Best tone you ever heard..

BobbyB · January 22nd, 2008, 01:14 PM

What amp have you played that had the "best" tone you ever heard?
For me it was a 63 Vox AC-30 my friend owned...man that amp had the sweetest clean tones and when cranked , it absolutely sang!

e-merlin · January 22nd, 2008, 01:23 PM

Peavey Triple X on the Clean channel through a Peavey Classic 412ES cab. Tele of course!

cacibi · January 22nd, 2008, 01:39 PM

Hate to be predictable, but a Dumble Overdrive Special playing a mid-60's Tele (think it was a 66).

Spidercaster · January 22nd, 2008, 01:47 PM

My 1952 Tele thru Bill Hullet's tweed amp that his son Clay built. It was amazing. I ordered one a few months back, and it will be here tomorrow!! I'll post something on Youtube so you can hear it.

tonewoods · January 22nd, 2008, 01:48 PM

I've owned a lot of old AC30s, but this new one really sounds unbelievable...
So much for vintage....

fauxsuper · January 22nd, 2008, 01:51 PM

A buddy of mine let be use his 58 Bassman for a gig. Other guys in the band were telling me" You need this amp.". It really lived up to it's reputation, and I was gettting wonderful sounds out of my 63 Tele custom. There just seemed to be a huge window between clean and singing, creamy distortion. The amp just cut through the mix so nicely, with distortion adding a nice zing to the sound, while never geting a hint of the dreaded "icepick", even hard on the bridge pickup. My Goldtop easily drove the amp into buttery, rich sustain while still articulating each note perfectly.

There's a reason those amps have the reputation they do. The re-issue I purchased really wasn't even close to the same thing, and I got rid of it after reliability issues emerged.

It stands out in my memory as the best amp I've ever played through.

BobbyB · January 22nd, 2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonewoods

I've owned a lot of old AC30s, but this new one really sounds unbelievable...
So much for vintage....

Whoa....DROOL....

bradpdx · January 22nd, 2008, 02:00 PM

I'm still in love with the setup I've used for many years - '65 DR (real one) with my one of my own rebuilds (better quality parts, rebalanced phase splitter) with a JBL E120.

If you turn it up past 6, it levitates and floats around the room. The JBL gives it this big bell-like sound, bright but never harsh. Sounds great with both my 52RI Tele (VanZandts) and 94 Strat (more VanZandts). A low volumes it nails that James Burton shimmer and when turned up it sizzles like Roy.

Drawback: weighs too darn much with that gigantic magnet.

The only other amp I have liked this much was a friend's 65 Princeton Reverb. I should pull together one of those, the Deluxe is often too loud.

BobbyB · January 22nd, 2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fauxsuper

A buddy of mine let be use his 58 Bassman for a gig. Other guys in the band were telling me" You need this amp.". It really lived up to it's reputation, and I was gettting wonderful sounds out of my 63 Tele custom. There just seemed to be a huge window between clean and singing, creamy distortion. The amp just cut through the mix so nicely, with distortion adding a nice zing to the sound, while never geting a hint of the dreaded "icepick", even hard on the bridge pickup. My Goldtop easily drove the amp into buttery, rich sustain while still articulating each note perfectly.

There's a reason those amps have the reputation they do. The re-issue I purchased really wasn't even close to the same thing, and I got rid of it after reliability issues emerged.

It stands out in my memory as the best amp I've ever played through.

I never played thru a real 58/59 bassman.....however I did hear one in a small bar jam. You are right....the reissues sound good, however they dont come close to the originals tone and dynamics.

BobbyB · January 22nd, 2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidercaster

My 1952 Tele thru Bill Hullet's tweed amp that his son Clay built. It was amazing. I ordered one a few months back, and it will be here tomorrow!! I'll post something on Youtube so you can hear it.

Your not the first person who praised that Hullet boy. I hear he does some fine work.

tweedtone · January 22nd, 2008, 02:30 PM

Last Saturday, I finally got to play a gig that was volume/size-appropriate for my tweed Deluxe clone - me likey!

