PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

darylcd · Guest

I have been playing guitar for 42 years, many of that spent on the road, playing mostly juke box music sprinkled with concerts and opening acts where we would get to do some original or jazz tunes. I have owned a lot of guitars, mostly solid bodies, except for a few archtops but all were 335s or similar. Even now I play a hollow body PRS that is similar in body size to the 335. I have always worshiped tube amps and I have never found a transistor amp that I even remotely liked.

But reading the posts from you big archtop guys, it seems that there may be a preference for transistor amps? Is this true, if so why? Less feed back? More complimentary tone? (Cheaper?)

I'm on the lookout for a big archtop and the amp talk on this forum has me wondering about amp choices.

Thanks.

Daryl

ovul82jazz · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:47 pm Post subject: amp stuff

I've finally settled on two amps... I use a Roland JC120 for big and a Polytone Minibrute for small to medium. I used to be an all tube sort, but these amps are great and really don't require much fussing. They're also lots lighter. To get comparable quality in a tube, you're looking at boutique and that's a bit more coin.

hootlikeamonkey · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 2

I've been playing Jazz engagements for about 7 years now, though I've played Rock much longer over the years. For awhile I was taking a Carvin Belair 50w/212 tube-amp to jobs, and it sounded pretty nice with the Epiphone archtop I play. But now and then on smaller jobs I would take a Fender Deluxe90 90w/112 solid-state, and it occurred to me one night that the smaller strings had more presence, and were crispier sounding than I was getting with the tube amp. The whole guitar sound seemed to be more in the forefront of the solid-state amp than that of the tube amp.

Of course there are endless combinations of guitars and amps, and it may be the particular set ups I have. But, nevertheless, I began taking the Fender to all my jobs and leaving the Carvin at home. I just thought it sounded more like a Classic Jazz guitar sound. Now I only use my tube amp for Commercial gigs (Rock/Blues/Country).

darylcd · Guest

Oriondk · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Sacramento

gtrmac · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 2

Hi,
Just thought I'd chime in to reply to the statement that Pat Martino uses a Mesa amp. I know that he used one for some time but the last two times I saw him live he was using the Mesa 2X12 cabs with an Acoustic Image head which is completely solid state. He doesn't use a big archtop but uses his Gibson Signature Model which is a chambered solid body with a carved top and his sound is quite unique. He uses very heavy gauge strings too. I've had the pleasure of meeting him and I know his engineer and we discussed the amp and guitar and I even got a chance to play it for a minute which was a thrill. I'm a tube amp guy myself but I play more in the Funk/Jazz style with either an Epiphone Elite 335 or a custom Strat type and I like a little overdrive in my tone which only a tube amp seems to get. I sometime record the 335 or my gibson ES-175 with a solid state preamp when I want a pure clean tone also.

Solid state amps are a lot easier on the back when you have to move them around though.

darylcd · Guest

I certainly in no way would give up my tube amp, but since I have never owned a big box guitar I wasn't sure if the transistor amp was a part of that sound, although I guess they were getting that sound before tranistor amps were invented. But I would add a second amp for the jazz box if that's what was needed. Thanks for the comments.

alfonso · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 1256 Location: Sacramento

darylcd,
With all the new modeling amps coming out and all the pre-sets and sounds being researched and implemented I believe it wouldn't be a problem finding your tone on a solid state amp, however the one thing I've noticed about the tube amps is that when you play an older jazz box like my Gibson ES 140 3/4 the fat body not the thinline, you get a certain hum, actually it's just the flavorful tone you get from the guitar with the single P-90 and the amp together, like a Fender Twin-Reverb. In other words IMHO if you currently don't have a vintage jazz box then you might not be able to get the vintage guitar and amp tone that P-90's are known for, on the other hand you have a newer PRS so most likely you get very good tone and pleasing to you and others. Whatever the case keep the amp, maybe someday you can get a vintage guitar with the older pick-ups that where designed to be played with tube amps cause that was high technology at the time and still today the sound of a vintage jazz box and a vintage tube amp are chosen and for some, nothing else will do. hope this helps. Cool

Chaoslloyd · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 26

Try a Carr Rambler.
I've owned a JC120 and a MiniBrute IV...
Both do some good stuff...they are clear...
have lots of head room...but i personally feel that
its at the expense of warmth.
the carr is what you want...
Expensive, but worth it...like a Deluxe Reverb that
has had magic dust sprinkled on it and any kinks
ironed out...tons of clean headroom...killer reverb...
I work in a guitar shop with a bunch of boutique
stuff, and its by far the best thing for
jazz that we have...plus its stylistically versatile and
EXTREMELY pedal friendly.

namaste · Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 4

I've played through tubes for over 35 years. But now with new technology, 50+ years, and a weak back I've become attached to the lighter and smaller combo amps. Never thought I'd leave tubes behind, but I can get the sound(s) I need thru solids. Just my 2 cents.

darylcd · Guest

I've been playing for 42 years and my right sholder doesn't like to lift my tube amp but I still can't leave my tubes, but I could add a transistor if I need to. Thanks.

Daryl

svenanator · Joined: 26 Oct 2005 Posts: 3 Location: knoxville, tn

my suggestion would be Mesa Boogie F30 (or 50). Any Fender tube is also good.

darylcd · Guest

I have a Fender Blues Deluxe reissue in tweed. Sharp looker, great sound, but I have to put a power attenuator on it because it is LOUD! Without the power attenuator, its loud on 2, I can't get it above 5 and unlike the boys in Spinal Tap, my chicken head knobs go to 12!

I would love a Mesa but at twice the price of my Fender I just can't justify it.

Daryl

Gorecki · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject:

It sounds like you've already found a solution but since I'm already here and other's read the threads, I found the VOX AD (Valvetronix) series very good sounding, the larger units are a bit heavy but the smaller ones sound suprisingly good.

I completely empathize with your situation, the sound and gear I love the most doesn't leave my studio because it takes three burly guys to move the stuff. Laughing

So, I as well am constantly on the lookout for smaller alternatives.

gretschboy · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 1

I have a Gretsch 6120 strung with flat-wound 11's, and out of all the amps I've owned & played through the years, I finally settled on a Laney VC30 2-12 combo. My Gretsch really sounds sweet through that class-A amp! The only tweaking I did to it was to switch the stock EL84 tubes for a matched set of Groove Tube EL84's, and I swapped one of the stock HH Invader speakers for a Celstion Alnico "Blue" speaker, and these mods really make the amp sing. I play primarily chord-melody standards in a solo setting, and I also have a piano-guitar-drums trio, and this amp seems to do it all for me. I'd say 80% of the time, I'm playing squeaky clean, but we do some Setzer-stuff that I dial up some overdrive for, and the amp handles that like a charm. I agree with the sentiment about the weight, though! I don't like hauling that bad boy up steps, let me tell you! Over this past weekend, my Dad built me a Vox AC30 clone, so I'm anxious to try that out! Who knows, maybe I'll switch?