Best amp for Jazz?

**hthiew** · 02-14-2014, 12:25 AM

I was introduced a gem, to look out for in the used market, Yamaha G100. Anyone tried that for jazz?

**zigzag** · 02-14-2014, 12:38 AM

I got my 80XL and my original Express 5:50, and I love them both.

**ooglybong** · 02-14-2014, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by hthiew

I was introduced a gem, to look out for in the used market, Yamaha G100. Anyone tried that for jazz?

Oh, yeah. Love mine. FYI, here are a few older relevant threads on the topic you might want to read...
https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...-g50-amps.html
https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...roland-jc.html

**Silentwiz** · 02-14-2014, 02:10 PM

I play that exact guitar.

The Roland Cube is the best IMO for practicing. I find the looper, multiple inputs/outputs to be great practice tools. I plug in my ipad or whatever and I'm good.

For gigs and playing out, I have a Quilter MP200 and a Henriksen Jazzamp.

The Jazzamp nails the tone -- nails it. The Quilter does more of a Fender-y thing.

If I had to take one for jazz gigs, it's the Jazzamp.

**jzucker** · 02-14-2014, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by hthiew

I was introduced a gem, to look out for in the used market, Yamaha G100. Anyone tried that for jazz?

great amps but heavy and you can't get parts for them anymore.

**barrymclark** · 02-14-2014, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by zigzag

I got my 80XL and my original Express 5:50, and I love them both.

Don't get me wrong, the Express is a killer amp. Well made. Good sounds. It just didn't do for me what the Cube does when played side by side.

**jzucker** · 02-14-2014, 07:34 PM

i'm going to buy back my old gries 35. It was the best sounding amp for almost any style.

**kris** · 02-15-2014, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

i'm going to buy back my old gries 35. It was the best sounding amp for almost any style.

heavy?

**jalapeno** · 02-15-2014, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by docbop

Where's Other or None of above.

Is my vote for Jazz amp for school is Henriksen JazzAmp 110 small every portable. Plus girls will like you because you'll smell good since you won't be spending your laundry money on replacing tubes. <grin>

This is wisdom, they sound fantastic too.

**Pukka-J** · 02-15-2014, 07:46 AM

+1 (regarding the JazzAmp 110)

**jzucker** · 02-15-2014, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by kris

heavy?

37lbs, might try a tonker lite in it. That'll take it down to 30

**iim7V7IM7** · 02-15-2014, 10:08 AM

Jack

I thought the Gries 35 weighed 46 lb. (21 kg) outfitted with a Emi Tonker which is 11.1 lb. (5 kg).

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...ghtweight.html

A Tonkerlite weighs 4.1 lb. (1.9 kg) so wouldn't the Gries 35 weigh 39 lb. (17.7 kg)? What are you doing to remove the extra 9 lb. (4.1 kg) of weight to get it to 30 lb. (13.6 kg)?

The reason that I ask is I am also planning on A/Bing a Neo speaker with my 50w Redplate Blackverb Standard which weighs 48 lb. (21.8 kg) with a 10.4 lb. the stock Celestion Vintage 30. That speaker, as you are aware is too mid emphasized for scooped BF cleans (good for OD though). I considered the Emi Deltalite II, Lil' Texas and Tonkerlite, but I am going to try the Jensen, Jet Series Tornado 12. Players seem to like this speaker for both cleans and OD.

Eminence, Tonkerlite
4.1 lb.
125w
101.0dB
80-5,000 Hz

Jensen, Jet Series Tornado 12
4.5 lb.
100w
97.3 dB
60-6,000 Hz

It wont be nearly as loud as the Tonkerlite for a given power, but I have enough clean headroom with the amp. My amp will be about 42 lb. with this speaker. The only way that I can get lighter is to downgrade the PT/OT but that negatively impacts amp power making it a 6V6 based amp (not a 6L6 or 6V6).

I know that you have auditioned the Jensen Neo 12-100 and found it "fatiguing" as I recall. Have you auditioned a Tornado as well?

Bob

**jzucker** · 02-15-2014, 10:29 AM

No, it's under 40lbs. I think the newer ones have a deluxe reverb cab which adds some weight. I'll weigh it again though when I get it back.

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

Jack

I thought the Gries 35 weighed 46 lb. (21 kg) outfitted with a Emi Tonker which is 11.1 lb. (5 kg).

https://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/guita...ghtweight.html

A Tonkerlite weighs 4.1 lb. (1.9 kg) so wouldn't the Gries 35 weigh 39 lb. (17.7 kg)? What are you doing to remove the extra 9 lb. (4.1 kg) of weight to get it to 30 lb. (13.6 kg)?

