Solid State amp for a Gibson ES-175 classic tone

[joaopaz]

I've been reading threads and threads here, trying to make my mind. The reason being that I have very few options I could try myself.

Henriksen, DV Mark, Mambo, ZT - these are some brands still in production that come up a lot here in the forum.

I have a valve Fender Hotrod Deluxe. It sounds super but i can't dial in the tone I'm after... and it's big and heavy! I'd like something easy to carry around and gig.

Ok, main thing would be the tone, something that could go hand in glove with an ES-175...!

What would you choose?
Thanks!

[Max405]

Hi,
Are you using an actual es175 through this amp or is it some other guitar?
Because an Es175 through a Polytone minibrute is musical heaven. It's almost like they are related.
JD

[joaopaz]

Hi,
Are you using an actual es175 through this amp or is it some other guitar?
Because an Es175 through a Polytone minibrute is musical heaven. It's almost like they are related.
JD

Hi!
It's an Epiphone ES-175 Premium, the new one with the Gibson '57 Classic pickups.
Yes.... Polytone is the one that seems to gather the most consensus... but the used market here is really scarce, so that's why I mentioned new.

Thanks, JD

[Stringswinger]

A 175 sounds great with an Acoustic Image Clarus and a Raezer's Edge Stealth 10ER. In fact that is my standard working rig and has been for the last 12 years.

[rhoadsscholar]

Warning, self promotion, I am selling a Hernicksen 112 w/ reverb right here on this form for $415 plus shipping. Don't think you could go wrong with that amp and a 175. Save some bucks and get one of the best solid state amps for jazz there is. CHeck other posts etc. and you will hear great things about Henricksen. good luck on your quest

[Cunamara]

Which classic ES-175 tone? There are many. Jim Hall's 1954 ES-175 with P90 through Gibson GA-50; Jim Hall's ES-175 with Guild humbucker through the GA-50; Jim Hall's ES-175/humbucker through Polytone Minibrute; Joe Pass's 196x ES-175 through a Twin or a Minibrute; Kenny Burrell's ES-175 through a Fender tweed Deluxe; Pat Metheny's ES-175 through an Acoustic 134 and various other, more complicated rigs; etc.

There isn't a singular ES-175 tone.

A good ES-175 will sound good through most amps. I would suggest (based on personal preference) the tweed Deluxe (5E3) amp for the richer midrange than a blackface or silver face Fender amp. Or a Polytone. Hard to go wrong with either of those. Don't overlook the Roland Cubes; I have a Cube 60 which can be tweaked to be a damned nice sounding amp.

[Bambus123]

A few clips with an ES 175 and Mambo:

And one with an Godin 5th Av:

And one with both Mambo and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe:

[GNAPPI]

Hi,
Are you using an actual es175 through this amp or is it some other guitar?
Because an Es175 through a Polytone minibrute is musical heaven. It's almost like they are related.
JD

Hey Joe, you inadvertently brought up a question I've wondered about. With my having a general disdain for SS amps after owning a few that were very unreliable, I've never had a polytone nor have I tried one. They're pretty scarce down here.

Do their amps have a "Familial" sound like Fender amps generally do, or are they very different from model to model like say Marshall is?

[jorgemg1984]

Mambo

[whiskey02]

Maybe one of the new Boss Katana amps everyone is raving about.$200 bucks for 50 watts with a. 12" speaker?

[mad dog]

If you can find one of the old Lab Series L3 amps, that would do it. Not easy to find. Was the most tube like of any SS amp I've played.
MD

[joaopaz]

Which classic ES-175 tone? There are many. Jim Hall's 1954 ES-175 with P90 through Gibson GA-50; Jim Hall's ES-175 with Guild humbucker through the GA-50; Jim Hall's ES-175/humbucker through Polytone Minibrute; Joe Pass's 196x ES-175 through a Twin or a Minibrute; Kenny Burrell's ES-175 through a Fender tweed Deluxe; Pat Metheny's ES-175 through an Acoustic 134 and various other, more complicated rigs; etc.

There isn't a singular ES-175 tone.

A good ES-175 will sound good through most amps. I would suggest (based on personal preference) the tweed Deluxe (5E3) amp for the richer midrange than a blackface or silver face Fender amp. Or a Polytone. Hard to go wrong with either of those. Don't overlook the Roland Cubes; I have a Cube 60 which can be tweaked to be a damned nice sounding amp.

Yes... if you look at the thread title I wrote "classic" between quotes, that's why.

But I'm searching for something as close as possible to the ES-175/Polytone Mini Brute.

I have a couple of Cube 60s and like them (aside the plastic jack). But with the EQ the MID button seems to work more towards the treble side... I feel there's a gap between the bass and mid buttons.

As for Fender stuff I want to get away from it. It's just my personal experience of course, but it's definitely a wrong connection.

Thanks, great input!

[joaopaz]

A few clips with an ES 175 and Mambo:

Thanks! I'll sure keep Mambo in mind... love the tone on this video and this is close to what I "hear inside my head"

[bmw2002]

I have a valve Fender Hotrod Deluxe. It sounds super but i can't dial in the tone I'm after... and it's big and heavy! I'd like something easy to carry around and gig.

Ok, main thing would be the tone, something that could go hand in glove with an ES-175...!

Given your criteria (and depending on the size of the venue(s) you're playing), I'd recommend a hard look at the Henriksen Bud. Lots written about it here and other places.

By the way, visited Lisbon/Sintra last year and loved it -- didn't make it up to Porto, but that's on the list of places to go soon.

[joaopaz]

Thanks for all the replies so far, guys!

[Klatu]

Any of the amps you listed should do the trick. In fact, my first choice would be the one you already own, the Fender Hotrod Deluxe.

