The Ultimate Guitar Amp - Page 11

ES125er · #**301** 04-27-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woyvel

Marshall (God forbid for jazzers)

I think that German guitar player Frank Möbus (Der Rote Bereich, Carlos Bica's Azul Trio...) is a fan of Marshall TSL amps.

ES125er · #**302** 04-27-2010, 11:40 AM

Since we are talking about amps, I am quite curious about the Phil Jones Super Cub AG-300 that could potentially be a great, light and powerful do-it-all amp for both acoustic and electric needs.

Any of you guys could comment on the tone of the "electric" amp? How does it compare with a Jazzamp, Jazzkat, Polytone or Roland, for example?

jazztrio.be · #**303** 05-06-2010, 01:47 AM

Since I switch guitars a lot (just like to play all of my collection, :-)) i needed more tonal flexibility than my Polytone would offer. The minibrute gives a great sound, but doesn't "work" for all guitars. I then added a Line6 Pod that sounds great and the different amps in it let you bring out the best in every of your guitars. It's responsive too. Just plugged it in my rugged Polytone and it was tone heaven.
But recently i've bought an Evans RE-150. It has all kinds of controls and dials. It allows you to sound bad with the best guitar around, but also to find the sweet spot in every guitar. I became annoyed with my Bartolini pickups, sounding harsh at times... but with the Evans I can dial in the right warmth and just the right treble to avoid harshness, but give you a ringing tone.
It's difficult to master, but to my ears, the Evans is "it". You can -after some dialing- always find the nice tone i'm after.

Tony Santodonato · #**304** 05-06-2010, 10:29 AM

For plug and play goodness, from dark jazz to magic chime I'll take my Vox AC-30 TB remake from the Marshall factory. For maximum flexibility clean,crunch,crazy, I'll pick my Mesa Boogie Mark 4 combo. For low power goodness, my 5 watt Gibson.Those are my favorites. I also own a Roland JC-120, multiple classic and new Fenders, a Peavy, and a Yamaha PA. Am I supposed to pick one?

lkmuller · #**305** 05-06-2010, 12:31 PM

Been falling more in love my Polytone MBV. I just sold my Blues Cube, JC120, have my VOX on Craigslist, and have owned in the past a Bandmaster, Super Reverb and a Musicman. None can compare with the sound I'm getting from this Polytone and my Strat with SM Hotrails. I run a 500 watt powered JBL PRX512 from the Preamp Out and the sound is truly remarkable, from Jazz to Rock to Country. Wish I had had this setup 30 years ago.

bluemood · #**306** 05-06-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkmuller

Been falling more in love my Polytone MBV. I just sold my Blues Cube, JC120, have my VOX on Craigslist, and have owned in the past a Bandmaster, Super Reverb and a Musicman. None can compare with the sound I'm getting from this Polytone and my Strat with SM Hotrails. I run a 500 watt powered JBL PRX512 from the Preamp Out and the sound is truly remarkable, from Jazz to Rock to Country. Wish I had had this setup 30 years ago.

How are you driving your polytone for rock pedals and which ones?

woyvel · #**307** 05-07-2010, 06:40 PM

I picked up a used Polytone 1x15 180w bass amp and have a Vox AD30VT. I either run stereo to the two or the Vox as a preamp into the Polytone. Loud enough to play any gig I could ever think of in any genre. A lot of tone versatility and even the tube amp feel from the Vox If still not loud enough, I'll thrown in a 2x12 120W Crate. Ouch! My ears are bleeding just thinking about it.

For effects I use a Line 6 M13 and don't use the built in Vox effects.

CliveR · #**308** 05-19-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom K

Yesterday I had my new TomKat amp in the mail. It's impressive - seems to be just what I have always been looking for. Both my jazz box and my Yamaha SA 2200 sound sweet, and the Strat-type Blade is not half bad either. - Of course it takes a lot of trying out now.

Highly recommended!

I've been using a TomKat for under 12 months. The first one was replaced due to a problem with the reverb and now I've got another problem a very loud feedback type of noise when I switch on.

Nice amps when they work.

