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Fender 5E3 Deluxe with 4 different inputs subject to venue and pickups. Glorious Jazz tones. Love it.
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12-23-2018 08:40 AM
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Since I play almost exclusively 7-string nylon, Bose Compact with Zoom A3 processor, or, for more coventional electric guitar sounds, Bose Compact with Digitech processor. I own no point-source amps, they only sound good in a very small window. Directly in front, almost always too loud. Off to the side, almost always too thin. In fact, when the Bose was introduced, the guitarist in the demo band used a small amp miced through the Bose! He said he was so happy to finally be able to hear his amp and for the audience to hear what he did.
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Many good replies already...
Jazz is a very wide genre of music isn’t it? You could be playing solo in a restaurant or club, or in a trio or quartet playing in a club with or without a PA system or perhaps even as a member of a big band orchestra. These situations require differing amounts of clean power and speaker efficiency.
Over the last two decades, small, lightweight, powerful grab n’ go combo amps and head/speaker cabinet combos have become available from a number of manufacturers. They differ mostly in the neutrality or warmth of their baseline timbre; EQ adjustment, quality of effects and size/type/make of speakers. Speakers range from 6-1/2”, 8”, 10” or 12” and from <95dB to >100dB in their efficiency. You need to decide what timbral center you like (neutral or euphonically warm) and how loud you need to be (power + speaker efficiency).
These amps are popular because they both sound good, their size/weight to power capabilities and that they are rugged to transport. You will still see some tube amps out there, but less and less by working musicians. I also see some modeling amps beginning to be used by some players who play a wider spectrum of styles.
Depending on your need, you will likely find a solid state amp solution from one of these seven companies:
Acoustic Image
AER
DV Mark
Evans
Henriksen
Mambo
Quilter
My $.02
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My amps are all great jazz amps, depending on the venue and the needed volume and projection:
AER Alpha: the lightest solution I have for small venues when I have to walk, cycle or take public transport. Great little amp, I used it a lot with a singer that can plug in as well. Usable digital reverb but not great. 40 watts, but gets underpowered soon with a drummer that uses sticks. Fairly dark sounding but while meant as an amp for acoustic guitar it works surprisingly well with my ES-333 with humbuckers, but you have to roll off treble or use an EQ pedal.
Award Session Bluesbaby 22: still very light (9.7 kgs) in a home made pine cab and Jensen Neodymium speaker. 22 watts can deal with any jazz-situation. I even use it in a big band, gets some hair on the tone then, but in a good way. It sounds more authentic and like a ‘real’ guitar amp then the AER, very Fender-y, it has a Blackface switch and a mid boost so both Blackface and Tweed tones are possible and sound very authentic to my ear.
Award Session Rockette:30. A surprisingly versatile amp! 30 watts, real spring reverb, 12”. Can get loud and can get shrill but has some great tones in it. Heavier than my Bluesbaby 22 but also a little louder.
1958 Dynacord DA16/v in homemade cab with a Fender made by Eminence speaker. 15 watts out of 2xEL84. Instant Kenny Burrell! I gigged it in pretty loud situations and it doesn’t stay clean of course but sings and compresses in a great way, without really overdriving. Very very nice!!
1960ies Framus Strato 345. Very rare amp. 12” speaker, 2xEL36. Probably around 25-30 watts or so. Tremolo but no reverb. I use a Boss ‘63 Reverb pedal. Great, great sounds! Like a Deluxe that stays cleaner (or maybe a low powered Twin?). Plenty loud with a drummer, not sqeaky clean when things get louder, but very authentic vintage sounds. Love this amp.
1993 Fender Blues Deluxe. I used this a lot in a soul-band with a Strat and was always pleased with it. For archtops and humbuckers I liked it less but after I modded the NFB, tonestack an PI into AB763 it’s really really great! But it’s a heavy amp.
1970ies Guyatone Twin Reverb copy. This is a 1:1 copy (after some mods by myself) of a 1965 Blackface AB763 Twin Reverb (the circuit at least). The ultimate jazz amp to me, especially after I modded the normal channel with a Bassman tonestack (less mid-scoop) and put reverb and tremolo on that channel as well. Very heavy of course, so only for the gigs where you can get by car and park close to the stage.
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Since I bought my Bud, that's what I have been playing. Haven't considered buying another amp. Feel the same way about my P Bass and piano. Wish I could get that way with guitars.
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My understanding is that many DV Mark amps are manufactured in China and Indonesia. Does anyone here have a DV Mark jazz amp that is made in Italy?
