Suggestions for an amp?

[A Single Minute]

Recently my only amp (my marshall valvestate) died. It is completely screwed over so I am looking for a new amp. I am looking for something that is good quality and that will be suitable for playing halls and clubs. Any suggestions? I have been interested in a Fender Deville 4x10" all valve 60 watt combo. Heard anything about them? Any other suggestions of amps would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Pat

[Jurds]

Hi Pat,

So i assume that you want to buy a valve amp? How much are you looking to spend? What sort of sound/s are you after? What sort of features are you looking for?

There are plenty of options depending on what path you want to go down.

I personally have never played a deville nor do i know a hell of a lot about them but this site might help you out:

www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Fender/Hot_Rod_DeVille_4x10_Combo-01.html

This is the hotrod specific page but you can search just about any make of amp. Its best however to take the reviews with a grain of salt. People find it hard to bash and criticise an amp they have just wasted their pay packet on. A good idea is to look for common complaints or coments rather than "Man, this is the best amp ever made!!"

Also, there is an Aussie forum that has quite a few members and a few very knowledgable dudes who should be able to give you their thoughts on just about any amp. Check it out at:

www.guitargear.net.au/forums/

If you have a liking for Australian made gear then there are a few Australian amp maunufacturers who will more than likely be able to meet you specifications, namely Reynolds Valveart, Sherlock amps and BJ amps and many more. Depending on what you want to go for you will probably find that there prices are very reasonable compared to O/S "boutique" amps for example you can get a marshall TSL combo for about $2700 whereas an all tube, hand made from the ground up, point-to-point wired reynolds combo sill set you back about $2900 (50watt) and you can have it built to you specs (i.e. eq setting and the like). As well as having second to none after sale service to modify and change anything you wish. Comes with lifetime guarentee on labour too.

Of course that's if you wanted to spend that much dough on an amp. There are other alternatives like the deville and laney combos that offer good value for money. I saw a Laney VC30 in Allens the other day for $899. These are no fuss all tube amps that sound good right out of the box.

Then theres the modelers like the VOX AVT series. I have read good things about these amps and they come with a tonne of effects and amd simulations to satisfy the most sporadic of taste. I think Aemon has one of these if you want to ask him about them.

Another thing to probably note is that valve amps will be much louder than the solid state equivalents. The deville is 60watts but it will rip your face off and be more than loud enough for halls and clubs so will the Laney at 30 watts. Plus being combo's they are (most of the time) easier and lighter to transport.

I think thats enough rambling. If you need any more help just ask.

[A Single Minute]

Thanks for that Jurds. I spent quite a while reading over all those reviews. It seems to be an impressive amp. Yeah I am looking for a valve amp. Im looking for something with a nice thick, creamy clean channel and a drive channel with a crunchy not-so-overdriven sound (something like how Paul's overdriven tonemaster sounded at JJJ last year). Im thinking that a Fender will give me this sound. Ive been playing through my friend's Fender for a while now and its got a pretty good sound. Price wise im looking for something around the price of the deville... give or take a bit.

Pat

[Jurds]

No worries mate.

Looks as though that amp will suit you quite well. I wouldnt buy it to thrash out some metallica riffs though!

There is also the 2x12 option will give you some more bottom end if required. Up to you though.

Funnily enough dempsey and pip were using devilles at the stonefest gig alongside the tonemaster and the sunn. Not sure how they were used though.

Might be necessary to also mention that dempsey used a distortion/overdrive pedal for some of the overdriven tones in LTAW for example the ending in Kaplan. The cleaner tones are all amp as far as i know. Also, the middle pickup position is used on the guitar.

The best idea is to find a local shop that sells them and go and play around with one. That's the only way you will know whether it's the one you are after.

Good luck!

[Jurds]

Sorry dude one last thing.

I also recommend that you check out traynor amps. They are valve amps made in Canada and they are getting really good reviews and are extremely well priced. You can pick up a 2x12 80 watt combo for about $1800 i think which will be PLENTY loud. There are other options like 2x10, 1x12 etc......

I played one briefly about a year ago and it sounded fantastic. Really full warm clean channel that was as clear as day. Nice an shimmery too. Didnt use the distortion channels though unfortunately.

If you aren't too hung up on brand names then I personally would seriously consider one of these babies. Reading through a few revirews they certainly dont seem to have the reliability problems that the deville does. I also have a friend at Turramurra music who rates these amps very highly and he really knows his stuff.

Something to think about anyway.........

Cheers,

Jarrod

[A Single Minute]

Thanks again for all your help Jarrod. I ended up buying the Deville yesterday (got it cheaper than anywhere else too ;D). Plugged it in today and played through it with both my guitars... Sounds absolutely fantastic. I actually chose the Deville over a Marshall SLX 100watt all valve stack. Thats how impressed I was by the Deville. Cant praise it highly enough... Fantastic amp.

Thanks again
Pat

[Jurds]

No worries dude

Sounds as though you got yourself a nice amp and the most important thing is that you are happy with it!

Yeah, heard some nasty things about the JSX. I think it's regarded as the worst amp Marshall ever made.

Some people love it though! Each to their own i guess

[SPDC]

Way for me to resurrect an ancient thread here, but I also recently tried out several amps and guitars and honestly the 4x10 Deville is great, as is the 1x12 Deluxe and even the 1x12 Blues Junior. I also tried out one of the new VOX AC15s and it pretty much just blew me away how nice it sounded (and loud - at 'only' 15 watts it was nearly deafening, but watts don't mean anything with valve amps -- I was told that the Marshall stack in the store that was 25 watts could blow pretty much anything away). I should maybe mention that it probably helped that I played a 60's reissue strat and a '72 deluxe tele through them, they were just prefect.

Quite honestly I'd be very happy with pretty much any of those amps (and guitars) but they're a tad out of my price range at the moment.

[sheeps]

Peavey classic 30 rocks if you're on a budget too. I have one
and I love it.

[SPDC]

Recently bought myself a VOX Pathfinder 15R, pretty damn good amp for the price. Solid state, though, but that does remove some of the headaches that come with owning valve amps.

[littledigger]

www.labsystems.com.au/

That is all i need to say!