JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Guitars and Guitarist Forum AMPS: What do you use?

We talk about guitars alot, which makes sense in a guitar forum. But there isn't as much talk about the amps. So, here we go...
What do you pump you axe(s) through? And how do you like them?

I play through a Peavy Delta Blues 115:

I absolutely love it. That single 15" speaker pushes a lot of air for such a little amp. Great tube tone, too. Nice versatile overdrive channel can go from just a bit of crunch to some pretty hairy stuff. Also a big, fat reverb when you need it.
Love this thing!

Mine looks much like yours, except that the front grill is larger. But its a Fender Blues Jr that packs a nice punch, but it is quite easy to carry around.

Lots of pictures here

http://www.google.ca/images?q=fender%20blues%20jr&rls=com.microsoft:en-ca&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1659&bih=840


It is actually a modified version in that the speaker is an upgrade to a Jensen speaker. It was sold as a special aniversary edition for the music store chain I bought it from.

Found some specs for it


The Blues Jr. NOS takes Fender's 15W gem and gives it the true vintage treatment with lacquered tweed covering and a vintage-style 12" Jensen speaker. Its power is generated by an all-tube signal path using a pair of EL84 Groove Tube output tubes and 3 - 12AX7 preamp tubes. Add renowned Fender reverb, flexible controls, and FAT circuit with footswitch for golden tones, and you're in business. And just look at that chrome panel, that lacquer tweed finish with pinstripe grille cloth, and those vintage pointer knobs . . .

Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior NOS 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp Features:

Series: Hot Rod Series
Type: All Tube
Output: 15 watts into 8 ohms
Ohms: 8 ohms
Speakers: 1-12" Jensen C12-N 8ohm, 50 watt Speaker, p/n 0868508004
Channels: 1 Channel
Features: "Fat" Switch, Reverb, Footswitch Jack for Remote "Fat" on/off, Chrome Panel, Vintage Pointer Knobs, Controls, Reverb, Master, Middle, Bass, Treble, "Fat" Switch, Volume, Covering, Lacquer Tweed finish with Pinstripe Grille Cloth
Weight: 31 lbs. (14.06 kg)
18"W x 16"H 9.18"D (45.72 cm W x 40.64 cm H x 23.31 cm D)
Tube Complement: 3 X 12AX7, 2 X EL84
Solid State Rectifier

I seem to have too many amps (like guitars) but the one I use for gigs is usually an Ampeg Superjet SJ 12R (about 7 years old). It is pretty clean and Fender sounding - kinda like half of my Twin Reverb which I bought new in 1969 (that has become much heavier in recent years such that I rarely take it anywhere). I like a clean amp with headroom and use pedals to dirty up the sound as needed. I also like a good reverb which these both have.

I also have a 66 Gibson Skylark which sounds pretty grungy when cranked and a Vox D5 which is a solid state with effects that can be operated on batteries (handy on the boat).

I like the two amps that Pop and John have and would probably buy a Blues Junior if starting from scratch.

I used to be an amp nut - all tube. Both rack and head type units. I still have two of my main rigs, one is a Groove Tubes Trio combo and also a MesaBoogie TriAxis thru a Groove Tubes power amp.

In the past 6 months I've made a switch to using my lappy (that's a laptop computer) for my guitar sounds. I've been using direct recording setups for the past couple of years, but never live.

With the advent of faster computers, impulse responses and better software, it finally became time to ditch the heavy single use equipment for a lighter and more versatile setup. It only became and option for me when I got the RedWirez IRs for amp cabinets.

RedWirez has taken the sounds of a lot of great amp cabs and particular mics to mic them at various spots. Put then in conjunction with an amp plugin and presto, you get any sound you need in a matter of seconds. Brilliant. Sounds so close to the original you'd be hard pressed to tell.

The best part is, you're only lugging around a laptop and an audio interface like the Apogee Duet.

