Heads and Cabinets for Jazz Guitar?

=DK= · #1 11-05-2011, 05:58 PM

The "Jazz Stack" is something I've never even considered.

I've heard many Jazz players playing an Acoustic Image Clarus Head through a Raezer's Edge Cabinet, with lovely results. This includes two of my teachers, and several other players in the Houston area.

I've noticed a lot of jazz amps are solid state. Why is that? Solid state amps marketed to jazz musicians include Acoustic Image, Evans Custom, Henriksen, and, to a certain extent Fender (Jazzmaster UL, Jazz King).

I've always loved the sound of tubes, like I get from my Fender Princeton Reverb RI. However, that amp isn't loud enough to meet my gigging needs without a mic.

That segues into my problem well.

See, I love my little amp, but it isn't enough. I don't want to dole out $1,300 all at once for a good combo. What if I got a 112 Raezer's Edge cab, and plugged my PRRI into it as a temporary fix? Another option is the twin 8" cab they offer, but it's rated at 4 ohms, and the PRRI say it has a 8 ohm minimum load, so...

How about it? Does anybody know of any Jazz heads, tube or solid state, that I might try out after I buy a cabinet? I'll definitely try the Acoustic Image Clarus, just to see what the fuss is about. Also, any good Jazz cabinet makers, besides Raezer's Edge?

Thanks

rpguitar · #2 11-05-2011, 06:37 PM

I have a '79 Princeton Reverb and a Clarus 2R that feeds a couple of cabinet options. The Fender is best for classic electric tones, and the solid state setup is arguably best for a more acoustic tone with wider dynamic range. I say arguably because I, too, love tubes. But there's no denying the convenience and light weight of SS.

Plugging the Princeton into another cab isn't going to accomplish anything, in my opinion; certainly it's not a solution for more volume anyway. A different tonal option, sure. But not more volume. It's still the same wattage, and you already answered the speaker load question for yourself.

The SS amps tend to be very efficient because they run decent power into a speaker with an impedance as low as 2 ohms. That means high volume and a clear, undistorted tone up to a good level for loud gigs.

Another couple of jazz speaker companies are Redstone and Walter Woods.

jorgemg1984 · #3 11-05-2011, 07:07 PM

Connecting the Princeton to a Razers Edge will not help you much. The RE is closed back with a 12 efficient speaker I assume so it might seem a little louder but its still the same amp. And I dont imagine a very good result from that combination.

One of the options you have is to beef up the Princeton. Both Monder and Kreisberg did that but I think they gig with other amps... Anyway a better output transformer might give you more power, a 12 efficient speaker also, changing tubes... use google and you will find out a lot of good options.

SS has in fact the advantage of lightness with lots of power - although tube amps tend to cut trough the mix much better. And also less maintenance - you only take them to the tech when they don't work. And I agree with the previous comment - you will get a more acoustic tone.

If I were you I would choose a head before the cabinet... I think that's the right way to go! The advantage of having a head is getting several cabinets and exploring several sounds... (you can do that with a combo by unplugging the speaker jack but this would mean carrying a combo and a cabinet to a gig).

I have an Henriksen combo (on sale) and a Jazzmaster Ultralight. The Henriksen is a good amp but its hard to get control over treble and the reverb is really bad. But with good pedals and an EV speaker is really good... The Jazzmaster Ultralight is my favorite amp! Very light and loud and has an excellent solid state acoustic tone with an inch of tube personality. I use it with the stock cabinet and a cabinet with an EV - and will get a 2x12 with Jensen Tornados soon.

Never tried the other brands but they are good for sure. But I would definitely go with the JMUL if you find one! (you wont believe how light that rig is untill you try it)

marcwhy · #4 11-05-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpguitar

Another couple of jazz speaker companies are Redstone and Walter Woods.

Hi Roger,
I'm pretty sure Walter just makes amps, not cabs.

For "DK," I'm a tube player; I've been very pleased with Jack Anderson in Washington - head-cab and combo. He makes them one at a time, so you can't really try them out unless you know someone in your area ... He makes amps for Bill Frisell, Jerry Hahn, etc.; he knows and talks jazz very well, so if you say, "I want this kind of sound," he'll say, "OK," and make you an amp you'll love. Give him a call.

