"perfect" Country/Classic Rock Amp?

i am a Telecaster lover looking for that perfect Country and Classic Rock amp.

i have been through many and just can't find the sound i am looking for.

it is that well rounded mids plus sparkling highs sound with out the ear spliting ice pick.

i use a modded CS-3 compressor, Xotic AC Booster, Xotic BB Preamp in front.

a Chorus and Delay in the loop.

my current amps are a Bedrock 621 and a Zinky Blue Velvet.

what will get me "that" sound i hear on , let's say, the Hellcasters CD's???

A Fender Pro Reverb or Twin Reverb should fit the bill.

Most of the Hellecaster tones to me sound like tweed Bassman or Super Reverb with the occasional Matchless Jorgenson.

I love the sound of my Tele through a DRRI...straight in...no pedals.

I suggest taking your rig to a store that will let you demo a Bassman, a Super Reverb, and a Deluxe Reverb. Those are the magic 3 for me. I also really like a Blues Jr. once it has had the BillM mods done to it.

"Perfect" is in the ear of the beholder, obviously. But any BF or SF Fender (I'm not a fan of the reissues) with enough power to be heard over a drummer should do the trick. It's mostly down to your fingers, guitar, settings, and any pedals you might add to the mix. Imho.

yea, i understand my use of the word "perfect" is not the best. how else does one ask?

i have owned a DRRI. it sounded good, but it hated pedals. i have to use a few for different levels of drive.

how are the Dr. Z Maz Jr.'s?

i get by with 1x12 and 30 watts.

it is the well rounded mids i am mainly after. or as some call it, the "Vox" sound.

i ask these questions because i live in the middle of nowhere and there is not a music store anywhere near me. the internet is my music store.

Since you want the Vox sound, get an AC30. It's exactly what you describe.

yea, i understand my use of the word "perfect" is not the best. how else does one ask?

i have owned a DRRI. it sounded good, but it hated pedals. i have to use a few for different levels of drive.

how are the Dr. Z Maz Jr.'s?

i get by with 1x12 and 30 watts.

it is the well rounded mids i am mainly after. or as some call it, the "Vox" sound.

i ask these questions because i live in the middle of nowhere and there is not a music store anywhere near me. the internet is my music store.

Dr Z Stangray with 2X12 open back cab /Celestion blues. I play country and classic rock and this is in my opinion the perfect amp for that. It loves my AV52 RI and my 62 RI hotrod strat sounds great as well.
I did have the Maz 38 with the 2X12 Z best cab. Although that was a great amp as well I did have issues with ice picky highs and the cabinet was just too loud for most places.
The Stangray was designed with the Vox AC30 in mind.

I have two SFDR that are perfect, to me anyway. Not to loud and if I need more, just put a SM57 in front of it and you can play arena's. That being said, I am thinking of selling one of them to get a 5e3. But I will always have at least one SFDR.

LK

Since you want the Vox sound, get an AC30. It's exactly what you describe.
+1 I flipped in and out of the Country Music Awards last night, and was amazed at how many VOX amps I saw - why it's downright "unamurrican"!:lol:

When I heard the HEllecasters live at an Arlington gutiar show back soem years ago, there were two Groove Tubes Soul-O amps and a small Matchless ?LIghtning?....can't tell you for sure but Jorgensen may have been playing the Matchless. I took pictures of their pedal boards that day....fairly extensive boards.

Z Maz Jr

perfect for what you describe, and its built like a tank

I'n getting great mileage from a Fender SuperSonic !!, clean one side, dirty the other, tube, great reverb ...... try one !

Z Maz Jr

perfect for what you describe, and its built like a tank

+1

Deluxe Reverb. Ground zero for tone.

Two words:

Fender Twin

i owned an AC30CC2........too heavy and pretty picky about settings. they seemed to change from venue to venue. great amps but awfully inconsistent. i play smaller clubs.....1x12 amps with a mic.

that leaves out a Fender Twin as well.....LOVE the tone, too much amp for my needs.

i had a Supersonic for quite a while........i loved the drive side,but there was no clean headroom on Bassman setting on the clean side. the other setting was pretty thin

the DRRI was really nice on the cleans.....it just hated pedals, and i tried several in a attempt to get along.

i know i am being picky, but i have tried alot of amps!! i have been close once with a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia..........just not enough headroom for cleans.

another amp that was close was the Kustom Coupe'36....just missed with not enough of that low mid tone.

how are Maz Jr's? is there a fair amount of clean headroom? do they like pedals?

i have looked at a Peavey Classic 30 too, how are they?

