Tube (& lesser) Amplifiers

[Joe in PNG]

In order to not derail the knife defense thread further, I thought it would be good to start a thread about a guitarist's second favorite bit of gear, and the soundman's worst enemy- the amplifier.
Tube amps preferred, but we can bring in solid state as well.

My newly completed main amp:
16955

That's a 20w Marshall Bass & Lead clone, built around a Ceriatone board, and in a 1x12 Ampeg style "fliptop" cabinet. Covering is just some tweed upholstery fabric I got from Walmart, glued to the box, and varnished. It's super basic- a normal channel, a bright channel, and just a volume and tone on each channel. I run a jumper between the two, and can mix up a number of good tones with those 4 controls.

And it sounds amazing. Nice and modern when playing my active headless Flying V bass, and rough, deep, and heavy with my Hofner Icon B-Bass, strung with heavy flatwounds.

[Joe in PNG]

However, I'm not a tube snob. Here's my other amp:
16956
(most of the pictures I have of it have a guitar parked in front)
That's an old Rickenbacker TR-35b, with a bit of a story. I bought it back in 1993, played it for a short while, then came across a battered & cheap Sunn 100s head.
So, the electronic bits were removed, and the 1x15 cab used as the speaker for a long number of years, until both were stolen in 1999. The Ric chassis was stuffed in a series of storage sheds and closets, and mostly forgotten until a few years ago.
I was wanting a new amp over here, as my Peavey Bassic was fairly bland. And here's this nice old Ric amp sitting around, doing nothing. So, I sent it over along with a Celestion 15, found the cab dimensions for the old Ric combo, and basically built a new one. And it pretty much worked right off, after I replaced some of the electrolytic caps.

Sound wise, it's a good "meat and potatoes" amp. It's got a good, rich, meaty tone without a lot of frills.
Back i

[orionz06]

http://i.imgur.com/brGLnZq.jpg


Mesa is wrapping me a custom 1x12 as we speak. Will have pics when it's in. The vertical 2x12 is just a bit much for me.

[Jac]

a guitarist's second favorite bit of gear

After the pedal board...

[Edster]

Deleted - can't get the pictures to upload right.

[Joe in PNG]

I've always wondered why the "flip" Ampeg style combos aren't more popular?

As for tubes in the combo above, JJ EL84s for the power amp, a new Tung Sol 12ax7 for the preamp, and a new Mullard in the PI. No real reason, just because, and I don't want to risk expensive NOS tubes in our often poor PNG electrical grid.

[rauchman]

Very cool stuff! I don't have a pic, but I'm running a Peavey Classic 50 tube amp. No substitute for tubes....

[archangel]

a guitarist's second favorite bit of gear, and the soundman's worst enemy- the amplifier.

As a guitarist AND the sound guy, I've had plenty of internal conflict over this.

Recently I ditched my giant pedal board & dual amp setup in favor of (and I'm sure this offends all sorts of sensibilities in this thread, but you did include "& lesser" amps. :p) a Line 6 Helix.


https://media.sweetwater.com/images/items/750/Helix-large.jpg?a1f46231fd

I'm sure someone could hear a difference between it and a real tube amp, but the audience doesn't seem to. And it's nice to be able to experiment with different amps, say a JTM-45, a Bassman, a Matchless, and Dr Z, and a Dumble-ish boutique amp, all in the same set, and go back home with just a guitar case and a backpack.

[Duelist]

I've had 3 amps: a really crappy SS that something in it died after a couple of years when I turned it on.

Then I bought a Fender Blues Jr. What an upgrade! I was never in a rock band, so it was plenty of power for a house amp or playing in wine and coffee houses.

Then, I got into an acoustic group and we started doing outdoor venues and stuff, and I started doing more solo acoustic gigs, and decided I didn't want a board, just a really good 2 channel acoustic amp. I got a Genz-Benz Shenandoah Jr, and had to sell the Blues Jr to pay for it. It's a really nice amp for what I do, but there are times I want to get out the Strat, and I miss the Blues Jr.

Oh, well.

[Irelander]

I had an 80s Fender Twin Reverb that I loved but it was so freakin heavy I decided to downsize since I don't really play out anymore. I don't do solid state anymore. I picked up a Vox AC4 that my buddy was selling. Here's what mine looks like.
http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2a10040592ebbf573256fc28145f963a.jpg

I love it! Super easy to haul around and it sounds great and can pack a punch.

Kudos to Tom! A Mesa rig was my dream rig back when I was in a band.

I do amp repair on the side and I see some nice stuff now and then.

[Buckshot]

OK, I'm gonna go home & start taking pics of tube amps till you guys are sick of 'em. I've got a Rickenbacker M12 that is so old, Ric isn't even sure when it was made!
Truth is,the state of the art SS & modeling stuff is getting so damn good, I'm not sure tubes are worth the trouble anymore - especially when you're addicted to Vox circuits that eat power tubes faster than short magnums burn barrels! 5 years ago - no question, but with stuff as good as Kemper & Quilter around now, I'm not so sure.

[Lex Luthier]

I've had just a few tube amps, but have played through some doozies over the years via generous friends.

The only one here currently is a 1967 Bassman head that is now fitted into a late 90s Allen "Old Flame" cabinet; current speaker is a Weber California 15" JBL clone with an aluminum dome.
It was one of Joe Louis Walker's touring amps; I got it in 1989 as a head. Only modification is a 3 prong cord and the polarity switch disconnected.

It is of course shimmery clean but can roar when pushed and gets Real Damned Loud.

17022

In the original head cabinet:

17021

I had a chance to test drive a recent Allen Amplification Encore; It was the consistent tone and versatility winner in a shop full of very good to great amps. Am thinking strongly of getting one at some point soon.