I guess I’m middle aged now… cause I need a “clean platform” amp.

[Spaceboy]

I don’t know how it happened, but I’ve become a pedal guy and I want a decent “clean” platform amp for fuzz mostly. I’m thinking something. That has the ability to dirty up sometimes, maybe like a Plexi or HiWatt flavor, but I’m honestly wildly ignorant to amps that aren’t like an 2203 or later into modern amps. I’ve never been a vintage guy and I’m not chasing any particular tone, but I want an amp that can be a bit of a chameleon for amp in a box style overdrives, can handle input overload from cranked fuzzes, has some modern appointments doesn’t need to be a 100% vintage recreation or anything. I know I’m not a Fender kind of guy, not sure what else is out there.s. I’d like to spend less than 2k.

 

[Meeotch]

I've thought about this as well, and concluded that the Morgan SW50 is what I'd get. I know Tosin Abasi was running a BE OD into one for his live tones for a while. But not exactly sure if the model was discontinued.

 

[marvcus]

Wrong forum, tan pants on aisle 3. Ha

Any wattage limits? You might like a Bassman RI or a Deluxe of some sort. A Marshall Superlead will clip about 2-3, but the cleans are great if you like chime and a little dirt under it. Dr Z, maybe a Revv D40?

 

[RaceU4her]

i use my Ampeg V50H, just a 50w EL34 NMV with reverb set clean for pedals, breaks up beautifully with some volume. For something more modern though, id look at the port city stuff

 

[DanTravis62]

Depends what you wanna use it for.

I would say a Dr Z maz if you want low wattage, bassman or bandmaster if you want slightly lower volume, hiwatt if you have a big pp

 

[Spaceboy]

I’m definitely wanting something high wattage and a head, not a small combo. I’ll check into the suggestions

 

[CoreyW]

You already mentioned what you need in your OP.. Marshall 4 hole head... 1987X or 1959, depending on if you use load boxes, attenuate, or straight to the cab, you may want to mod the 59 for a master volume, a selectable bright cap mod I would suggest to add to that list as well.

You could also start a healthy addiction to That Pedal Show, and see how a lot of different amps handle a lot of different ODs and fuzzes.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Depends what you wanna use it for.

I would say a Dr Z maz if you want low wattage, bassman or bandmaster if you want slightly lower volume, hiwatt if you have a big pp

I was going to bring up the maz 18. I am always thinking about that amp

 

[BeZo]

OG Sovtek Mig 100.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Mesa Electra Dyne. One of their best clean channels, takes pedals like a champ and a great Marshall/Mark hybrid drive channel.

 

[Hamer95USA]

I would recommend the Suhr Bella. You can also buy it configured as an amp head as well to use with your own guitar cabs. Can be set to either 22 or 44 watts. I use it with either my Fractal Audio FX-8 or Boss MS-3 effects processor in 4 cable method.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Thread 'Dialing In the Blackstar Amped 1 – What I’ve Learned (and Some Starting Points for You)'

Apr 18, 2025

Here's the thing... I think the Blackstar Amped 1 is an excellent piece of gear — but it's often misunderstood.

Most of the time, that’s because players don’t know how to really dial it in. It’s not designed to be a full-featured amp modeler or a traditional tube head — it’s a modern pedal platform that thrives when used with your pedalboard, not instead of it.

That said, I’ve been using the Amped 1 as my primary amp, and after a lot of experimenting (plus a little help from AI), I’ve zeroed in on amp voicing + response combinations and...

• SwiftReason
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Rig-Talk

• 

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Thread 'Dialing In the Blackstar Amped 1 – What I’ve Learned (and Some Starting Points for You)'

Apr 18, 2025

Here's the thing... I think the Blackstar Amped 1 is an excellent piece of gear — but it's often misunderstood.

Most of the time, that’s because players don’t know how to really dial it in. It’s not designed to be a full-featured amp modeler or a traditional tube head — it’s a modern pedal platform that thrives when used with your pedalboard, not instead of it.

