Boutique SS guitar amp

There've been plenty of high-end bass amps that are solid-state and make no bones about it. But far fewer on the guitar side of the fence. For the sake of discussion, I'm excluding digital modeling amps for now.

So, my question is: what's the king of high-end for solid-state guitar amps? Is there a "Dumble" of transistors?

About ten years ago I remember seeing some little SS combos at South Austin Music aimed at steel players that had a street price of > $1K, which flabbergasted me. I can't recall the brand, but I think they came from Nashville.

Does any one know of any high-end SS guitar amps?

probably just me but i find most solid states don't have too much individual character besides what effects they come bunched with and their size

Not sure you'd call it boutique...but the Roland JC120 is a solid state with solid reputation for clear clean tones.

Evans is one, and there was one for sale here not long ago. Polytone is another. Now keep in mind that these are designed for jazz players that want maximum clean without any characteristics that tubes provide. I don't know of an amp manufacturer that deliberately makes a SS amp for any kind of rock/pop music that does NOT try to mimic (or at least claim to) the sound of a tube amp. If there was one, I may be interested myself.

If you want BIG CLEAN LOUD and CHEAP, go for an old used Peavey Bandit 65. They have an excellent clean channel that is PLENTY loud enough for anything, and the reverb is excellent too. Just stay away from the distorto channel.

"I can't recall the brand, but I think they came from Nashville."


Are you sure you do not mean the Nashville 400 Peavey, or Session series??

Check out Pritchard amps. Premier Guitar had a nice review recently. Good stuff. If I had hte coin, I'd scarf one up in a heartbeat.

There is a "Dumble" of solidstate Amps: Acoustic Image.

Check out Pritchard amps. Premier Guitar had a nice review recently. Good stuff. If I had hte coin, I'd scarf one up in a heartbeat.

I was going to post this one, but couldn't remember the name. Eric Pritchard seems to have done his homework!

- Scott

I own a Pritchard Satori, I have never heard a better sounding SS amp, period. I guess I've had it for 3 or 4 years. It sounds "better" than most Tube amps. On average 50% of the rental amps I play concerts through suck, they are "all" tube amps. Not all tube amps are good sounding.
The Pritchard is the most versatile amp I own. Sounds better on the gig than the showroom, and you'll fall in love with it in the studio. Likes pedals but can stand alone.
Its not a practice amp. Its an awesome professional tool.
I like my tube amps, but the Pritchard goes to work more often than any other amp I own.
I wish they were more common so the rental companies had them, that would be great.
By one and use it.
You'll like it.
Its like a Telecaster.
If you can play, your gonna like it a lot.
If your just starting out , its gonna encourage you to clean up your act.
I finally decided to change the stock 4 ohm eminence to a 8 ohm celestion vintage 30 and for me its perfect.
Not to put too fine a point on it but, "I love my Pritchard amp !"
Its not cheap but its worth every nickel.
If this sounds like add copy , forgive me , I just actually love the thing, I feel like I'm braggin' about one of my kids or something.

"I can't recall the brand, but I think they came from Nashville."


Are you sure you do not mean the Nashville 400 Peavey, or Session series??

No, it was Evans.

I'm very happy with my Henriksen JazzAmp.

I agree that the 80s Peavey Bandits and Special 130s had a
wonderful clean channel. My favorite ss amp. Hartley really got
it right.

I would be interested to try one of the Pritchards mentioned but I'm in the UK and the prices are surprising. considering its probably a PCB amp.

http://www.pritchardamps.com/price.cfm

Those evans amps sound pretty good... I saw Joe Pass playing through a polytone a long time ago and I've seen Tommy Tedesco play a polytone in a place in Ventura...

I'd be tempted to pick up an Evans if I saw one for the right price... the goal would be clean, clean, clean.

I agree that the 80s Peavey Bandits and Special 130s had a
wonderful clean channel. My favorite ss amp. Hartley really got
it right.

Glad to have someone agree with me! I like to use them with the Morley/Award JD-10 device, using the JD for the "amp" tone. The "real" amp is just to make it louder.

I first heard of Pritchard back in the early 90's. Vintage Guitar magazine did a big article on his amps then and were raving about 'em. I actually got the number and called them up. I talked with Eric Pritchard for a long time. A really nice guy, and great to talk amps with. Unfortunately I've never had the opportunity to try his amps out.

Getbent,
I use an old Polytone a lot. To me, a much better sound than Evans (or Acoustic Image- sound like a mini P.A.)
because there's warm Fendery flavor, almost mid-scooped, but not much. The tone knobs work intuitively and the speakers aren't just high power handling ... they actually soung good. Problems- don't even think of trying the built in distortion, it's godawful, and forget their customer service ... they apparently don't respond to customers, as far as I can tell, and I've tried.
I'm taking the Musicman to a jazz gig tonight, want tubes.

Oh, and I just remembered Pearce amps. I played with a guy who had one, it sounded great. Super flexible also, but with a lot of features that made me think "Either a musician designed this, or he took a lot of input from working musicians". You usually see them as rackmount units, but there were some combos in a nice oak cabinet, I'd love to find one of those.

I have no experience with this but there's Blue Tone also.

http://members.aol.com/bluetoneamps/

Remember, the more money you spend, the better the amp is.