Question:
In looking for a new amp, I was wondering at other possible suggestions in the way of British "pro-sumer" amplifiers.
I would highly prefer a head in opposition to a combo. Just for numerous reasons. It must be all valve. And I would rather it not exceed 50 watts. I would prefer to go used, and ebay is an option. I do not need to worry about attenuators or cabs at present. I would also prefer that my budget not exceed 15-1600 USD.
Current options?
Orange AD30HTC
Hiwatt Custom 20
Marshall JCM800 (original or modern reissue.)
Roccaforte Custom 40
Something "Voxy" (Top Hat, Hayseed, Chinese RI??)
Just looking for other options regarding the above criteria. Thanks in advance.
Answer:
My Current amp is an old Laney JCM800 clone that sounds 10 times better than any JCM 800 I've ever played (which has been several). About to start recording with it actually... will give you a heads up when I get sound clips up.
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I have played that orange, and it was VERY nice sounding
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Originally Posted by omensixaxe Something "Voxy" (Top Hat, Hayseed, Chinese RI??)
Have you considered a Bad Cat? I would love to have one of those.
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Originally Posted by BamaBleach Have you considered a Bad Cat? I would love to have one of those.
I knew a guy who was in good with the owners of Bad Cat, and he had many bad cat amps. What a great guy to know...
His tones were phenominal..with all the amps.
Answer:
Cornford are Englishy i think. They're awesome amps in any case.
There is quite a difference between the sounds of those amps though. Are you looking for a more overdriven amp or just broken up style sound. You could look into amps such as Watkins and some of the less known oldies.
Also, look for the Vox AC heads. There are some online which are pretty awesome. Really loud and sound very 'english'.
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My amps, unfortunatnly speak only "Jefflish"
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Originally Posted by BamaBleach Have you considered a Bad Cat? I would love to have one of those.
I consider Bad Cat to be one of those "end-all" amps. Unfortunately, they rarely pop up used, (If I'm not mistaken, I think there's a waiting list, so this would make sense.) and they start just a bit over my 1.6k budget. I am ready and willing to sit on it for a while, and see if anything earthshattering comes my way, so I could end up with one eventually.
I'm really leaning toward the Orange AD30, but the clean channel is almost near unusable, which is dissapointing...especially for a 1500$ head. Gotta compromise somewhere I guess...
Telecasting, I'm looking for something somewhat overdriven I suppose. Think just on the brink of saturation, something I can push over with a volume knob or a boost.
Thanks for the help.
Answer:
Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle My amps, unfortunatnly speak only "Jefflish"
Very good. If you want a more scouse sounding (liverpudlian) amp, Vox AC30 (the whole beatles thing).
Anyway, serious.
The Cornford series are designed to be very dynamic according to how hard you play. Certainately are in the high end category of amps. The earlier Marshalls were less about high gain and more of the classic rock tones I guess.
You could also try Laney. I've heard a lot of good things about them, and you'd save yourself some money.
Cornell amps look purty too!
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Check out Matamp . US dealer is Juniors which most of us know was destroyed by fire. Seems to be getting back on his feet. The original Matamp built the original Orange amps. Guitarist magazine loved the Matamps.
John
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Something in me wants to steer you far away from the AD30 head. First of all... $1500?! Yea right... I thought those heads go for $999... ? Second, I've played on one pretty extensively, and man, they sound good, but not $1500 good.
And once again, I would steer you towards laney. See if you can find some of their older all tube heads. Good stuff.
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i like orange... that's what i've been thinking about, but i'm starting to see the futiliity in it.. idk.. but to say the clean channel is unusable is unfair...
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Originally Posted by omensixaxe I consider Bad Cat to be one of those "end-all" amps. Unfortunately, they rarely pop up used, (If I'm not mistaken, I think there's a waiting list, so this would make sense.) and they start just a bit over my 1.6k budget. I am ready and willing to sit on it for a while, and see if anything earthshattering comes my way, so I could end up with one eventually.
Yeah most Bad Cats are going to be a bit more than 1.6k but you could save up just a little longer and finally get what you consider an "end-all" amp.
Here's one for $1750 (comes with cover and road case):
http://nashville.craigslist.org/msg/166553123.html
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Originally Posted by AXguitar but i'm starting to see the futiliity in it..but to say the clean channel is unusable is unfair...
Ehhh...I don't think so. I dig a nice sparkly blackface Fenderish clean. In comparison(or by any standard for that matter...) the Orange just cannot do cleans.
On that note though...I don't really care. I'm not buying a British amp for the cleans. When I think of cleans, I think of a pure, sparkly, shimmering sound that gives me an excellent pallette for overdrives, stompboxes, etc.
As for the Bad Cats, they would be a more end-all amp, but they also dont have the vibe or the exact feel of the Orange.. or the Marshall. I don't know. Thats just how I see it. That 1.8k Black Cat sounds absolutely delicious however..
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Originally Posted by omensixaxe As for the Bad Cats, they would be a more end-all amp, but they also dont have the vibe or the exact feel of the Orange.. or the Marshall. I don't know. Thats just how I see it. That 1.8k Black Cat sounds absolutely delicious however..
I know exactly what you're talking about. Although I've never been crazy about Marshall I must say that I would love to have an Orange. I scan ebay everyday in hopes of coming across a good deal.
In a perfect world you and I would have an Orange and a Bad Cat!