What Is Your "Go-To" Amp ?

[goofyfoot]

Well, I started this thread on the last day of February. Don't know why the P-bucket slideshow link of my Rivera Sedona kooked out on me. For those curious, I'll post a good link here:

http://s119.photobucket.com/pbwidget.sw ... 5a5c36.pbw

Late......Goofyfoot

[indianation65]

Goofyfoot, or maybe I should address you as Mr. Foot,
Only one choice...even though it disturbs me to leave out my Roland JC 120, I'd have to say my 1985 British KMD GV60, tube amp. This amp will give you the Brit high-end, without having to go Vox. I'd love a Vox, but as one trying to create a slightly different sound, I'll take the KMD. I bought it new, ironically the year KMD went out of business. The versatile aspects climb over the fence from glass/clean (think Smiths, even though Mr. Marr probably did some driving) to violent overdrive, (think bar-band Replacements). If you want that Nashville twang, the tubes bring out a Tele. If you want classic crunch, plug in a Les Paul and step back, the leads will blind you. Yes, the KMD is somewhat rare, unique and somewhat cherished by the few who attained the notion! The Natives have spoken...

[goofyfoot]

Anyone playing their Rics through Savage Audio, Dr. Z., or Socal's own Divided by 13 amps? Regards.....Goofyfoot.

[longhouse]

I tried a Dr.Z 'Stang Ray' and it was as Eric Cummins described it to me: 'the best AC30 in the world'

You would love this amplifier. In the end, Fender won me over, but the Dr.Z was superb (despite its regrettable name).

[longhouse]

Oh, I failed to mention its gorgeous TONE, string to string definition, detail, clarity, and chime.

Dr.Z makes a good product.

[BlueAngel]

Anyone here like hooking up their Rickenbacker to a Mesa/Boogie tube amp? I have a '94 M/B Subway Blues amp ~ 20 watts, five simple knobs (volume/treb/mid/bass/spring reverb), 2xEL84, 4x12AX7, 10" Eminence Black Shadow speaker, a portable 38 pounds. It's a surprisingly seamless and beautiful combination without a 12" speaker. Play on, pick often, and prosper....Goofyfoot.

That's a really cool little amp, very much a 'mini Blue Angel' - the preamp circuit is almost identical although the power stage is much simpler.

But although it's sweet, my Blue Angel isn't my 'go to' amp - that would be my 100W, 98lb, 2x12" Mesa Trem-o-verb. Yes, it's probably unnecessarily powerful and ridiculously heavy... but there's nothing else that sounds like it. On the other hand, it can sound very much like quite a lot of other amps if you want it to. Simply the best amp ever made, for me.

For bass - a Trace Elliot Mk5 or Series 6 with the GP11 preamp.

[ken_j]

Anyone here like hooking up their Rickenbacker to a Mesa/Boogie tube amp? I have a '94 M/B Subway Blues amp ~ 20 watts, five simple knobs (volume/treb/mid/bass/spring reverb), 2xEL84, 4x12AX7, 10" Eminence Black Shadow speaker, a portable 38 pounds. It's a surprisingly seamless and beautiful combination without a 12" speaker. Play on, pick often, and prosper....Goofyfoot.

Yes I do but prefer playing it through a 2 x 12 cab. Here's a shot with my 3/4 back 1 x 12 cab.

[goofyfoot]

I tried a Dr.Z 'Stang Ray' and it was as Eric Cummins described it to me: 'the best AC30 in the world'

You would love this amplifier. In the end, Fender won me over, but the Dr.Z was superb (despite its regrettable name).

Longhouse.....Thanks for the tip on the Dr. Z Stang Ray. I've demo'd the Maz 18 Jr. (w/reverb) and the Maz 38 Sr. over at Truetone Music in Santa Monica. Just briefly played the Stang Ray when it was introduced a couple of years ago and it did have that AC-30 thing goin' on with it. That point-to-point wiring makes 'em ooze all that tone and sound. That Stang Ray was hooked up to a 1x12 speaker cab with Celestion AlNiCo Blues. Might have to forego a Ric purchase and score a Maz 18 Jr. or Ray w/cab. Best regards.....Goofyfoot.

[goofyfoot]

Anyone here like hooking up their Rickenbacker to a Mesa/Boogie tube amp? I have a '94 M/B Subway Blues amp ~ 20 watts, five simple knobs (volume/treb/mid/bass/spring reverb), 2xEL84, 4x12AX7, 10" Eminence Black Shadow speaker, a portable 38 pounds. It's a surprisingly seamless and beautiful combination without a 12" speaker. Play on, pick often, and prosper....Goofyfoot.

That's a really cool little amp, very much a 'mini Blue Angel' - the preamp circuit is almost identical although the power stage is much simpler.

