The quest for clean volume continues..

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:20 pm

So, despite upgrading my Marshall VS100 with a matched speaker (4 ohms, rather than the stock 8 ohm drover), the amount of clean volume still isn't good enough. At the last Casa Bonita show my "clean" sound was getting totally dirty thanks to unwanted poweramp distortion, making for messy feedback once the distortion was kicked in.

Can anyone recommend me something properly beefy in a solidstate 1x12 format? I'm not at all fussed about make (been considering Peavey), as long as it's available used and affordable.

I was considering a Crate Powerblock with a little 1x12 cab, but I'm always dubious of single channel amps that use a 'gain and volume' setup- the clean volume always takes a hit.

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:41 pm

...

Er, just get a Twin? Or any number of bass amps out there, those are designed to stay clean.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:02 pm

Sorry, I shoulda stipulated: it really needs to be transportable by hand.. the VS100 is like 32kg or something which is already totally punishing when you're already transporting a guitar and pedalboard. Bass amps rarely offer the top end of a guitar amp, and seeing as I already use a bass amp in conjunction with the Marshall, I really need something more toppy.

I thought about picking up some keyboard amp or something; my effects take care of all mah tones (I have a "nearly clean" effect on my M9 all the time) so I don't need anything other than volume and a decent EQ in an amp.

I'm keeping an eye on a ZT Club 12 on Ebay at the mo too, although I'm dubious about any design that can't be fixed by your average amp tech..

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:12 pm

Sure I've said this before, but: H/H amps are your future.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:17 pm

Not sure on UK availability but the acoustic B600H will shear your skin off with pure clean volume.
it'll deliver 600W rms into a 4ohm load. weighs and takes up about the same amount of space as a decently garnished pedalboard.
you can find them used generally around the $400 mark.

Looks pretty boss, too.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:27 pm

benecol wrote:Sure I've said this before, but: H/H amps are your future.

Ooh yes, of course- my bass head is an HH!

Oh and Acoustic, I've heard good things.. are they not bass amps though?

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:30 pm

How about an award session sessionette, I played one at the studio we practice in recently and was impressed.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:30 pm

Are bass amps totally out of the question?

Color me noobed but isn't there a way to limit a bass amp's response within the frequency spectrum generally associated to a guitar amp?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:31 pm

BOOM

(there are some regular 2x12 H/H combos on eBay at the mo too - a nice one in Cambridge).

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:32 pm

johnnyseven wrote:How about an award session sessionette, I played one at the studio we practice in recently and was impressed.

The fella who bought my old strat bought these and reconditioned them. Not 100 watts though.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:38 pm

Doog wrote: I'm keeping an eye on a ZT Club 12 on Ebay at the mo too, although I'm dubious about any design that can't be fixed by your average amp tech..

It's remarkable for what it is... the ultimate portable gigging amp.

I've found it can be quite finickety it terms of what pedal it likes... I put a few in front of it which I thought to be winning formulas with other amps and it was a mess. I was guaranteed to buy one otherwise but that kinda surprised me. It was just a bunch of uncontrollable mud.

I hooked it up with a mesa 4x12 and it sounded amazing !!! SO if you regularly have access to a cab it could be a good option. The small MDF cab can only do so much... and have so much spread.

I think it's a Jazz players dream, but give it a whirl with the M9 and it could surprise you. It would be a gamble otherwise IMO.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:44 pm

Hows about a classic 30 ?? Second hand they are a steal !!

I have this incase it's a consideration: could do it for Â£70 something. Old School solidstate. Still probably not what you're after. Feel free to come and try it.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/marsh ... d/91583472

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:48 pm

Yeah, I'd definitely want to try one out first, it appears to be quite the elusive amp to find in a store with an actual "showroom" rather than just mailorder places.

benecol wrote:BOOM

(there are some regular 2x12 H/H combos on eBay at the mo too - a nice one in Cambridge).

I just done saw'd that one, but I'm really looking for something with a higher power spec; the Marshall is also 100w and I don't wanna make the same mistake again. Of course the wattage rating only tells you so much (amp and speaker efficiency are way more important), but if I can't try it out beforehand, it could be my undoing, like.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:50 pm

othomas2 wrote:Hows about a classic 30 ?? Second hand they are a steal !!

I have this incase it's a consideration: could do it for Â£70 something. Old School solidstate. Still probably not what you're after. Feel free to come and try it.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/marsh ... d/91583472

Totally won't be loud enough, given that my 100w Marshall Valvestate couldn't deliver. Cheers though!

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:10 pm

No worries Doog... it is said to be louder that the more modern sold state marshalls but yeah I think you'd be pushing it.
----
Shame, we had a Club 12 sitting there for ages in my shop on clearance.... it only went about a month ago.

Maybe try Ivor Mairants !! They got one in for me originally but seemed slightly miffed when I went away saying I would have think about it. You could do the same if you're desperate. Or they may still have the one they got in for me originally.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm

othomas2 wrote:No worries Doog... it is said to be louder that the more modern sold state marshalls but yeah I think you'd be pushing it.
----
Shame, we had a Club 12 sitting there for ages in my shop on clearance.... it only went about a month ago.

Maybe try Ivor Mairants !! They got one in for me originally but seemed slightly miffed when I went away saying I would have think about it. You could do the same if you're desperate. Or they may still have the one they got in for me originally.

BUMZ, I could've totally paid you a visit at your shop and been MEGA JERK CUSTOMER for the lolz, hahahaha.

Cool, I'll look into Ivor Mairants, see if they can hook a brother up, cheers for the heads-up!

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:48 pm

How about a Jazz Chorus? The 120 may be a bit big/heavy but what about one of the smaller models? The 50, 60 or 77.

Post by **Doog** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:54 pm

Another good plan, although I'd only get a 1x12, so would be limited to finding a JC60. One to stick in the Ebay "saved search" email list!

Again, not sure if a 60w amp would be a wise move, but Jazz Choruses ARE balls-to-the-wall loud generally..

toez10 · Post by **toez10** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:58 pm

I pretty regularly play guitar through my markbass little mark ii through a 1x12, and it has some awesome cleans, all the highs of a twin, and 500 watts from a 6lb head. They can be found, for reasonable prices used, especially since there is a newer revisions available now.

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:13 am

My rig has been a Vox 112 cab or a Marshall 212 powered by an Ampeg Mikro head for the last 2 years. Super light, dependable, and loud clean power. Best $300 I ever spent on a head. Folks are generally amazed when they hear it.