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Post subject: Question re: Amps
Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:29 pm
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Don't want to start a long discussion here so, if I should move my question elsewhere, don't be shy in telling me so.

I have an Eric Johnson Strat and need to match it up to an inexpensive but quality Amp. I currently have a real cheapo 25W Fender Amp that is OK for putz'n around with but that's about it.

My question - What are some of the things one looks for (besides brand name) in an Amp that should point out the good/bad qualities of said item?
Is it mostly - individual preference or are there certain things one should look for when selecting an Amp?

I"m currently not looking for stage/performance value ($$), more like "best quality/sound at the cheapest price" (for now).

Thanks in advance


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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:31 pm
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i own a Marshall 30w and 50w combo amps. Both good sounding,varistale, and cheap :D

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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:33 pm
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All I can tell ya is it would be a shame to play an EJ (I've got one, best damn strat ever) thru a solid state amp. I guess my first question would be: "whats your idea of inexpensive?". A nice 40W Deluxe would be a nice choice.

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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:24 pm
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first- get a tube amp if you can. the sound is no comparison to solid state. remember that tubes are louder than solid state, so a fifty watt tube amp is pretty damn loud.

second- tubes may be out of your price range. unfortunately, tubes are expensive, but well worth it. if you have to go solid state, try line 6. Their amp models are quite close to the real thing, and even if they are off a bit, they are fun to play. They are quality amps. Also, a line 6 will be able to get multiple distinct sounds, where other solid states are limited to one or two.

I recommend that you at least try a Line 6. They arent too expensive. Also, check eBay. you can find some good deals on there. I got a 100$ morley wah for about 18$


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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 4:38 pm
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gotta go with the 40w deluxe 1x15 great amp get the tweed if possible


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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:56 am
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Hot rod deville is a good option


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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 9:24 am
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Ben13 wrote:
first- get a tube amp if you can. the sound is no comparison to solid state. remember that tubes are louder than solid state, so a fifty watt tube amp is pretty damn loud.

second- tubes may be out of your price range. unfortunately, tubes are expensive, but well worth it. if you have to go solid state, try line 6. Their amp models are quite close to the real thing, and even if they are off a bit, they are fun to play. They are quality amps. Also, a line 6 will be able to get multiple distinct sounds, where other solid states are limited to one or two.

I recommend that you at least try a Line 6. They arent too expensive. Also, check eBay. you can find some good deals on there. I got a 100$ morley wah for about 18$


Thanks for the feedback.
I have been looking online at the Line 6 Spider III Amps. Guitar Center's webiste provides some sound bytes for a few settings. I'm looking for a Clean or Blues type sound foremost.
Also was looking at the Fender Blues Deluxe 40W 1x12. Someone mentioned the 1x15.. but I haven't found that yet. This Amp is probably at the high end of what I want to spend right now... The Peavey's seem a bit high-priced.

I guess the next thing is to make a trip to my local Guitar Center and test a few of them, find what sounds good to me, then look for the best price.

Thanks for you input.

PS. I agree that the EJ is a fantastic guitar! I also have a PRS 20th Anniversary GoldTop Single-cut but, I keep going back to the Strat and it's my preferred guitar today.


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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:27 am
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First, I agree with those above that if you're going to play an EJ strat, do it justice and play through a tube amp. The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is an awesome little amp for the money and plenty loud. Peavy Classics also sound great but the EL84 tubes tend to rattle over time.
If you have to go the Line6 route check out the Flextone series - they're a lot more flexible than the Spider series...


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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:30 am
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I really like the Fender Champion 600, a tube amp for $200, try one out if you can. I have mine set up with a Boss overdrive pedal and Boss chorus pedal. Great for around the house, much better sound than a solid state in my opinion. I play my EJ through this set up.

