Addicted to amplifiers? and advice needed.

[Sweetloaf]

Does anyone else suffer from this affliction? I currently own:

Vox AC30 CC1
Fender Vibro Champ XD
Epiphone Valve Jr
Marshall MC212
Marshall Bass Combo thingy (12 watts)

Here's my problem, The Vibro Champ gets most play time because it nice and quiet, it sounds fantastic for SRV, Hendrixy cleaner stuff and has a couple of nice higher gain settings.

The Epiphone is a great little amp but even at 5watts through the MC212 it is too loud for getting any crunch late at night. (I have three kids and a wife )

The Vox is gorgeous but was a totally stupid purchase because I don't gig and never get the chance to crank it up.

I'm now after something else, I don't need anything else but that hasn't stopped me in the past, I'm looking at the Blackheart 15watt Handsome Devil Head and wondering what kind of sound I'm likely to get running it at 7 watts with the master volume down and the drive up, anyone had any experience with a similar style amp? My other option is the Peavey Windsor Studio due to the power attenuator but I've read very mixed reviews and don't have the chance to sit and try one out.

I have a few pedals that can help me out but I really want the amp to do the work, I'm looking around £200

So what do you suggest?

Cheers.

[Timgosden]

Hey,

Have you seen this: [url=http://www.haydenamps.com/amplifiers/detail.asp?ID=150]Hayden Guitar Amplifiers[/url]

It's a Hayden Essex Blonde 8

[IMG]http://www.haydenamps.com/amplifiers/products/essexblonde8.jpg[/IMG]

Apparently it has a great tone, although I've not played one myself !

Good luck on the search!

Tim.

[Sweetloaf]

Yeah, I actually used to have an Ashdown Fallen Angel 40 DSP which was a really good amp considering the price tag, I got rid of it to fund a few extra purchases. Hayden used to be called Ashdown before they went handwired I think.

It's over budget for what I'm after though but thanks anyway

[dvdan]

sweetloaf - I have the same problem with the valve junior. its sounds so good when the gain is at 12, but I've only done this twice! I've found this little beauty which might help... BitMo Studio 10-uator "Plate" for the Epiphone Valve Jr

i have an old hohner orgaphon 60watt monster that's pretty unique.

[jamesofthefamousyard]

I know the feeling...and I can offer you my 2p worth of advice. I have amassed the following beauties over the years :

The Big Ones :

Hiwatt DR103
Fender Dual Showman (1964)
Ampeg V4B
Marshall JMP 1 (1970s)
Mesa Studio Pre + 295 Simul class Power Amp
Selmer Treble'n'Bass

The small ones :

THD Univalve
Gibson Skylark
Fender Vibro Champ
Fender Blues Junior
WEM Westminster

a few other bits and pieces...

The guitar amp addiction has been raging for years now, and this is what happens!

Now for some advice...Guess what gets used the most out of the list above? For recording (which is what I mostly do) the unexpected answer is...

The Fender Blues Junior.

We have used it for most situations and it always sounds great. For clean with an edge, heavy overdrive, with pedals, for keyboards, even bass (with a DI as well)...we've even run drum samples through it for a bit of air and bite. In terms of results, it is easily the best $295 (£150!) I have ever spent. If I went on a desert island and had to take 3 of the above, it would be the Blues Junior, the Showman (a thing of beauty for clean sounds) and the THD Univalve (fantastic clean, amazing overdriven; you can hear every little harmonic and finger move in full colour). The lesson is : Buy a Blues Junior. They are around £200-£250 second hand and will save you years of faffing around with cheap (and expensive) amps looking for a good sound. I am seriously considering getting another one to do stuff in stereo...And I have probably £3-4000 of other amps sitting around. Some of which I really should get rid of. But you know how it is. Parting is such sweet sorrow...

[Sweetloaf]

Originally Posted by dvdan

sweetloaf - I have the same problem with the valve junior. its sounds so good when the gain is at 12, but I've only done this twice! I've found this little beauty which might help... BitMo Studio 10-uator "Plate" for the Epiphone Valve Jr

That looks perfect

Cheers!