You much try the new Mesa Boogie Express 5-50.
Its sounds like i dream
Country twang yes
My favourite amp its so aluround
Jerry Donahue=Mesa Boogie
http://archive.pixbox.se/arkivet/synligt_28/23000000-23009999/640x480/23006427.jpg

Wally,

yea, i have looked at Matchless amps alot. they seem to be on every stage these days. BadCat, 65 amps, and Divided by 13 amps too.

hell, you only live once. i should take the plunge. i just wish i could get my hands on these amps before i buy one.

Bbenderman,

ah yes, my days of gigging a Mesa DC30. i loved that amp. it lost its ability to stay clean as the night warmed up the tubes. that drive channel was heavenly!!

i tried the F-100, the F-50, and the Heartbreaker. each just didn't "twang"

the Express 50 is in my range...............very interesting.

It'd be tough to sound like crap with a Deluxe Reverb in any situation.

5F4 Super.

I will Back Pete on that the more I play my 5f4 clone head into a good speaker the more I like it. You can set it so it gets twangy for country with a tele or set more midrange for Rock and its got more then enough power plus it takes pedals very well including fuzz and distortion pedals.

Writing as one who used a Twin as his #1 for years, I will tell you that the Twin will loosen the windows in your house without even working up a sweat, and change the shape of the bottom of the trunk in your car.

Unless you're playing outdoors, unmiced, and "clean" is your thing, I'd cast my vote for the Deluxe. Princeton is perhaps a shade underpowered for a stage monitor with the kinds of bands I played in (while the Twin was too much. You know you're there when your drummer is begging you to turn it down.)

Super is good too... rather more ballsy than the Deluxe, with somewhat more elusive tone... if you like those, I think the Rivera-era 4x10 Concerts are great amps as well.

But my 43-year-old back says Deluxe. Tone for miles, and easy to move. They don't put wheels on Twins for nothing.

Deluxe, Deluxe, Deluxe.

One of these:

Goodsell (http://www.superseventeen.com/goodsell_models.html)

I've got the Super 17 Mk.2...a surprisingly loud 17 watts in a 1x12 combo.
Has the sweet mids and EL84 chime for sure and a very good master volume.

jjh37854 (what a crazy name to try and remember!) and Golfnut offer solid advice that I will endorse.

I have three Vox AC30s, three Dr. Z amps (Maz18, Maz38 and Stangray) as well as a Fender Blues Deville.

For what you describe, the best amp is a toss-up between one of those three amps above. Since you mentioned the Maz Jr. and it does produce the sound you want I suggest you go for it. It's "only" 18 watts but sounds more like 40. It loves pedals, you can get one with an effects loop or reverb. Simple design. Fantastic sound.

Best regards,

Ward

or as some call it, the "Vox" sound.

See if you can get your hands on either an older top boost or one of the new hand wired ac30s it may be what you are looking for

i am a Telecaster lover looking for that perfect Country and Classic Rock amp.

i have been through many and just can't find the sound i am looking for.

it is that well rounded mids plus sparkling highs sound with out the ear spliting ice pick.

i use a modded CS-3 compressor, Xotic AC Booster, Xotic BB Preamp in front.

a Chorus and Delay in the loop.

my current amps are a Bedrock 621 and a Zinky Blue Velvet.

what will get me "that" sound i hear on , let's say, the Hellcasters CD's???

Jerry Donahue (Helecasters) did not use any amps at all. He used an Award-Session JD10 direct recording pedal straight into the desk!

