Best 1 x 12" or 1 x 10" combo amp?

[Blue Strat]

I'd probably vote for an Ampeg Jet or Gibson GA-8T. Or possibly a Princeton. Mine would have to have tremolo. Single volume & tone control, and also speed and depth for the tremolo. Simple.

 

What's your favorite?

[Werewolf by Night]

The Tone King Meteor 1x12, available as the 4x6V6 (Meteor 40A), 2x6V6 (Meteor 20A),

4xEL84 (Meteor 30A), and 2xEL84 (Meteor 15A).

 

http://www.toneking.com/Products/meteor2_front_250.jpghttp://www.toneking.com/Products/biasmeter_300.jpg

 

Now, had you said "2x12" combo, I would have gone with one of the Meteor's predecessors,

the 2x12 Comet 40B, which not only switches between two preamp channels ("blackface" and "tweed"), but also between 4-6V6s/40-watts/2-Output Transformers/2x12s and 2-6V6s/20-watts/1-OT/1x12 arrangements. Kinda like being able to switch from a tweaked bf Fender Pro Reverb 2x12 and a hotrodded tweed Fender Deluxe in one amp!

 

__________________ http://www.toneking.com/Products/Comet40B/pic_b40front_full200x175.jpg

 

I will have either a Comet 40B or a 2x12 "40B" version of a Meteor one day!!

 

I also think that those (now discontinued) Fender Prosonic 2x10s are cool amps, and my little 1x12 (also now discontinued) Carvin Vintage 33 is no slouch for the money!

[Blue Strat]

The reason I didn't include 2 x 12" combos is that they're freakin' heavy!! So, I'm more into the smaller amps right now, ever since I've started dragging my Studio Chorus 210 to church for practice. I hate hauling that thing around because of the weight, even though it sounds awesome! I need to build that Ampeg Jet clone...

[Werewolf by Night]

The old "brownface" Fender Deluxe (no reverb) was a great little 1x12 amp; you should build one of them. Only use the '50s-style tremolo that operated on the output-tubes.

 

I once played a truly magical sounding one, and went back to the shop only to find that it had been sold. I found out that a guy who restores old fenders got it, and when I talked to him, he was amazed that I had got it to work, and didn't get shocked (or worse). It had survived a housefire (I knew that already), and he said that when he took it apart to clean it up and scope it out, there was water in the end-caps for the transformers! He said the whole thing was a soggy and rusty mess, and he had bought it sight-unseen over the phone with the intention of its being a "fixer-upper" project. Then I understood why he laughed so hard when I first described the "magical, liquid tone" that I had gotten from it!

 

He had already sold it to someone else, after fully restoring it, by the time I got ahold of him...

[Blue Strat]

Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite:

The old "brownface" Fender Deluxe (no reverb) was a great little 1x12 amp; you should build one of them. Only use the '50s-style tremolo that operated on the output-tubes.

That's called "Bias-vary tremolo". My Brownface Princeton's got that, and it is truely sweet sounding! I also had a Silvertone 1482 that had a similar setup to the 5E3 tweed Deluxe, but with tremolo. Actually, I like my Princeton better than the 5E3 or the Silvertone, and probably less than the Ampeg Jet II I played, and about the same as the Gibson GA-8T "Discoverer" my uncle has.

 

The Princeton and the Discoverer have the same features, 1 x 10" speaker, push-pull output in the 10W range, volume, tone, speed, intensity controls. The Discoverer had 6BM8 tubes and a Jensen Alnico 10" (don't remember the exact model of speaker) and my Princeton has 6V6 tubes and an Oxford 10". Also, the Gibson is cathode biased and the Princeton is fixed bias. I think the Gibson is a bit sweeter in tone, probably due to the cathode bias.

[Werewolf by Night]

Oh, that's right... you've got a brownface Princeton! So you know how cool those amps can be, huh!

 

I just went back to your 'site and oggled the ol' brown Princeton. Now that looks like it should be in the dictionary next to the word "vintage"!

[Tele Kinesis]

Hope it's not against policy to post this, but,

if you are looking for a reasonably priced 5E3 kit to build, I've built one of these and it sounds great. Bruce is a helpful guy and won't leave you stranded. Plus, there's a lot of other help available online for this kit,(Ampage).

I post this not as an ad. Just thought you might be interested. (No 'verb or trem...just good tube sound.)

http://www.missionamps.com/

 

Tele

[Guitar Geezer]

No Prob Tele Kinesis

Definitely not spammy

 

We need all the sources and resources we can find!

Thanks for the link

[Blue Strat]

Originally posted by Tele Kinesis:

Hope it's not against policy to post this, but,

if you are looking for a reasonably priced 5E3 kit to build, I've built one of these and it sounds great. Bruce is a helpful guy and won't leave you stranded. Plus, there's a lot of other help available online for this kit,(Ampage).

