Solidstate amp equivalent of a 20/30w tube for gigging

seachto7

Hi all,

Currently going between a fender frontman 100w (LOUD!!) and sometimes a fender blues deluxe (Loud!!) for gigs. I'd like to hold off on using the deluxe for the "original music" gigs, just to take care of the delicate tubes!

So, the fender frontman is too loud for most gigs. I line it out anyways.

So just wondering if there would be a semi decent solidstate which would be maybe a loud as a 25w tube amp?

All I really need are cleans, as I use pedals, but would often dirty up the channel a bit...

What about the Marshall MGD50FX? I wouldn't have any use even for the effects on it....

I'm thinking solidstate, as tubes would be one thing less to worry about gigging all the time...

Squidgy Black

How is the frontman too loud? I've used it at bedroom levels, just use the volume controls.....

The marshall's are terrible in my opinion, I hate them. To be honest, the difference between 50 watts and 100 watts will be very little, just use the volume knob on the fender.

boycey

Unless it's purely a volume thing I don't see why you don't just use the Blues Deluxe? Yeah they're made of glass, but unless you manhandle the amp, the valves aren't that fragile?

Anyways, my favourite solid states I've tried are Tech 21. The Vox Valvetronix range are good value for money too. You could go fairly low wattage and use the line out as well if you wanted. How low you go is up to you.

Still, just use the Blues Deluxe, no point in it gathering dust!! Gigs are where you get to turn them up a bit and wonder why it doesn't sound that good in the bedroom!

Demeyes

I'd stay away from the SS marshall stuff. Having owned an AVT and used plenty of MG's I can tell you they are awful amps. I've got an older peavey bandit that is loud enough to gig with, it sounds pretty decent and can get loud enough to get over a drummer. These go used for about 200 all the time. Is your frontman not an SS amp already? Does it have a master volume? You should be able to get it to a usable volume if it is powerful enough.
I can't see why you'd not use your decent tube amp though? Gigs and practices are when you want to sound good so you should use you're good equipment. They are about the only time I even play through any of my tube amps now.

68 lost souls

If your looking for a nice solid state a JC120 is amzing but if you find it too loud the Peavey stuff is pretty good. Maybe a vypyr 75 or a Bandit. The vypyr is based on the bandit but with the modeling added in.

seachto7

played a gig tonight with the blues deluxe, never had it past 2 volumewise....

I want to crank something!!! I'm now thinking of trying to pick up a 15 or 20W tube amp, to use in smaller places, maybe an AC15 of summit similar?

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

seachto7 wrote: »

played a gig tonight with the blues deluxe, never had it past 2 volumewise....

I want to crank something!!! I'm now thinking of trying to pick up a 15 or 20W tube amp, to use in smaller places, maybe an AC15 of summit similar?

If you want to crank something you should consider a small vlave amp, like a orange tiny terror or a backstar HT5. I have a 30 watt valve orange, 30watt valve combo is roughly as loud as a 100w SS combo

If you must get a new SS amp, avoid the marshall MGs, and line 6. Vox valvetronix are nice, but i find they dont take pedals very well. The Peavy bandit and roland cube are nice amps. But could you not just turn the volume down on the frontman? and if its mainly clean you need, you shoudnt need to crank the blues deluxe

Blackhorse Slim

Cranking a SS amp is not the same as cranking a valve amp. If you really want to crank your amp and get that great valve tone, get a new valve amp, something smaller than the Deluxe. Maybe a Blues Jr?

seachto7

Yes I agree mod, something smaller (tube) would probably be the best thing. I suppose I was thinking solidstate just for one less thing to worry about (tubes)

quicklickpaddy

Is the fact that you don't want to break the tubes the only reason you want a solid state amp??

If you prefer the sound from a tube amp stay with a tube amp! The tubes more than likely won't break and if by some chance they do, they aren't cripplingly expensive to replace. In my opinion stay with the Blues Deluxe - for gigging if you really want to keep it clean going with a smaller amp will just mean it will start to break up at a lower volume. On the other hand, if you want dirt at lower volumes just buy a volume pedal and put it in the effects loop! (plug into amp as normal then lead from "pre amp out" into the pedal and then from the pedal back into "power amp in")

Also, the Frontman is far from the worst of them when it comes to solidstates if you really want to go that way. I don't think you'd get much more for your money if you were to buy another amp

seachto7

I don't like shiny clean clean, which the blues deluxe does very well, but to get it to break up, you either need to crank it or flick it to channel 2, up the drive, and toggle the master. I find channel 2 on the blues deluxe not as good as the clean channel. I like just beyond clean when it breaks up a bit, so I'm thinking an ac15 might be a good alternative for small venues.

The frontman is grand, if a bit brittle/sharp sounding...

I use a jazzmaster which is jangly enough as it is....

I didn't think of the volume pedal in the effects loop. I have a cheap attenuator I could hook up to the blues deluxe, but I'm often thinking "what if the attenuator breaks during a gig" (it's a cheapo one...)

Demeyes

seachto7 wrote: »

I don't like shiny clean clean, which the blues deluxe does very well, but to get it to break up, you either need to crank it or flick it to channel 2, up the drive, and toggle the master. I find channel 2 on the blues deluxe not as good as the clean channel. I like just beyond clean when it breaks up a bit, so I'm thinking an ac15 might be a good alternative for small venues.

The frontman is grand, if a bit brittle/sharp sounding...

I use a jazzmaster which is jangly enough as it is....

I think you should try out a Vox with your jazzmaster before you buy. The AC30 I used was very sharp, so you could find it too harsh aswell. That's the kind of sound they're known for.

seachto7

I have played an AC30 with the jazzie before, and it was pretty loud, and bloody heavy!!! But a nice amp all the same.
I'd like to try the AC15 out of curiosity though...

Yakult

If you want more break up without having to crank it purchase a boost pedal. Cheaper than a new tube amp.

seachto7

What about an alternative to Boss Blues Driver?

Squidgy Black

EHX LPB-1 are great, you want a clean boost as opposed to an overdrive pedal really. You could turn down the gain the whole way on the blues driver, just up the level and a bit of the tone.

seachto7

I guess I jumped the gun starting this thread, but a few questions have been answered regardless...