Originally Posted by Cordalis
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Jazznote, I inadvertently left Mambo (and Quilter) off my list. I have met many European Jazz musicians here in the States who were traveling with AER amps (I have yet to see a Mambo, but look forward to that). After playing the AER Compact 60, I bought one and upgraded it to one of the models with the solid oak cabinet. I am pretty pleased with the tone with the solid wood cabinet, indeed the tone with the plywood cabinet is not the best. The Henriksen Bud may replace it for me at some point (I need to hear one on a carpeted floor to see if the downfiring port is a problem) and perhaps the Mambo will be the ticket if they are ever sold on this side of the pond. Bottom line for me at 61 (and getting older each passing day) is light weight is important. As is good tone. We live in a time where both are now possible. Originally Posted by JazzNote
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Why do I always feel I'm in the minority.
Gibson EH150.
And yes @jschiele I love my 52 fender pro!
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All of my amps are good for anything and guitars or violin. If I don't know what to expect the silverface twin with 15" neo is the one to go, or one of the Yamaha G series or an ampeg or .....
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Old Peavey Classic 30 for tube sound.
Had Deville 212, Blues Jr., and HRD. Like the peavey better. More "alive" sounding.
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Same here, 62 now, i started downsizing weight of everything possible a few years ago. Even a lighter guitarstand and volume pedal. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
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For me, there is no such thing - it's gotta match up with the guitar and the pick-up.
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Pearce G2r
Peterson P100G
Rath-Amp / PCL Vintage Amp Stagemaster 59
Award Session Blues Baby 45/HH
If it has to be a tube amp it would probably be one of my Framus amps.
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Gigs, Acoustic Image Ten2 & Corus:
Home, Axe-FX III includes 250+ amp models, currently using Fender tweeds and Princeton Reverb for jazz:
Danny W.
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I think Vox amps can be wonderful when played clean. They are stupidly heavy though. Not fun to move.
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I love my Fender DRRI, upgraded with a Celestion Alnico Gold. I also had the bright cap removed. Big, beautiful, warm jazz tone.
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I just bought a Celestion AlNico Gold for my 22 watt Heritage Victory (their take on the DR), and looking forward to it improving an already fine jazz/blues/rock amp. Originally Posted by El Fundo
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For jazz tone I love the baxandall tone controls on my small Ampeg.
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Yessir. Ampeg combo amps are great for jazz. I still enjoy the tones that Larry Coryell got with his Super 400 through an Ampeg Super Echo Twin.
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if i have to choose one, based only on sound (not portability etc) I'd say a twin reverb, it would also be my #1 rock, pop or blues amp too... wish i was playing gigs big enough to use one hehehe
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I favor variety in my amps more than I do my guitars since I don't feel as though I have to change my technique as much to accommodate scale lengths, body shapes, frets, setups, etc. As a result, I tend to plug into different amps on a regular basis. My collection includes a variety of solid state amps including Henriksen (thanks to Stringswinger, flawless transaction), Acoustic Image, and Evans, and a couple of tube Heritage amps that are designed around blackface Fender designs. They all get playing time since they each have their own personalities, and the uniqueness of their sounds keeps me motivated and enthusiastic about playing and practicing.
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Does Fender Deluxe tweed stay clean enough for jazz? Originally Posted by JCat
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Today I owns just solid state amps. Hiwatt Maxwatt G20R is my main amp. Originally Posted by Rufes
If I’ll dream a little my amp choice would be either a Fender Twin Reverb, a vintage Polytone or Metheny’s old Acoustic 134. I love vintage solid state amps
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Vintage 47 VA-185, which is the copy of Gibson EH-185. Octal tube goodness!
I also have AER Alpha, which is pretty good.
Basically I've learned I can get along with most tube amps, a few SS amps too, as long as it's not Polytone or anything Polytone-like.
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Two perspectives to consider: Originally Posted by tomems
1. The first digital amp modeler to become a commodity was the Line 6 POD with millions of units in bedrooms around the globe. It had a model called "Small Tweed". It was supposedly modeled after a 1952 "wide panel" Deluxe*. It was an awful freak representation, impossible to get a clean tone.
This fake digital amp model alone has left people with a distorted perception of what a Tweed Deluxe sounds like. When the same people get a real 5E3, they complain all over internet that it's impossible to make it break up....
In addition there are countless of Youtube clips where someone is demoing a 5E3 while screaming from the top of their lounges because it's so freaking loud.
This has led to a common impression that 5E3s are individually very different. My conclusion is that players are far more individually different than any two 5E3s.
*(In 1952 it was the "TV front" Deluxe, aka 5A3. The wide panel Deluxe was introduced in 1953 with the 5B3 circuit. Not to be confused with the 5E3.)
2. I used to play a hefty 100 W solid state in a full size swing band. I was constantly fighting distortion. I learned a few things about speakers, pickups and settings.
Summary: The amount of headroom required depends on the situation, the venue and the loudness of the band, the amp-speaker, the guitar pickups and overall settings. And it depends on what you play and how you play it. An excellent feature of the 5E3 are the multiple inputs. Also make sure you get an up to date speaker if you don't like distortion.
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