New old amp!

Meggy · #1 08-02-2011, 12:01 PM

I just got myself a Yamaha G50 112, combo amp (through a friend) for what I think is a reasonable price (less than £100). The amp is clearly far from new, but everything works perfectly well. But the main point is that it gives me the best jazz tone I've ever had from my Ibanez Joe Pass (I'm comparing mainly with my Polytone Minibrute, which I do like a lot) - this is perhaps not the most acoustic archtop out there, certainly not very loud acoustically. But through the Yamaha, the amount of woodyness and attack detail I'm getting is just fantastic, you can really hear the fingers/pick moving on the strings.

So I love it! just feeling a bit chuffed, and wanted to tell everyone I guess!

But IMO these Yamaha amps really are a fabulous buy for a dedicated jazz amp.

jorgemg1984 · #2 08-02-2011, 12:51 PM

Never tried one, but they were supposed to be great with an EV speaker. Pat Metheny and Mike Stern used that amp for a long time (the 100w 2x12 version I think)

I did something similar to you this week, bought a Fender M80, also a solid state amp from the 80s, for a little more than 100€ - sounds excellent with my archtop and I think the stock speaker is no good, I well put an EV in there soon. Also love the sound of my old Peavey Bandit 65 - the solid state amps from the 80s are usually loud, clean, reliable and cheap. No point about spending loads of money on a "jazz amp" when you can get one of those babies for so little money.. and if you put a good speaker in there you`ll usually turn a good amp in a excellent one.

Meggy · #3 08-02-2011, 03:41 PM

Thanks jorge, my Yamaha has a single Celestion G12 M speaker, not sure if that is the original, but it sounds pretty damn good to me, so I have no plans to change it. I think this is probably about the most basic version of the amp Yamaha made - 50 watts, fairly simple control layout: volume, bass, middle, treble, bright, distortion (haven't bothered to try it yet) and reverb controls going left to right. There are 2 input jacks, labelled high and low - both give great clean jazz tones, though I think I like the low best. For a 50 watt solid state amp, it's pretty bloody loud also if need be, I haven't wanted to turn the volume much past a quarter.

But IMO the sound is just a killer, amazing for the money. I knew Mike Stern has one of this series of amp, but didn't know about Metheny using them - interesting to learn that, cheers. There are bargains out there if you know what to look for I guess.

Tom Karol · #4 08-02-2011, 03:56 PM

I had one of those (bought new) back in the '70's. I put an Altec in it. It was loud!

pingu · #5 08-02-2011, 03:59 PM

Is it very heavy ?
I tried to pu a Yam DG80 combo yesterday .... jeesh

Tom Karol · #6 08-02-2011, 04:08 PM

I don't remember how much the stock ones weighed - pretty heavy for a solid state 1-12 I think. But with a 20-pound Altec in there ... ! (Of course, the amp I had before it was a 90-pound Twin Reverb - it had 2 EV SRO's in it!)

Meggy · #7 08-02-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingu

Is it very heavy ?
I tried to pu a Yam DG80 combo yesterday .... jeesh

No one would call it a lightweight amp pingu, but it is reasonably portable - I can carry it by the handle with one hand without too much trouble. I can imagine that the 2x12 inch speaker version would be a bit of a pig to transport though!

I found a picture online of the amp model I have, just out of interest:

jorgemg1984 · #8 08-02-2011, 04:13 PM

To me 80s solid state are on the best ways to get a good jazz amp. They are always loud, clean an cheap and usually have loads of features (fx loop, two inputs, etc...). If you get a 1x12 you can usually lift it and a Neo speaker is always an option (mixing the best of the 80s with the best of today)

The best jazz tone I have ever heard is with my fender jazzmaster ultralight but love my two 80s combos for all they can give me and such a low price. To those who like to spend 300€ on Cubes or Mustangs take a look at your local craiglist!

Meggy · #9 08-02-2011, 04:21 PM

I got a Roland Cube 80XL not so long ago - certainly a lot more versatile with it's amp models, built in effects, decent distortion/overdrive sounds, and it does do jazz pretty well I think - it has it's plus points. Of course I paid rather more than my second-hand Yamaha. But for jazz, the Yamaha still beats it no question.

jayx123 · #10 08-03-2011, 02:39 AM

I have a yamaha Jx30 (from early 80s)which produces a great jazz tone

SamBooka · #11 08-03-2011, 08:53 AM

The first series.
The Celestion definitely isnt original.
Nice thing about those amps is they are unkillable.

jorgemg1984 · #12 08-03-2011, 08:57 AM

They aare unkillable, but I have heard its impossible to repair them, something about the transistors (I think the same happens with old Polytones and Petersons)

Meggy · #13 08-03-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamBooka

The first series.
The Celestion definitely isnt original.
Nice thing about those amps is they are unkillable.

Appreciate the information, cheers Sam. I wasn't sure about the speaker, but it does seem good to me - maybe someone "upgraded" at some point in the past already. I did think it was the first series, which I guess is late 70's probably? Hope it is unkillable! - it's survived in perfect working order thus far, and I plan to look after it from now on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

They aare unkillable, but I have heard its impossible to repair them, something about the transistors (I think the same happens with old Polytones and Petersons)

I have a 90's Polytone too, hope that never goes wrong - as you say, repairs not easy, and Polytone don't have a helpful reputation either.

SamBooka · #14 08-03-2011, 01:15 PM

First series would only have a number like G100-212. I think the knobs were different from the second ones (which would be G100-212II)
The third (final?) ones looked more like a JC cabinet. The knobs were multicoloured. The larger models had things like a parametric EQ IIRC.

bborzell · #15 08-04-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meggy

No one would call it a lightweight amp pingu, but it is reasonably portable - I can carry it by the handle with one hand without too much trouble. I can imagine that the 2x12 inch speaker version would be a bit of a pig to transport though!

I found a picture online of the amp model I have, just out of interest:

One of the few SS amps that I really regret no longer having. Nice find.

Meggy · #16 08-04-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamBooka

First series would only have a number like G100-212. I think the knobs were different from the second ones (which would be G100-212II)
The third (final?) ones looked more like a JC cabinet. The knobs were multicoloured. The larger models had things like a parametric EQ IIRC.

I've heard that the 3rd series was a somewhat different design, and not so nice for jazz, don't know if that's true though. No question from what you say that mine is a 1st series. In a way I like it more for it's simplicity - simple controls, great clean jazz tone, and that's all I need anyway!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bborzell

One of the few SS amps that I really regret no longer having. Nice find.

Cheers, I am pleased to have it. Not expensive to buy, but they don't seem to come up for sale often in the UK.

jorgemg1984 · #17 08-10-2011, 04:12 PM

I have just put an EV on my M80, foam donut, upgrade op amps and installed speaker jack input and switch on / off. I now have a great combo and a cabinet with an EV. And it sounds GREAT! I will say it again, specially for guys in Europe: don't trash tons of euros on "jazz amps" when you can get so nice and cheap amps from the 80s. My next move might be a Music Man RD 50 (already have the M80 and a Bandit 65)