Solid State amp advice (yeah, I know, I know)

Bernie · May 11th, 2004, 07:06 PM

All,

I own 1 amp - a blackfaced Vibrolux Reverb. I love it, it sounds great, but I sounds tired after so many hours of playing, so I need to get tubes, a going over by an amp tech, etc., which runs into $$, then the cycle starts over again until it starts to sound tired again.

In the 80s I played a Roland JC 120 for 10 years and that sucker sounded great *all the time.* It was consistent. When I turned it on, it worked without a hitch. No strange, unexplained noises, no unpredictable behavior, none of that. Every time I need to retube or get a tune up on the Vibrolux I think about the cost and then I think of that JC 120 that sounded good from the day I bought it to the day I (stupidly) sold it. I never had to bring it into a repair shop - ever.

No, I'm not going to sell the Vibrolux to finance this, but what's the deal with solid state these days? I know parts for old JC 120s are hard to find, and an updated model (with effects loop, different switch for chorus and vibrato, and more(?)) has since been released. Anyone have one? What about other ss amps (Tech 21, etc.)? I use a PSA-1 preamp sometimes, so an amp with full range speakers would be nice. I've been considering a Tech 21 Trademark 60, 120, or Power Engine as well as a new(er) JC 120, but I haven't tried any yet. Advice or comments anyone?

As always, thank you.

-Bernie

Brad · May 11th, 2004, 07:34 PM

Wll Bernie, as an old solid stater from waaay back, I can tell you the Tech 21 Trademark 60 is a great choice. Also check out the Roland Blues Cube series. Great amps for the $$. I played a NOS Peavey Studio Pro ll yesterday and was amazed by the pure, clean tone it produced. This would be a great amp for clean tele tones. I did not try the overdrive section, so I can't comment on that, but I usually use a pedal on SS amps for OD/Distortion tones. The Peavey Special 130's, Old Renowns, etc are great bang for buck SS amps.

WallyArms · May 11th, 2004, 08:19 PM

Deluxe 90 DSP. I'm not much on effects and play clean about 99% of the time, but I do use a few of the DSP effects and the drive channel on occasion.

Cam · May 11th, 2004, 08:38 PM

I fortunately kept mine.... or what about their JC90 (2 X 10)?
Try what Adam Levy (adamlevy.com) recommends and turn off the bass and treble and use the middle only, if you get a chance to try one again.
I'd also like to snag an old Roland Cube 60 if I could find one in good condition. I must try one of their newer blues cube series.
They still make the JC120 so that says something about the solid state of these old/new amps. And hey, if you liked your 120 why not like one again? It is a reliable workhorse of solid statedom.

Caper · May 12th, 2004, 12:11 AM

There's one in the garage sale for sale right now Peavey Envoy. I had the same amp never had a problem with it.

Ben Harmless · May 12th, 2004, 12:53 AM

In my old band we had a saying: "What would Joe Strummer do?"

Well, he'd play a JC-120.

I played a JC-120, actually in a different band, but it worked for awhile. I couldn't get enough headroom for high-gain at high volume, but I never, ever, had a problem with cleans.

I've also played through a 3x10 Blues Cube 60. It was extremely cool, and the cleans were pretty much there with the JC. Plus, the dirt was much better, although some don't like it much.

bluescube · May 12th, 2004, 09:23 AM

I like Rolands too. I have the Bluescube 30 2x10. Great amps. Carvin SX amps would be worth looking into too.

bongo · May 12th, 2004, 05:02 PM

I sold my Twin Reverb in 1969 and played solid state amps since then ( just recently bought a Peavey Classic 30). A Yamaha G212 and a Peavey Special 130 and Peavey Studio Pro all served me ....."without a single problem....." in all that time. The clean sounds especially on the 130 were always very good. Yea, my tube amps sound great and there is a certain vibe with them but if I was gigging nowadays I'd buy a solid state amp and never look back.

always trust your own ears

Bernie · May 12th, 2004, 05:36 PM

Thanks to all (so far) for the suggestions. I'll make a stop at a couple of music stores this weekend to try out some of the amps mentioned here.

-Bernie

BluesCruise · May 12th, 2004, 08:10 PM

I've had all kinds of tube amps, and several solid state amps as well - including a Peavey Bandit and a Carvin SX100. But for the last 2 years, I've been using a Fender Deluxe 90 (the previous non-DSP model). It's a great amp, loud enough for small to medium gigs. It has a nice Fender-y clean channel, and a very useful drive channel. It sounds real good with my Teles. Lots of beef, without the mid hump that you get with overdrive pedals. I think its drive channel sounds better than my previous tube amps. The clean channel has faster attack and more punch than a tube amp.

By the way, I've just ordered the biggest Fender solid-state amp (the Stage 160 DSP) and it's due to arrive tomorrow. I'll use that one for the big gigs, and the D90 for everything else. Meanwhile, I've place an ad for my Evil Twin. No more expensive 80 lb. finicky tube amps for me!

Brad · May 12th, 2004, 08:43 PM

I always wondered about the Dyna Touch series. Never had the opportunity to try one, but the reviews always seem very positivive. Thaks for the info and let us know how that stage 160 works out.

e-merlin · May 12th, 2004, 09:09 PM

Peavey's got some great SS amps with their TransTube stuff. The biggest shortcoming of SS amps is the distortion, but Peavey's really getting close. Especially with the XXL. I've played one next to a Triple X and they compare favorably! I'd still go for tubes, but the XXL is pretty good. And the really cool thing is it sounds just as good at low volume as it does cranked. Not something many tube amps do.

