Which amp am I looking for?

SlideGuy123 · June 12th, 2009, 04:23 PM

Need some suggestions here. I want to upgrade from my Blues Jr, which sounds pretty darn good (Billm tone stack mods, Texas Heat speaker). What I like is that it compresses easily, is more than loud enough but I can get quiet for practice and home use, and it's portable. What I'd like is more "air" and 3D quality to the sound.

Oh, and I play lap slide almost exclusively -- split single coil pickup. I want a full, David Lindley sound for Americana music. Price - up to $1500 used or new.

Needs:
* 15-20 watts
* Reverb (I'd rather not carry an extra pedal)
* master volume (we prefer to keep practice and stage volume down where possible)
* 1 channel is fine - never had a 2 channel amp
* Lightweight -- 35-40 pounds, give or take (lighter is better)
* Light to Medium gain -- I almost never play completely clean

So what are my choices -- Allen Accomplice -- can I get the midrange punch? DR Z Maz Jr -- sounds cool, but bigger and heavier than I want? Twister Devil's Deluxe? 5e3 clone with reverb? Zinky Blue Velvet?

Suggestions welcome. Thanks.

DaBender · June 12th, 2009, 04:53 PM

Alessandro Amps Working Dog. Rottweiler, or something like that. Check them out.

Ben Harmless · June 12th, 2009, 05:03 PM

If you run across a used Carr Mercury, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. It should be in that range if it's used. I'm pretty sure it meets all of your requirements, and offers some of the best tones these two ears have ever heard.

jarmijo · June 12th, 2009, 07:03 PM

* 15-20 watts OK
* Reverb OK
* master volume OK
* 1 channel is fine - never had a 2 channel amp
* Lightweight -- 35-40 pounds OK
* Light to Medium gain -- I almost never play completely clean

fender blues JR

bootlegger1929 · June 12th, 2009, 08:36 PM

Dr. Z MAZ Jr.

Guinness · June 12th, 2009, 08:51 PM

With so many great amps to choose from...

Should you try one, you might like the Deluxe Reverb Reissue as much as I do...

It is such a simple, reliable, great sounding, easy to use, easy to carry, easy to look at amplifier. It accepts single coils & humbuckers equally well, (don't know about pedals~ I haven't used 'em). Also, it doesn't cost a fortune

Thats what my ears have to say

Good luck!

~Randy

Wally · June 13th, 2009, 01:44 PM

How about an extension speaker cab ...matched dimensions and speaker. Spread the sound around? Another suggestion? An extension cab but sealed cab approach. This seems odd, but if you 'stack' it under the open-back Blues JR, you will hear soem very complex things happening....punch of the closedback, the looseness of the openback, big dimensionality, and possibly some harmonic generation that will surprise you. Just a thought.

KC · June 13th, 2009, 04:07 PM

I play a ton of slide myself and love my blues junior as a nice lightweight starting point. Here are a couple of suggestions to try out for a different voice, none with reverb, though I find that I use verb less and less in a band situation. (A) Carr Hammerhead, small, light, portable, has a master volume, never owned one but I've played through two or three & always found a usable sound right away, especially for slide. This is the one that sprang to mind right away when I read your post. (B) Gibson / Goldtone GA15. Does almost nothing that you asked for (no reverb, no master) but does sound great for slide -- Chris Whitley's favorite amp. 15 watts, 1x10, I've been using an Austin Gold in front of it for grit at practice volumes & this combo sounds terrific. (C) Fender Deluxe with a compressor in front. No advantages at all -- no verb, no master, way too loud in practice and sometimes not loud enough on the gig -- but my '65 Deluxe with a boosted compressor in front of it is the slide sound I've always been looking for. More compression / less gain for Lowell George / Bonnie Raitt sounds, less compression & more gain for Elmore & raunchier stuff.

But try that Hammerhead if you an find one.

SlideGuy123 · June 13th, 2009, 04:43 PM

Thanks all. These are great ideas -- I need to find a shop that has these amps to try. And the extension speaker for my Blues Jr might be a good thing to try (but it cuts back on the portability. Any other suggestions?

