ilovefuzz.com

Hey guys,

I need an amp. I haven't really been happy with what I've had, and a new amp would probably be pretty motivating to me playing more.

Here's the requirements I see:

• Fairly low power. I live in an apartment and never play live. I don't need 100 watts. Don't even bother suggesting something that big.
• That said, I've got a really nice Weber MiniMASS attenuator that can handle up to 30 watt amps and silence them enough to play on headphones. I prefer to play on headphones late at night..
• Great cleans. Think jazzy, Wes Montgomery cleans. If you don't know what that means, go listen to some Wes Montgomery.
• Decent rock overdrive. No JCM 800 Van Halen tonez -- that's not my style. No death meatal or doom tonez necessary, either. With enough of my pedals on at once, I can make the DOOMZ.
• Onboard spring reverb is a huge plus.
• Don't care about a second channel for the overdrive, but it'd be nice. I've got plenty of boost/OD at my disposable if it is single channel.
• I'm a huge fan of Wilco, but haven't really found whether I want a Marshall or Fender overdriven sound. The Supro 16T is also kind of interesting. Would really love Nels Cline's tone, but it differs from song-to-song and I realize he's using a Klon (and other ODs) into a Schroeder DB7 (http://www.schroederaudioinc.com/products/db7/) which is designed to be loud and clean -- not distort. I also don't need its loudness.
• I guess the 65amps Tupelo (http://www.65amps.com/tupelo.html) is pretty cool -- but the deal is that I have never been able to play it in person, and the pricetag is pretty high for me.
• Not really interested in the Vox AC30 or Orange 30 watt stuff.. played it and didn't like it
• Didn't like the Egnater that can blend between output tubes.. it had too much of an aggressive, fake-sounding overdrive.

Then the real deal:

• I am willing to save and pay for something I really love. But probably can only really save and afford something under $800.
• I've gotta figure out a way to play it first. I've gotten burned by amps before.
• I currently play an Ampeg Jet J12-R reissue that has some decent cleans but just. won't. distort. to give a damn.
• Has to be quiet (not hissy) and decent quality.

Thanks in advance. All advice is very helpful.

Ha ha. The whole time I was reading this, I was thinking you need some vintage Ampeg. Then I got to this.

mathias wrote:I currently play an Ampeg Jet J12-R reissue that has some decent cleans but just. won't. distort. to give a damn.

I don't know how much vintage Ampegs are going for or which model to recommend, but I still think "vintage Ampeg".

I think you'll be able to find one that distorts to your satisfaction for a price you can afford.

Swart Atomic Space Tone.
Good small rock n' roll amp.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjZSnjFbAQ8[/youtube]

Where were you buddy?

EDIT:
Oh, and look what I found (you said Wilco)...
http://swartamps.com/jeff_tweedy_swart_amps.htm

Missing time?

Digging the Atomic Jr. Just need to find one to play and know whether it'll work for me or not..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90YSA0PBFHQ[/youtube]

You could try and find a used
1.Roland 55 or 60.
2.Peavey Classic 30

3.The new Fender Excelsior is awesome, I played it the other day at GC. It's all tube with reverb and has a 15 in speaker, super clean, and if you crank it it'll distort. I'd check one out if you haven't already.

4.The Two Rock amplifiers are really awesome, they make a 1x12 tube combo. I tried one the other day Fattone's it was awesome. I can't remember if it has reverb but it does have two channels, worth checking out for sure.

5.The least expensive one on the list. The new Acoustic guitar amps are really nice. Solid State clean for days. Reverb and distortion. If my Jc-120 broke today, I'd go and buy their 2x12 combo. I'd check them out for sure.

Excelsior has tremolo, not reverb.

I'm really liking my Laney cub 12r. It's switches from 1w to 15w, overdrives nicely and has footswitcheable reverb (digital reverb but it sounds ok).

I've got a peavey classic 30 and it is the tits. It can play at apartment volume (I live in an apartment and it's fine) but it can be cranked. Takes pedals very well while the cleans are very nice and full. You can definetely find one for much less than 800.

insubordination wrote:Excelsior has tremolo, not reverb.

My bad. Still a cool amp though.

Classic 30 is a pretty good choice. I also like 90s solid state fender princetons forbcleans bit the drive is weak

Classic 30s are definitely solid for the (little) monies.

this has been my answer to every amp question lately, but have you tried a Princeton Reverb reissue?
you should definitely be able to try one in most music stores, and they're available used all over the place.
low power? check. cleans? check. 'verb? check. drive sounds? check.

I don't really dig the Fender drive sound with my SG, is the thing. I will seek out the Princeton Reverb just to try it, though.

Edit: I wish I could find some Dr. Z amps around here to try. Not that I can could afford one new..