Boogie Subway Blues

Thinline · March 16th, 2006, 07:04 PM

First of all, this is my first post; I've been lurking the site for some time and have found it immensely helpful and very fun, and have learned a lot...so thanks to all.

My situation and question is this:

I've been playing guitar for about five years. I bought a used MIM 69 Thinline copy form a teacher (love it) and a 15W Mesa/Boogie Sub Blues from a guy who was down on his luck.

The amp has been good to me, but lately has needed some work; resoldering, mods etc. I've gathered they have a rep for breaking down; the repair guy (trust him) said, Yeah, this model had problems.

Tubes aside, I've now put into the amp at least I paid for it.

Was thinking about selling it and getting a new, good amp, can spend $800 or so, would like a bit more watts, footswitchable...I sure don't need a vintage amp, can't afford boutique, don't like problems, want a good dependable amp under warranty...thinking Rivera. (I welcome other suggestions, BTW, but that's another can o' worms.)

When I called the local dealer who handles Rivera, and I asked about possible trade-in, they were ho-hum on Mesa, until I mentioned it was a Subway Blues. Then I got, "Subway Blues? Yeah, very interested in a trade, stop in...today!" Surprised me.

This is a very good shop that sells lots of vintage gear; I'm definitely going to get a new amp, it would be nice to knock a bit off the price with a trade-in, but...

Should I hang onto the Boogie? Would I be dumb to dump it? Is it a fairly valuable amp that might appreciate?

I know relatively little about amps. And would appreciate a little objective advice.

Thanks!

64Strat · March 16th, 2006, 09:28 PM

Do NOT sell your Subway Blues! see what others think of the amp in the link below.

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guita..._Blues-01.html

I've played through Rivera Chubsters and Pubsters, great little amps but if you are looking for something with more output that has high quality, your going to have to keep saving your money. The bargains are actually in the undiscovered vintage gems like, any of the '60s Traynor Bassmaster YBA-1's. Buy one of those ('70 or earlier) and then find a decent used 2x12 speaker cab loaded with good quality speakers and have a blast!

Do an eBay search for Traynor YBA-1, there are several on there right now.

Thinline · March 17th, 2006, 05:32 PM

Thanks for the straight up advice and the link. I will keep riding the Subway and continue to look for a backup; this model of Boogie was taken out of production due to some dependability issues, at least that's what a very highly regarded tech told me. (He also told me, if you love the tone we can always fix it!)

I've heard good things about Rivera, and about Traynor, too, from people I trust. Any other suggestions?

Unlike some folks around here, I'm not an absolute toneseeker. I look at amps pretty much as I look at cars...I don't need a Porsche or Benz, just dependable, decent wheels with good fit and finish, and a little bit of style and an ability to hug the road and pass a gramma.

Maybe that would be a good forum topic: What's the Honda Accord of amps?

Tremo · March 17th, 2006, 09:40 PM

Are those anything like a Studio 22?

Scott S · March 17th, 2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinline

Maybe that would be a good forum topic: What's the Honda Accord of amps?

Marshall Valvestate? :P

GopherTele · March 18th, 2006, 10:55 AM

Personally, I had a Subway Blues and hated it, but those are some great reviews there.

I would suggest checking out an amp I really want right now the Clark Beaufort Special. $800 for a hand-built, tweed clone.

Hard to beat and it will last foreever.

FMA · March 20th, 2006, 11:25 AM

Peavey Classic 30.
And I mean that in the good way...Reliable, predictable, work llike they should and better than people give them credit for...

Chris S. · March 20th, 2006, 12:00 PM

First off, I've never played a Subway Blues, so I can't comment on that particular amp. They may be great, they may be dogs, I have no idea.

BUT – I would advise taking the reviews on H-C with a grain of salt. Many of them are written by buyers who are still in the "honeymoon" period. (Who wants to admit they just bought a clunker, or even something that's just "average?") Of course, it works both ways – I've seen some "This sucks!" reviews that were obviously written by people who didn't know how to properly use whatever it was they bought – but the "happy buyer" reviews tend to dominate.

That said, if the amp you have now isn't doing everything you want it do, there's nothing wrong with shopping! :-) Keep asking questions here and on other forums, and <u>go play as many different amps as you can get your hands on</u>, preferably in situations similar to where you'll be using yours whenever possible. There are so many good choices for gear available nowadaze that there's almost certainly an amp out there that will do exactly what you want – you just need to figure out what that is. ;-) And everyone's needs/tastes are unique – the determining factor is you, and what YOU like.

