Looking For A New Amp

[seanmj]

Hey all,

I currently have a VHT UL... a 1x12 cab w/Celestion G12H, and a 4x10 cab with Jensens in it. I also bought a THD Bivalve last year... which I'm selling because it just doesn't work for what I want.

Since acquiring a custom strat.... I haven't really cared much for the amp setup I have. The VHT will do hi gain sounds really well... but I'm looking for those clean to mid breakup sounds.

I've tried a Fuchs ODS 50 and 100. Dr Z Z28, EZG 50, Maz 18, New Fenders, Old Fenders... nothing has really stood out.

While I dig the Fender cleans... when I try to run any sort of crunch pedal through it... it sounds too shrill.

I guess I'm looking for something that will do the Fender cleans... but can do a Marshall 800/plexi type thing.

I have a Wampler Plexi Drive... which sounds great through most amps... but none of those amps have a great clean sound. The amps with a great clean sound... don't seem to take that pedal too well.

Any suggestions? I'd actually like to try a Maz 38 or Route 66.... haven't found any to try.

I do like the EZG-50 quite a bit... but I don't think I have the right speaker cabs for it... it's a really bright and loud amp.... and my strat is quite bright to begin with.... AAAGHHH!

Sean Meredith-Jones
http://www.seanmeredithjones.com

[Budda]

I'm pretty sure the VHT will do those low gain sounds you want - you just have to set it up right.

Have you considered strat - tubescreamer - VHT clean channel?

Fender twin?

I know a place where that amp would sell pretty damn quick! I also happen to want it, but can't afford anything right now (especially since I only got my roadster a month ago haha)

[seanmj]

I can get somewhat decent low gain sounds out of the VHT... but it doesn't do the Fender/Vox thing for cleans.

I have tried a twin... and yes I have a strat. The twin is nice on cleans... though I haven't had a chance to plug in any of my pedals through it to see if it does crunch well.

I did plug my Wampler Plexi Drive into a Deluxe... and I didn't care for it too much... a little shrill.

Two amps I would like to still try are the DR.Z Route 66, and the Maz 38... anyone have one they would let me try???

I'm also thinking of going back to see Gerri Doyle...he had this amazing 4x12 cab with what I believe were Jensen 60watt speakers... the punchiest things I have ever head.... though I took the Fuchs ODS with me to try with it... which was a demo.

The Fuchs is a nice amp... but way too much coin for what you get. The gain channel I really don't care for... I prefer just a basic Tube Screamer.

Sean Meredith-Jones
http://www.seanmeredithjones.com

[Bevo]

What are you doing with the VHT?

[Budda]

donating it to me, I hope!

[seanmj]

I'm keeping the VHT at the moment. It still has a lot of useful sounds and flexibility that other amps don't have.

I am selling the THD Bivalve though... 30 watts... and it will take any kind of preamp or power output tube as it is self biasing. KT88, KT66, 6l6, el34, 6v6... and I have the yellow jackets so you can run el84's too.

It has a hotplate built into it, and I had an FX loop buffer installed in it. You can run one power output tube or two depending on the gig and how much power you need.

Sean Meredith-Jones
http://www.seanmeredithjones.com

[mrmatt1972]

So you're looking for a big loud clean sound that you can get a little hair on with a pedal or two? That sounds like a Twin or a Pro or a vintage Traynor. I just got a Traynor Mark 3 (YGL-3) for the second time in my life. It does exactly that. Anything from big bold, bass heavy cleans to treble filled twang. Up the volume knob and you can get a little hair. Add a pedal or two and you can do the blues really well.

If you've never had a vintage amp know that they need TLC more than new amps.


It is a huge and heavy amp -and probably has too much volume for me, but I love it.

Mine was 400 for the head.

[Tarl]

The CAA OD series amps have the best 2 channel setup I've ever heard. Wonderful sparkling cleans and all the great distortion and overtones you will ever need. But then again I am biased......

[hollowbody]

I'd +1 the Twin RI or the Traynor YGL3. Both are stellar platforms for building tone with pedals. Each will give you sparkly, spanky cleans and they really take pedals well.

[zdogma]

Originally Posted by seanmj

I can get somewhat decent low gain sounds out of the VHT... but it doesn't do the Fender/Vox thing for cleans.

I have tried a twin... and yes I have a strat. The twin is nice on cleans... though I haven't had a chance to plug in any of my pedals through it to see if it does crunch well.

I did plug my Wampler Plexi Drive into a Deluxe... and I didn't care for it too much... a little shrill.

Two amps I would like to still try are the DR.Z Route 66, and the Maz 38... anyone have one they would let me try???

I'm also thinking of going back to see Gerri Doyle...he had this amazing 4x12 cab with what I believe were Jensen 60watt speakers... the punchiest things I have ever head.... though I took the Fuchs ODS with me to try with it... which was a demo.

The Fuchs is a nice amp... but way too much coin for what you get. The gain channel I really don't care for... I prefer just a basic Tube Screamer.

Sean Meredith-Jones
http://www.seanmeredithjones.com

Hi Sean,

I have a great old Route 66 if you're ever in the Ottawa area.

The Route is pretty similar to an old JTM 45, but a bit fatter in the mids and with more bottom and less noise. Less bright and crunchy than a plexi style Marshall. It feels like an old amp, but without the noise and reliability issues of some of the older amps. The older ones (like mine) have a looser feel due to less filtering and you'll occasionally hear a bit of ghost noting when you play it really loud. Apparently Dr.Z was trying to replicate Paul Kossoff's Marshall tone on Fire and Water. Have a listen to it and you'll understand what I'm trying to describe. The newer ones (since 2002?) don't do that, and they're a bit tighter and more modern sounding. I much prefer the old ones.

I think its just a bit better with humbucker and P90 guitars.

The Route sounds great through a Zbest, but its pretty loud. I mostly use a Celestion Gold (still pretty loud) or a Celestion G1265 (less volume).

I have also had a Maz 38, excellent amp. Its a bit brighter and has more of that Vox chime. Volume was similar to the Route, but it cut a bit better through a mix. It has more power supply filtering, and you won't see any ghost notes. It also has a lot more control over tone shaping, the cut control is really useful. I prefer the Non Reverb models, they have a bit more punch and gain.

Works really well with Humbuckers and single coils.

The best speaker for the Maz is the Celestion Gold IMO.