| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1098 Registered: 12-2003 |
I have never owned anything but tube amps. I currently have: 2 Fender Twin Reverb Reissues Fender Hot Rod DeVille 50W Hiwatt combo Vintage Hiwatt DR103 and 4x12 cab PRS Original Sewell and two 4x12 cabs I'm considering a new amp - at least for taking to practice and possibly gigging as well. While I love my tube amps for their tone, they are heavy as hell. Considering the fact that I am getting all delay and modulation effects from my Fractal FX8, as well as all overdrive and distortion, do I really need a tube amp? Their obvious advantage is the warm, natural overdrive...but I don't use them for that. So...if I rely on my amp solely as a clean platform from which to let the FX8 work its tonal magic, would I be happy with solid state? I know that Bill's been very happy with his Pritchard. Unfortunately, shy of flying out to see him, I won't be able to test drive my guitar and board with one. Any other guitarists using solid state amps. If so...which ones? | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 1048 Registered: 9-2004 |
I have owned Lab Series amps (like BB King used) and Polytone (jazz) and many other transistor amps and I always end up selling them. There are several great tube amps that don't weigh all that much. I gig a lot with a Blue Velvet Zinky and I have replaced the speaker with a neo lightweight speaker and it will eat anything up alive for great tone and power output. Mesa subway amps are small. Old Fender Tweed amps are light with great tone. The 80's Fender Champ is a classic with lots of power (the distortion channel is not so great). However, I have a couple of small fender solid state amps for the occasional gig out where carrying a big amp would be too much (at a marina) I have a Squire Champ that I stuck a very 'big' 8" replacement speaker in and it gets loud. I record a lot with a Line 6 POD XT Pro and it sounds great. All in all though, I love that tube sound too much. | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1099 Registered: 12-2003 |
Problem with the Champs and smaller Tweeds is that they don't seem to have the clean headroom I need. I think we rehearse too loud. Hahahahaha! | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 12099 Registered: 5-2002 |
I seem to recall that Bill also put together a rig with an Alembic preamp and a solid state power amp. That might work for what you are wanting to do. A lightweight single space power amp should be fine for guitar. | ||
| rv_bass
Junior Username: rv_bass Post Number: 38 Registered: 8-2014 |
A two space rack containing a power amp and F-1X pre amp, and a Tone Tubby speaker cab would sound pretty nice, and splitting the cab from rack would make it portable (each component lighter than if combined). https://tonetubby.com/product-category/speaker-cabinets/guitar-speaker-cabinets/ | ||
| elwoodblue
Senior Member Username: elwoodblue Post Number: 1880 Registered: 6-2002 |
I would try that with just a stereo power amp, probably a two space unit so you have good ventilation and decent power. You could always play with speakers after that to hone your tone more. I get a very satisfying sound at home with just a GT Trio pre and a lexicon Mx400 into the home stereo. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6420 Registered: 7-2004 |
I have a two-space rack with an F-2B and a Carvin DCM200L stereo power amp. Love it. You might also want to check out the Sarno SMS Classic Tube Preamp as an alternative to the F-2B. The Sarno has reverb, which the F-2B lacks, but isn't stereo, but that may not be important to you. Bill, tgo | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6421 Registered: 7-2004 |
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| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6422 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hey, Jonathan, why don't you come out for the upcoming NorCal Gathering? You can check out both my Pritchard and my new little rig. Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1100 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill, I wish I could. Gotta stay with my youngest (7 yrs) while my wife and other two are out of town for a soccer tournament. As for your rig there, I'm not sure what I'd be gaining in portability and weight savings over a traditional 1x12 tube combo amp. What made you go this route? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6423 Registered: 7-2004 |
I used to have a rack system with an F-2B through a Mesa 50/50 power amp, SF-2, through two 2x12s. Sounded great in the studio, royal PITA to move. I played with a guy that had a 2U rack with the SMS pre and the Carvin 1U power amp. I had the F-2B laying around, so I thought I'd pair it with the Carvin power amp - and I really wanted the tie-dye speakers. So I put together a light, adaptable, stereo rig. I still think the Pritchard kicks ass, but right now I'm having fun with the fullness of stereo. Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1101 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill, Who made your speaker cabs? | ||