Stewart Ward,

good info!! i love it when little secrets like that surface.

i have a few buddies that have gone strictly IEM's and they all go direct. no amps on the stage. the guitar is into a Vox Tonelab LE to the board. the bass is into a Tech 21 Bass Sansamp to the board. the drummer is mic'ed and put behind Plexiglass.

all IEM's and Buttkicker's for bass. it is really fast to set up and the sound out front is incredible. the monitor situation on stage is hard to get used to, but they use top notch gear and the quality is better than most monitor system. it is the fact there is no air moving on stage that is hard to deal with.

Donahue used the "direct to the board" approach and his tone is freakin' huge!!

The Swart Atomic Space Tone (http://swartamps.com/swart_atomic_space_tone.htm) is pretty hard to beat.

I love mine.

I recently bought a Hot Rod Deluxe combo (special issue ; Tweed, blue Jensen speaker) and think it's a great all round amp. I use the "drive" setting - not too gainy and still has plenty of "spank". I play in a 50's/60's band and I try and sneak in a country song or two (provided they're danceable) and this amp excells at all genres. I got a rockin' country gig comin' up in a couple weeks - guess which amp I'll be takin' ? At 40 w it's a loud amp - I've had a bass player ask me to turn down and he was using a big Trace Elliott. Hope this helps. Regards.

guitarman-- if you order an amp from musiciansfriend, music123, etc they give you 45 days to return it no questions asked and will even pay the return shipping. I've bought LOTS of equipment this way. Hope this helps.

cletus

Stewart Ward,

good info!! i love it when little secrets like that surface.

Snip...

Donahue used the "direct to the board" approach and his tone is freakin' huge!!

Ah.... but will many want to believe it? There is a credit to the pedal on the albums! JJ & WR both use them too, if not to the same extent.

+1 for the dr. z maz jr.

zoppotrump
:O)

okay, this weekend i have access to a Dr. Z Maz Jr., a slightly modded Hot Rod Deluxe, a Vox AC30HW, and a MusicMan RD65.

i am taking my Zinky Blue Velvet and my Bedrock 621.

the Zinky is my baby, but one of those amps is going to be my new amp!!

I suggest taking your rig to a store that will let you demo a Bassman, a Super Reverb, and a Deluxe Reverb. Those are the magic 3 for me. I also really like a Blues Jr. once it has had the BillM mods done to it.

What are BillM mods?

[QUOTE=guitarman_nebr;1415680]
how are the Dr. Z Maz Jr.'s?
QUOTE]

Having owned both Sr. and Junior, I prefer (and still own) the MAZ 38 Sr. 2x12, especially with a Tele. Big, clear sound that really honks when you push it.

Both those models are LA-HOUD!

Dr Z Stangray with 2X12 open back cab /Celestion blues. I play country and classic rock and this is in my opinion the perfect amp for that. It loves my AV52 RI and my 62 RI hotrod strat sounds great as well.
I did have the Maz 38 with the 2X12 Z best cab. Although that was a great amp as well I did have issues with ice picky highs and the cabinet was just too loud for most places.
The Stangray was designed with the Vox AC30 in mind.

+1

The Stangray is an AC30, but only MORE better:mrgreen:

And to answer a few other questions you posted...

All my Dr. Z's LOVED pedals! More so than any other amp I've ever owned

Peavey Classic 30 - They sound OK, but they sound good IF you change all the tubes and the speaker. The speakers, IMO, are the worst sounding speakers ever put in an amp.

okay, this weekend i have access to a Dr. Z Maz Jr., a slightly modded Hot Rod Deluxe, a Vox AC30HW, and a MusicMan RD65.

i am taking my Zinky Blue Velvet and my Bedrock 621.

the Zinky is my baby, but one of those amps is going to be my new amp!!

Late into this thread...

If you get a chance, try a Laney VC30. Somewhat "Voxy" but with a flavour of its own. It has a vintage sound that's perfect for the 60s covers and instrumentals I play.

Klas

If you have an opportunity, try an old PV Blues Classic.