That said, I’ve been using the Amped 1 as my primary amp, and after a lot of experimenting (plus a little help from AI), I’ve zeroed in on amp voicing + response combinations and...

• SwiftReason
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Rig-Talk

• 

This is imo the perfect pedal platform amp.

 

[Metalhex]

Vox?

 

[Jccobb2]

Plexi clean is my favorite. They eat pedals too. I’d love a suhr plexi

 

[Music&Chaos]

I don’t know how it happened, but I’ve become a pedal guy and I want a decent “clean” platform amp for fuzz mostly. I’m thinking something. That has the ability to dirty up sometimes, maybe like a Plexi or HiWatt flavor, but I’m honestly wildly ignorant to amps that aren’t like an 2203 or later into modern amps. I’ve never been a vintage guy and I’m not chasing any particular tone, but I want an amp that can be a bit of a chameleon for amp in a box style overdrives, can handle input overload from cranked fuzzes, has some modern appointments doesn’t need to be a 100% vintage recreation or anything. I know I’m not a Fender kind of guy, not sure what else is out there.s. I’d like to spend less than 2k.

This should be the perfect one. I have a Clubster Royale Recording stocked with RCA 12AX7 black plates and it is absolutely stunning sounding. Cannot believe the headroom I have at 25w.

That being said, if I were just going for clean, this would be it every day:

https://www.rivera.com/product/combos/suprema-jazz-series-single-channel/

 

[Spaceboy]

Thread 'Dialing In the Blackstar Amped 1 – What I’ve Learned (and Some Starting Points for You)'

Apr 18, 2025

Here's the thing... I think the Blackstar Amped 1 is an excellent piece of gear — but it's often misunderstood.

Most of the time, that’s because players don’t know how to really dial it in. It’s not designed to be a full-featured amp modeler or a traditional tube head — it’s a modern pedal platform that thrives when used with your pedalboard, not instead of it.

That said, I’ve been using the Amped 1 as my primary amp, and after a lot of experimenting (plus a little help from AI), I’ve zeroed in on amp voicing + response combinations and...

• SwiftReason
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Rig-Talk

• 

I haven’t played the Amped1, but I own and enjoy my BluGuitar which seems similar. I have also considered trying out the Orange Pedal Baby, since it’s class A/B. I’ll check this out. I’m not terribly into dodges editors and things when it comes to to rigs, I dabble with modelers and plugins at home. I just need a guitar analog amp with plenty of power, so the DI stuff doesn’t mean much to me.

 

[Sick Michael]

Im using this and I have to say its making all my pedals sound great.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Since you mentioned Hiwatt I would highly recommend that if you live in the UK, or a Reeves or Hi-Tone if you live in the US.

I've had all three side by side, Hiwatt Custom 100, Reeves Custom 100, and Hi-Tone Custom 100. I kept the Hiwatt and Reeves, but the Hi-Tone was a great amp.

If you want built in spring Reverb then maybe a Reeves Space Cowboy.

All of them are built on the basic Hiwatt DR103 100 watt platform. The Custom 100's are 4 input, and I think the Space Cowboy is a 2 input front end.

Fwiw I'll take my Hiwatt and Reeves with the right pedal(s) over every high gain amp I ever played through for heavy music, and the pushed cleans and classic crunch tones are pure rock heaven.

 

[311boogieman]

I'm just going to throw out the Mesa Single Rec/Rectoverb II because a.) It has an actual clean channel (as opposed to the Dual/Triple) that includes a toggle for 'pushed clean'. b.) The Series II effects loop are pretty good imo. I run all of my time based stuff through it. c.) they are affordable d.) they are 50w e.) they run EL34s as well. f.) you then also have the OD channel for that OG feel that includes vintage and modern.


My fear with something like the Maz is that it will hit edge of breakup too soon. I only played it once though but otherwise a stellar amp.