Roger McGuinn's Amp of Choice

junglejem · Post by **junglejem** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:55 pm

I'm sure this topic has been beat to death around here, but I didn't find it. Write it off to poor research skills! Does anyone know for sure what amp(s) McGuinn was using in the mid 60's Byrds? Tube? SS? Fender? Roland? Vox?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:06 am

Wasn't he using painfully loud Fenders?

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:09 am

I think he used Roland JC's later, but they certainly weren't around in the mid 60's.

I'm with Jerry, probably a Twin Reverb or a Super Reverb.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:12 am

Depended on exactly When you're talking about, what year, month, etc. Generally, Always Fender amps.He used Super Reverbs, Twin Reverbs, Dual or Single Showmans.The Fenders were all tube. For a short time in late '67 or so, he was using the then new Acoustic 260 amps,solid state,preamp heads w/ powered bottoms, 2x15" Altec Lansing loaded cabs.I'm sure there were other, but these are the basics you'd have seen him with then in some configuration or other.When I saw him w/ the Byrds in early '70, he was running a Super, a Twin, and a Dual Showman Reverb, all w/ JBLs. Loud as hell, and magnificent. No Compressors, just the Vox treble booster,nailing you right between the eyes with a sonic icepick.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:18 am

Jerry, yes the Fenders were "painfully loud, but, and I never personally saw him w/ the Acoustic amps[he used 2 of them!!]the first real Rick 12 I ever got to try out in a music store in 1968, I was able to plug into one of those Acoustic amps.
2 15" Altecs w/ a high frequency horn in the top of the cab.Without the Vox treble boost, that was just glass shattering overkill.

emjayw · Post by **emjayw** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:45 pm

I saw the Byrds in November of 1965 in my home town in northeastern Ohio. They all used Dual Showmans and hillman used a Bassman(large cab. Yes, they were very loud and the harmonies were nowhere as good as the recorded versions, but we dug 'em anyway.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:36 am

Cool info, MJW. Thanks!

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:11 am

I saw a pic of them playing Hollywood High in the very early days. I think Hillman was playing a Vox amp. I think in those days they used Voxes at times, too, if only when sharing gear with other bands on the bill most likely.

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:46 am

They played Dual Showmans when I saw them at "The Trip" in the late 60's..

6l6 · Post by **6l6** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:20 am

Saw them twice in the mid 60's. Showman amps were the pick.