IF You Were Going Solid State..

[Ben Furman]

Originally Posted by Stevie boy

There is only one. Spend the money and be done.

I completely agree with the sentiment but have come to a different conclusion: the Pritchard Gold Estoc.

Originally Posted by WireLine

Remember Pearce amps? They were pretty decent, really.

These have a very loyal following and are moderately hard to find.

Originally Posted by Stewart Ward

The SS power amp almost always has current feedback to emulate the unique relationship that a speaker has with an output transformer - which creates further flattering harmonics in the sound that CANNOT be created by the amplifier electronics. The latter has to be analogue because it varies with speaker type and the frequency being amplified, so it's impossible for a computer to emulate this in sofware.

Why do you say this response can be emulated in hardware but not modeled in software? Software can reproduce any transfer function you could care to imagine. Besides that, there is always an analog interface with the speakers.

[hiero]

Tech 21, JC120, Polytone or an old Session... that is the clutch to home in on...

[dada]

Originally Posted by danieljaypark

Almost anything Peavey or a Yamaha G100 II. Great cleans, just a bit more sterile than tube.

Had a Yamaha G100 115. Loved the amp, but I couldn't move it anymore. Heavier than a Twin.

[Drunkinminer]

I'm really digging my GDEC jr Carbon. It's my second jr. First one died and Fender replaced it. In fact I think the Carbon is better then the original I had.

[beexter]

Proud owner of Tech 21 TM60, Roland Cube 60 (the digital one) and a Sessionette 75. All great and have never let me down or cost me a penny more than I paid for them. All bought used and collectively they've cost me less than £350.
Set them all up for clean tones and use pedals for dirt. All of them sound great, are loud enough to gig with un-miced and easily portable.

[classicplayer]

I have been using two modeling amps. The Roland Micro Cube and the Cube 20X. I know......digital; not strictly SS, but witness this following performance using a Cube 20X:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2BML...9&feature=plcp

I was wondering if I'd bought the wrong amp, until I heard the above. It turns out he uses it live through two powered speakers and is quite pleased with the results for both live and recorded work. So, I'm keeping mine and yes, I have found some great tones with it. As stated in a previous post, you just have to spend plenty of time tweaking and listening. The only drawback with these Cubes, and it's a minor one, is that just minor adjustments in the gain, volume and E.Q section completely changes your tone. Once I got around that issue, I started to really appreciate this new "age" of modeling amps. They should only get better in future models.

Classicplayer

[FenderGuy53]

Originally Posted by GrantR

Well I - like others here, are really happy with my Peavey Bandit (new model) and my Cube 40XL. These two SS amps cover the clean to warm sounds that I like. I think they are both really great amps. Both keepers.

How would you compare the two?

I'm looking for a smallish s/s amp, w/ built-in effects, that's capable of handling band rehearsals and small gigs, unmic'ed.

Thanks.

[Jagg76]

My Fender M-80 Stereo Chorus has amazing cleans.

- Jagg

[nicer]

[QUOTE=Timbertea;3823472]In terms of live performance I was always happiest with the Roland JC-120, JC-77, and JC-50 when I had that. Except for the time I had to go down the stairs in the ice carrying the JC-120 ... Casters don't help with stairs. The Roland Cube series has a couple good amps in it, and those wont endanger you as much in the above scenario.
QUOTE]

Nice to see someone stand up for the JC-77. In many ways a cheaper, lighter JC-120. So clean you won't miss the effects loop. Totally worthless 'distortion' knob, and totally massive aluminum dust caps on the original Japanese speakers. Seek one out.

[Marky D.]

I think a Roland JC-120 is the best overall SS made.

I saw Lonnie Mack once in Mpls playing his flying V through a JC-120... it sounded fantastic!

Also, in my earlier post about the Special 130:

I didn't care for the Batman logo on this era of Peavey but I'm learning to like it because the amp sounds so good.

The Special 130 didn't have the Batman logo - just the regular old 70s Peavey logo - my goof!

[GrantR]

Originally Posted by FenderGuy53

How would you compare the two?

I'm looking for a smallish s/s amp, w/ built-in effects, that's capable of handling band rehearsals and small gigs, unmic'ed.

Thanks.