As someone once remarked here, "Life's too short to play the wrong (amp, guitar, pedal, whatever... ) ;-) All IMO, of course.

Best of luck, and happy hunting. :-) CS

Tremo · March 20th, 2006, 04:00 PM

Excellent post, Chris. I agree.

BILLY-JAY · March 20th, 2006, 05:49 PM

I saw David Ball and his band at a small county fair about two years ago and his tele player plugged into a Boss Me-50 into a Subway Blues sitting up on its travel case.He really sounded good thru that simple set-up and was packed up and on the bus in 5 mins.After seeing him I had to have one and bought one off ebay....nice amp IMHO....

pirana · March 20th, 2006, 08:56 PM

I had a subway blues that Ibought at Mars Music about seven years ago. When it was working it never really inspired me much. I gave it to a friend about a month ago & told him he could have it if he had it fixed.

Thinline · March 22nd, 2006, 06:17 PM

Good answers all and thanks again.

I did in fact go out and play through a bunch of amps. I didn't think my newbie ears wuld be able to tell the difference, and boy was I wrong!

In fact, it kinda spoiled me. I played through some new Fenders...thought well, OK...then drove across town and played through a Savage amp.

The difference struck me right away. The Savage was great.

Then we A/B'd a Rivera and the Savage...back-to-back there was no comparison. The Savage just sounded, well...Holy Cow, it sounded fantastic!

I can't even put my finger on what it was; it just sounded "real" to me; the other amps sounded, ah, good but lacking soul.

(In all fairness, the tech allowed that Rivera is an excellent prodcution-line amp, but a hand-wired amp etc. etc.)

So I'm going to keep saving up for a Savage (they are made near here, I have met the folks who work there and they are great people, BTW).

Meantime, I do need a Honda Accord -- dependable, big enough, does what it should, dependable, a little style, not cheap but not terribly expensive.

I think I will start a new thread and see what kind of responses I get.

March 16th, 2006, 07:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Thinline TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the north country Posts: 31	Boogie Subway Blues First of all, this is my first post; I've been lurking the site for some time and have found it immensely helpful and very fun, and have learned a lot...so thanks to all. My situation and question is this: I've been playing guitar for about five years. I bought a used MIM 69 Thinline copy form a teacher (love it) and a 15W Mesa/Boogie Sub Blues from a guy who was down on his luck. The amp has been good to me, but lately has needed some work; resoldering, mods etc. I've gathered they have a rep for breaking down; the repair guy (trust him) said, Yeah, this model had problems. Tubes aside, I've now put into the amp at least I paid for it. Was thinking about selling it and getting a new, good amp, can spend $800 or so, would like a bit more watts, footswitchable...I sure don't need a vintage amp, can't afford boutique, don't like problems, want a good dependable amp under warranty...thinking Rivera. (I welcome other suggestions, BTW, but that's another can o' worms.) When I called the local dealer who handles Rivera, and I asked about possible trade-in, they were ho-hum on Mesa, until I mentioned it was a Subway Blues. Then I got, "Subway Blues? Yeah, very interested in a trade, stop in...today!" Surprised me. This is a very good shop that sells lots of vintage gear; I'm definitely going to get a new amp, it would be nice to knock a bit off the price with a trade-in, but... Should I hang onto the Boogie? Would I be dumb to dump it? Is it a fairly valuable amp that might appreciate? I know relatively little about amps. And would appreciate a little objective advice. Thanks!

March 17th, 2006, 05:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Thinline TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the north country Posts: 31	Thank you. Thanks for the straight up advice and the link. I will keep riding the Subway and continue to look for a backup; this model of Boogie was taken out of production due to some dependability issues, at least that's what a very highly regarded tech told me. (He also told me, if you love the tone we can always fix it!) I've heard good things about Rivera, and about Traynor, too, from people I trust. Any other suggestions? Unlike some folks around here, I'm not an absolute toneseeker. I look at amps pretty much as I look at cars...I don't need a Porsche or Benz, just dependable, decent wheels with good fit and finish, and a little bit of style and an ability to hug the road and pass a gramma. Maybe that would be a good forum topic: What's the Honda Accord of amps?