I quite pleased with my current "big room rig," '63 Deluxe Reverb together with a new AC15. Twang and chime for days.

Back in my younger, foolisher days, I had a blackface piggyback Bassman head & cabinet, matched and mint. Probably sounded great but I traded it for - gulp! - a Roland JC head and stereo cabinet. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

chabby · January 22nd, 2008, 02:40 PM

3 way tie for first place with tele's

1. 62 Marshall Blues Breaker Combo
2. Masters TVA30 112 combo
3. Suhr 18 Watt Badger Head and matching cabinet

All EL84 amps but I'm hoping to add a 5E3 to this list soon.

mad dog · January 22nd, 2008, 03:31 PM

For vintage stuff, has to be a two-input mid 50s bassman I couldn't possibly afford. To hear that is to understand why people chase tweeds around. Otherwise, it's a tie:

-- Sewell Wampus Cat, with ASAT Classic tele or Dearmnond M-75T. Sort of tweed pro, but gainier, with some extras. Thick, warm tone with a west coast edge.

-- Twilighter (magnatone) 260, using a 335. Cranked on stage, on the bridge pickup. Hot, alive sound, might be as good as I've sounded yet.

tiktok · January 22nd, 2008, 04:28 PM

A 4x10 Mesa Blue Angel. Boy, was I surprised.

ryokan · January 22nd, 2008, 04:34 PM

My '65 Ampeg Gemini I. Lush and beautiful on ALL settings -- it never sounds bad, no matter what you do with the tone settings. Has sublime reverb as well --

BoB/335 · January 22nd, 2008, 04:37 PM

I was at an Open Jam where I plugged into a Bruno amp with an OCD pedal. Sure would like to spend some more time with that setup.

maestrovert · January 22nd, 2008, 05:03 PM

this one....my old original (i bought it new in late '63) Princeton....
hands down still the finest amp i've ever heard, bar none.

kb1rcefn · January 22nd, 2008, 05:24 PM

Hey Tonewoods - what guitar is in your picture?? Nocaster??? What's the scoop on it - it looks great (lot's of mojo!!)

casadyrocks · January 22nd, 2008, 05:26 PM

A friend of mine had his grandfather's small Fender- I have no idea what year it was, or what model (this is also 25 years ago, the amp was certainly a 50's something) that was unbelievably amazing. I played through it a few times, and still remember how great it was.

Tremo · January 22nd, 2008, 07:54 PM

61 Showman head driving the matching D130 tone-ring cabinet.

Spidercaster · January 22nd, 2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbyB

Your not the first person who praised that Hullet boy. I hear he does some fine work.

Here is Bill playing it, with a Bad Bob boost.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=t7SunpIzeQU

GoldieLocks · January 22nd, 2008, 08:26 PM

So far its still my Hiwatt Custom 50 head through my Laney 4x12 cab (celestion 75's).
It took me years to get the right Tubes & biasing. Then finding the perfect Overdrive (creamtone) & a good Reverb unit. Then spending a couple 100 bucks on really good cables...not to mention the quest for the perfect guitar. I've heard amps with better midrange & better clean sounds. But this amp ROARS.

stantheman · January 22nd, 2008, 08:52 PM

1.'86 Les Paul Standard through a '68 Deluxe Reverb. Nice.

tjalla · January 22nd, 2008, 09:27 PM

Guitar - '53 tele
Amp - '59 Bassman

Albeit on different occasions. But I *did* play a '69 ES-330 through that bassman, and it was a pretty memorable tone.

JohnnyCrash · January 22nd, 2008, 09:38 PM

Too many to mention.

Some standouts:
My 6L6 modded BF Princeton Reverb head I built with just about any of my guitars. One of my favorite sounds, whether clean or dimed (I couldn't hear my neighbors knocking/banging on my door).

An old '80s JCM800 100w with a Les Paul and unknown 4x12" speakers. Why the hell did I sell that amp?!

Several of my homebrew amps... especially the high gain amps I've tweaked to perfection.

