rival the best of any custom shop putting out guitars today. And at a fraction of the cost. I pity the fool that ever tries to take it away from me.;)
Fredb (Fredb)
Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 1:26 pm:   

Mark,

OK thanks for the info, currently satisfied with my rig but who knows going forward...

Fred
Sixvsix (Sixvsix)
Posted on Monday, February 03, 2003 - 5:57 am:   

I had to put an insurance list together so instead of wasting all that effort, I thought I’d give you an update on my amp collection.

63’ Domino Dom-B 10w head
65’ Fender Deluxe

Watkins Westminster 1x12
WEM Dominator Mk3 1x12
WEM Dominator Mk3 1x15
WEM Dominator Mk3 1x15 with valve rectifier mod
WEM Dominator Mk3 Head (converted from combo)
WEM Dominator Mk3 Head “ “
WEM L15 head “ “

As you can see I like WEM’s. All the WEMS’s are late 60’s early 70’s I think.

Custom Audio Electronics 3+SE Preamp
Mesa-Boogie Quad Preamp
Mesa Boogie 295 Stereo Power Amp
Groove Tubes Trio Preamp
Groove Tubes Dual 75 Power amp

All the rack stuff is pumped through a choice of the following:

Marshall 74’ Checkerboard 4x12 with G12M Greenbacks (wired in stereo at 8ohms a side)
Park 71’ 2x2x12 PA columns with G12M Greenbacks (again 8 ohms a side stereo)
Selmer 64' 2x12 with Vox Blues fitted
Simms-Watt 2x12 with G12H Greenbacks

Yes, I'm running out of room too.


six
Techiewannabe (Techiewannabe)
Posted on Friday, March 21, 2003 - 4:06 pm:   

Started out on a 15-watt crate practice amp with all the built in goodies. but have since moved up to a new fender 2x12 (celestions) running at 120 watts (total). It gets plenty loud for me but the sound seems dull as hell. Don't know if it's the guitar cause it sounds about the same on my buddie's kirk hammett. any suggestions?
anybody else have one of these dsp's?
Paddy_F (Paddy_F)
Posted on Friday, May 02, 2003 - 10:58 am:   

Has anyone got any info on a starfield vt100 2 twelve combo. --- Sound/type of valves and so on,--- Theres one going cheap locally.

Party on Dudes, J.J. Rockershaft. aka Paddy.
Johns (Johns)
Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2003 - 7:35 am:   

Paddy:

I've never heard of the Starfield amps. But just ran across this today, by accident:

http://www.geocities.com/ibzstar/
Paddy_F (Paddy_F)
Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2003 - 10:59 am:   

Nice one John,
looks like theyre loose copies of a marshall hybrid tranny/valve combo type thing, the one I have seen is for peanuts, it might be o.k. for a spare, or if I dig the old lilac coloured Ibanez stereo chorous pedal out,

Paddy
cheap and cheerful
Krash (Krash)
Posted on Wednesday, August 06, 2003 - 7:08 pm:   

I have had just about every amp known to man.
Bogner, Solodano, Boogies, H&K, Marshalls & Fenders, and when I got my VHT pittbull that is where the buck stops. VHT CLX 100. It is a 3 channel monster that sounds amazing no matter what kind of music you play. Andy Timmons swiched to VHT after playing one. That's a pretty sound endosement considering he got Laney's for free.
I was at the Texas Guitar show and there was a guy seling a Boger and wanted to know if he could play my VHT and the Bogner side by side to see whic one was best.....The Bogner owner said NO because he knew the VHT would make his Bogner sound like a Gorilla!
Craigjc (Craigjc)
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 11:18 am:   

Never played a VHT but they sure look like Hiwatts. Think they based some of the amps on Hiwatt designs. So, why aren't more people gobbling up Hiwatts and VHTs? Most of the pro musicians around here beg me to sell them my Hiwatt or trade me whatever they're using now. I'll never get rid of it, but thanks to Krash I might have to demo a VHT. I've been looking to expand my mini "wall of sound".
Krash (Krash)
Posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 6:28 pm:   

Try one....You may part with that Hi-Watt after all!
Challenger (Challenger)
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 11:15 pm:   

OK. I've played VHTs, and with all due respect, they do not compare with the likes of Bogner. VHTs are overbuilt; I'll definitely give Steve Freyette that much. The Bogner has just such a complexity and flexibilty of tone that I have not heard in other amps. When I got mine, I couldn't afford it, but I got it anyway. I've never felt that way about another amp. Ever. Go out and A/B them yourself with Marshalls, Fenders, and Boogies. You'll notice it does them all, and better. In one box. BTW, check out the user list on the Bogner website - 'nuff said. Gorilla? I don't think so.
Gratefuldad (Gratefuldad)
Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 2:48 pm:   

Mesa Maverick 1x12 Dual Rectifier.

