Solid State Amp recommendations / questions

[RollingThunder75]

I know, I just dropped the S-bomb. Here's the deal: I'm looking for a solid state amp (no tubes! don't worry, I have that more than covered elsewhere) with a 12" speaker, and I'd say about 65w of power, give or take. It needs to have four things: a good clean tone, decent reverb, an effects loop, and reliability. I don't care if it has a good distortion channel or not, because I won't be using it. I'm looking to keep the budget below $300 if possible, but don't be afraid to suggest anything a little above that. I'm also more than content to buy used, so throw any idea out there.

So, what might I want to check out? Anything I should avoid like the plague? Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions.

[Ptrallan01]

Transtube series. There is a 1 x 12 and a 2 x12. They have some with effects some without, tube like tone, modern vintage switches, two channels, sound good and are in the price range used.

Peter

[trag-o-caster]

I LOVE solid state amps! I really really do! I really think what would suit you well would be a Roland BluesCube 60. I think they come in either 1x12, 2x10, or 4x10 combos. I have the BluesCube 30 1x12 with no 'verb, and it sounds REALLY good onstage with a band, and no mic. The clean channel breaks up very tube-like when cranked up. The distortion channel is very OK by me, and that's saying a lot. I HATE distortion channels - tube, or otherwise.

[BB]

As trag said, the Roland BC-60 would fit you to a T. They have been discussed here before. Do a search and be sure to check the reviews at harmony central. Very high marks indeed for a SS amp.

[Scoot]

I'm no expert but I know what I like. I had a peavey trans-
tube it was alright, but I went out and bought a behringer
Blue Devil and sold my peavey. I bought it for 150 used,
it's a 60watt w/ a 12. pretty loud & not too heavy.
It also has what you're asking for and 99 presets that are
adjustable and has the option of a midi peddle. It should
come w/ a 2 pedal foot switch. Another option is Line 6,
haven't played one but have heard a couple in person and
they are quite nice

[kihoalu]

Give the Cube 60 a listen. It's a modeling amp. One channel is the Jazz Chorus..great clean tones. Has eight other amp models..AC30,Blackface,Bassman,Marshall,5150,Recti fier, aong with acoustic simulation that is fairly good..On board effects..chorus,flange,phase,trem,reverb,delay. Voiced line out..60 watts..plenty of volume.All for a low price..

[e-merlin]

Peavey Bandit.

[Raymond]

Last year I sold a 65 watt Peavey Studio Pro 112. Great amp, but too loud for my practice room. I think it covers all your requirements.

[Bob Mc]

Other then an odd reverb issue (ground fault), the amp is pretty awesome; 40w, really good clean sound, and 3 flavors of 'hot' (admittedly, I only use one and that's with the pre gain at really low level).
Mine was about $100.

[DADGAD]

Originally Posted by RollingThunder75

I'm looking for a solid state amp (no tubes! don't worry, I have that more than covered elsewhere) with a 12" speaker, and I'd say about 65w of power, give or take. It needs to have four things: a good clean tone, decent reverb, an effects loop, and reliability. I don't care if it has a good distortion channel or not, because I won't be using it. I'm looking to keep the budget below $300 if possible, ...

I own one of those. It's a Fender M80 combo. I've been gigging with it since ~1993. Best clean tone and reverb I've ever owned. I see them all the time for $200 - $300 used. My soundman loves the thing for it's clean tone and dynamic range.

Gary

[skinnyguy]

but an excellent ss amp is the 80's era Peavey Bandit 65. I bought one brand new in 82 and now tote it around as my backup. It has had stuff spilled on it, it has fallen off of 3 ft high enclosures and it still works. And it sounds really good. I had not fired it up for a few years when I used it at practice a few months ago. Everyone commented on how good it sounded. Then at a recent gig my Classic 30 pooped out (needs new transformer) so I plugged in the Bandit and it sounded great. I now have a SFDR but take the Bandit as a backup. My keyboard player has even been using it lately and has been happy with it. The best part is they're cheap cheap cheap. I just saw one for $110 at a local consignment store. I would put it up against alot of the new ss amps.

[snoglobe]

trademark 30

:D

[Ben Harmless]

I don't disagree with any suggestion thus far, but I'll add to the list:

-Roland JC-55 or 77, the small-form JC-120.
-Lab Series L5, or any other model.

The Lab amp is great, but will be much more than 65 watts, and heavier. You can never have enough solid-state watts though. Headroom is the name of the game there.

[TG]

I've a Peavey Studio Pro 112 65w and it's a great little amp. Wonderful clean sound. REALLY tube-like. The overdrive channels are very tranny sounding though...and most of the amp's muscle is in the overdrive. The clean channel isn't very loud.

But tomorrow morning I'm going in to buy a Roland Cube 60. Tried it in the shop this morning for about an hour and I was VERY impressed. I came home and did some research (as music stores haven't got the best acoustics to really get the feel of an amp) and I'm running back to town tomorrow after reading stuff about it online. It'll be a great practice amp, and it will back up, or even work with, my Blues Junior.

