The best tube combo amp for a Ric?

[whojamfan]

I just went back and read your posting of how you "picked it up today and how amazing" it was, that's what I was basing my previous post on. I'm not trying to bust your bunyons here, I'm just a little confused in my trying to help you out making a decision regarding an amp choice.

As far as an AC-30cc2 goes, there's a number of reputable dealers who will mail you one, and if you don't like it, you can send it back. I live out in the middle of nowhere and have no other choice as my closest music store(30 minutes away)is very small and only really sells low end Marshall mx amps and Rocktron efx, both of which I have no use for.

I ordered mine from North Coast Music, and have been very happy with it. Pick of the Ricks also sells them, as well as many other online sources. Maybe you could go online and find a store you might have to drive a good distance to that would have several amps that you are looking for to try. Also, keep in mind, the salespersons job at the music store is to get the most money they can out of you, so really let your ears decide, and take their advice with a grain of salt.

Good luck

[JakeK]

I just went back and read your posting of how you "picked it up today and how amazing" it was, that's what I was basing my previous post on. I'm not trying to bust your bunyons here, I'm just a little confused in my trying to help you out making a decision regarding an amp choice.

I did tell a few people privately about me buying the (******) Marshalls. An offline friend was trying to dump one on me for a Marshall tube half-stack, and I thought I did him a favor. Sure they were nice at first, but I hate them now that I've heard their true tones and know that they don't make the guitar sound that good.

Anywho, there's a store close to where I live that is a branch of my local music store (C&M Music). Believe it or not, the New Orleans branch does have VOX amps, so next month, when I head out to New Orleans, I'll pop into its C&M, and try an AC-30 CC2 (and hopefully, I'll have the 1998 PT I've been dying for!)

[scotty]

Jake,Now even im confused i thought youd bought the Fender amp also?
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=379455&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15
Im not being picky but you definitely say you picked it up :)Quote"Picked it up today. What an amazing amp! It beats my old practice amps by a longshot!"

[deaconblues]

Check it out, Jake...

http://www.garysguitars.net/products/13 ... IE0301.htm

[JakeK]

Sure, Dan. Ditch the PT and get a REAL RM worth more than I could ever afford! I bet!

[Slippery fingers]

I don't think it's possible to say whats the "best tube amp/ Ric combo", everybody is looking for something different in an amp. What I like you may hate and visa versa, only you can determine what amp sound you like best with your Ric. I have a Fender Hotrod Deville, a Traynor YCV 40WR and a vintage 1971 Traynor YGL3- Mark Three, I use them all depending on which songs I play, my personal favorite is the Mark Three, it seems to be better suited for the mojority of stuff that I do. Before you get an amp try as many different ones as you can, then YOU decide which one YOU like best.
Paul

[doctorwho]

Jake, IMO the current Kustom Coupe series of all-tube amps do a great job with Rickenbackers. We used a 36 Coupe (36 watts) last year at Malone's and it had no problem being heard. There is also a 72 Coupe (72 watt) if you think you need more power (it's also available as a head - I think it's called a Hardtop(!)). The Coupes have foot-switchable clean and dirty channels, as well as an incredibly deep reverb (the 72 Coupe also has 'Vibrato' which is probably similar to that on old Fenders). Another nice feature of the Coupes is a foot-switchable, level-adjustable 'lead boost' which is great for adding an extra 'oomph' to the guitar during lead breaks.

These sell new on eBay at decent discounts, and occasionally one finds a nice used one for a really low price. There's a 72 coupe head on eBay right now for $599 with free shipping:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Kustom-72-Coupe ... dZViewItem

There is also a used 72 Coupe combo with no reserve, 10 hours left, and it's currently at $255:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kustom-Coupe-72-2X1 ... dZViewItem

[JakeK]

Paul -- Thanks for the response. I'm actually going to try my guitar through the amps I think look good, and see how they SOUND.