Marc

mr. beaumont · #5 11-05-2011, 09:28 PM

I use a henriksen head and a redstone cab. Light, loud, small. Best amp set up I've ever had...nothing but clean tone and very flexible EQ.

bmw2002 · #6 11-06-2011, 07:04 AM

DK. I also have Princeton (SF non-reverb, '70) that sounds really terrific with almost anything, including my Painter archtop. I occasionally plug it into a 1x12 cabinet with an EVM12L speaker just for a different sound (the Princeton has a Tone Tubby in it, very warm), although I agree the volume difference is slight.

As to a jazz stack, I also have an Evans AE200 head (older, '98 I think) that I use with either the 1x12/EVM cabinet, or a 1x10 cabinet with an Eminence Delta Demon that I just bought. If you're looking for a great, reasonably priced cabinet maker do a search on Rick Johnson cabinets. He will make cabinets to your specifications at about half the cost of what a new one would be. (I believe he's in Tennessee, near Nashville). Great workmanship, nice guy. He's made 3 for me so far, and I've been very happy with each of them.

Finally, if you're interested in an Evans, there's an AE200 head on ebay right now with a BIN price of $500. I believe it's being sold by a pedal steel player in Waxahachie, TX (not sure if that's near Houston). The nice thing about that model is that it has real spring reverb, which to my taste can't be beat. There's also a nice Evans RE200 combo on there that still sitting at it's original price of $680. Just do a search on "Evans Amp."

Hope this helps.

=DK= · #7 11-06-2011, 04:39 PM

http://http://www.acousticimg.com/do...of%20Power.pdf

http://http://www.acousticimg.com/do...0Explained.pdf

These are two short documents published by Acoustic Image explaining the power/speaker conundrum.

"Overall, consider the amp as the means for getting the quality of sound you want and consider the speaker as the means for getting the quantity of sound you need."

Note that that quote is currently out of context. I recommend reading the documents to understand the quote fully.

=DK= · #8 11-06-2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

One of the options you have is to beef up the Princeton. Both Monder and Kreisberg did that but I think they gig with other amps... Anyway a better output transformer might give you more power, a 12 efficient speaker also, changing tubes... use google and you will find out a lot of good options.

I want to keep the Princeton stock for resale purposes, even though that might not matter because it's a Reissue anyway. I don't see why, but w/e.

=DK= · #9 11-06-2011, 04:56 PM

Okay, huh. So when I run the PRRI at high volume, which one is distorting, the amp or the speaker? I thought it might be the speaker, because it's only 10", but the amp is only 15W, so that may be it.

So if I don't have the resources to buy the amp and cab at the same time, you're saying I should buy the amp first? Can I plug it into the speaker in the PRRI?

=DK= · #10 11-06-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I use a henriksen head and a redstone cab. Light, loud, small. Best amp set up I've ever had...nothing but clean tone and very flexible EQ.

I've been ogling this Henriksen head for a while now. Thanks for the heads up.

So, it say 4 ohms minimum. What if I plug it into a single 8 ohm speaker?

jorgemg1984 · #11 11-06-2011, 05:19 PM

I am pretty sure is the amp... I think its designed to distort at a certain volume... but I might be wrong!

You can but you probably have to mod it... I don't think it has an external jack speaker.

I think you should do as you want but you wont get anything from a new cabinet... it wont improve your volume problem at all!

Maybe you should reconsider a combo or look at the used market...

At 8 ohms you will get 120w and at 4 ohms you will get 160w. At 16 ohms 100w. Thats just it - a little power reduction.

seanlowe · #12 11-06-2011, 05:46 PM

The lightweight fender "jazz" amp and head really are lovely, and of course light as anything. AFAIK also quite good on the wallet.

As far as tubes and jazz amps go - this is a guess, but with the 'wooliness' of certain archtops, sometimes the clarity of a solid state is required to produce a more hi-fi output. I use a fender deluxe, but they are pretty bright for a tube amp, when using flatwounds on a very deep guitar with it it too can sound a bit too fuzzy or dark (clean fuzz.)