May 11th, 2004, 07:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bernie Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 524	Solid State amp advice (yeah, I know, I know) All, I own 1 amp - a blackfaced Vibrolux Reverb. I love it, it sounds great, but I sounds tired after so many hours of playing, so I need to get tubes, a going over by an amp tech, etc., which runs into $$, then the cycle starts over again until it starts to sound tired again. In the 80s I played a Roland JC 120 for 10 years and that sucker sounded great all the time. It was consistent. When I turned it on, it worked without a hitch. No strange, unexplained noises, no unpredictable behavior, none of that. Every time I need to retube or get a tune up on the Vibrolux I think about the cost and then I think of that JC 120 that sounded good from the day I bought it to the day I (stupidly) sold it. I never had to bring it into a repair shop - ever. No, I'm not going to sell the Vibrolux to finance this, but what's the deal with solid state these days? I know parts for old JC 120s are hard to find, and an updated model (with effects loop, different switch for chorus and vibrato, and more(?)) has since been released. Anyone have one? What about other ss amps (Tech 21, etc.)? I use a PSA-1 preamp sometimes, so an amp with full range speakers would be nice. I've been considering a Tech 21 Trademark 60, 120, or Power Engine as well as a new(er) JC 120, but I haven't tried any yet. Advice or comments anyone? As always, thank you. -Bernie

May 11th, 2004, 07:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	Solid Sate amps Wll Bernie, as an old solid stater from waaay back, I can tell you the Tech 21 Trademark 60 is a great choice. Also check out the Roland Blues Cube series. Great amps for the $$. I played a NOS Peavey Studio Pro ll yesterday and was amazed by the pure, clean tone it produced. This would be a great amp for clean tele tones. I did not try the overdrive section, so I can't comment on that, but I usually use a pedal on SS amps for OD/Distortion tones. The Peavey Special 130's, Old Renowns, etc are great bang for buck SS amps. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.

May 11th, 2004, 08:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
WallyArms Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: TN Posts: 962	I really like my Fender Deluxe 90 DSP. I'm not much on effects and play clean about 99% of the time, but I do use a few of the DSP effects and the drive channel on occasion.

May 11th, 2004, 08:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Snow Piles Alberta Canada Posts: 1,020 7 Photos	Why not go back to a JC120? I fortunately kept mine.... or what about their JC90 (2 X 10)? Try what Adam Levy (adamlevy.com) recommends and turn off the bass and treble and use the middle only, if you get a chance to try one again. I'd also like to snag an old Roland Cube 60 if I could find one in good condition. I must try one of their newer blues cube series. They still make the JC120 so that says something about the solid state of these old/new amps. And hey, if you liked your 120 why not like one again? It is a reliable workhorse of solid statedom. __________________ Relic Schmelic! Play the darn thing! Wipe it down after and put it in it's case!

May 12th, 2004, 12:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,375 12 Photos	In my old band we had a saying: "What would Joe Strummer do?" Well, he'd play a JC-120. I played a JC-120, actually in a different band, but it worked for awhile. I couldn't get enough headroom for high-gain at high volume, but I never, ever, had a problem with cleans. I've also played through a 3x10 Blues Cube 60. It was extremely cool, and the cleans were pretty much there with the JC. Plus, the dirt was much better, although some don't like it much. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

May 12th, 2004, 12:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,169 7 Photos	There's one in the garage sale for sale right now Peavey Envoy. I had the same amp never had a problem with it.

May 12th, 2004, 09:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
bluescube Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 41 Posts: 1,071 6 Photos	I like Rolands too. I have the Bluescube 30 2x10. Great amps. Carvin SX amps would be worth looking into too.

May 12th, 2004, 05:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
bongo Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hamden, ct Posts: 139	I sold my Twin Reverb in 1969 and played solid state amps since then ( just recently bought a Peavey Classic 30). A Yamaha G212 and a Peavey Special 130 and Peavey Studio Pro all served me ....."without a single problem....." in all that time. The clean sounds especially on the 130 were always very good. Yea, my tube amps sound great and there is a certain vibe with them but if I was gigging nowadays I'd buy a solid state amp and never look back. always trust your own ears __________________ all I need is just one more guitar :)

May 12th, 2004, 05:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bernie Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 524	Thanks Thanks to all (so far) for the suggestions. I'll make a stop at a couple of music stores this weekend to try out some of the amps mentioned here. -Bernie

May 12th, 2004, 08:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
BluesCruise NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Canyon Lake, CA Posts: 7	Fender Dyna-Touch Series - great amps! I've had all kinds of tube amps, and several solid state amps as well - including a Peavey Bandit and a Carvin SX100. But for the last 2 years, I've been using a Fender Deluxe 90 (the previous non-DSP model). It's a great amp, loud enough for small to medium gigs. It has a nice Fender-y clean channel, and a very useful drive channel. It sounds real good with my Teles. Lots of beef, without the mid hump that you get with overdrive pedals. I think its drive channel sounds better than my previous tube amps. The clean channel has faster attack and more punch than a tube amp. By the way, I've just ordered the biggest Fender solid-state amp (the Stage 160 DSP) and it's due to arrive tomorrow. I'll use that one for the big gigs, and the D90 for everything else. Meanwhile, I've place an ad for my Evil Twin. No more expensive 80 lb. finicky tube amps for me! __________________ Got twang?

May 12th, 2004, 08:43 PM	#11 (permalink)
Brad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,294	Dyna touch I always wondered about the Dyna Touch series. Never had the opportunity to try one, but the reviews always seem very positivive. Thaks for the info and let us know how that stage 160 works out. __________________ We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old becasue we stop playing.