ilovefuzz.com

echodeluxe wrote:
but the thing is im really into 6L6's

JCM900SLX.

Or get an AOR.
Seriously, the motherfucker is one versatile amp.
6 knob does nice warm British cleans, buttrock grit cleans, or even nice sparkly cleans.
Takes pedals like a fuzz slave.
Can be had for no $$$.

JTM45 or JMP. Amazing cleans. Done.

I actually like British flavour cleans a lot. If it's not my JMP Super Bass, which is my holy grail amp, it's my single channel AD30. Also great amps.

My main amp is a clone of the Super Lead (non-master), and it stays mostly clean up until about 5 or so on the main channel. I think it sounds tits. I like it just on the edge of that line, where it's clean most of the time unless I hit it hard, and then it distorts. If I want it quieter, I use a power soak to bring the volume down.

My practice amp is a JTM30, and I only use the clean channel, ever, and it sounds glorious. I hate the dirt channel. If I want dirt, I turn it way the hell up or use pedals.

JCM2000's have plenty of clean headroom, you're not gonna get hairy as long as you crank the volume and keep the gain low on the clean channel. (unless you're using high output humbuckers or something, in which case you're doing it wrong)
i picked a DSL over a bunch of Fender/Vox etc amps when i wanted something for gigging and never regretted it, the EQ section is nice and it takes pedals well. i only ever used it as a clean amp.
if you're curious you should just try some out if you can, because although you're gonna get a lot of informed opinions on here everyone is using different guitars/pedals and has a different idea of what sounds 'good' anyway.

ii just associate 6L6's with big fat cleans from like, fender amps. i always associated EL34's with brash mids heavy british distortion so, yeah. i dunno. obviously im a dumb dumb.

I use a JCM2000 DSL for cleans. Crunch channel, preamp dimed, master to taste. My wimpy single coils don't push the preamp enough for clipping, and it takes EVERY Pedal well. Seriously. The cleans aren't the best, but they work and like I said, every pedal sounds good with it. I would like to upgrade to a nmv-Plexi down the road, but it's not a priority.

Jcm 800s are incredible clean amps, and fucking loud. Marshalls/other british amps that are also awesome can be very clear and punchy.

The 2203/4 JCM-800's have very close to a Super Lead preamp on the low input. They also have a bunch of brightening tweaks in the circuit, a few of which are easily removed without removing the circuit board. (Don't play this game at home without knowing how to discharge the filter caps and work safely.) Google "Tales from the Tone Lounge JCM-800" for more info (dude has had hosting issues, so a permalink may not help).

Who's making a decently priced Plexi, these days?

Considering the money people ask for vintage Super Leads (Non-MV) and Super Lead Mk. IIs (MV Super Leads like the JMP and JCM800). The Science Hellhawk is a good way to go. Before I got mine I was looking at a 100 watt JMP. The dude wanted $1500 for it; it needed a new face place and came in an unloaded 2x12 combo box. Not to mention that it had been sitting for almost a decade so not only would I have needed to get speakers or a headbox for it, it would have needed an overhaul. With the Science you'll never have to take it to a tech for a retube and rebias (unless you're putting in "NOS" tubes, that might require a mod to the bias circuit to accommodate for the voltage hungry vintage bottles). And short of something catastrophic, it's never gonna need to see a tech for the majority of its life.

i don't know much about science amps except seeing them here and they look sweet. is the hellhawk a marshall type of deal?

Yeah it's basically a Super Bass/Super Lead hybrid. But with a kind of PPI-MV to get power tube breakup and so it doesn't have to be deafeningly loud like old non-MV Marshalls to sound good, clean or overdriven.

SRV was quoted saying he did things "backwards", using Marshalls for cleans and Fenders for grit.

Also,John Frusciante comes to mind. As far as I know he usesaid Marshall pretty exclusively, granted, vintage and stupid expensive. I believe the 200 watt Marshall Major for cleans, and Silver Jubilee for dirt. Stupid expensive, but I've always liked his sound.

An 800 with single coils dialed in just right is sooooo sweet. I tracked the guitars, bass and vocals for my friend's EP, his Ric and 800 made for the best sounding chiming guitars on the rhythm tracks.