Small giging amp

[JSM100]

Hey guys!
I´m new here, so please be kind when it comes to stupid questions !
I´m looking for a small tube amp, which i can use for playing smaller gigs in pubs or on small stages! I tried some amps out already, but i thought i ask some pros^^!! We play mostly jazz in our combo, so i need an amp, that stays clean und is not too expensive. for bigger gigs i already got an amp, but its too big to carry around easily. A friend of mine has a fender blues junior. i like this one a lot, because of the great sounds you can get out of this small thing. But maybe, there are some other options, i might not know, so please help me out.
thanks
jsm100

[pingu]

i like my fender Blues jr too

[Jake Hanlon]

I've heard a few Blues Jr sound decent after they've been modified but ones you get from the shops today imo are horrible, will sound ok for the first 2 or 3 months then something will break unless you're leaving it in 1 place in your home every day. Taking it on gigs and playing with drummers is not going to cut it after the first few dates if it even works properly on the gig from the get go.

If your heart is set on tube amps, I'd probably look at Peavey's classic 30, they are far and away more sturdy and still sound good and have more headroom by a mile over the Fender. They're pretty affordable and readily available.

For an affordable rugged solid body go looking for whatever Roland is making for cubes now the 30W could be enough depending on the room or how insensitive your drummer is, they used to make a 60W version (I think it's 80 now) and that's a good little amp for the money, i've played plenty of gigs on that amp.

[JSM100]

Thanks a lot for your stories! @Jake: the blues junior that i play is at least 7 or 8 years old and still sounds good! The reverb just doesnt work sometimes though! The peavey is a 2 channel amp and i only nead one, i have some pedals that'll do the job of overdrive nicely !!

[pingu]

Originally Posted by pingu

i like my fender Blues jr too

yeah mine is an old one (mk1 green board)
it has been reliable

[dmorash]

I use a Fender Super Champ XD. If you don't need a lot of bottom end (it has a 10" speaker and relatively small cab).
Otherwise it has a lot to offer as a small grab and go.

[TruthHertz]

1970's silverface Princeton Reverb. You can even re-baffle it for a 12 inch speaker if you'd like. Nothing like it.
I have one with an Eminence hemp. Perfect.
David

[JSM100]

Cool! But i think a master volume would be quite nice, just because of the cleansound! I considered the priceton but i think its gonna crank up at higher volumes and the blues junior doesnt! Its a really good deal! Is there another option for a mastervolume? I mean 15 watts is enough, dont you think? I mean a bit more cant be wrong, can it?

[TruthHertz]

I've seen some with master volume wired in, but I've never had to. I run clean all the time, and there's plenty there. The Princeton has a lot of headroom, and it uses a different tube only in the Princeton and the Deluxe.
Princeton Reverb fenderguru.com. Fender amps, mods, modifications, vintage, maintenance, tubes, speakers, schematics, blackface, silverface, jens mosbergvik.
The Princeton II is a Revera era amp with increased power boost and the same amazing clean preamp. I didn't mention it because they're a bit hard to find.
Friends who've gotten the Blues Jr's have tried my amp. They all have Princetons now, well worth the Ebay search. I just say, keep it in the realm of consideration, it works for me and that's all I can really say.
David

[JSM100]

Hey david! Thank you very much for your post!! So the princeton stays clean for long, doesn't it? I've never played one before but i've seen some on the internet! Does it have a nice 'jazzy' tone? Does anyone have any experience with the vibrolux?? I thought it could be worth playing as well! Little bit more power = more headroom??? You see im not an expert, i just like to play !!
Jsm

[TruthHertz]