| rv_bass
Junior Username: rv_bass Post Number: 40 Registered: 8-2014 |
Accugroove makes some nice light weight (31 lb) guitar cabs. I use their bass cabs and like them. http://www.accugroovellc.com/#!latte/c3n4 | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6424 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan, a local guy I found through craigslist made them. I supplied the tie-dye fabric. They have wood covers that snap on for travel. I loaded them with JBL K-120s, one with a hemp cone. The hemp cone makes it a little darker. I use that one on the side I have tweaked for a bassier tone, and use a regular K-120 on the side tweaked to accentuate treble. Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 1102 Registered: 12-2003 |
Rob...I've contacted Accugroove. The Hammer is the lightest weight cab I've come across. Bill...Sorry I'm missing the Gathering. Any chance you'll be in Chicago this summer? | ||
| funkyjazzjunky
Senior Member Username: funkyjazzjunky Post Number: 1017 Registered: 5-2007 |
in the 70's & 80's, my cousin used to play Strats through Dean Markley combo amps. I do not know about their modern products. | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 2282 Registered: 5-2002 |
I really like the Sarno CTP. Very Alembic like, but having the reverb is an excellent touch. I have the first demo version, as he let me take it on the road for a couple of weeks and then I refused to send it back. Nowadays, I use my F2B most of the time, because I'm hooked on the stereo thing, but the CTP makes for a great lightweight guitar rig with one of the class D power amps, if you like clean tone. We have so many awesome options these days! | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 90 Registered: 6-2012 |
Re: small, lightweight, portable solid-state amps that sound and respond like tube amps: Check out Henriksen JazzAmps. I know the word "jazz" is in the name, but they have a few variations on the theme. I have a 112 ER combo - 160 watts, reverb, 1x12 speaker and a special design tweeter that can be turned off via switch on the back panel. IMO, this amp is pretty versatile and delivers clear and warm clean tones and can also take selected OD pedals (I like the Zendrive and a Keely modded TubeScreamer in front of it). Each guitar that I've used with it retains it's unique tonality - Strats sound like Strats, semi-hollow bodies sound like semi-hollow-bodies, etc. and large hollow-body jazz boxes sound amazing. I've even used this amp for acoustic guitars (tweeter helps these), electric bass (Ric, Stu Hamm Urge and the treble PU on my Alembic Series II) and also for my Rob Allen acoustic bass. Re: small tube-powered amps - over the weekend, I scored a used Dr. Z Carmen Gia head and over-sized closed-back cab with 12" alnico cream-back speaker. Haven't tried it with a band, but it sounded great in my practice room with a variety of guitars. And - as far as a clean platform for pedals, IMO, it's hard to beat the new PRS Archon 25 and 50 watt 1x12 combos. They have 1/2 power switches and FX loops. The gain channel is a bit over the top for my taste, but the clean channel has an amazing amount of headroom, which is perfect for pedals. BTW: those tie-dye speaker cabs are awesome, Bill. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1255 Registered: 3-2004 |
I use a ZT lunchbox for bar gigs. It's 200 watts, and it has a 6.5" speaker. In total it weighs about 9 pounds. I can't recall how many compliments I've received for the sound. If it isn't loud enough for a show I just run the headphone out into a PA channel. Like yourself, I get most of my overdrive and dirt from pedals. Nels Cline, Billy Gibbons, Andy Summers, and many other artists have been spotted using them. | ||
| hydrargyrum
Senior Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 1256 Registered: 3-2004 |
Duplicate post - please delete. (Message edited by hydrargyrum on April 18, 2016) | ||
| jcdlc72
Senior Member Username: jcdlc72 Post Number: 488 Registered: 11-2009 |
Bill: Are your cabs Open back or semi-open or closed back? I am currently trying to do something within the lines of what you did with a couple old Fender Twin Reverb cabs (Without the amplifiers) I got just for the price of relieving the guy from having them around ;) I thought of something just like you did (I have the 4 original speakers, which I could swap later for some sweeter sounding ones!) since these don't have their grill clothes (One of them has even been stripped from its Tolex, and the wood is beautiful! Am still thinking whether to strip the other one as well or not), BUT... I am still giving it a lot of thought on whether I should go open back on them, or try to make a cover to close them (Which, I guess, I could always open if I need to...)... | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 6425 Registered: 7-2004 |
Mine are semi-open, probably about 45% open. Bill, tgo |