I'll sell the Peavey I guess. Some kid around here will want it.
(and by 'here' I mean here in Ireland....this isn't a 'selling' post either. The reverb tank is bust anyway...)

[TG]

What a cool amp. I've been experimenting with it all afternoon. As a practice amp it's a gem, either silently though headphones or just turned down. There are a few VERY good sounds and a few OK sounds, but those good sounds are worth the price on their own. By A/Bing it with my Blues Junior using a switching box I found that you can get a very close BJ sound with the BlackFace model with some EQ fiddling and the gain about 2 o'clock. Not quite as good, but close enough that this is now my backup amp as well as my practice amp. I don't know whether the line out will sound good or not, but I mike my BJ anyway so I could do the same with this. It seems louder than the BJ as well. I'd just set it on one sound...the BJ sound... and use my pedal effects like I'm used to. The effects are fun, especially the delay and the tremolo, but not being able to control the intensity scotches them for live use IMO. OK for home noodling, though.
But even with it's drawbacks it's well worth it for what it DOES do. I also like how it's basically just big enough to enclose the 12" speaker but it has a very full sound with loads of bass response. Cranked up it's a bit wierd having such a noise coming out of such a small box.

[CharlieO]

It has already been said by others, but I'll say it again. The Roland BC-60 Blues Cube is exactly what you are looking for.

[Pepi]

Pick up a Peavey Special 130 on Ebay. One 12 inch and 130 watt of power. Cleans are unreal. I've had on since 1986 and never have had any problems. The distortion channel stinks. This amp really comes to life with a Tele plugged into it.

[RollingThunder75]

Guys, thanks so much for your thoughtful replies. Keep 'em coming if you have them. I'd love to check out a Blues Cube 60 if I could find one used somewhere. It's a little more than I want to spend at present, but that could change after a while, so I'll definitely keep it in mind.

I actually bought a Roland Cube 30 a couple of weeks ago, which I'll soon be returning. The clean sound on it is fantastic, I have no complaints there. I really don't care for the reverb on it, though. I don't like the effects nearly as much as my pedals, and there's no effects loop, so my pedals tend to poop on my clean tone more than they should, just using one at a time. If I string them all together I'm sure it'll be worse. Plus, you ever get something and the vibe's not there, and you can't really explain it? Well, the vibe's not there for me, which is probably absurd, but true.

I've tried out a few TransTube Peaveys, which aren't bad. I like Peavey, anyway. I hope Keith Richards does too, cause you know what they say...

I wouldn't mind finding an older Fender. The more recent SS Fenders I've played sound tinny to me, and mushy, if such a thing makes sense. Tin Mush. That's a good band name. No, wait. Too close to Tin Machine.

Thanks again. I'm all ears for even more ideas.

[TG]

Originally Posted by RollingThunder75

.....and there's no effects loop, so my pedals tend to poop on my clean tone more than they should, just using one at a time. If I string them all together I'm sure it'll be worse.

Check out www.loooper.com.
I use one for my pedals that aren't true bypass. It'll give you more amplifier options if you don't have to have an effects loop.

[bluescube]

Roland Bluescube

Peavey transtube series. I had a Revolution 112 (3 channels). I hated the buzzy fizzy lead channels on it but the clean channel rocked.

[Sarge]

I have an early 80's Ross 50 watt 2X12 Solid State amp with built in Chorus, Spring Reverb and Tube Blaster. I have never been a fan of Solid State amps but this thing just sounds awesome and continues to amaze me no matter what guitar I play it through. The effects loop really sounds great with no noticeable drop in volume. I don't know where you'd find one as they are quite rare and people just don't seem to part with them. If you would happen to locate one I'm sure you would be quite pleased. I bought mine used for $200 and It actually replicates an old Marshall in appearance.

[Kewlpack]

Fantastic amp (tube/SS hybrid) for $360.

Caveat - no effects loop (but it has just about everything covered in its own effects combos).

~A~

[bgwatts]

Roland.
I don't think ANYBODY does solid state better than them.
This is bigger than you want BUT...................There is a local shop just got in a vintage(i.e. beat but functioning)Roland JC (120) but in a 4x10 !!!.
I never even heard of it until I saw this one.
Anybody out there ever heard of it?
I haven't plugged into it (yet ) but the staff there say it sounds HUGE.A WALL OF SOUND.

[GlennLewis]

JMF Spectra series - they later were bought by Dean Markley. EXTREMELY rugged, like riding in the trunk of my car for 15+ years of temperature extremes between -20F to 130F with no failures of any kind. So that's one suggestion, you can find these on e-bay every once in a while, various wattage and features.

Yamaha "G" series, the ones in the nice tan pine finger-jointed cases. Great reverb, good crunch tone, light weight, pretty rugged. There's a second suggestion.

Peavey Rage series as already noted. I like it, but really haven't had a lot of time to abuse it yet. It's only a couple years old as opposed to the others which are a couple decades old.

[bongo]

I'll second the recommendations for the Peavey Special 130 and Peavey Bandit - used both and their clean sounds are excellent and my Peaveys have been very reliable-just don't expect Fender Reverb sounds (nobody does reverb like Fender).