slightly sprawling amp post: Fender, Roland, Quilter content

[Errant Tiger]

I feel like 75% of my posts have been variations on the same "recommend me an amp" request. But search is locking me out and I need to get this out of my head before bedtime, so at the risk of being redundant...

I play mainly solo psychedelic guitar stuff (mostly on a Squier Mascis, occasionally on a LP, even more occasionally on a Squier VI), almost entirely through a stereo rig. Amp #1 is a '66 Ampeg Gemini I. Loud, clean, on the swampy side. Amp #2 is currently a 50w Katana with the "Clean Twin" Sneaky Amp installed. I like the Katana a lot (I don't use any of the onboard effects other than verb), but my eye keeps roving toward other SS combos that might sound EVEN BETTER. Clean headroom is the key, as well as being usable at apartment volumes. For gigs, if they ever happen again, I'd be lucky to play a large living room. Also I'm middle aged and while I don't currently have back issues, I'd like to keep it that way. As far as price, I'd like to keep it to a grand or under.

Today I pretended the world was normal and took my miniboard to a guitar store and spent an hour playing a bunch of amps. Orange 35RT, Katana 100 1x12, JC-22, and the Tone Master Deluxe and Twin. The Orange I liked better than I thought, but not enough; the Katana sounded a lot like my Katana, only louder; neither of those is of much interest (though I remain interested in the Katana Artist).

So the JC-22. I had a 120 for years and got rid of it about 5 years ago because a) too loud & heavy, and b) my style changed. Since then I haven't really jibed with any Rolands, and I think it's because the highs just PING me right in the eardrum, even with the treb knob at like 12:00. That being said, I was really pleasantly surprised by the 22, and I'm wondering if anyone can say anything to change my mind about the highs, OR reliably tell me that the new JC-40s don't have that problem...

And the Tone Masters. I was really impressed by both of them, and I'm wondering if anyone has much to say, good or bad. The guy at the store said he'd cut me a deal on the Deluxe, something along the lines of "cost plus 10%" and I wonder if anyone has idea how much that is. The Twin was even sweeter, and while neither of these have headphone outs (WTF, Fender), the attentuators make them viable for me... the first time a Twin has seemed viable.

And then I think about the various Quilter options, which I've barely played... but maybe the Tone Block 202 plus a 1x12? I dunno...

This is really vague and all over the place, and I mostly just wanted to see what comes up for folks when I say this stuff... argue me into/out of any or all of these options...?

[backwardsvoyager]

If you didn't dig the JC-22 I don't think the 40 will convince you otherwise.
It's a love-it-or-hate-it sound, and as someone who likes JC's and has a 22, I don't feel like the highs are any issue with that model in particular. It's slightly 'boxy' sounding compared to a 120 because of the tiny speakers, but the range of tones is basically the same.

Quilter makes some of the best pedal platform amps on the market IMO. I don't think the cleans are amazing on their own, but if you run always-on dirt pedals or a space echo or something, it may be the best option. You may not even need a tone block, I used the 50w model for bedroom playing, jamming and gigging small/medium venues, never ran out of headroom.

Two other points to consider:
- The amp that sounds best on its own won't necessarily sound the best paired with your Gemini - if there's a way to demo them together that would be ideal
- There are plenty of old solid state amps out there that are just as good- if not better than, current stuff - Yamaha in particular

[Errant Tiger]

Thank you for this! I REALLY wanted to love the Roland because the stereo sounded so good - I was not hipped to playing in stereo when I had one before. Is it possible for other two-channel amps to be modded to do this?

Which Quilter is it you like? IIRC, I played the 8" or the 10" Micropro about a year and a half ago and was pretty impressed, but it's been a long time. Back then, before gigs disappeared and I divorced myself from a big house into a small apartment, I used to dream of the Steelaire...

And those are both good points you make. I've got a pretty good ear, I think, for how things will pair with the Gemini, but I can always drag it down there for a real test. And absolutely I'm in favor of older amps, in theory, and particularly those Yamaha G series. But all the ones that seem to turn up around here are pretty junky. For an area rich with musicians and college kids, I'm often surprised at how hard it is to find treasures.

[backwardsvoyager]

There aren't many other true stereo amps near the price range of the JC-22/40 (most two-channel guitar amps still have a mono power amp). Maybe somebody else can chime in because I can't think of any alternatives off the top of my head.

I had the Quilter 101 Mini (older model with the weird EQ options and no reverb- not sure how the new one stacks up).
The MicroPro is probably a better amp but you could a get a 101 and your cab of choosing for less money

[Errant Tiger]

There aren't many other true stereo amps near the price range of the JC-22/40 (most two-channel guitar amps still have a mono power amp). Maybe somebody else can chime in because I can't think of any alternatives off the top of my head.

I had the Quilter 101 Mini (older model with the weird EQ options and no reverb- not sure how the new one stacks up).
The MicroPro is probably a better amp but you could a get a 101 and your cab of choosing for less money

Thanks!

[ALLisNOISE]

The Katana is a pretty damn fine amp for a pedal platform, so there’s not much out there that would sound “better” in a similar price range, so if you spend some time tweaking it to perfection, you may find that you don’t need a new amp after all.

But since this is ILF, and we’re all about enabling...

To echo what Backwardsvoyager said, I’d definitely look for something that would compliment the “swampy-ness” of the Gemini.
So I’d choose something that was a little on the brighter side by itself.
However, If you’re gonna spend a lot of time just playing this by itself for home use, then you can disregard that.