I'm not familiar with the Vibrolux. The Deluxe, and the Princeton, yes. Both of those use a 12AX preamp tube, a little bit smaller and because of that the feel of the preamp is different, warmer, really well suited to jazz, it's the sound Wayne Krantz uses for all the venues I've seen him in. Bill Frisell, too uses 12AX amps, old Deluxe or Princetons. I will say, look for 70's silverface or blackface amps, they're point to point hand soldered and have something that new reissues don't have.
Just keep your ears open and A/B some solid state amps too. I'm a fan of the kinda organic "warmth" that changes as the amp is pushed ever so slightly, but an amp, the sound, the reaction to your fingers changes a lot with the guitar you're using, type of guitar (hollow has different output and envelope than solid), strings and playing style (pick vs fingers, etc.)
I'm going to cloud the waters here too and say I've also gotten an old 70's champ and had it rewired to give more headroom. The champ was a Class A amp, like vox, matchless, and the feel of the amp at the attack is phenomenal. Class A runs full power all the time. Rivera made one called a Super Champ. Worth looking into.
Do keep in mind that everyone has their own favourites so nothing I can say will be any more valid than anyone else... 'til you try it out. Seek one out and try it. It's kinda like shopping for a voicebox isn't it?
Good luck
David

[JakeAcci]

I love my Polytone mega brute...

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

The champ was a Class A amp, like vox, matchless

The VOX and Matchless aren't Class A amps (except the AC4 with a single EL84 power tube). They are cathode (self) biased Class AB push-pull amps running hot.

[jster]

Check out Rivera's line if you haven't. Great everything IMHO. Combos Not too cheap though. Sorry I missed that.

[TruthHertz]

Originally Posted by Vihar

The VOX and Matchless aren't Class A amps (except the AC4 with a single EL84 power tube). They are cathode (self) biased Class AB push-pull amps running hot.

Oops! I guess you're right Vihar. Mea Culpa.
I got this misinformation from a friend of mine who was the Matchless rep, but he didn't actually build them.
MATCHLESS AMPLIFIERS
This is a matchless amp site, they called themselves class A:

OUR AMPS
Class A Design
Class A refers to a particular style of circuitry used in vacuum tube audio devices to extract maximum output from the power tubes. A constant high voltage signal is sent through the power stage without the forced negative feedback (or "cool down cycle") inherent in the Class A/B design. Matchless amplifiers rely on superior design, construction and components to manage the power of true Class A operation.

Matchless Class A amplifiers provide an "alive" response, true tone, rich harmonics and smooth transition into distortion.

Construction Method

Matchless amplifiers are point-to-point wired, using military-spec components and hand wound transformers. While these construction methods are more difficult and expensive than others, they are necessary to achieve the incomparable sound quality, reliability and ruggedness of a MATCHLESS.

http://www.nextlevelguitar.com/amps-...s-ca-2828.html

I believe you about them not being class A but maybe you can understand where my misunderstanding came from.
David

[Vihar]

Yeah I know many manufacturers do it, cause it sells. I think I saw Orange using that term too, or maybe Badcat. Writing Class A looks good, it sounds like "high class". But as a technical term, it's usually not correct.

Their statement of having no negative feedback is correct. That's one of the nice "tricks" of the VOX AC series. However, if you would bias the tubes for true Class A operation i.e. for both tubes to conduct through the full 360 cycle, you would need to lower the plate voltage significantly, otherwise the tubes would melt in no time. And if you would do that, you sure couldn't get 15 Watts out of a pair of EL84. They are already pushed over their limits by VOX's original design, but it's a beautiful design with a beautiful sound.

[JSM100]

Thank you guys! I appreciate your help! I think i go to a guitarstore and try some of the stuff out! Maybe i can find an old princeton on ebay, that would be great! Thanks anyway!
JSM

[JSM100]

Does anyone here have experience with the Fender Bassman?? Theres just one on ebay at a reasonable price. i played one, but that was years ago and i wasnt into jazz back then, so i wasnt looking for a "jazzy" sound! please help !!
JSM

[Vihar]

Which Bassman model though? The '59 Tweed Reissue or some older ones? The tweeds can do jazz, Many of the 50s and 60s (and later) jazzers used the original 4x10s, just like rockabilly guys did. Both guitarists and bass guitarists, since it was meant to be a bass amp, for which role it's not really ideal lol. They're anything but small though.

