Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone used one of these with a Ric?

I'm looking for a back up for my AC30, but would also like to sample something a bit different.

Cheers.

Rob.

The silence says it all.

Looks like it'll be a 'Fender 65'.

And for something completely different, I'm test driving an old Yamaha DG100 212 for the next couple of weeks.

Allegedly it's a great modelling amp. I'll let you know how I get on.

Re: the Orange - go with the Fender unless you like to play with gain set to distortion like me. I tried out my friend's Orange head with a couple of 12s - when it's violently loud it's at it's best.

The Yammy sounds cool for an alternative choice if you want loud and clean.

kiramdear wrote:Re: the Orange - go with the Fender unless you like to play with gain set to distortion like me. I tried out my friend's Orange head with a couple of 12s - when it's violently loud it's at it's best.

The Yammy sounds cool for an alternative choice if you want loud and clean.

Yeah, I've kicked the Orange idea into touch.
Well, I'm after a couple of amps actually.
I'm scouring the second hand listings for a half decent Fender 65, but I'm also after something non tube too.
The Yamaha is a pretty rare beast here in the UK, but most of the reviews from when it was being manufactured are very favourable. I managed to find a good one locally and the seller is willing to let me try it out with the band for a couple of weeks.

Cool! The Yamaha would be handy and versatile, in my opinion. The Fender will give you that classic R 'n' B or Pop tone for your rick. The Orange would get your freak on.

Aw, heck, just buy 'em all like I wish I could, and tell me all about them.

kiramdear wrote:Cool! The Yamaha would be handy and versatile, in my opinion. The Fender will give you that classic R 'n' B or Pop tone for your rick. The Orange would get your freak on.

Aw, heck, just buy 'em all like I wish I could, and tell me all about them.

Yeah, I wish I could have them all too, but.......

Anyway, a good second hand fender goes for about £500-£600 here in the UK, roughly half the price of a new one.

The Yamaha amp normally goes for around £250, but the one I found is only £100!

Yup, The Yamaha is very good for the price. You see them in pawnshops here for stupid cheap. They'll do keyboards nicely too if you mind the speakers.

If the amp ends up sounding a little flat or cold, a good tube overdrive/distortion pedal will juice it right up. Radial makes some great ones, I have both the classic overdrive and the Plexi drive, and they really make a solid state amp warm up, should you be unhappy with the sound live or recording. You can't beat that price on the Yamaha, and hopefully it will do the trick for you.

I think 1965 here used to have one of those Orange combos that he sold to get his JMI amp. I should think he would be able to tell you exactly what a Rick sounds like through one, both live and recorded.

Good luck!

Go for the Fender, it will get you any tone you could dare to think of!

whojamfan wrote:If the amp ends up sounding a little flat or cold, a good tube overdrive/distortion pedal will juice it right up.

Yeah, I'm betting the Yammy plays nicely with effects. And with the Fender you'll hardly ever want them.

JakeK wrote:Go for the Fender, it will get you any tone you could dare to think of!

Not an Orange sound...

I owned an old OR-80 that I paired with a matching 2x12 and it was a wonderful sounding combination. The new Rockerverbs are awesome amps too, if you're into the Marshall tone. Nice cleans but really great dirt channel. If they weren't so heavy and expensive I'd be gigging with a couple of Orange stacks.

sloop_john_b wrote:

JakeK wrote:Go for the Fender, it will get you any tone you could dare to think of!

Not an Orange sound...

I owned an old OR-80 that I paired with a matching 2x12 and it was a wonderful sounding combination. The new Rockerverbs are awesome amps too, if you're into the Marshall tone. Nice cleans but really great dirt channel. If they weren't so heavy and expensive I'd be gigging with a couple of Orange stacks.

I have to say that the tones coming out of most of the Orange amps Ive heard are warm enough to make toast. Lovely.
My main fear with them would be that they're just gonna be too loud and not quite subtle enough for some of the smaller gigs we play.
But I'm still keeping a bit of an open mind on it at the moment.
I've just picked up the Yamaha tonight so I'm gonna live with that for a few weeks to see where we go with it. Here's a review, I'll add my own at a later date.

Product Information for model: DG100-212. Description: DG Series Digital Guitar Amplifier. Rich Tube Tone from Digital Technology

Capturing the essence of tube tone with its Electric Circuit Modeling technology, provides artists with a truly flexible tonal palette from which to create rich soundscapes. Enhanced with onboard digital effects, generous high-quality power amp, Celestion speakers, and a rugged chassis complete with large caster wheels. User friendly interface provides an instinctively familiar approach to sound creation. Up-to-date technology and classic tone, the best of both worlds rolled into one.

Eight Preset Amp Types - Whether you play Rock, Jazz or Blues, the DG100-212's eight preset amp types provide you with the flexibility to create the tone you need.

Memory and MIDI - A total of 128 memory allocations are available for storing sound and control settings. Settings can be recalled from the front panel or with a foot controller via MIDI.

Tone Controls and Motor Driven Knobs - Yes it's digital, but it has knobs and they function like they should. Motor drives place them in their proper positions when a setting is recalled. Instinctively familiar operation, what could be more easy?

Speaker Simulator - Add the "live" characteristics of a speaker to the line out signal.

Flexibility - Match the DG-1000's sound capabilities with components of your liking for a truly personalized sound.

Digital Effects - Hall and plate reverb effects are standard digital fare but, the DG100-212 also features simulated spring reverb and tape echo effects for true vitage sound.

Celestion Speakers - Celestion "Vintage 30" speakers are utilized for the utmost in classic tone reproduction.

JakeK wrote:Go for the Fender, it will get you any tone you could dare to think of!

Sorry, while Fender makes, has made, and will continue to make great amplifiers, if this statement were true, nobody else would make them. The Deluxe is a very nice amp Jake, but faces the same limitations of any amp made, which is that it cannot do all for all. Even the modeling amps with 8 million configurations won't please everyone, so any company that makes a decent sounding amplifier has a shot at becoming a staple in the market.

I wish it were as easy as Les Paul+Marshall stack
Rickenbacker+AC30
Stratocaster+Twin
But it isn't.
This is both a good and bad thing. You may have your match made in heaven from the gate, or spend a lifetime trying to find your voice. Different applications may require different amps to suit your liking, as well as venue requirements and such. Way too many variables to count on one amp to do it all, even though some have found that to be the case. You just never know untill you're there.

I dared to try the Yamaha amp at home today.
Even with the output volume barely above zero this is one loud mutha!

First impressions are very favourable, even within the pre-sets there are some very useable tones, and I have to say that all the reverbs and FX are excellent, they sound real high quality.
So far I would put this way ahead of the Line6 amps and even ahead of the Vox valvetronix. But the proof of the pudding will be playing along with bass and drums.
I've got a rehearsal with the band tomorrow night so more info to follow.