Re: What Is Your "Go-To" Amp ?
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:00 am
Over the decades, my go-to amp has depended mostly on financial circumstances.. but there have been a few standouts.
My first-ever go-to amp was a "Canadian" Beltone. Grey, about 12 watts, great tremulo, 2 six inch speakers. I got it as a present from my mother in 1968, and I still have it. Still works, too.
In the early 70's, when the Beltone wouldn't keep up with drummers, etc, I upgraded to a used Traynor all-tube mini-stack (YBA-1?). It was about 40-45 watts, came with a 2x12 cabinet, if I remember correectly, had built-in reverb and sounded loud as hell to my parents, who insisted that I had to practice with the Beltone or find some place else to play... Eventually, when the band du jour folded, I sold the Traynor for about 30% of what I'd paid for it.
I did mostly folk music for the rest of the 70's... no amp required, just a nice SM57 (an early one) about 8 inches in front of the sound hole of my flatpicked 12str.
For most of the 80's, playng Disco or Graffitti, a massive Peavey Musician III on a 4x12 cabinet (with wheels, thank goodness!)was my go-to. It took my Gretsch wonderfully, and if I was hired out as a bassman, the clean channel supported my Fender Pre like it was made for it (Most of my bass playing in those years was Country/Western. Mickey Gilley, Willie Nelson, Gatlin Bros covers, etc). But it got too heavy, and when my bass playing gigs cooled off, I swapped it down for a Peavey Bandit which I only sold off last month after 15 years of very reliable service.
Now, it's my JC77. Light enough to carry up a flight of stairs. Loud enough to play leads over a drummer, and versatile enough to be front and center with my Chet Atkins, my 370/12 or even my accoustic Takamine (on the clean channel with just a hint of reverb). Plus, it's a perfect amp for my digital grand piano!
So I'm happy, my wife is happy (only two amps in the house) and the guitars are happy- esp the 370/12!
My first-ever go-to amp was a "Canadian" Beltone. Grey, about 12 watts, great tremulo, 2 six inch speakers. I got it as a present from my mother in 1968, and I still have it. Still works, too.
In the early 70's, when the Beltone wouldn't keep up with drummers, etc, I upgraded to a used Traynor all-tube mini-stack (YBA-1?). It was about 40-45 watts, came with a 2x12 cabinet, if I remember correectly, had built-in reverb and sounded loud as hell to my parents, who insisted that I had to practice with the Beltone or find some place else to play... Eventually, when the band du jour folded, I sold the Traynor for about 30% of what I'd paid for it.
I did mostly folk music for the rest of the 70's... no amp required, just a nice SM57 (an early one) about 8 inches in front of the sound hole of my flatpicked 12str.
For most of the 80's, playng Disco or Graffitti, a massive Peavey Musician III on a 4x12 cabinet (with wheels, thank goodness!)was my go-to. It took my Gretsch wonderfully, and if I was hired out as a bassman, the clean channel supported my Fender Pre like it was made for it (Most of my bass playing in those years was Country/Western. Mickey Gilley, Willie Nelson, Gatlin Bros covers, etc). But it got too heavy, and when my bass playing gigs cooled off, I swapped it down for a Peavey Bandit which I only sold off last month after 15 years of very reliable service.
Now, it's my JC77. Light enough to carry up a flight of stairs. Loud enough to play leads over a drummer, and versatile enough to be front and center with my Chet Atkins, my 370/12 or even my accoustic Takamine (on the clean channel with just a hint of reverb). Plus, it's a perfect amp for my digital grand piano!
So I'm happy, my wife is happy (only two amps in the house) and the guitars are happy- esp the 370/12!
is a booger Jake, I don't think anyone is gonna give you any sympathy over your pops turning your amp down 
Geezer says (chawing on dentures) "Yepper, wish I had my Dear Ol' Dad/Mom around to....... 
" Young Buck says "Ohfercryinoutloudalready.....geez!..... 