I'm about to get my old Roland Cube out of the cupboard.

thedre · #**309** 05-19-2010, 02:39 PM

I picked up a used roland jazz chorus 100 about eight years ago, carried the s.o.b. up 3 flights of stairs, plopped it in my bedroom, and it's never moved an inch since then. Never had a single problem with it. Reverb is spring, and sounds great with plenty of flexibility, but for my jazz guitars, the amps tone is the best sound I have ever heard. The only way it gets better is when you record and start using expensive preamps. (neve or Avalon) My friends play jazz guitar through their fender twins, etc. or try to turn me on to their mini amps that are easy to lug, but the first thing you hear from the small amps is the sound of a small speaker. ANd the fender sounds hard and harsh. Wrong. What you hear from the Roland Acoustic Chorus 100 is the sound of a guitar. And I don't mean...hey it's just like an unplugged jazz box but louder...it's a fully realized jazz guitar sound. The amp does add richness and tone.
Why Roland doesn't make these any more....I don't know. I heard a Roland Jazz CHorus 100 in a club a couple of months ago, and it too sound excellent. May have a bit more punch than mine, but hard to tell without playing both in the same room. By the way, I'm having a Kendrick K15 amp made for me. I seriously recommend you go to Kendrick amps on line and check this thing out. Possibly the best reverb ever in any amp, and the sound is liquid. The owner is a gas. (made in texas)

NSJ · #**310** 05-19-2010, 02:46 PM

Henriksen Convertible

Tom Karol · #**311** 05-19-2010, 04:50 PM

For me, my Henriksen JazzAmp 112 is dead solid perfect.

IanD · #**312** 05-19-2010, 08:31 PM

Hi guys, new to the forum, but been a serial lurker for a while. Just love reading all the comments and the very knowledgeable opinions.

For me the perfect ultimate guitar amp [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']'could be'[/font] the Evans RE200. Its small and lightweight, (great for the more, ahem, mature people like myself), the 10" speaker gives a fast response, plenty loud enough for most gigs, has an extension out for adding another speaker(s), XLR out for going direct to a mixing board or for recording and has almost infinite tone control.

The reason I say it could be is, whilst the tone controls provide a huge range of sounds, it can be very hard to dial in a good sound (as Jazztrio.be has said above). I have almost given up at times using my Gibson Howard Roberts for jazz & a Telecaster for a more bluesy sound. However I bought it when the Australian dollar was very low (don't ask how much in US dollars I paid, you would be shocked), so I could not get anywhere near a decent price for it here in Australia. Besides they are almost unheard of for jazz here.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']My apologies if this is hijacking the thread, but if anyone has some suggested settings for the Evans for different guitars/sounds I would appreciate any advice. If you can, it may be best to email any settings to me direct. I assume that can be done clicking on something?? (sorry[/font][FONT='Calibri','sans-serif'],[/font][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] but I'm a bit of troglodyte when it comes to these things)[/font]

IanD · #**313** 05-19-2010, 08:35 PM

Sorry for all the [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] [/font][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']stuff in my message above, I did say I was a bit of a troglodyte [/font]

lpdeluxe · #**314** 05-19-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanD

Sorry for all the [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'] [/font][FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']stuff in my message above, I did say I was a bit of a troglodyte [/font]

This post is superfluous.

Tom Karol · #**315** 05-19-2010, 10:23 PM

Been there - done that! It happens when you prepare your post in Word and copy and paste to here. Use Notepad instead and then copy and paste to here, and it won't happen. Aren't computers great!?

BradM · #**316** 07-06-2010, 03:58 PM

I have an Evans Amp. It is very unique in that it has two small speakers. I believe a 6" and 8". It also has an anvil case on wheels. Would you be interested in checking it out?

Brad

IanD · #**317** 07-07-2010, 01:24 AM

Thank you for the kind offer to check out your Evans Amp Brad but unless you are based somewhere nearby in Australia that may be difficult.

Ian

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #**318** 07-07-2010, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanD

Thank you for the kind offer to check out your Evans Amp Brad but unless you are based somewhere nearby in Australia that may be difficult.

Ian

Why not enter your location information?

IanD · #**319** 07-07-2010, 07:50 PM

Good idea BDLH (love your user name BTW!).

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #**320** 07-08-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanD

Good idea BDLH (love your user name BTW!).

Life gave me lemons and I made ... a lemon meringue pie.

By the way, I met my wife in Byron Bay.

