Valve/Solid State guitar amp

Ger the man

Hi folks,
This has probably been done before but I will ask anyway. Im looking for a new amp and need info on valve v's solid state amps. Im into The Police, The Jam, Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand, Maximo Park. Any help is greatly appreciated. Im not sure which make/model so I havent really decided on a budget yet. Its for gigging so bed-room practice amps aint suitable.

Thanks

Voodu Child

Whats your question? Recommendations? I know you say you havent pinned down a budget, but you'll have to, even roughly, if you want people to recommend stuff.

Ger the man

About 1500

Dord

I think a VOX would suit that sound the best. An AC30 would be nice for that kind of music.

Ger the man

Thanks Joe - I hear these have to be cranked to be appreciated though?

Dord

As with any valve amp. Maybe you could get a THD hotplate or Weber MASS attenuator. That'd do the job!

Karl Hungus

I think for your budget, you could get a really good Orange amp (WTF is with Karl recommending Orange all of a sudden, I hear everyone say?), which would be considerably better than the AC30, they sound fantastic for the style you're after, they're very well built, and not prone to melting down like the Vox is.

Music Maker in Dublin stock them, so I'd recommend giving one a go in there.

Quattroste

I'd say Orange would be a lot closer to the Brit style your after too.

Voodu Child

Rivera make awesome amps, which really bridge the gap between 'vintage' and 'modern' - they've got some great 2-channel amps with Fender style cleans and Marshall voiced leads. I'd definitely be doing some reading up on them.

There's plenty of Fenders and Oranges in your price range, i'll leave someone else to recommed specifics.

There's a couple of Mesa's that'd fit the bill and stay within budget. One's like the Maverick, Blue Angel & Heartbreaker. Most guys associate Mesa with the heavy stuff, and havent a clue that they made/make vintage-voiced amps that blow a lot of stuff out of the water. Pick one up used and you'll have an amp for life. The Lonestar's are the current 'non-heavy' Boogie of choice at the moment, phenominal amps, but probably outside your budget.

Quattroste

The lonestars are not outside his budget voodoo if he wants to buy from the US and ship over. I did it and got my LSS for around what Ger has. I saw one the other day on Ebay for €800 euro. It cost me $300 to ship to Ireland and then there is the vat etc. Mine slipped through unnoticed though

Voodu Child

Quattroste wrote: »

The lonestars are not outside his budget voodoo if he wants to buy from the US

yep, i know that just trying to keep the advice simple for the time being

But yeah, absolutely awesome amps..

Karl Hungus

Yay for multiquote!

Quattroste wrote: »

I'd say Orange would be a lot closer to the Brit style your after too.

Excactly why I recommend them!

voodoo_child wrote: »

Rivera make awesome amps, which really bridge the gap between 'vintage' and 'modern' - they've got some great 2-channel amps with Fender style cleans and Marshall voiced leads. I'd definitely be doing some reading up on them.

There's plenty of Fenders and Oranges in your price range, i'll leave someone else to recommed specifics.

There's a couple of Mesa's that'd fit the bill and stay within budget. One's like the Maverick, Blue Angel & Heartbreaker. Most guys associate Mesa with the heavy stuff, and havent a clue that they made/make vintage-voiced amps that blow a lot of stuff out of the water. Pick one up used and you'll have an amp for life. The Lonestar's are the current 'non-heavy' Boogie of choice at the moment, phenominal amps, but probably outside your budget.

Yeah, there's a lot of excellent amps out there for the money, and it's kind of a pity people don't look beyond the obvious choices.

Quattroste wrote: »

The lonestars are not outside his budget voodoo if he wants to buy from the US and ship over. I did it and got my LSS for around what Ger has. I saw one the other day on Ebay for €800 euro. It cost me $300 to ship to Ireland and then there is the vat etc. Mine slipped through unnoticed though

Indeed, but even if he doesn't want the Lonestar, second hand is still a great option, you can get a much better amp for your money used than you would buying new, so if you are on a budget, I always recommend looking used.

Eoin Madsen

Ger the man wrote: »

Thanks Joe - I hear these have to be cranked to be appreciated though?

This is a myth tbh. The average clean valve amp has distinctly different tonal characteristics to a solidstate amp.

Owners of hybridised valve amps like JCM900s, which have remarkably unspectacular clean sounds, often get the impression that you can only notice the "valve" difference when the amp is cranked, but it doesn't apply in most cases.

jamesm5744

Hi Ger, Ive had just about every amp on the planet and I wouldnt recommend the new chinese made AC30's. They sound ok but have serious over heating problems and not a lot of clean headroom. For 1500 quid you cound pick up a second hand Boogie, I'd recommend a Mark series, express or a Lonestar. If you come across any Rivera amp, snap it up, what you play is what comes out.. Stay away from any digital stuff, Line 6 etc, grreat in the bedroom but in a live set up they die a death. The new Marshall JVM series is surprisingly good too. Regarding Fenders, delux, deville etc arent great, but you cant go wrong with a good owl twin reverb or similar. Couple a Blackface twin with a good od pedal and chorus and you'll cover most bases! If you need advice on any amp drop me a line, playing a long time so ive been through most!!

punchdrunk

I'll second Karl on the orange amps
I love my AD30 single channel,try and find one!

Paolo_M

The reissue 1974 18 Watt series from Marshall sound great and might really suit your style. Think Vox AC30 (The Jam, Beatles etc.) power section with a Marshall Plexi(ish) pre amp for the kind of tone you get. They're more reliable than the AC30 but use the same Class AB cathode biased EL84 power valves. There's a couple of good demo's on uTube (I cant use uTube at work, otherwise I'd post them). Search for 1974x (Marshall use x to denote reissue).

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Karl Hungus wrote: »

I think for your budget, you could get a really good Orange amp

+1
if i had the money, thats the amp i would have!:D

jamesm5744

Great advise Voodoo child! Ive used all the Mesa's you've listed at one point or another, all fantastic, reliable and honest instuments. Rivera are the ultimate amp if you dont want to colour your sound however, I have a TBR-1, R55, M60 and a more up to date Knucklehead head at the min. Truely amazing amps, the TBR is probably my favourite, made in the mid eighties I think but not as much as a cracky pot and it only cost me 600 euro! Regarding Boogie, I have a Mk1, 2b,4a, triaxis/50/50, express 25 1/12, Quad preamp and a lonestar classic and I cant fault any of them, however the Riveras are more transparent than any of the boogies IMHO. So if this is important to you the Rivera is a banker. Mesas do colour the sound of your guitar but they are an instument in themselves and incredibly versatile so if you dig that Boogie signature you can't go wrong with them either, just something to bear in mind. In conclusion I found Boogies suit hybrid type guitars, ie PRS but for a vintage 335's or something similar Riveras are simply amazing, serious Dumble territory, and for 600 quid!! Good to chat with likeminded people about this stuff, I saves me boring the **** outha most of my friends!!

boycey

Some serious ampage suggestions being bandied about, so I'll add matamp into the mix. Those guys will customise and voice any of their range to your specs. Seriously nice amps at an affordable price, and theyre kinda like a cousin of Orange!!

jamesm5744

Thats weird, Im actually re-baising a Matamp as we speak, a 100Watt el-34 head, sad or what, should be watching fair city!! I tell ye what was talking to the main man in Matamp about cathode voltages etc today, a nicer man you couldnt deal with. Also they are a seriously well made unit, so ye another good choice!! Whats more you can get them custom ordered too to your exact spec if you choose and they are very reasonable... So excellent shout there man:D