Ray


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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:55 am
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I also play an EJ, and I have a Line 6 Flextone II as well as a '94 Blues Deville 212. The Line 6 is, well, flexible, and there are many things it does well. Just not great. The Blues Deville, purchased on ebay about a month ago, obviously doesn't have the presets, fx, and all the stuff that the Flextone has, but my goodness, the tone! A real tube amp becomes an extension of the instrument- something I didn't realize until I got the Deville. I got a great price on ebay (do an advanced search, and choose a radius from your zip code- you'll save a ton on shipping, and be able to see and play through the amp before you pruchase it), and I almost feel bad for the Line 6- what was an everyday player hasn't been used in a month! Maybe I'll throw it on ebay.
On another note, an amp to check out is the new Line 6 Spider Valve. The amp was actually designed with Bogner and has pre- and power tubes, yet it maintains the Line 6 flexability. A guy I know at guitar center absolutely loves it. Fender is also coming out with a new line of inexpensive tube amps with a lot of the Line 6 "candy"- head over to the Amps- Modern forum, and look for any post by Maruuk. I swear he's the designer, he's so excited for these new amps!


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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:21 pm
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TUBE AMP: like the Fender Blues Junior.
No tranny or digi can come close to the sound of a real tube amp.

Peter


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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:05 pm
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Sinceriously bro' you cannot play an EJ Strat through solid state and look yourself in the mirror shaving everyday. I played solid state for years with all low-budget equipment, and it's just not the same. Now, my Highway One that only cost $500 gets to sing through a Blues Junior and it's a big difference. Play blues in "A" on the 7th fret and bend the g string and it's got that classic, glassy, can't-describe-it response. Even my inexpensive all-tube (solid state something or other though) Blues Junior is an absolute revelation. It's not just the tone, although that's part of it. The tube amp breathes and lives with the guitar. It responds and creates with the guitar. It's a part of the musical instrument, not just an amplifier. Line6 and even Fender's computer modelling is never going to capture that reality of a living part of the musical instrument that is a tube amplifier. Go with Fender's all tube stuff. My Blues Junior is just a great little amp. I was talking about it elsewhere here a minute ago. Basically, imho, solid state doesn't work for guitar amps. Line6 puts lipstick on that pig but it's still a pig. Don't get too much power or you won't be able to make it work with real tube distortion and response like the Blues Junior (working the preamp) and the Champion 600 (which I don't have but people love them). Hey somebody said Clapton now plays like a Custom '57 Twin with 12 watts or something, which I've never heard but I know it's got to be incredible. My 15 watt Blues Junior can get loud, and the freakin' tone and response are just not comparable to solid state.


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Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:23 pm
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Try a Traynor if you can find one. Have that online at Musicians Friend, but play one first. They are Canadian Made tube amps with a tremendous value. Mine is a YCV40T. 40 Watts all tube power, 2-10 inch celestian tube speakers. cranks, plus only paid $615.00 USD. Put it up againts compariable amps in watts, speakers, tubes, etras, and of Course the sound most of all. Nothing in this price range was even close. Had to spend $800 to $1000 to get a compariable amp. Played mine now for 1 1/2 years, no problems, original tubes, plus Traynor has the best warrenty in the biz. 2 Years no questions asked. All those guys can keep their named brand amps. I am sticking with Traynor.


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Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 3:48 pm
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strat58cat wrote:
Hey somebody said Clapton now plays like a Custom '57 Twin with 12 watts or something, which I've never heard but I know it's got to be incredible.


Clapton has long favored the smaller amps. Derek and the Domino's Layla was recorded entirely with a '55 Champ. 461 Ocean Blvd. was recorded using a Pignose! There really is no need for a stack of Marshalls as long as you've got a mic for your amp.

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Or is that a sears poncho?
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Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:14 pm
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I don't think you specified what your budget was- but you did mention that you just needed a decent amp for "putzin" around? All of the suggestions here are good, and my 2 cents would be to look at the Epiphone Valve jr head and 1x12 cabinet. It's only a 5w tube amp, but this thing is an incredible value for the money. Another cool thing is that you can mod the head if you know a bit about electronics- there are all sorts of mod kits on the 'Net for tweaking these things. But even at the stock 5w I have yet to crank this thing past 10 o'Clock. And the head and cab came to $230 when I got it. I think now it may be around $250.


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