I post this not as an ad. Just thought you might be interested. (No 'verb or trem...just good tube sound.)

http://www.missionamps.com/

 

Tele

Bruce helped me out a lot when I started tinkering on my own amps. He's a great guy, and I'm glad to hear that he's doing so well selling those 5E3 kits. I converted my Silvertone 1482 to 5E3 specs for a while, then went back because the bigger caps in the signal path reduced the effect of the tremolo.

[A McLeod III]

I know I'm gonna' get sneers and jeers on this one but my Spider I 112 is my cat's meow for the moment. Yes it's not tube but when you get away from those presets and use your own programming parameters, this amp becomes very convincing and I actually like the 50 watts clarity better than the new Spider II 75 watt. It's not as loud as the latter but for me, I don't need it to be. Everytime I tell someone about how good this thing actually sounds, I'm met with this really snide remarks until they play it themselves. Maybe I just came across a good one.

 

Now if we must act like a tube snob, seeing as I can't afford a Dumble, the Carr Rambler 112 is the cream of the crop. If you've never played one, find someone who carries them. It get's no better than this. Click over to: The Carr Homepage and check out the sound bytes.

[doc taz]

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/48/480722.jpg

Fender FM65R

 

Classic Fender tones, and then some. Has the look of an amp played by mavericks, but sounds surprisingly refined, yet can be aggressive when needed.

 

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/48/483190.jpg

Marshall MG100DFX

 

I could live without the digital effects. I don't know why Marshall didn't make the reverb footswitchable. Weird. Still a fine piece of ampage, though. Also doubles as a head for one 4x12 cab when needed. That gives it high marks in my book.

 

"Look ma, NO TUBES!"

[Darklava]

http://www.piggyjam.com/catalog/images/pn-G-40VR.gif

 

Look Ma real tubes

[Randy Combs]

My Rivera 55-12.Classic rock amp.It delivers. http://home.ripway.com/2004-4/96965/rivera.jpg

[tomybitg]

I have two amp combo however there both discontinued

I have a roland clue 30 and a fender sidekick 65 both have a great sound. check out mesa boogie there great amp and sound great. I tried a 50 watt marshall tube/solid didn't like it then I tried the fender 65 solid state to heavy not bad for the sound

however they tend to get lot in the mix

[Werewolf by Night]

Y'know, tomybitg, those Roland Blues Cubes are nice amps! I bet that in a small pub gig, if most guitarists didn't know better, you could fool them into thinking that it was a tube-amp. Nice and warm and a good, natural tubey-sounding tight-damping to loose-sponginess ratio to boot; that's where a lot of solid-state and digital-modeling amps lose me, is in the feel.

 

I really like my Johnson J-station through headphones and for direct recording, but out loud through an amp or speakers in any way it loses points for "feel". Even through a tube amp, front-end or power-amp, go figure! A lot of the tone is there, but not all of the interaction once you give it to a room. Same with most of the SS and modelers I've tried.

 

Randy Combs- Riveras are bitchin' good amps! I wish I could just have a couple baker's dozens of all kinds of amps; I'd have two or three Riveras for sure. I don't know what it is, I love amps, I'd have more amps than guitars given an unlimited budget for both!

 

Remember how pete Townsend once said that he bought guitars to suit his amplifiers?

[Billster]

I always thought the Marshall JTM series from the early 90's was hot. They had an XLR output w/ speaker emulation for direct to PA/recording, and some of the best clean tones ever heard from a Marshall.

here\'s a link to an e-bay auction (not mine!) so you can see the thing. THe one's I'm talking about have that little tub thing logo on the front panel.

[Funk Jazz]

dr z carmen ghia

 

dreaming and scheming to score one of my own

[Werewolf by Night]

I've really got to try some Dr Zs, Carrs, Victorias, Brunos, etc. etc. etc. ...

 

I can tell you that those Tone King amps I mentioned are amazing, though!

[Blue Strat]

One amp I've always wanted to try is a Watkins Dominator or a Marshall 18W. I've heard some good things about them, and I've got two sets of matched EL-84's in dad's garage, one set of Sovtek's and one set of JJ's. I've also got an oversized output transformer that's the right impedance, and I can rob the Champ clone of it's oversized, Princeton power transformer (125mA, overkill for any Champ!). A good 17" x 4" x 3" chassis and I'm good to go!

[EmptinesOf Youth]

ppsssshhh...my Crate MX65 can take all those and keep goin..........i hope you know im joking...please buy me a new amp

[madgrinder]

I've got a Trace Super Tramp 80W 1 x 12 combo. For a solid state, this thing is freakin' LOUD!!!

 

I also have a VT 8040 Marshall 1 x 12.