The Cube 40XL is a really great little amp. It is versatile, and sounds great. I would have a Cube over pretty much any other small SS amp. However, in saying that, I haven't tried some of the other popular small amps around, and there will be guys/girls here that champion other brands.
The Mustang II is a great sounding amp too, IMHO - if you want portability, good sound, and versatility. I'm not sure it would handle a small gig without being mic'ed? You can bet someone here is probably doing just that, though.

We know that the Cube 40 (and a Cube 20 ?) is regularly used for small gigs by a certain Englishman on this site, and I know he is very pleased with the capabilities for gigging, of small Cube amps . . .

[Wyzsard]

The Bandit has my attention recently.

[ac15]

Originally Posted by Wyzsard

The Bandit has my attention recently.

The Bandit sounds better than the Vox in that clip.

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by GrantR

We know that the Cube 40 (and a Cube 20 ?) is regularly used for small gigs by a certain Englishman on this site, and I know he is very pleased with the capabilities for gigging, of small Cube amps . . .

Perhaps it's me you're referring to, Grant. Sure enough, I do occasionally use my Cube 20X for restricted-volume gigs, but my bigger Cube is a 60 - which is up for just about any gig you can throw at it. I own loads of amps but if need be I could happily get by with just the Cubes.

Oh, and just by the bye, for bass use the now-superseded Bass Cube 100 is unbelievably capable for such a compact, portable unit.

[Stewart Ward]

Originally Posted by ac15

The Bandit sounds better than the Vox in that clip.

+1 Sounds like it's got P10Rs loaded!

But... recorded sound is influenced by the mic. Mics always add a small amout of sparkle to guitar sounds. This would not be heard live!

All mics alter the sound, they are just speakers in reverse, with a cone (diaphram) which adds mechanically generated harmonics NOT in the original sound. This is why recording engineers have so many mics in their arsenal. As creative tools!

[GrantR]

Originally Posted by Tony474

Perhaps it's me you're referring to, Grant. Sure enough, I do occasionally use my Cube 20X for restricted-volume gigs, but my bigger Cube is a 60 - which is up for just about any gig you can throw at it. I own loads of amps but if need be I could happily get by with just the Cubes.

Oh, and just by the bye, for bass use the now-superseded Bass Cube 100 is unbelievably capable for such a compact, portable unit.

Sorry Tony, I forgot you use a 60 watt Cube, not a 40. But none the less, Cubes of reasonably modest outputs, are quite capable of handling gigs, unmic'ed. What is amazing is the sound level they can produce, from a small box, and with excellent tone. To look at one, without hearing it, you could be forgiven for considering them to be 'toys'.
I really enjoy my 40XL, and putting a G3 in front of it, gives it even more scope.

[schenkadere]

I think the Tech 21 TM60 is the best SS I've heard. The modern Roland Cubes are nice, of course...and the old Roland Blues Cubes(BC-30/60)are quite nice too...not much mention of these here.

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by GrantR

I really enjoy my 40XL, and putting a G3 in front of it, gives it even more scope.

Yup, I use a G3 as well when I'm not using my pedalboard. Nice bit of kit.

Originally Posted by schenkadere

I think the Tech 21 TM60 is the best SS I've heard. The modern Roland Cubes are nice, of course...and the old Roland Blues Cubes(BC-30/60)are quite nice too...not much mention of these here.

Call me greedy, but I too use a TM60 - possibly my favourite as well - in addition to my COSM Cubes and my BC-60 Blues Cube. All great amps and each has its own particular area of excellence.

[jjh37854]

nashville 212

[Carvalho Diablo]

Practiced with the band last night, just me and our other guitarist and our bass player working out a couple of new songs and arrangements.

I took my Logan tele and my Retro Channel head which I played through the rehearsal facility's Marshall 1960A 4x12; our other guitarist took a Vox Tonelab to drive the house little Laney combo with an 8 inch speaker...and it sounded great. I mean really great.

I have been playing valve amps for the last 10 years, and my day to day amp is still an all valve Rat modded Blackheart Little Giant, but those solid state tones last night were killer.

After practice, I slung my guitar on my back and carried my amp (which weighs little more than a couple of bags of sugar) one handed round to the pub.

Try doing that with an all valve beast !