The reason that I ask is I am also planning on A/Bing a Neo speaker with my 50w Redplate Blackverb Standard which weighs 48 lb. (21.8 kg) with a 10.4 lb. the stock Celestion Vintage 30. That speaker, as you are aware is too mid emphasized for scooped BF cleans (good for OD though). I considered the Emi Deltalite II, Lil' Texas and Tonkerlite, but I am going to try the Jensen, Jet Series Tornado 12. Players seem to like this speaker for both cleans and OD.

Eminence, Tonkerlite
4.1 lb.
125w
101.0dB
80-5,000 Hz

Jensen, Jet Series Tornado 12
4.5 lb.
100w
97.3 dB
60-6,000 Hz

It wont be nearly as loud as the Tonkerlite for a given power, but I have enough clean headroom with the amp. My amp will be about 42 lb. with this speaker. The only way that I can get lighter is to downgrade the PT/OT but that negatively impacts amp power making it a 6V6 based amp (not a 6L6 or 6V6).

I know that you have auditioned the Jensen Neo 12-100 and found it "fatiguing" as I recall. Have you auditioned a Tornado as well?

Bob

**iim7V7IM7** · 02-15-2014, 10:58 AM

Ok Jack, I had no idea what its weight of a Gries 35 was, I was just looking at your own 2011 posting to get the 46 lb. weight.

I see you also swapped to a SS rectifier as well to lighten the load. My Redplate already uses a SS rectifier so no extra weight savings for me there. If the Jensen Tornado sounds "good", a 42 lb., 50w 1x12 isn't too bad, particularly when I also have a great sounding, lighter 27 lb. 100w SS 1x10 as well...:-)

**fep** · 02-15-2014, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by hthiew

I was introduced a gem, to look out for in the used market, Yamaha G100. Anyone tried that for jazz?

I have one I'd sale. I'm getting older and have recently hurt my back lifting it in and out of the trunk again, it's a pretty heavy amp. I recently spent $100 on it having a tech clean it up and give it a check up. It's working great and it's the correct version of the G100, the one that Metheny played in the 80s.

I'll have to think about a price. Maybe $200 plus buyer pays shipping? It would sure be great if someone in San Diego just picks it up. I'd much rather have this go to someone on the forum though, it's a good amp for jazz.

This is the model I have, this picture is off the web not my actual amp:

Best amp for Jazz?-g100-jpg

**Jonathan0996** · 02-15-2014, 01:42 PM

I think the Fender amps you list would be underpowered for jazz band, particularly if you want a clean, traditional jazz sound.

The Rolands are ok, but I think if I was looking for a jazz amp in your price range to use with an ensemble I'd check out a Peavey Bandit.

**snoskier63** · 02-15-2014, 04:34 PM

So many recommendations. Just goes to show you that ideal tone is a very subjective thing, and not everyone has the same needs. Also, most people's personal experience is with a relatively limited group of amps. Has all of this input narrowed down your decision?

**Pukka-J** · 02-15-2014, 05:42 PM

I voted for the Cube 60, assuming you meant the old eighties 'orange' Cube 60. They sound great!

**vernon** · 02-21-2014, 09:21 PM

I've got an Evans JE-200 w/ ext cab - but I really like the Quilter Aviator head I've been playing for two months plugged into a 1x12 Eminence neodymium tone tubby recone. All the warmth of the Evans with more sparkle and presence... weighing in at 29 lbs. Add an older analog Diamond Memory Lane for some ambience and shimmer... works for me.

**Goldentone1950** · 02-23-2014, 05:04 PM

http://Quilterlabs.com

**tdearn** · 10-06-2014, 01:03 PM

I've got a solid state Fender Champion 100. I tried and liked the cubes but needed 100 watts really to hang with a pretty loud drummer at some pretty big venues. I'm happy with it and for the money it has been an excellent purchase. Before that I used another transistor Fender a deluxe 112 plus 90 watt 1 x 12. I had that since the early 90s and it never let me down once. Using the Les Paul though the 1 x 12 would sometimes vibrate a bit at volume so I switched to the 2 x 12 champion. It isn't as heavy as you might think either.

**barrymclark** · 10-09-2014, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by tdearn

I've got a solid state Fender Champion 100. I tried and liked the cubes but needed 100 watts really to hang with a pretty loud drummer at some pretty big venues. I'm happy with it and for the money it has been an excellent purchase. Before that I used another transistor Fender a deluxe 112 plus 90 watt 1 x 12. I had that since the early 90s and it never let me down once. Using the Les Paul though the 1 x 12 would sometimes vibrate a bit at volume so I switched to the 2 x 12 champion. It isn't as heavy as you might think either.

Cube 80x or 80xl didn't do the trick?