Gary -- Never heard of Kustom Coupes. They're worth giving a shot. I'll consider it

I've narrowed my decision down to a VOX AC-30, a Fender Twin Reverb, a Fender Deluxe Reverb and a Fender Tweed Blues Deluxe

What about Hiwatts? How do they sound with Rics?

[sloop_john_b]

What about Hiwatts? How do they sound with Rics?

Loud.

[soundmasterg]

Out of those you picked I like the AC30 and the Deluxe Reverb. The others are too loud (Twin Reverb and Hiwatt) or not very good. (Tweed Blues Deluxe) I wouldn't hesitate to get a Deluxe Reveb clone either as there are very nice ones out there for good prices. Vintage is best but they're expensive. I'm Jonesing for a Hiwatt even though I don't need the power and volume. Just a coool amp.

Greg

[JakeK]

Wow! Thanks for chiming in there, Simon! I've now narrowed it down to the Deluxe Reverb and the AC-30.

Problem is, my bass player in the band I'm trying to get together has a 100 watt Ampeg (I remember that's what he said he had) tube amp, and I want to be heard over him. The way I see it, the AC-30 sounds like my best choice.

[deaconblues]

The Hotrod/Blues Deluxes I wouldn't write off so quickly...they have a lot of fans and don't cost 3/4 of your instrument budget.

IMO.

[soundmasterg]

The Hotrod/Blues Deluxes I wouldn't write off so quickly...they have a lot of fans and don't cost 3/4 of your instrument budget.

IMO

They're an ok amp and lots of people use them, but to my ears they are bright and hard, and if you ever have to work on one, they're a PITA to work on and not as reliable as the vintage style construction.

Problem is, my bass player in the band I'm trying to get together has a 100 watt Ampeg (I remember that's what he said he had) tube amp, and I want to be heard over him. The way I see it, the AC-30 sounds like my best choice.

You usually need about 3x the power for a bass amp as what you need for guitar. An AC30 is as loud as a 50 watt Marshall because of those Celestion Blue speakers which are very efficient. If you get an AC30 with other speakers, then it won't be quite as loud. The Deluxe Reverb is 22 watts and is still pretty loud, and will keep up fine with a 100 watt bass amp.

Greg

[whojamfan]

Love my Hiwatt halfstack, and oh yeah, it is loud!
All of my guitars sound great through it, as well as my basses.

Real Hiwatt combos are fairly rare, and command high prices when found. I think something else would really suit your needs better.

[BlueAngel]

If you can find one, try a Mesa Blue Angel .

They're 'the Mesa for people that hate Mesas', in many ways - but also are just a truly beautiful-sounding amp that perfectly complements a Rickenbacker if you want something slightly different from the traditional AC30 sound. Despite the fact that it uses both 6V6 and EL84 tubes and is cathode-biased, it doesn't sound like either a Tweed Deluxe or an AC30 - it has the same type of 'bounce' and compressed overdrive, but the tone is both darker and clearer at the same time, if that makes sense! It also has the best reverb of any amp I know of, better even than a Blackface Fender. The 1x12" is the most common and is reasonably portable, but there are also 2x10", 4x10" and head versions. All of them are discontinued, but the used prices are a steal for such a well-made and reliable amp.

I also love the Mesa Trem-o-verb... which is a very powerful, extremely versatile amp that can do everything from rich jangly cleans to vintage-type crunch and smooth lead to modern crushing scooped rhythm and high-gain mayhem - even with a Rick! It's WAY more flexible and can be much sweeter-sounding than you'd expect from a 100W 2x12" based on the Dual Rectifier head. It also has great reverb and a pretty good tremolo (though not quite in the Fender league). The only problem is that it's extremely heavy - almost 100lbs, which is really a lot, even with the excellent wheels and end handles it comes with - but was also available as a head, which seem to be more expensive than the combos. It's also been discontinued for some time but isn't too hard to find.