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Post subject: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 7:48 pm
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I am changing up some gear to simplify my life and reduce the quantity of gear I have, and improve the quality. What I really need is versatility. I have sold a couple of guitars and bought a new Custom shop Shawbucker strat. I 've only had it a couple days but absolutely love it. My other main guitar is a MIM Tele. Could someone recommend an amp that would be of lasting quality and under $1000? I need it to be versatile as my band plays everything from 60's oldies to blues to classic rock. It would need to have both a clean and dirty channel. Also looking for something that doesn'the weigh 100 lbs. Maybe a 1x12 something? Thanks for your help!

Bluesguy.


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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 10:10 pm
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Find yourself a used (pre-2006) Deluxe Reverb. They're around $650 to $700 at the usual sites. Use the balance of your $1000 budget to buy a couple of decent stompboxes (say, a Fulltone OCD and a Proco Rat) and a Radial Big Shot A/B/Y pedal to add channel switching to the amp.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2017 10:40 pm
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Arjay just gave you prolly the best suggestion you're likely to get.
Especially the ABY box.
Really adds to the versatility of the DR amp.
By itself you can already footswitch the verb and vibe in and out but with the ABY you can also get alternate EQ and volume settings on the plain-vanilla side for different amp voicings.
It may not be exactly the sort of channel switching you were thinking of but don't dismiss the idea until you've tried it.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:58 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
......but with the ABY you can also get alternate EQ and volume settings on the plain-vanilla side for different amp voicings.
It may not be exactly the sort of channel switching you were thinking of but don't dismiss the idea until you've tried it.


Actually, it's more versatile than that. The A/B/Y footswitch permits two discrete signal paths, each of which can be routed to one of the amp's two channels. Thus with the OD devices linked into one channel, that allows whatever level of distortion and/or compression is required. The other signal path can be connected directly into the amp's other channel which can yield basic clean tones. That's two distinct voices available on demand with a simple tap of a footswitch. I've been using this same set-up for years.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:17 am
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The DRRI option is a great choice but if you prefer to get your dirt from the amp rather than pedals you might consider a Super Sonic 22. It is just over $1000 new and can be found used for about $600 to $750. I've been playing one for a few years and I like all the sounds it makes.

The SS22 is a 22 watt, 2x6V6, 1x12 combo amp with two channels: "vintage" (clean) and "burn" (overdrive). The vintage channel has sparkly clean tones that breakup when pushed, generally similar to a Deluxe Reverb (though some say not quite as sweet), and has a "fat" switch that boosts the mids and further reduces headroom. The burn channel has two gain controls that allow you to adjust from light crunch to something approaching fire-breathing metal.

The SS22 has a nice spring reverb and a usable effects loop. It is also compact and lightweight - about 40 pounds - making it a good grab and go amp.

Most of the internet chatter I've read about the amp has been positive, although many people complain that the idle noise level (i.e., hiss and/or hum) is too high. I haven't found the noise floor to be objectionable although I do recognize some other amps I've owned/tried have been a lot quieter.

The SS22 is a loud amp and I've read its suitable for most gig situations, particularly if miked to a PA. However it may not have sufficient headroom if you like to play VERY loud and very clean. In your budget you may not find an amp with a lot more clean headroom than the SS22 anyway. For home use I run a volume pedal in the effects loop and I'm very happy with the low-volume tone (though undoubtedly some volume brings out the best).


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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:59 am
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I imagine a Mesa Rectoverb 25 combo is under a grand in the US? That'll do various shades of clean and dirty and is a well-made amp, not as complicated as many Mesas, and not much bigger or heavier than a Blues Jr. I have always used a Rat, and the dirty channel on the Mesa will get very, very close - one reason I bought it.

I only mention this as you didn't seem to be specifically wanting a Fender?

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 10:57 am
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Wow. Some great answers. I think I would lean towards something that has a separate dirty channel. Not that I don't appreciate the " deluxe" suggestion. That is a possibility. With my current setup I have a Traynor custom valve 40 and I use a stomp box board for my main sounds connected to the clean channel and hit the foots witch to pull up the dirty channel for solos. It seems to work well. The ss22 I did look at but wasn't sure if it would be loud enough. I don't play huge rooms but some are big enough ( or outdoors) and we are not super loud band but it is rock n roll. That being said I rarely turn my Traynor above 3. I also saw a Hughes and Kettner 18 Watter that sounds pretty good but again not too sure about the volume? It doesn't have to be a Fender.


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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:06 pm
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This is the Fender forum. For discussions regarding a Hughes & Kettner amp, you'll likely find more information on their forum.

:wink:

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:31 pm
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If you are concerned about headroom, it occurred to me that a used Super Sonic Twin would be within your budget, as they seem to be flooding the used market now and are available for as low as $700 or even less if you look. The features are similar to a SS22 but its an absolute beast - 100 watts, 4x6L6, 2x12 (Celestion Vintage 30). It is very heavy - like 90 lbs, however.


Last edited by JDB2 on Wed Jan 04, 2017 10:23 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:07 pm
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JDB2 wrote:
It is very heavy - like 90 lbs...


The gentleman mentioned in his very first post that he wasn't interested in a boat anchor. As well, 100 watts is overkill for his intended purposes.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:19 pm
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JDB2 wrote:
The DRRI option is a great choice but if you prefer to get your dirt from the amp rather than pedals you might consider a Super Sonic 22.


Plus one on the Super Sonic 22. Great amp design........

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:25 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
The gentleman mentioned in his very first post that he wasn't interested in a boat anchor.


Sorry, I missed that! Definitely he wouldn't want an SS Twin then . . . but SS22 or DRRI would sure be good.


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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:39 pm
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The SS22 is a candidate. It is portable and has a tremendous variety of tones between vintage, vintage/fat and burn. The effects loop is something not found in the DRRI. The biggest drawback is the unusualy loud and intrusive idle noise. Fender claims this is normal and if you play loud enough, you won't hear it.

In my living room, I hear it. When I mic the speaker for recording I hear it during playback. I did reduce the hiss by putting a volume pedel in the effects loop and cranking the volume. I also put a 12ATX in V1: this also cut it down. I hope to try a JAN 5751 soon.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 6:09 am
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I will check out the ss22. We do mic my amp quite often so I will see if that's an issue with too much noise. Sounds like it would do everything I need as long as it is loud enough. I guess if my 40 watt is usually only on 2 or 3 the 22 watt may be sufficient.


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Post subject: Re: Recommend a versatile amp please?
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 6:47 am
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Regarding amps that produce a noticeable hiss when idle, but the his disappears when you play something, I wonder whether adding a signal with a constant voltage would help. The wave form would be flat, so no sound, but it would still cause load?


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