Of the amps you’ve mentioned, my pick would be one of the Fender Tone-Master amps. I was really impressed with them both, feature and sound wise.
You’re right about there not being a headphone jack, but they’re meant for stage or studio, and there is a balanced XLR out to go direct into your interface for recording.
Combined with the mute, you can get silent recording, plus the power scaling is a pretty rad feature to get a little more character out of your amp without splitting the foundation (especially with a full tilt Twin ).

As far as the deal your guy is hooking you up with, I’m going to assume that him and I work at the same company, and that amp, being relatively new to the market, would have a higher cost from the dealer; so you can expect to get about 20-25% off of the advertized price, if that much. There’s usually not much markup when it comes to items like that.

Hope that helps!

[Errant Tiger]

The Katana is a pretty damn fine amp for a pedal platform, so there’s not much out there that would sound “better” in a similar price range, so if you spend some time tweaking it to perfection, you may find that you don’t need a new amp after all.

But since this is ILF, and we’re all about enabling...

To echo what Backwardsvoyager said, I’d definitely look for something that would compliment the “swampy-ness” of the Gemini.
So I’d choose something that was a little on the brighter side by itself.
However, If you’re gonna spend a lot of time just playing this by itself for home use, then you can disregard that.

Of the amps you’ve mentioned, my pick would be one of the Fender Tone-Master amps. I was really impressed with them both, feature and sound wise.
You’re right about there not being a headphone jack, but they’re meant for stage or studio, and there is a balanced XLR out to go direct into your interface for recording.
Combined with the mute, you can get silent recording, plus the power scaling is a pretty rad feature to get a little more character out of your amp without splitting the foundation (especially with a full tilt Twin ).

As far as the deal your guy is hooking you up with, I’m going to assume that him and I work at the same company, and that amp, being relatively new to the market, would have a higher cost from the dealer; so you can expect to get about 20-25% off of the advertized price, if that much. There’s usually not much markup when it comes to items like that.

Hope that helps!

That is really helpful. The Katana is pretty great, it's true; and maybe if I spent more time tweaking, I might make it even better. I'm not much of a tweaker, though, and while it sounds really good it's just not particularly captivating. I'm (clearly) not averse to jumping up in price a bit, and I *think* I'm leaning toward the Tone Master Twin (though I don't know if the deal my guy mentioned applies to the Twin or just to the Deluxe).

But this is probably going to have to wait 3-6 months until I get my divorce settlement (unless I decide to trade in a bunch of shit - a distinct possibility), and besides, I go back and forth all the time anyway. So this is both fun and helpful!

(Also especially thanks for the tip regarding markup).

[weebles]

So, not an amp, but maybe a Strymon Iridium?

At home, I use mine with headphones or through a couple connectors into the Bose speaker system in my living room. It's really good. Sometimes I plug it into an old Supro Bantam and it becomes a silverface Princeton Reverb. Live, I just run it stereo into a couple of PA speakers and it checks all the boxes and sounds great.

[Errant Tiger]

So, not an amp, but maybe a Strymon Iridium?

At home, I use mine with headphones or through a couple connectors into the Bose speaker system in my living room. It's really good. Sometimes I plug it into an old Supro Bantam and it becomes a silverface Princeton Reverb. Live, I just run it stereo into a couple of PA speakers and it checks all the boxes and sounds great.

That... is something that had never occurred to me. Partly because I "need" a second amp to continue to play live (in the living room if nowhere else) in stereo, and headphone capability is a just-in-case kind of thing; also, my tinnitus means headphones get painful after awhile.

But it does raise an interesting option...

[D.o.S.]

CBS can chime in more about her Quilter but I have heard it and it sounds fucking awesome. Plus it's super light and eminently portable.

[Errant Tiger]

CBS can chime in more about her Quilter but I have heard it and it sounds fucking awesome. Plus it's super light and eminently portable.

I WANT TO KNOW MORE

[D.o.S.]

Sounds great as a pedal platform, sounds great at flat (aka apartment) volumes, sounds great at rehearsal room volumes,

Shameless plug:
I don't remember if we used it when we did the practice space recording but we might have, if so you can hear her guitar here especially around the 25 minute mark? (definitely 'effected toans' obviously)
https://fleshcouch.bandcamp.com

We have a record coming out as soon as the artwork is done (-_-) but I think all the recording was direct.

[Errant Tiger]

Sounds great as a pedal platform, sounds great at flat (aka apartment) volumes, sounds great at rehearsal room volumes,

Shameless plug:
I don't remember if we used it when we did the practice space recording but we might have, if so you can hear her guitar here especially around the 25 minute mark? (definitely 'effected toans' obviously)
https://fleshcouch.bandcamp.com

We have a record coming out as soon as the artwork is done (-_-) but I think all the recording was direct.

That sounds awesome (skipped to the part you mentioned; am stoked to listen in full later). Do you know which Quilter she uses?

[D.o.S.]

I believe it's the 201, but b/c of Covid and distance we've only done proper band stuff once (as opposed to file swapping) and I was horrendously hungover so I may have got that wrong.

[Errant Tiger]

I believe it's the 201, but b/c of Covid and distance we've only done proper band stuff once (as opposed to file swapping) and I was horrendously hungover so I may have got that wrong.

Thanks! Hopefully she'll chime in and give me more details...