Tube Amps for Classic Rock - Need Advice

[johncowan]

Well, I'm far from a gear genius so I need some serious advice. *

Since I've got a Gibson now, everyone is advising me to check out a tube amp. *My biggest problem is I had a Marshall 9100 50/50 tube amp and 4 x 12 with Vintage 30's that I traded because I hated it.

Now that I continue to learn more and more about gear and music and listening to folks on the site talk about tubes, I think I'm ready to try again.

I need help...considering that the only component I have today is the Gibson LP, what else would you recommend so that the end result is an excellent tube sound coming from a speaker cab or combo amp. *

My room size is 16 x 16, and I don't need it to be super loud as I'm not playing in clubs.

Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

JC

[ripl3y]

John,
Can you give us some idea of what music you like to hear and play, what kinda' sound you wanna' achieve and your budget?

Cheers
Steve

[johncowan]

No problem...

Music I like to play in no particular order...Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, Boston, Zeppelin, Fuel, Live and mostly all 70's, 80's and 90's rock.

I bought this LP to bridge the gap between Ibanez JEM's and a nice chunky Rhythm sound. *Currently playing through a Line 6 POD Pro. *The Pod Pro is excellent, but the LP has a ton of bass and a much higher output which my studio speaker cannot handle as well as it does the JEM output. *

I'd love to stay around $1,000 dollars if at all possible, but if I can't get a great sound for that money I rather not purchase something sub standard.

JC
*

[mrthingyX]

Ok - I know for a fact that if you want the GNR sound, you're going for a Marshall. Either the DSL or the TSL. I currently have a DSL combo, and Slash's tone is in there at the twist of a few knobs. The TSL has a lovely bark to it that I only found out about today - it is more flexible than the DSL (a couple more options beside separate EQs, etc.) although both have nice clean channels. I think Joe Perry actually uses a Mesa (anyboy know for sure?), but for classic rock I think one of the upper end Marshalls will be spot on.

If we're talking Mesa, the Nomad is a nice amp, too. The Recto is a bit of overkill for classic rock, I'd say, so a Nomad or Formula preamp would fit nicely.

I'm not sure what the price differences are between Marshalls and Boogies, so it's going to be down to what you want (no, really?) to hear. I'd say Marshall, but they're much cheaper over here.

Did I say I like Marshall?

[bammbamm]

Are you looking for a combo or a head / cab setup?
I as you may or maynot know am a huge Boogie proponant, but my personal pref. aside, Marshall makes a few good combos in the valvestate line, Fender makes a really nice combo that seems like it might be what your looking for with respect to tone. I belive it's the Hotrod deville, lots of gain and good tone. I don't really care for the digital distortion machines when It comes to real tube dynamics, there is an artificial compression that just squashes the sound to me. I think if you just demo and demo and demo some more, you'll find something in the price range you're looking for. soldano Makes a kewl combo as well, but it may be pricy, also check into VHT, nice stuff there too ! And do NOT pass up a Boogie testdrive of either the Nomad ( capable of recto tones and some markIV stuff) or the mark IV series, either head or combo both are GREAT !
Get familliar with the way tube amps feel, you will notice a difference between the amp you choose and your Pod almost immediately after going back to it from the amp. The tube amps have a living vibe that you just can't duplicate...not yet anyway ... Rotsa Ruck,
Bamm

[oooo]

Budda *super drive 30

[Harmonics]

Carvin Belair 2X12 combo, IMHO is the best compromise between the Fender clean and Marshall crunch. *I think it would suit your needs perfectly.

[carlos seo]

My advice for classic rock: Gibson Les Paul + Marshall JCM800 + 4x12" cab with Celestion Vintage speakers

[Anonymous]

I think a Peavey Classic 30, or Delta Blues would work for small rooms, even small clubs. Might need a boost from an overdrive pedal for GNR and Fuel.

[ripl3y]

I'd say it's best not to limit yourself to one particular sound i.e. "the classic rock" sound, if the amp is gonna' be a keeper.
You want an amp can can do this with style and also offer more as your taste may change.
I've been checkin' out some of the less well known amps lately and have become pretty impressed with the Brunetti XL.

It's made in Italy and available in th U.K. (not sure about the U.S. but i'd suspect you can find one)
It even has 19" rack space in the head.

It's always good to hear a demo , so check it out:

http://www.guitarist.co.uk/gear/gear_page.asp?ID=814

Being less well know these amps can often be had for a steal (saw a 2 month old second hand one here for £600, and I think they've only been available to the U.K. for 4 or 5 months)

Not sure how it would react with an LP, but it's very tweakable with a good range of sounds.

Cheers
Steve

[jay ratkowski]

If you want a REAL tube sound... newer Marshalls aren't the way to go. *From what I've read/heard they use solid state transistors for a lot of their distortion. *But it's still an amp with tubes if that's what you care about.

Someone said Budda, good job.

Classic rock... hmm... IE4 channel 3? *:biggrin:

[jay ratkowski]

Oh, I thought I might add that there are only a handful of worthwhile tube amps that have been made in the last 10 or so years.

-Egnater
-Bogner (which I'm not all that impressed by, but they are nice)
-Budda
-Dr. Z

There are other companies, but they are generally too far out of the public reach due to price and availability. *(ie - dumble)

I'm fortunate enough to own two Egnaters, so that is why I am such an avid supporter of thost amps... I've liked every tone I've heard come from a budda so far... and if I didn't have my Deluxe, I'd buy a Dr Z probably.

[Kyle Odom]

Those that know me are going to say, "Here he goes again!"
Mesa Mark III
From your musical preferences I would have suggested a Marshall, but you said you had one and didn't like it.
The Mark III's lead channel is more "Marshallesque" than most Mesas. *More than enough gain, and the third crunch channel to cover everything the lead channel can't. *Plus, not very expensive. *If you were looking for a head/cab you could pick up a used Mark III stack for well under a K, and a combo for even less. *I personally prefer one with SimulClass, judging from your listed preferences, I'd say with or without SimulClass would both suit you.
Good Luck
KO

[Anonymous]

Quote: from jay ratkowski on 8:17 am on June 9, 2001
Oh, I thought I might add that there are only a handful of worthwhile tube amps that have been made in the last 10 or so years.
...

Tut-tut, let's not be a tone/brand nazi.
What's good is what's good for the person playing through it.
My 5150 is plenty good enough for me, even with no clean channel, and no real power tube distortion(ok, that bothers me a bit, but I digress).
I've said this before and I'll say it again, if someone wants to play jazz music trem-picked and palm-muted with a bridge pickup into high gain, more power to them.
Just chill and open your mind a bit.
So DRs and 5150s are SLO 100 copies, they cost less, and have their own takes on the tone.
It's all subjective.

[jay ratkowski]

My mind is open. *I've owned a 5150, I've owned some Marshall stuff, I've played every piece of Boogie gear aside from the Triaxis, I've played/owned about every Peavey amp there is. *I've owned a Legacy. *I've owned a H&K. *I've been through all the other stuff. *This is what I consider a worthwhile amp these days. *I think I've been through enough amps to at least be allowed to feel the way I do about the things.