[JSM100]

yeah, i know. its a just a normal bassman, but from the 90ies. it was handwired after an abitious guy bought it and wanted a handwired bassman, so thats what he did !! it doenst say if its a 59 or not, but the speakers were changed, now there are 2 fender ceramics and 2 black ruby alnicos (whatever they are^^)! Do you think it would be nice? it costs about 920€.
JSM

[PerA]

I'm really pleased with my Henriksen Jazzamp, great for small gigs (and bigger ones). Rolands Cube-series are great, considering the price.

Tried a Fender FM212 yesterday, and was not impressed. To boomy and loud.

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by JSM100

yeah, i know. its a just a normal bassman, but from the 90ies. it was handwired after an abitious guy bought it and wanted a handwired bassman, so thats what he did !! it doenst say if its a 59 or not, but the speakers were changed, now there are 2 fender ceramics and 2 black ruby alnicos (whatever they are^^)! Do you think it would be nice? it costs about 920€.
JSM

Ahh yes. I would assume it's a Reissue 59, cause Fender started producing them in 1990. A big 4x10'' tweed monster. lol The ceramic and alnico are magnet types. 920 Euros, hmm... you can find cheaper ones, so it's up to you if you like that particular one enough.

[jazzbow]

QuarterHorse Stompbox 25-watt guitar amplifier



Traynor Amps: Solidstate Guitar Amps

YouTube Video

Might work as a backup, it's more blues/rock but it's a quality piece

[JSM100]

Originally Posted by PerA

I'm really pleased with my Henriksen Jazzamp, great for small gigs (and bigger ones). Rolands Cube-series are great, considering the price.

Tried a Fender FM212 yesterday, and was not impressed. To boomy and loud.

Yeah i know, but i like tube amps, i dont know why, i just do !!
so bassmans are a bit too heavy and cumbersome for smaller gigs??
JSM

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by JSM100

so bassmans are a bit too heavy and cumbersome for smaller gigs??
JSM

Yes, I'm afraid they are. Check out Deluxe Reverbs or even non-reverb Deluxes though (not the Hot Rod ones)... they are awesome.

[wizard3739]

This thread is posted in the wrong place I think.

wiz

[JSM100]

Originally Posted by wizard3739

This thread is posted in the wrong place I think.

wiz

Why? as i've said above, thats my first Post, so I'm not familiar with the normal procedure here. I think most people that replied, found it anyway !
I'll try a deluxe reverb, thanks. but do you really think it has enough clean headroom for louder stuff? in some Pubs you really have to tear it up, to be heard...
JSM

[Vihar]

Originally Posted by JSM100

I'll try a deluxe reverb, thanks. but do you really think it has enough clean headroom for louder stuff? in some Pubs you really have to tear it up, to be heard...
JSM

Well check one out and see if it's loud/clean enough for you. If you can't use the PA and want something louder, look for a used silverface Fender Vibrolux or Fender Pro Reverb. They are about as loud and the same weight as a 4x10 Bassman, only not as large.

[wizard3739]

Originally Posted by JSM100

Why? as i've said above, thats my first Post, so I'm not familiar with the normal procedure here. I think most people that replied, found it anyway !
I'll try a deluxe reverb, thanks. but do you really think it has enough clean headroom for louder stuff? in some Pubs you really have to tear it up, to be heard...
JSM

The reason why is: this thread is intended to be for lesson subjects and your gigging amp question is truly a gear subject and would fit much better there. My comment was not intended to offend you but was intended to help you to decide where to post your questions. I hope you found the answer you were looking for.

wiz

[JSM100]

I'm sorry, i thought i put it in "gear", thats why the little effectpedal is next to it, nevermind....
i'm so chuffed how everyone tries to help, it is great. i would have never considered a princeton or a deluxe reverb, but i do now. Thanks guys
JSM