[JAYDMF]

Anyone here got an ENGL powerball ? or an ENGL vintage cab ?

if so what id like to know your opinion of both. In respect of the powerball, how well do you rate the clean channel (the distortion of my e530 is immense so i can imagine its the mutts nuts on the powerball). And in respect of the Cab, whats the low end like ? really tight or a bit flabby?

[Pete Carter]

Have you tried an orange. ive got a Rocker 30 and a tiny terror. I use the tiny terror the most and id been using it for a year or so really enjoying it and then a valve went microphonic and i replaced then valves with a nice set from my local guitar shop. I was blown away again! the valves that come with the tiny terror are cheap and when replaced with better branded valves the amp is even more ful of tone. i know it looks like a toaster from hell but i love the little thing.

apart from the oranges ive owned

marshall jcm 800 head
marshall jcm 600 combo
mesa boogie rectoverb
fender hot rod delexe
vox ac15
selmer treble and bass
line 6 flexitone 2 (for about a week) good knows why
rack rig marshall power amp with a jmp1 and rocktron midi switcher etc

[Sweetloaf]

Cheers again guys,

I've actually decided to hang fire on another purchase until I can try a Blackheart Handsome Devil Head.

I've swapped out the valves in the Valve Junior for a JJ and a Tung Sol and it sounds even sweeter, not a vast difference but it's there.

I also bagged myself a mint ESP LTD EC 400-VF for £299 which drives the amp into rough territory at a seemingly lower volume and sounds incredible cranked up, I'll grab the 10 uater soon and use the TS or BD on my ME-50 for the time being.

Truth is, I don't really know what I want, I just love new stuff

I like the Tiny Terror but it won't output 4 Ohms mono which I need to to my cheap MC212 which I don't want/can't afford to replace.

[dvdan]

Sweetloaf
What kind of guitars are you putting through the valve junior? I'm finding the tone from a hollowbody is absolutely superb - a really rough edge kind of jazz. The only problem is it can get a bit muddy and a little too thick and I don't know whether an eq pedal or a tube change might focus the lower mids a bit more... Fortunately I was at the tip the other week and came accross the haul of a lifetime. Someone was chucking out a load of their deceased fathers old radio gear... transistor radios loaded with mullard germanium transistors... boxes and boxes of valves still in sealed boxesand carefully labled; mostly all mullard. Im still yet to properly sift through, but Im definately in the zone for some valve swapping!

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by dvdan

Sweetloaf
What kind of guitars are you putting through the valve junior? I'm finding the tone from a hollowbody is absolutely superb - a really rough edge kind of jazz. The only problem is it can get a bit muddy and a little too thick and I don't know whether an eq pedal or a tube change might focus the lower mids a bit more... Fortunately I was at the tip the other week and came accross the haul of a lifetime. Someone was chucking out a load of their deceased fathers old radio gear... transistor radios loaded with mullard germanium transistors... boxes and boxes of valves still in sealed boxesand carefully labled; mostly all mullard. Im still yet to properly sift through, but Im definately in the zone for some valve swapping!

Speaking of valves the TAD 12ax7a-cs are really nice. Got one for my presonus pre after hearing them in my mates fender. Supper clean and bright sounding without being harsh

[Malius]

Ahh I'm addicted to Amps too, though I mostly buy along the same lines.

I currently own;

Peavey 5150 II
Laney VH100R
Marshall JVM410H (all the tone of a Dual Rectifier, half the price!)

I'm interested in a ENGL Powerball next, but I too was looking at hearing what people have to say about them.

[Sweetloaf]

I'm using a US Strat and an ESP LTD EC-400-VF.

[ecc83]

Sweetloaf,

You metioned the wife and kids at the start ref noise.

A point to keep in mind is that ANY guitar amp speaker is going to put out 95-100dB SPL at 1 mtr for only ONE watt input. And that's forking loud!

For quiet mayhem you have to go> power soak, or modeller or
a really good pedal such as a Blackstar.

Dave.

[TrevCircleStudios]

a Blackstar eh Dave? Are they any good then?