Here are a couple of clips of Martijn Van Iterson playing his Gibson 125 through a Fender Hotrod Deville. It could be among my favorite electric jazz guitar tone of all time:

[christianm77]

I use an AER with my 175 when I can't be bothered to schlep my Princeton, but it's not brilliant. Useable though.

Tele sounds better through an AER TBH

[christianm77]

I've been reading threads and threads here, trying to make my mind. The reason being that I have very few options I could try myself.

Henriksen, DV Mark, Mambo, ZT - these are some brands still in production that come up a lot here in the forum.

I have a valve Fender Hotrod Deluxe. It sounds super but i can't dial in the tone I'm after... and it's big and heavy! I'd like something easy to carry around and gig.

Ok, main thing would be the tone, something that could go hand in glove with an ES-175...!

What would you choose?
Thanks!

Yeah, you know what I friggin' hate the Hotrod Deluxe for a 175. It's NASTY (and not in a nice way). BUT - I believe you can mod them to sound less like balls. Probably the speaker is the first call. Anyone?

Probably sound great with a tele.

I bet Martin what'shisface above modded his. Makes sense - lots of headroom in that amp so it should be a good jazz platform in theory... Maybe the George Benson model is better?

My experience is that Gibsons in general can be princesses when it comes to amps. A Tele will get on with everyone, but those Gibbos are real snobs, and quite randomly too.

My Fender Princeton Reverb is ideal. Not light, but certainly not as heavy as a DeVille.

Other options? Well people like the mambos don't they *shrugs* never been that impressed with them, but YMMV. Problem is, speaker's too small and that's a problem with all small portable amps really, whatever fancy tech they use to try and make them sound fuller.

But a 10" is ample IMO.

Henricksen JazzAmps (basically polytones) sound good...

I used a ZT lunchbox for ages. Died. Also sounded better with single coils.

[Longways to Go]

A 175 sounds great with an Acoustic Image Clarus and a Raezer's Edge Stealth 10ER. In fact that is my standard working rig and has been for the last 12 years.

+1 to the Acoustic Image Clarus/Raezer's Edge combination. Super

I also have the Henriksen 110 ER and the DV Mark Little Jazz. They are great sounding amps too, but the Clarus sounds best to my ears. All good choices IMO. One thing worth noting -- the Little Jazz is the cheapest by a longshot!

[lawson-stone]

I have the DV Mark Micro 50 head, and a 10" 4 Ohm speaker in a cabinet. I love playing my archtops through the clean channel on that amp. I have a wide range of tone that I like, but honestly, if my Polytones break down, this amp really pleases me.

I will try to find some samples of the sound you check out. The head is nice also because you can use it for going direct into a PA or recording console with the XLR out.

[Max405]

Hey Joe, you inadvertently brought up a question I've wondered about. With my having a general disdain for SS amps after owning a few that were very unreliable, I've never had a polytone nor have I tried one. They're pretty scarce down here.

Do their amps have a "Familial" sound like Fender amps generally do, or are they very different from model to model like say Marshall is?

Hey Buddy,
2 years ago I got my Polytone from a great forum member, Medblues. Its really the only Polytone I've spent any length of time with. So I cant comment on there being any across the board "signature sound". But the MiniBrute3 that I have is a great amp, in particular, in a big room, far away. Its sound is tight. I used it on a couple of shows I did last year outdoors with an overzealous piano player and the Ptone had no problem overwhelming. It is tight and focused. Not nasally. Its a tiny lightweight little box. When you open it up, you see its loaded with insulation. Its powerful and it really projects. The only gripe is - its a little noisy and the spring reverb is not dampened enough. You can hear it when someone walks into a room while you are playing. With a 175, it is amazing. Although I think the amp is so pure, it perfectly amplifies the sound of a guitar/pickup combination. Because they are older and no longer made, I'd be worried about it being your main amp.

I hope that helps.
Joe D

[Doctor Jeff]

Observations on Stolen Moments YouTube above:

All guys playing guitars for a clip should wear shirts with sleeves and socks. It should be mandatory. (No offense if anyone on the forum was the guy playing the guitar--the playing is GOOD.)

I dig the iPad stand.

That looks like a Peerless Sunset in the case to his left. Would like to hear it A/B'd with the 175.

[medblues]

Hey Buddy,
2 years ago I got my Polytone from a great forum member, Medblues. Its really the only Polytone I've spent any length of time with. So I cant comment on there being any across the board "signature sound". But the MiniBrute3 that I have is a great amp, in particular, in a big room, far away. Its sound is tight. I used it on a couple of shows I did last year outdoors with an overzealous piano player and the Ptone had no problem overwhelming. It is tight and focused. Not nasally. Its a tiny lightweight little box. When you open it up, you see its loaded with insulation. Its powerful and it really projects. The only gripe is - its a little noisy and the spring reverb is not dampened enough. You can hear it when someone walks into a room while you are playing. With a 175, it is amazing. Although I think the amp is so pure, it perfectly amplifies the sound of a guitar/pickup combination. Because they are older and no longer made, I'd be worried about it being your main amp.

I hope that helps.
Joe D

I AB'ed my 90s Polytone with Joe's 80s Polytone. I could not distinguish the sound of one from the other. The 90s one has a broken reverb so that was the only difference.

Greentone has mentioned several times that the difference between Polytone generations is small and speaker (size ?) dependent: 8" vs 15" has more difference than two 12" speaker ones.

[coolvinny]

Don't forget about the Henriksen Alfresco - open back and 12" speaker.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Don't forget about the Henriksen Alfresco - open back and 12" speaker.

That's only available from Sound Island, right?