I haven't seen anybody mention a Super Reverb. When I think of Country/Classic Rock I think Super Reverb!

i owned an AC30CC2........too heavy and pretty picky about settings. they seemed to change from venue to venue. great amps but awfully inconsistent. i play smaller clubs.....1x12 amps with a mic.

that leaves out a Fender Twin as well.....LOVE the tone, too much amp for my needs.

i had a Supersonic for quite a while........i loved the drive side,but there was no clean headroom on Bassman setting on the clean side. the other setting was pretty thin

the DRRI was really nice on the cleans.....it just hated pedals, and i tried several in a attempt to get along.

i know i am being picky, but i have tried alot of amps!! i have been close once with a Dr. Z Carmen Ghia..........just not enough headroom for cleans.

another amp that was close was the Kustom Coupe'36....just missed with not enough of that low mid tone.

how are Maz Jr's? is there a fair amount of clean headroom? do they like pedals?

i have looked at a Peavey Classic 30 too, how are they?

I own a Peavey Classic 50 410. I have played the Classic 30 in stores and think it is more Vox, less Fender, in sound. The 30 is a 112 and built to last. Doesn't have quite the Fender reverb, though. The 410 is great, woody, percussive without being boomy, but not exactly portable. For portability, I went with the Blues Jr instead of the Classic 30 because it had a cleaner sound and better reverb. I recommend the 30 to people who want good distortion and okay clean, the BJ for great clean and okay distortion.

Carr Rambler

Try a Fender VibroKing

Okay, i went to a local "ampfest" last night. i got to try a few different amps side by side with my Zinky Blue Velvet (my favorite amp!!)

1. Dr. Z Maz 18 JR..... great amp!! loves pedals and has a touch sensitve sound that is
as percussive as i have heard. i brought it home for a week or so. a real keeper.

2. Omega modded Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.... something about this amp i kept going back
to. it just sounded that good! deep lows and very percussive. my Telecaster just
melted in my hands with the tone. my pedalboard needed no adjusting. i bought
this amp on the spot!!

3. Vox AC30HW....this amp is all that is modern Country/ Classic rock. my pedals didn't
play nice. this amp, with some compression in front, is as organic sounding as i have
ever played. way to spendy for me though....that is alot of money!!

4. Musicman RD65 112....if i were strictly a classic country player, this amp would be
very high on my list. my Tele sounded like i was in a 60's country band or on the
soundtrack of a Spaghetti Western........cool vibe!!

5. Peavey Classic 30.....a gigging amp for sure. the Blue Marvel speaker was not very
good, but when plugged into a V30 loaded cab, this amp was damn good!! a bit
underpowered for cleans at volume, but i would gig one with confidence. the Strat
sounded better than the Telecaster here.

basically i bought the Omega Hot Rod Deluxe and am putting the Maz Jr. through some paces to see if i can justify the money. my Zinky and the HRDX are going to make my gigging life a breeze.

thanks to all for helping me out!! us Tele slingers need to stick together

Since you want the Vox sound, get an AC30. It's exactly what you describe.

You know I jam sometimes with a guy who has old Vox Amps. When I was young they were big but I almost got electrocuted by one so I never sought them out. They guy with the old ones has a Tele and a Les Paul with P90's and don't you know there are a bunch of famous tones that come out of that rig from years past, present and future so maybe a Vox is what you need.

Gary

The Fender Twin Reverb comes to mind as a good example of greatcountry and classic tone.

while i agree that a Fender Twin and an AC30 are hard to beat, for gigging in bars, they are not really that great. oh sure, the tone can be to die for, the levels needed to achieve that heavenly tone is not gonna happen in a bar that seats 200 people.

with today's P.A.'s and monitors, small amps that are mic'ed have been popping up every where. besides, who can cart those bruisers around?

i had an AC30CC2. cool amp, but getting it to and from the stage was a bear. i am getting older and that is getting harder..........fact of life.

i hated the fact that the sweet spot of the amp was not being achieved because the stage volume requires us to turn the amps down.

although for the 10 or so outdoor gigs we play a year, i usually rent a Blackface Twin and let it rip!!

That's why they make the AC15. Exactly what you're describing.

yes, the AC15 is exactly right. great amp!!

i just couldn't get enough clean headroom. the AC15 wanted to have a little drive to the sound no matter how i wanted to set it.

the AC15 and the Carvin V-16 became harder to control as the gigs went on. the hotter the amps got, the more they wanted to distort.

that is why i have been sticking with a minimun of 30 watts in a 1x12 combo