Crate. All older Crate solid state. One with 2 12 and a simple A/B channel (dirty and clean). Love the bottom end on that one and when I play live it's all I need.
The other is a Crate 'Tube Driven 70' which has a single twelve and an awesome sound. It has one single tube hangin' in the back. Never seen one like it. Scooped it up at a yardsale from someone's Grandma for $5! SWEET! Love it. I mic it live and it rocks.
Oh, and since my neighbors like to whine, I have a Marshall mini-stack for when they're home.

I usually just play clean with no reverb and run all my instruments through my Zoom Palmtop studio for fx. Over the years I've found it best (for me) to travel like a monk. When I used to be in and out of relationships and crashing here and there I learned to make one trip...OUT THE DOOR and not have to look back.

I'm down to a Vox Valvetronix 50 watt. It does most of what I need, but I miss my little Vibro Champ. Nothing made a marvelously nasty sound like that little box.

I BUILD OR MOD AMPS-MY FAV IS A 6SN7-6L6-EL84 BLENDABLE VARIABLE PWR AMP
FEEDING 2 417 ALTEC SPEAKERS--STILL TWEEKING IT--I LOVE THE TUBE SOUND--MINE WILL GO DOWN TO .5 WATTS TO 40 WATTS. I NAMED IT BIG RED--

I HAVE A 10 WATT VIBROCHAMP WITH 10" SPEAKER AND A TELEFUNKEN 6L6 WITH MERCURY MAG OT.

PopTod HOW DID YOU POST THE PICTURE OF YOUR AMP?

Mackie

I also either design and build them from scratch or rebuilt old amps I get for cheap. I have at least 16 amps.

The one I use the most for guitar I call the AK-30. It started out as a Vox AC30 clone with extra stuff in it that I wish the AC30 had but has since diverged a bit from the AC30. I reduced the power to 17 W (two EL84s instead of four, with smaller transformers, which greatly lightened the amp; 30 W was much more than I needed). It has clones of the AC30 normal and top boost channels. But the channel I use the most is the third channel which is my own design, which has a 7199 pentode preamp. It has a single 12 inch Weber Blue Dog speaker in it. It resides in the cabinet of an old Ampeg Gemini 2 I salvaged decades ago.

I am impressed by you amp builders. I know it is a lot of work to put one together. I have thought about building a small kit amp mostly to learn more about them. Now we are in a house with more space I might give it a try.

I use a Peavey ValveKing 112 for gigs and some recording



and a Roland Cube 15x for house practice

Mostly a Fender Super Champ XD, but often I also just use a preamp into a software amp modeller, sometimes with a TC Electronics compressor and additional EQ on the way in. I have a TC 1140 preamp/EQ which is really transparent, and the EQ on it is excellent. I also have a Presonus channel strip with a tube in it, which is kinda harsh, but I do use it for pop songs, to cut through the mix.

But mostly I use the Fender. It also can model other Fender amps, so it's really versatile. It sounds really good on the line out, so I often unplug the speaker and use it as a preamp, or just go with the tone with a few analog pedals.

This setup gives me many options for guitars and bass, so I really like it, allthough I will upgrade the Presonus strip sometime soon. The UA Twin Infinity currently holds the top position on my list.

I don't gig, so I use mine for recording only.

I hate these threads! Just kidding but they do make me wish I had more cash.
You've all got such great gear especially my name sake Mr Andy K. I would love one of his AK-30's can you send one over to the UK?

I'm just using a fully tricked out POD XT Pro that's seems to have about 80 amps and god knows how many cabs installed in it. No where near as good as having a good tube amp but cuts down on the space required lol

Andy

I have always preferred tube amps as many guitar players will state. However, I heard a Vox Pathfinder 15R one time and the little thing really blew me away with how good it sounded. It is a solid state amp, so it is the first one I have ever liked. I actually have two of them now, one as a backup and I gig with it although it is small. If I need a little more power from it, I mic it through the PA. It will not hold its own against full drumkit and loud other guitars, and instruments if they are pushing it, unless you mic it.

