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Musicians; Amp recomendations?


Captain Harlock

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Okay, my Lab Series L5 has just about had it. Or I've just about had it with it. So for those who are musically inclined what amps do you play through and what would you recomend. Fenders are a little too clean for my liking. I'd love to get a VOX AC-30 but they are EXPENSIVE. So what else is out there that I might like?

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Reverend amps (all models - the Kingsnake, Goblin, and Hellhound) were the best amps, IMO, in the world, for the price....as were their guitars several years ago. Sadly, they no longer make amps, and their guitars are all made in Korea now (but are still excellent for the bucks!) Occasionally, an amp pops up on Ebay, but it's usually snatched right up....

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I purchased a Vox Valvetronix AD60VTH (actually 2 of them) with a 2/12 cabinet. Same thing Wally & Eric used for the reunion concerts, only half of the power (Their's were the AD120VTH). Other than an occasional "no audio" glitch, it's the best sounding amp I've ever played in 35 years. Incredibly versatile, as it can model 16 different amps. Loads of effects and a built in tuner to boot. Mine is always set at the Vox AC30 top boost mode and my Strat & my Les Paul sound great through it. No longer being made, but readily available on e-Bay.

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If you're looking for the best all-around amp, nothing beats the Bogner Ecstasy. It's incredibly versatile and has amazing tone. I recently purchased the Vox Tonelab LE floor units and we're running them direct with Tequila Sunrise. Lots of terrific amp models in it. It has an eq setting made specifically for running direct into a mixer so if you're running in-ear monitors as we are, there is a lot of flexibility in shaping your tone.

I own a Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi 100W reissue that, when it's opened up all the way with matching PowerBrake, sounds incredible. I have a Fender Cybertwin that works terrificly with any Strats, Teles, etc.. but is also great for Gretsch's and Gibson Les Paul's. It runs the gamut and has all the stuff you need in either a 1x12" combo or the 2x12" model. Those are right around $1,000.

Paul

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Personally, I'm very fond of Divided By 13 amps, but they are "boutique" amps and expensive. Our guitarist Frank in The Oohs got his after we heard Rusty Anderson use one with McCartney because the tone was gorgeous - like a Vox AC30 with added girth. They make several different models with circuitry designed to emulate classic Marshall, Vox and Fender tones.

I will add though that on dates that Frank & I do with an R&B band he will use a Vox Valvetronix combo, although I've not really paid attention to which model. (And we did use a Line 6 Vetta II all over our last CD on some rhythm tracks, but all the solos were done with tube amps as the modelling amps just didn't sound "real" enough.)

The current Vox AC30 Custom Classic is a nice sounding amp to my ears, and finally Vox added a master volume. (Those old AC30s really had to be cranked up to get the tone unless you put a pedal in front of it, which to me defeats the purpose.)

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The Line 6 Vetta works for me. I love the Vox Valvetronics AD120VTH like Eric's and Wally's also. I gotta say, listening to the mixes of the live CD {the little I've heard so far}, I was very impressed of how my Line 6 Vetta recorded. I have a whole new love for it all over again. And I went direct off the amp,, I didn't use a mike on it and it still came off very warm and "tube like"!! The Vetta can be very pricey. So can the Vox Valvetronics, especially the ones like Eric's and Wally's because they're discontinued. Line 6 makes and amp called the Spider III. It rocks for a fraction of the cost of the Vetta. Vox has a lower cost Valvetronis amp I believe as well!!

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My friend was a big fan of Laney --

they still make 'em?

Apparently Laney is still around.

Laney Amps

Thanks for all the recommendations guys. I'm still considering a Vox. The Valvetronix are a bit on the pricey side. The AC 30 would actually be cheaper. Vox makes a few other amps that I've seen that look interesting. There's a new XL series that I haven't seen anywhere else. I'm interested in seeing what that can do.

The Line 6 Spider III 120 is looking good too. It has a very broad range of sounds. The Bogner amps seem cool however for my purposes I think it's a bit of an overkill. Would be cool to have something nobody else does though.

Anyway, I haven't decided yet. So if anyone else has anymore input it's always welcomed!

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  • 1 month later...

I'd like to thank everyone for their recommendations. I decided to go with the Spider III from Line 6. So far I'm really digging it. It's cut out on me once or twice in the couple of days I've owned it but upon further investigation I chalked it up to a loose instrument cable.

Keep on rockin' everyone.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've recently switched over to Carvin,(5 yrs now) I own 2 VL-100 Half stacks, and a belair combo.With 1 simple modification(Hasslebrock)you can balance the channel volumes with one control.I can get multiple tones from these,(The tone controls actually WORK, what a concept)., and the durability of the amps are incredible.Check out my Myspace page and hear the legacy in action

www.myspace.com/rushsignals

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The Last "Real" Marshall I owned, was a '71 Plexi

Super Lead 100.This was an amp.I made the mistake of buying a JCM-2000, but it kept burning up output Transformers.I had a JTM-60 combo that was kinda cool, but its long gone too.

My Carvins sound so good,I took the Logo's off, and have had more people come up and say"That amp sounds incredible, what is it?"

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