March 18th, 2006, 10:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
GopherTele Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 959	Clark Personally, I had a Subway Blues and hated it, but those are some great reviews there. I would suggest checking out an amp I really want right now the Clark Beaufort Special. $800 for a hand-built, tweed clone. Hard to beat and it will last foreever.

March 20th, 2006, 11:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,174	Honda Accord of amps = Peavey Classic 30. And I mean that in the good way...Reliable, predictable, work llike they should and better than people give them credit for...

March 20th, 2006, 12:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chris S. Moderator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Near TELE-Town (Wash. DC) Posts: 2,971 7 Photos	Harmony Central = Comedy Central? First off, I've never played a Subway Blues, so I can't comment on that particular amp. They may be great, they may be dogs, I have no idea. BUT – I would advise taking the reviews on H-C with a grain of salt. Many of them are written by buyers who are still in the "honeymoon" period. (Who wants to admit they just bought a clunker, or even something that's just "average?") Of course, it works both ways – I've seen some "This sucks!" reviews that were obviously written by people who didn't know how to properly use whatever it was they bought – but the "happy buyer" reviews tend to dominate. That said, if the amp you have now isn't doing everything you want it do, there's nothing wrong with shopping! :-) Keep asking questions here and on other forums, and <u>go play as many different amps as you can get your hands on</u>, preferably in situations similar to where you'll be using yours whenever possible. There are so many good choices for gear available nowadaze that there's almost certainly an amp out there that will do exactly what you want – you just need to figure out what that is. ;-) And everyone's needs/tastes are unique – the determining factor is you, and what YOU like. As someone once remarked here, "Life's too short to play the wrong (amp, guitar, pedal, whatever... ) ;-) All IMO, of course. Best of luck, and happy hunting. :-) CS __________________ "I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It's depressing." – Tara, from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "It was born at the junction of form and function." – Bill Kirchen, from "Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods"

March 16th, 2006, 09:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
64Strat Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 656 43 Photos	Do NOT sell your Subway Blues! see what others think of the amp in the link below. http://www.harmony-central.com/Guita..._Blues-01.html I've played through Rivera Chubsters and Pubsters, great little amps but if you are looking for something with more output that has high quality, your going to have to keep saving your money. The bargains are actually in the undiscovered vintage gems like, any of the '60s Traynor Bassmaster YBA-1's. Buy one of those ('70 or earlier) and then find a decent used 2x12 speaker cab loaded with good quality speakers and have a blast! Do an eBay search for Traynor YBA-1, there are several on there right now.

March 17th, 2006, 09:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Are those anything like a Studio 22?

March 20th, 2006, 04:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tremo Banned Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,803	Excellent post, Chris. I agree.

March 20th, 2006, 05:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
BILLY-JAY TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Creston Ohio Posts: 31	I saw David Ball and his band at a small county fair about two years ago and his tele player plugged into a Boss Me-50 into a Subway Blues sitting up on its travel case.He really sounded good thru that simple set-up and was packed up and on the bus in 5 mins.After seeing him I had to have one and bought one off ebay....nice amp IMHO....

March 20th, 2006, 08:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
pirana Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 295	I had a subway blues that Ibought at Mars Music about seven years ago. When it was working it never really inspired me much. I gave it to a friend about a month ago & told him he could have it if he had it fixed. __________________ Guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns & pointed stick conducts his business... Frank Zappa

March 22nd, 2006, 06:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
Thinline TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the north country Posts: 31	Now we are getting somewhere. Good answers all and thanks again. I did in fact go out and play through a bunch of amps. I didn't think my newbie ears wuld be able to tell the difference, and boy was I wrong! In fact, it kinda spoiled me. I played through some new Fenders...thought well, OK...then drove across town and played through a Savage amp. The difference struck me right away. The Savage was great. Then we A/B'd a Rivera and the Savage...back-to-back there was no comparison. The Savage just sounded, well...Holy Cow, it sounded fantastic! I can't even put my finger on what it was; it just sounded "real" to me; the other amps sounded, ah, good but lacking soul. (In all fairness, the tech allowed that Rivera is an excellent prodcution-line amp, but a hand-wired amp etc. etc.) So I'm going to keep saving up for a Savage (they are made near here, I have met the folks who work there and they are great people, BTW). Meantime, I do need a Honda Accord -- dependable, big enough, does what it should, dependable, a little style, not cheap but not terribly expensive. I think I will start a new thread and see what kind of responses I get.