Amp recommendations, please

General Rickenbacker discussion

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ozover50
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Post by ozover50 »

I've tried again from two other addresses and they didn't bounce, Gary. Maybe this time, eh?
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ricjock
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Post by ricjock »

Something missing..
from the Roland Cube 30. It just didn't ring with my Ric. Sounded much better with Fender strat single coils. My Ric 330 has the vintage pickups, may sound better in a tube amp.
blackhdwr
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Post by blackhdwr »

Gary, of course I was talking used. Right now, there are at least 5 classic 30's on eBay under $250. I own 2 "stacks" (amp and extension speaker) and I'm into both for under $850. Both amps have covers, foot pedals, tube guards and tube tamers. Shipping will raise the cost a little, but a watchful eye and a little patience should pay off. The first thing I do when I get these, though, is remove the cheesy PEAVEY logo from the front.
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Post by ricjock »

Ready to try every tube amp I can plug into. Looking for low watt tube amp like a Traynor.
So far only the Fender Blues Jr. has impressed me the most, though it doesn't have the features of a Traynor. The Hot Rod Deluxe and DeVille are too much amp for my playing venues. It's difficult to find many tube amps to audition in my market and I hate dragging my Ric around in and out of this humidity. However, I won't give up my tube-quest!
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karl_teten
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Post by karl_teten »

Gary, try out a Top Hat Prince Royal.

It's a liitle EL84 studio monster that can keep up with amps twice it's wattage.

EL84 + Rickenbacker = OH YEAH!
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karl_teten
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Post by karl_teten »

The Top Hat Prince sounds great mic'd for small club gigs/studio. Easy to carry around and fun to use in the living room.

I have a Portly Cadet which is Fender/Supro in sound.

I've got a Prince on my list now after trying one.
ricjock
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Post by ricjock »

Thanks, Karl
I'll keep searching online as well as in the music stores.
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Post by ricjock »

Still searching for amp. Too many choices:
tube, modeling, solid state. It's like shopping for drinks in the supermarket..too many choices.
I play a Ric 330 six string w/ vintage toaster pups. I want that sparkling mid-range chime and good clean sounds.
I read that Crate makes a couple tube amps that sound somewhat like the Vox AC 30 TB.
The Crate Palomino series has the A type configuration much like the old Vox amps.
I am really leaning toward tubes, but I haven't heard the Vox Valvetronix except on their website.
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ozover50
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Post by ozover50 »

Gary:

I'll post a review of my 330/6 (with vintage toasters) through my brand spankin' new AC-30CC1 after the weekend!! Image

I'll also put the Valvetronix Tonelab SE through the effects loop!
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
ricjock
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Post by ricjock »

That's great, Howard
Looking forward to your review.
Happy playing!

GW
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ozover50
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Post by ozover50 »

Ta muchly!! Keep flogging that beautiful Aussie shiraz, mate!!
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
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ozover50
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Post by ozover50 »

Your email server still doesn't like me, Gary!
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

Well, the rest of us do, anyway, Aitch...
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
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ozover50
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Post by ozover50 »

Thanks, Paul........ very kind of you!
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
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Post by kevin »

Gary,

Just to riff on a comment you made...

Over the years I've used many EL84-based amps and have come to the conclusion that only an AC30 sounds like an AC30. Matchless, Rocket, Alessandro, even a tube Vox Berkeley all have their own voice, and none sound enough like an AC30 to be a replacement. And I'm told by other folks that Crate and Orange fall into that same description. They're all in the same family, but more like cousins, nephews, and nieces than twins.

To my ears, the only thing that came extremely close was the AC30 model on the Vox Valvetronix. I could get that model to sound almost identical to my 1964 JMI AC30. However, it never managed to get the super high-end zing I get from my 1995 Korg AC30.
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