IanD · #**321** 07-08-2010, 02:11 AM

Aah, Byron Bay, glorious place but a bit overrun by yuppies now.

Always thought Canadians and Aussies had one very important thing in common.....a rather warped sense of humour, (but in a good way!)

outatune13 · #**322** 07-15-2010, 12:40 PM

i am looking for a used amp, with an xlr out. doesn't have to have distortion, i'll use a pedal if i need that, i want it just for jazz, nice clean channel. solid state ok if there is amp modeling. any suggestions??? i'm buying a benedetto bambino. thanks

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #**323** 07-15-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outatune13

i am looking for a used amp, with an xlr out. doesn't have to have distortion, i'll use a pedal if i need that, i want it just for jazz, nice clean channel. solid state ok if there is amp modeling. any suggestions??? i'm buying a benedetto bambino. thanks

Size? Price range? Since you're buying a Bambino I think your price range is higher than mine

. The limiting factor may be the XLR balanced line out. If you're going to a PA a lot of folks say, since your speakers are a big part of the sound, miking the amp gives better results.

I know Phil Jones guitar and bass amps have XLR balanced line out, but they don't do modeling.

outatune13 · #**324** 07-15-2010, 01:25 PM

thanks for writing. price range is NOT higher than yours, i'm selling all my old equipment to afford the bambino, and i'm STILL hoping to find one used. i guess i would like the option of miking speakers or xlr out. i'll check out phil jones, thanks for that. i have 1/4" out that can go to the p a but i have to turn the volume up on the amp for the sound guy to get signal. i'm doing live theatre on occassion, and i can't turn the amp up too loud on stage because it screws up the actors. so i need an output from the preamp signal. cheers, jay

frogeye · #**325** 07-15-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outatune13

i have 1/4" out that can go to the p a but i have to turn the volume up on the amp for the sound guy to get signal. i'm doing live theatre on occassion, and i can't turn the amp up too loud on stage because it screws up the actors. so i need an output from the preamp signal. cheers, jay

Hm, not to ruin the excitement of a buying a new amp

but have you ever considered using a speaker attenuator? These are typically used on tube amps to allow for a defined tube saturation at lower volume levels. The people at Weber speaker (no affiliation!!) offer several models.

http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm

So if you like your current amp you can tame the speaker volume by a few db while you are cranking it high enough to produce sufficient juice for the line out. Some models even come with a balanced line out. There are not cheap but you will have a permanent solution to your problem as you can use it with any amp that you'd ever own. Make sure to match the power rating to your amps output.

Good Luck.

IanD · #**326** 07-15-2010, 07:02 PM

The Evans has an XLR line out which I have used successfully in recording studios. I have also used it in the same way in a live show situation. Seems to work well with a good quality overdrive. I can't comment on amps like the Jones & Henriksen as I haven't tried them (but i imagine they sound very, very good).

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #**327** 07-15-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanD

The Evans has an XLR line out which I have used successfully in recording studios. I have also used it in the same way in a live show situation. Seems to work well with a good quality overdrive. I can't comment on amps like the Jones & Henriksen as I haven't tried them (but i imagine they sound very, very good).

Evans are great amps, but pricey and (for me anyhowdy) hard to find. How did you find one in Oz?

lpdeluxe · #**328** 07-15-2010, 10:33 PM

I am skeptical of features like XLR line outs --my admittedly limited experience suggests that they are not the best thought-out features on guitar amps, and more properly belong in the 'bells and whistles' category. This is based upon my experience in recording and [praying for] a decent signal and a usable track. Recording places such things under a microscope, but live PA sound also has its requirements. I would think it is better to look for the killer sounding amp, and then come up with whatever workaround necessary to get that sound to the house.

Archie · #**329** 07-16-2010, 02:31 AM

My Tech 21 Trademark 30 has a balanced XLR output:

TECH 21 - Trademark 30

IanD · #**330** 07-16-2010, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Evans are great amps, but pricey and (for me anyhowdy) hard to find. How did you find one in Oz?

BDLH, I had to import it from the US. Been reading many good reports on the Evans and noticed their Oz distributor was almost a neighbour of mine. I didn't pay too much more than the price in the US but because the Australian $ was so bloody terrible at the time I guess in real terms I paid nearly double. Oh well, what we do for our love of guitar music