Jeff
Midian (Midian)
Posted on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 2:48 pm:   

Mesa Triple Rectifier through 2 KK Audio 4x12 Cabs loaded with Vintage 30's

My Black RS335 just got loaded with a Bill Lawrence L500-XL. I pick it up tomorrow. Now that'll scream.
Jerryneves (Jerryneves)
Posted on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 11:15 pm:   

Fender Cyber Twin. Absolutely love it. It mimics most any previously made amplifier, and does a ton more to boot. A friend recommended it to me. I tried it and loved it. Then I tried a bunch of other stuff and nothing compared. so I went out and bought one. Check one out. It has 2 tubes in it to go with the solid state electronics to help it mimic the different modelled amps. When you choose a particular amp from the past it adjusts all the settings (all the tone knobs actually turn on their own!). Then you can adjust the settings as if you were using that particular amplifier.

The next few paragraphs are paraphrased straight from a Fender site:

"The amp can mimic 35 of the most polular amps— from vintage to contemporary including: the Fender Bassman, the blackface Super Reverb and tweed Deluxe, plus some of the celebrated British stacks, and modern classics like Fender's Vibro-King.

It also has 85 permanent custom amp designs with effects — handcrafted, professional sounds perfect for any style, live performance or recording.

Lastly, and perhaps the coolest feature, is the Player's Lounge, 85 rewritable presets that you can design from the ground up to create your own sounds. You're not just adjusting EQ, you're actually choosing from a palette of both analog and digital circuit configurations, tone stacks, and dozens of effects. You can be your own amp designer.

The Cyber-Twin provides an arsenal of studio quality effects at your command — all the stereo delays and modulation effects that you'd expect, plus effects devices such as a virtual analog tape echo, backwards delay, and a catalog of reverb types from Fender Reverb to plate.

The Cyber-Twin doesn't merely sound like a great amp, it is a great amp with tubes, capacitors, resistors (the complex tone of analog drive circuits) alongside Fender's award-winning DSP effects circuits. With a familiar control panel, it's playable right out of the box — a full range of sounds all available at the touch of a fingertip and a twist of a knob."


Jerry
Acetan (Acetan)
Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 1:50 am:   

Late 70's Musicman 50RD and a Fender Musicmaster Bass which I run a Rockman stereo echo and chorus through.
Jimmyjames (Jimmyjames)
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 12:35 pm:   

I just got my Mesa Boogie Mark III and this thing is a beast! I play it through a Laney 4x12 slant cab and it's way too loud. I hooked up a Marshall Powerbrake and now the police don't show up anymore.

I also have a Marshall DSL401 1x12 combo. This is a way under rated amp in my opinion. All tube with 4 EL84's in the power amp section give it a traditional Marshall sound with a little bit of Vox AC30 honk thrown in. It is 45 loud watts with a compensated out for direct recording. This is my favorite feature. It gives a really creamy, alive tone that I haven't heard anywhere else. I will keep it just for this!
Ibaniod (Ibaniod)
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 1:12 pm:   

I use a 1978 2150 or my 2558 silver Anniversery.
For small gigs I sometime use my 1961 Fender
Deluxe.
Ibanezfreak1960 (Ibanezfreak1960)
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 2:46 pm:   

what kinda ear plugs do you all use?
Gratefuldad (Gratefuldad)
Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 7:00 pm:   

what?

jeff
Ibaniod (Ibaniod)
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 8:36 am:   

The only time I need earplugs is to block out
the universal cry of the drunks in the crowd
who usually in set 3 or 4 slur out, "PLAY SOME
SKINERD, MAN".
Ibanezfreak1960 (Ibanezfreak1960)
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:08 am:   

I've been hearing "freebird" shouted in my ear for 23 years!
Craigjc (Craigjc)
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 11:49 am:   