It is not a tube amp, and it has its limitations, but it sounds VERY good, and for a little over $100 it is the best bang for the buck amp I have ever played. I got a second one as a backup, and I will probably get an A/B/Y splitter and run both together for gigs where I want a little more oomph.

If you have never tried one of these check them out.

I myself prefer the sound of tube amps for what I do and most of the amps I've built are tube amps. But I agree with you, Jack, that there are many solid state amps out there that are quite usable. It really depends what kind of sound you are looking for. Many a hit song back in the 1980's was recorded with the old solid state Roland JC120 Jazz Chorus. Solid state Kustoms, Peaveys, and Polytones were also used for a lot of hit records.

Actually, I've been wondering lately if going solid state might be the way to go if you want a fresh new sound.

Also, a lot of guys who wouldn't use anything but a tube amp and really put down solid state amps run through a whole slew of solid state effects before going into their tube amps, which somewhat (but admittedly not totally) defeats the purpose of running through a tube amp.

Mack:
All ya gotta do is find the pic online, copy the URL, and then copy that between the [img] tags. As so:
[img] URL [/img]

Hope that helps.

EDIT:
Only without the space between the URL and the tags.

The coolest new amp I've seen has to be the Evil Robot by Fretted Americana. Pure tone with serious power in a small box.

Here's a video description of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oNRv6NnZxQ

My NAMM excursion was awesome. Picked up a bunch of new amp stuff that I've been playing with last night and created a new hopped up rock song with a supra fuzzitonic tone.

I'm going to be putting in for an Evil Robot despite the fact that I do most of my amp sounds with Mainstage and Logic now with combos of Logic's amps, Studio Devil, Line 6, and Guitar Rig all backed through Red Wirez.

POP TOD--

I APPRECIATE THE INFO--STILL TRYING TO LEARN--

Mackie

Carvin vintage 16
Fender Twin

Well I can only list what I sold last year & the year before to pay bills and eat.

1967 Vox Buckingham w/Bulldog Spks & Stand
1972 Fender Twin Reverb
1981 Marshall JCM 100 w/4x12s
1995 Ampeg Svt head 100 watts
Ampeg V4 Head

What's left a Fender Blues Deville 2x12 & a 1960 Danelectro 1x10

I still use
The original POD Line 6 Rackmount Gt Processor
On Computer - Guitar Rig 4 by Kontakt this thing really sounds like amps.

I think I've finally found my amp. Delta Blues 210. Plenty of clean headroom and punchy. Takes pedals well.

You guys that build amps--I want to learn how to do that--where do I go for that?
Tim

I have considered building an amp kit like these from Mojo.

Mojo

I saw some at the Orlando Guitar Expo last week. Trouble is it costs more for the kit than a similar finished amp costs.

I have a degree in electrical engineering, have been designing electronics for over 30 years, mostly for the automotive and aerospace industries, and have a number of patents. That's how I learned to design and build guitar amps (and effects, and studio gear, etc.)

Yes, kits are expensive. Building from all brand new parts is also expensive. I can build them for almost nothing since I build them mostly from parts I've salvaged from electronics others throw away, such as old TV's, computer monitors, organs, stereos, etc., and design the circuits around whatever parts I have on hand. That is also why some of my circuits are rather unusual and use some rather unusual parts.

Humm,
I wasn't aware you could buy a Guitar Amp kit. I built several Heathkit's including Color T.V.'s etc. Heathkit is no longer in business.

Most guitar amps will use simular circits usually delevoped by a major company such as RCA. I still have an old Tube Manual which gives basic circut designs. Also a Transistor Manual which gives some solid state designs.

You may find that you have trouble finding some of the parts, particularly transformers and inductors, shown in the schematics in the old RCA tube manuals. Also, the amplifier circuits may sound a little too hi-fi for most people's tastes.

Your best bet is to search online for the schematic of your favorite tube guitar amp. The patents for the old Fender, Marshall, Vox, etc., amps have expired decades ago. So most of these schematics are fairly readily available.