Hearing a G-Reverb in action last week at NAMM.

January 22nd, 2008, 01:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
BobbyB Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Jackson, NJ Posts: 217 2 Photos	Best tone you ever heard.. What amp have you played that had the "best" tone you ever heard? For me it was a 63 Vox AC-30 my friend owned...man that amp had the sweetest clean tones and when cranked , it absolutely sang! __________________ slip-slidin away___ Last edited by BobbyB; January 22nd, 2008 at 01:58 PM.

January 22nd, 2008, 01:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
cacibi Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,726	Hate to be predictable, but a Dumble Overdrive Special playing a mid-60's Tele (think it was a 66). __________________ www.krisgeren.com

January 22nd, 2008, 01:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Spidercaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,043 5 Photos	My 1952 Tele thru Bill Hullet's tweed amp that his son Clay built. It was amazing. I ordered one a few months back, and it will be here tomorrow!! I'll post something on Youtube so you can hear it. __________________ "Just keep one thing in mind............I may remember it all differently tomorrow." - Neil Young http://www.youtube.com/user/Richeray

January 22nd, 2008, 02:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
bradpdx Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portland, OR Age: 50 Posts: 747	I'm still in love with the setup I've used for many years - '65 DR (real one) with my one of my own rebuilds (better quality parts, rebalanced phase splitter) with a JBL E120. If you turn it up past 6, it levitates and floats around the room. The JBL gives it this big bell-like sound, bright but never harsh. Sounds great with both my 52RI Tele (VanZandts) and 94 Strat (more VanZandts). A low volumes it nails that James Burton shimmer and when turned up it sizzles like Roy. Drawback: weighs too darn much with that gigantic magnet. The only other amp I have liked this much was a friend's 65 Princeton Reverb. I should pull together one of those, the Deluxe is often too loud. __________________ ---------- Tech Geek and Sensitive Artiste String bender ordinare!

January 22nd, 2008, 04:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
tiktok Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,610	A 4x10 Mesa Blue Angel. Boy, was I surprised. __________________ It takes two people to paint a perfect painting: one to paint it, and the other to shoot him when it's done. http://www.myspace.com/travishartnett http://www.myspace.com/sugarcanemutiny http://www.myspace.com/davidbavas

January 22nd, 2008, 01:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
tonewoods Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orcas Island, Washington Age: 57 Posts: 629 18 Photos	I've owned a lot of old AC30s, but this new one really sounds unbelievable... So much for vintage....

January 22nd, 2008, 01:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
fauxsuper Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: El Cajon, CA Age: 56 Posts: 167	A buddy of mine let be use his 58 Bassman for a gig. Other guys in the band were telling me" You need this amp.". It really lived up to it's reputation, and I was gettting wonderful sounds out of my 63 Tele custom. There just seemed to be a huge window between clean and singing, creamy distortion. The amp just cut through the mix so nicely, with distortion adding a nice zing to the sound, while never geting a hint of the dreaded "icepick", even hard on the bridge pickup. My Goldtop easily drove the amp into buttery, rich sustain while still articulating each note perfectly. There's a reason those amps have the reputation they do. The re-issue I purchased really wasn't even close to the same thing, and I got rid of it after reliability issues emerged. It stands out in my memory as the best amp I've ever played through.

January 22nd, 2008, 02:30 PM	#11 (permalink)
tweedtone Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Age: 41 Posts: 662	Last Saturday, I finally got to play a gig that was volume/size-appropriate for my tweed Deluxe clone - me likey! I quite pleased with my current "big room rig," '63 Deluxe Reverb together with a new AC15. Twang and chime for days. Back in my younger, foolisher days, I had a blackface piggyback Bassman head & cabinet, matched and mint. Probably sounded great but I traded it for - gulp! - a Roland JC head and stereo cabinet. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

January 22nd, 2008, 02:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,259	3 way tie for first place with tele's 1. 62 Marshall Blues Breaker Combo 2. Masters TVA30 112 combo 3. Suhr 18 Watt Badger Head and matching cabinet All EL84 amps but I'm hoping to add a 5E3 to this list soon.