Is it legal to play "Skinerd" on an Ibanez? Wouldn't that be like going to a Harley convention riding a Kawasaki?
Johns (Johns)
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 1:13 pm:   

I guess no one told Rick Medlocke and his Ibanez Destroyer.
Ibanezfreak1960 (Ibanezfreak1960)
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 1:26 pm:   

Gratefuldad, I was joking about the earplugs I was scrolling thru the thread and reading all the different postings about wattage and super stacks and it reminded me of the many a night home comings from a gig with my ears ringing well into the next morning!
Bigmike (Bigmike)
Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2004 - 6:59 pm:   

I have a late 60's silverface Fender Deluxe Reverb that I had "Blackfaced" by a great tech in San Francisco... wonderful amp. A little heavy lugging that thing up a flight of narrow stairs to the car but it's got the tone for me.

Also have a beautiful Mesa Boogie Maverick 2x12 in the most amazing quilted maple cabinet (think PRS Artist Grade Top quilt)... But it's too heavy and too pretty to leave the house. You can really tweak it to get a nice variety of sounds - think Brown Fender Showman or vintage Vox AC-30s tone.


BigMike
Boris (Boris)
Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 5:13 pm:   

An old music man hd 130 combo with 2 EVs and a new Peavey triple x ran stereo through an RP 300,a Ernie Ball volume pedal,a Boss DS1,an old DOD compressor and an ancient Boss analog delay with a newer Scofield and a AM100 guitar.
Ibanezfreak1960 (Ibanezfreak1960)
Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 9:54 pm:   

I love my Ernie ball volume pedal. I had 2 versions the one older style with the in and outputs on the side and the taper pot and now the newer version with everything on the front minus the pot and with a micro switch on the circuit board. I have an old RP 1 effects processor that still works well along with a Peavey bandit 112 a Tubeworks TD47 and a Roland KC300 that I use for acoustic guitar.
Distroya (Distroya)
Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 6:32 am:   

Hi folks !

First i tried some little noname combos, nothing to talk about...then i got my Hughes&Kettner 100W Combo Attax 100...Celestion Rockdriver inside..i like it , but i always liked cabinets and tops too...so i bought a Hughes &Kettner 4x12 cab with the Attax 100 Toppiece and now i can say i blow em away. Could not imagine that it makes such a difference...
Greetz Distroya

hughes
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Tuesday, April 04, 2006 - 8:18 pm:   

I just made the mistake of trying a Fuchs Overdrive Supreme, now I want one. This is supposed to be based on a Dumble amp, and a lot cheaper at only $2500.
Hackneyslim
Username: Hackneyslim

Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 7:24 am:   

My 2c worth would be my 1964 Selmer 50w Treble'n'Bass head.

All valve, six knobs, one light, no messing about.

What nobody has mentioned in this thread is those amps you HAD but DON'T HAVE anymore because you SOLD them but can't remember WHY. Me? 1966 Marshall 50 head with the square light and the little logo - Angus Young's exact model. Blue-speaker 1960's AC30. I also lost an 80w all valve 1x12 Little Rock combo before I knew what it was. Idiot.

Into the time machine, boys!

h
Acetan
Username: Acetan

Registered: 09-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 2:58 pm:   

I only miss the guitar and amp combo my first guitar teacher sold me for about $100 back in 1961. An old Fender Princeton and a Broadcaster. Traded them for a P-bass a year later. Sorry to mention this on the forum again but this is something that will bug me to the day I die.

Ace
Funkle
Username: Funkle

Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 3:44 pm:   

My first amp was a JVC boom box, driven by some home made effects that I made from the Craig Anderton book. I don't miss it.

-Sven
Guitartim
Username: Guitartim

Registered: 04-2001
Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 4:21 pm:   

I miss my dearly departed 196? Fender Pro Reverb 15 with matching 15 extension cabinet. Traded it in 1971 for a brand new boat anchor Ampeg VT22.

Miss em both.
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix

Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 9:53 pm:   

An amp question....... don't get me started.


My favourite amp is still the Blackface Deluxe Reverb. I'm not talking about the reissue PCB job but the original PTP amp.

six
Paul_a
Username: Paul_a

Registered: 08-2002
Posted on Thursday, April 06, 2006 - 10:44 am:   

early 60s blackface Super

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