June 12th, 2009, 04:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
SlideGuy123 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 14	Which amp am I looking for? Need some suggestions here. I want to upgrade from my Blues Jr, which sounds pretty darn good (Billm tone stack mods, Texas Heat speaker). What I like is that it compresses easily, is more than loud enough but I can get quiet for practice and home use, and it's portable. What I'd like is more "air" and 3D quality to the sound. Oh, and I play lap slide almost exclusively -- split single coil pickup. I want a full, David Lindley sound for Americana music. Price - up to $1500 used or new. Needs: * 15-20 watts * Reverb (I'd rather not carry an extra pedal) * master volume (we prefer to keep practice and stage volume down where possible) * 1 channel is fine - never had a 2 channel amp * Lightweight -- 35-40 pounds, give or take (lighter is better) * Light to Medium gain -- I almost never play completely clean So what are my choices -- Allen Accomplice -- can I get the midrange punch? DR Z Maz Jr -- sounds cool, but bigger and heavier than I want? Twister Devil's Deluxe? 5e3 clone with reverb? Zinky Blue Velvet? Suggestions welcome. Thanks.

June 12th, 2009, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 4,348 13 Photos	If you run across a used Carr Mercury, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. It should be in that range if it's used. I'm pretty sure it meets all of your requirements, and offers some of the best tones these two ears have ever heard. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson "...Because we all expect the truth, we must be the best of fools." - Stiff Little Fingers

June 12th, 2009, 04:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
DaBender Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maine Age: 54 Posts: 234	Alessandro Amps Working Dog. Rottweiler, or something like that. Check them out.

June 12th, 2009, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
jarmijo TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: chile Age: 33 Posts: 23	* 15-20 watts OK * Reverb OK * master volume OK * 1 channel is fine - never had a 2 channel amp * Lightweight -- 35-40 pounds OK * Light to Medium gain -- I almost never play completely clean fender blues JR

June 12th, 2009, 08:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
bootlegger1929 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago Age: 22 Posts: 151 2 Photos	Dr. Z MAZ Jr.

June 12th, 2009, 08:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Guinness Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dover, DE Age: 40 Posts: 208	With so many great amps to choose from... Should you try one, you might like the Deluxe Reverb Reissue as much as I do... It is such a simple, reliable, great sounding, easy to use, easy to carry, easy to look at amplifier. It accepts single coils & humbuckers equally well, (don't know about pedals~ I haven't used 'em). Also, it doesn't cost a fortune Thats what my ears have to say Good luck! ~Randy

June 13th, 2009, 01:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wally Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 6,012	How about an extension speaker cab ...matched dimensions and speaker. Spread the sound around? Another suggestion? An extension cab but sealed cab approach. This seems odd, but if you 'stack' it under the open-back Blues JR, you will hear soem very complex things happening....punch of the closedback, the looseness of the openback, big dimensionality, and possibly some harmonic generation that will surprise you. Just a thought.

June 13th, 2009, 04:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
KC Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Missoula, Montana Posts: 1,338 16 Photos	I play a ton of slide myself and love my blues junior as a nice lightweight starting point. Here are a couple of suggestions to try out for a different voice, none with reverb, though I find that I use verb less and less in a band situation. (A) Carr Hammerhead, small, light, portable, has a master volume, never owned one but I've played through two or three & always found a usable sound right away, especially for slide. This is the one that sprang to mind right away when I read your post. (B) Gibson / Goldtone GA15. Does almost nothing that you asked for (no reverb, no master) but does sound great for slide -- Chris Whitley's favorite amp. 15 watts, 1x10, I've been using an Austin Gold in front of it for grit at practice volumes & this combo sounds terrific. (C) Fender Deluxe with a compressor in front. No advantages at all -- no verb, no master, way too loud in practice and sometimes not loud enough on the gig -- but my '65 Deluxe with a boosted compressor in front of it is the slide sound I've always been looking for. More compression / less gain for Lowell George / Bonnie Raitt sounds, less compression & more gain for Elmore & raunchier stuff. But try that Hammerhead if you an find one.

June 13th, 2009, 04:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
SlideGuy123 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 14	Thanks all. These are great ideas -- I need to find a shop that has these amps to try. And the extension speaker for my Blues Jr might be a good thing to try (but it cuts back on the portability. Any other suggestions?

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