 

I just always liked the punchy, overdriven sound of a cranked single twelve.

[Tele Kinesis]

Actually, not bad if you can find them used in good shape for a good price... (I paid $250 for one and $200 for the other)...are Fender Blues Jr.s.

A good all around clean to bluesy amp. (Not much on metal, though).

I stuck a C12Q in one and a P12Q in the other, and put some old GE/Sylvanias in them.

Each sounds a bit different.

They are good little workhorses. Easy to tote, and loud enough for 15 watts. (Both of'em together are PLENTY loud enough).

I like'em, anyways. I loaned my Ampeg J12R to my niece, indefinitely (along with my MexTele), when I got the second one. (She's learning how to play. She wanted my Yeller Tele and my Marshall, but I had to draw the line somewhere).

[Guitar Geezer]

She wanted my Yeller Tele and my Marshall, but I had to draw the line somewhere

NEW RULE:

YOU MUST be over 18 and pass a written AND ability test to have a Marshall!

 

That will quieten dow GC on Saturdays!

 

(just kidding folks)

[revolead]

Originally posted by guitar geezer:

NEW RULE:

YOU MUST be over 18 and pass a written AND ability test to have a Marshall!

 

That will quieten dow GC on Saturdays!

 

(just kidding folks)

LOL Sometimes I wish...

 

My vote goes to either the Marshall DSL401 for it's sheer versatility or the Mesa Boogie Mark IV. The Fender Deluxe is great also if we're talking less expensive.

[miroslav]

What do you guys think of the Johnson Amplification - Marquis JM60?

I have a friend who wants to clear out some of his amp collection...and I think he's looking to get like $300 for it.

 

He also wants to sell his Fender Cyber Twin.

 

He has about a half dozen amps I believe...all good stuff.

He's also suggesting that the Peavey Classic 30 and 50 are great...and last night I checked out the Peavey Delta Blues w/15" speaker.

 

I always preferred the sound of a 15" over 10"/12" for electric guitar.

My 100W Traynor Mark III sounds absolutely wonderful through an old Cerwin Vega V-34 w/15" cabinet...I just disconnect the tweeters and horn...and run the amp through the speaker only, and it is just so fat and juicy...much smoother than the Traynor 412 cabinetwhich is quite hard edged at louder volumes.

 

I always like more low end in my guitar sound instead of that trebly screech!

And I usually prefer the neck pickup for leads on must of my guitars...and I'll use the bridge for rhythm.

[monkey77]

Fender Hot Rod Deluxe - 1 12 and it rocks!

[no_talent_Bum]

I know that everybody is citing their OWN amps here, and I'm no exception, but I've been through a ton of them, and a my guitar mentor, (the salesman at the guitar store that I've been supporting for 25 years now) said of my amp, the Fender Deluxe, is "the greatest amp in the world".

 

I love it. You cant get too loud, it's like a Twin Reverb without the chiropractor and audiologist bills.

[henrysb3]

A friend brought over a Bedrock 600. I sounds so articulate with my old Tele and newer Strat. I guess they aren't made anymore, but would make an excellent pawnshop prize if you came upon one. It has four Sovtek tubes that I think are 84's and a single 12". With the Master turned all the way down and the Gain all the way up, you get nice low volume distortion.

 

Henry

[doc taz]

If I bought tubes? Either an Mesa/Boogie F series 50 watter, or Marshall TSL 60. The F amps grab the best characteristics IMO of the Dual Caliber and Rectifier amps in one package. Probably my best option now if I want to emulate Holdsworth's tone using a tube amp, but I'd certainly use it for much more.

 

As for the Marshall, what else? "It's a Marshall!"

[Werewolf by Night]

Dr. Taz-

 

If Allan Holdsworth type tones are what you want, some excellent choices would be the Vintage 33 or 112 Nomad "Vintage Tube Series" 1x12 combos from Carvin (Holdsworth was, after all, involved in the R&D for the circuits and voicing of their overdrive preamps), 33- and 50-watts, respectively...

 

http://www.carvin.com/images/thumb/112NOMAD.jpg

(The Vintage 33 and the Nomad look identical)

 

...and those cool Yamaha DG80 112 modeling-amps with the motorized controls, which AH has endorsed (and used).

 

http://www.sweetwater.com/images/items/DG80112.jpg

 

I have a Carvin Vintage 33, and can attest to its being a cool amp for everything from roots 'n' blues to Allan Holdsworth style warm liquidy sustain; nice sounding spring-reverb, too, and it's cool the way its decay continues to fade away after you footswitch the 'verb off. And, I've tried out some of those Yamaha DGs in stores, and they could probably fool many into believing they had tubes inside. Lotsa whomp and feel, similar to a classic tube-combo.