January 22nd, 2008, 03:31 PM	#13 (permalink)
mad dog Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 727	For vintage stuff, has to be a two-input mid 50s bassman I couldn't possibly afford. To hear that is to understand why people chase tweeds around. Otherwise, it's a tie: -- Sewell Wampus Cat, with ASAT Classic tele or Dearmnond M-75T. Sort of tweed pro, but gainier, with some extras. Thick, warm tone with a west coast edge. -- Twilighter (magnatone) 260, using a 335. Cranked on stage, on the bridge pickup. Hot, alive sound, might be as good as I've sounded yet.

January 22nd, 2008, 04:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
ryokan Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 274	My '65 Ampeg Gemini I. Lush and beautiful on ALL settings -- it never sounds bad, no matter what you do with the tone settings. Has sublime reverb as well -- __________________ www.inksound.com www.myspace.com/chrisaronnelson

January 22nd, 2008, 04:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
BoB/335 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island Posts: 475	I was at an Open Jam where I plugged into a Bruno amp with an OCD pedal. Sure would like to spend some more time with that setup. __________________ BoB/335

January 22nd, 2008, 05:03 PM	#17 (permalink)
maestrovert Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: West Branch Mi. Posts: 6,181	this one....my old original (i bought it new in late '63) Princeton.... hands down still the finest amp i've ever heard, bar none. __________________ Sing the Song Bro' Play on Drummer www.godonthe.net

January 22nd, 2008, 05:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
kb1rcefn Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Prescott, Az Posts: 324	Hey Tonewoods - what guitar is in your picture?? Nocaster??? What's the scoop on it - it looks great (lot's of mojo!!) __________________ ".....just 'cause you wrote 'em, don't mean you can play 'em..." - Joe Walsh

January 22nd, 2008, 05:26 PM	#19 (permalink)
casadyrocks Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: colorado Posts: 117	A friend of mine had his grandfather's small Fender- I have no idea what year it was, or what model (this is also 25 years ago, the amp was certainly a 50's something) that was unbelievably amazing. I played through it a few times, and still remember how great it was.

January 22nd, 2008, 07:54 PM	#20 (permalink)
Tremo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,678	61 Showman head driving the matching D130 tone-ring cabinet. __________________ Exposing the CONs. www.myspace.com/59tremolux

January 22nd, 2008, 08:26 PM	#22 (permalink)
GoldieLocks Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abbotsford B.C. Posts: 818	best amp ever? So far its still my Hiwatt Custom 50 head through my Laney 4x12 cab (celestion 75's). It took me years to get the right Tubes & biasing. Then finding the perfect Overdrive (creamtone) & a good Reverb unit. Then spending a couple 100 bucks on really good cables...not to mention the quest for the perfect guitar. I've heard amps with better midrange & better clean sounds. But this amp ROARS. __________________ "How little I know inspires me tremendously! I'm a huge fan of other people's playing." Bonnie Raitt

January 22nd, 2008, 08:52 PM	#23 (permalink)
stantheman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 4,899	1.'86 Les Paul Standard through a '68 Deluxe Reverb. Nice. __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

January 22nd, 2008, 09:27 PM	#24 (permalink)
tjalla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,812 7 Photos	Guitar - '53 tele Amp - '59 Bassman Albeit on different occasions. But I did play a '69 ES-330 through that bassman, and it was a pretty memorable tone.

January 22nd, 2008, 09:38 PM	#25 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	Too many to mention. Some standouts: My 6L6 modded BF Princeton Reverb head I built with just about any of my guitars. One of my favorite sounds, whether clean or dimed (I couldn't hear my neighbors knocking/banging on my door). An old '80s JCM800 100w with a Les Paul and unknown 4x12" speakers. Why the hell did I sell that amp?! Several of my homebrew amps... especially the high gain amps I've tweaked to perfection. Hearing a G-Reverb in action last week at NAMM.