But although it's sweet, my Blue Angel isn't my 'go to' amp - that would be my 100W, 98lb, 2x12" Mesa Trem-o-verb. Yes, it's probably unnecessarily powerful and ridiculously heavy... but there's nothing else that sounds like it. On the other hand, it can sound very much like quite a lot of other amps if you want it to. Simply the best amp ever made, for me.

For bass - a Trace Elliot Mk5 or Series 6 with the GP11 preamp.

OMG! There's a whole lotta shakin goin' on in the house with your Mesa Trem-O-Verb, man. It's a monster! I used to hook up my Subway Blues to a 1x12 Thiele ported, closed cab. Yeah, Mesa/Boogie --- the definition of tone. Blue Angel, you must play in some large venues. Keep on keepin' on, brah.....Goofyfoot.

[goofyfoot]

Anyone here like hooking up their Rickenbacker to a Mesa/Boogie tube amp? I have a '94 M/B Subway Blues amp ~ 20 watts, five simple knobs (volume/treb/mid/bass/spring reverb), 2xEL84, 4x12AX7, 10" Eminence Black Shadow speaker, a portable 38 pounds. It's a surprisingly seamless and beautiful combination without a 12" speaker. Play on, pick often, and prosper....Goofyfoot.

Yes I do but prefer playing it through a 2 x 12 cab. Here's a shot with my 3/4 back 1 x 12 cab.

IMG_0226.JPG

Ooooo yeeaahhh, now that's what I'm talking about! The Blues sure can carry that load, brah. Gotta love it. Regards.....Goofyfoot.

[BlueAngel]

OMG! There's a whole lotta shakin goin' on in the house with your Mesa Trem-O-Verb, man. It's a monster! I used to hook up my Subway Blues to a 1x12 Thiele ported, closed cab. Yeah, Mesa/Boogie --- the definition of tone. Blue Angel, you must play in some large venues.

No... but I could if I wanted to . The great thing about the Trem-o-verb is that it doesn't have to be opened up to sound good, but it still sounds HUGE. I would guess I play at around 10-15W normally, since when I use the Blue Angel I can just get it to break up in the 6V6 mode without being too loud - and I don't play any louder with the T-verb. So really all that power is unnecessary - at least for volume. It does help with getting a really big, deep tone though, something I've never really been able to achieve from a small amp at anything much more than practice volume. That's why I always find it odd when people say "you don't need more than 15W" - you probably don't, if you're just talking about volume... but tone is a different thing.

[goofyfoot]

OMG! There's a whole lotta shakin goin' on in the house with your Mesa Trem-O-Verb, man. It's a monster! I used to hook up my Subway Blues to a 1x12 Thiele ported, closed cab. Yeah, Mesa/Boogie --- the definition of tone. Blue Angel, you must play in some large venues.

No... but I could if I wanted to . The great thing about the Trem-o-verb is that it doesn't have to be opened up to sound good, but it still sounds HUGE. I would guess I play at around 10-15W normally, since when I use the Blue Angel I can just get it to break up in the 6V6 mode without being too loud - and I don't play any louder with the T-verb. So really all that power is unnecessary - at least for volume. It does help with getting a really big, deep tone though, something I've never really been able to achieve from a small amp at anything much more than practice volume. That's why I always find it odd when people say "you don't need more than 15W" - you probably don't, if you're just talking about volume... but tone is a different thing.

BlueAngel.....You make a cogent point about being able to achieve tone at lower volumes with your Mesa Trem-O-Verb and Blue Angel tube amps. That is a good characteristic to have in larger wattage tube amps. On a peripheral note, I decided a while back to go with my lower-wattage tube amps. I liked the idea of adjusting the dials at higher settings to allow the tube amp to open up and achieve tone. My '94 Mesa Subway Blues is rated at 20 watts, my '84 Fender Super Champ at 18 watts, and my English-built VOX AC-15 TBR (with Weber AlNiCo Blue Dog) at 15 watts. The Rivera Sedona is the biggest of the bunch at 55 watts. I'm happy with the decision. They all seem to be able to power separate speaker cabs if needed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, brah. Keep on keepin' on.....Goofyfoot.

[indianation65]

Ok, a long time ago when I first joined this forum I went to this post topic and gushed over my 80s British KMD tube amp, and my Roland JC120. I was correct. They are great amps, especially for a classic axe like a Rickenbacker 330. However, I recently got my hands on a '96 Fender Deluxe Reverb 65 Reissue. It sat unplayed from '99 to 2009 in another player's closet, and maybe had 5 hours on it. He didn't need it, so I took a chance. Wow, what a combination, there isn't much that matches the sweetness. I once again, gush!

...wisdom

[Ric-O-Buc]

Anything with "Fender" on the front and glowing glass in the back. Usually a Deluxe Reverb.

[indianation65]

I was always a Gibson guy because of M. Ronson, Ace and Nugent, so I resisted Fender guitars, then the amps. I can't believe I waited so long!

...wisdom