Plexi & Princeton tone - is there one amp that can do both?

[mentoneman]

Guy is asking for maximum 30 watts and you geniuses are recommending that 100 watt 60 lb quasi bass amp, PT-100. I couldn't off-load that anchor fast enough.

my first thought was one amp trying to do both through one cab won't nail it. just get a plexi 1/2 stack and a princeton combo though good luck matching volumes

 

[VH4_BigRig]

If you're picky about it, then no: that amp doesn't exist. If you just want a nice clean and a nice drive channel, there's plenty of stuff out there. But if you must have something super fancy with switching power sections and cab switching etc., probably cheaper to just buy the different amps.

Remember that running a Fender type amp into a closed-back 4x12 with Celestions isn't going to sound like a Princeton combo. So if you're that picky, you'll need multiple cabs even if you could find one amp to do it. And at that point, just get a Princeton combo and a Marshall. It'll be cheaper than a super fancy amp, too.

And don't worry about wattage. It's just a number. Plenty of highet wattage amps sound great at lower volumes. In fact the smaller tubes and transformers in these tiny amps IMHO sound WORSE at low volumes because they have no low end content.

This.

The question boils down to whether it's the cleans or distorted tone you care about more, and which you'd be willing to sacrifice a bit of. I've played the Princeton a ton, and I can tell you right now that it doesn't do saturated high gain with pedals well. It turns into a flubby, tubby mess. It does singing lead tones at any volume wonderfully, quiet cleans, and that kind of gnarly rhythm tone like Black Keys/Neil Young have; but saturated or tight high gain sounds, nope. Maybe some higher wattage Fenders would work better with pedals though.

The bottom line is that part of what makes the Fender clean sound is the spring reverb and the speakers, and the saturated high gain Marshall sounds are usually better without spring reverb while using a cabinet with Celestions or something similar.

There are a ton of great sounding options out there, in terms of heads that have both good clean and distorted sounds, or a high headroom clean amp with a bunch of pedals (some of which the guys have already listed above), but the bottom line is you're going have to choose which sound you lean towards more.

I chased this rabbit hole for a while, and it's part of the reason I settled on the Kemper, among other things, because all of these variables are accounted for in one profile. Good luck!

 

[Mattfig]

You could get a second hand Randall RM22 and a couple Salvation Modules to really sound great...

A Twinface and Mashall+ would more than cover this territory...

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

You could get a second hand Randall RM22 and a couple Salvation Modules to really sound great...

A Twinface and Mashall+ would more than cover this territory...

Actually Fig, that is a really good suggestion. You can pick up the RM22's for peanuts and get even just Friedman designed Brahma or Judge and then an egnater Fender module or the stock Randall clean module which I foudn was quite spanky anyways. I think this would be your best bet.


OR, one of those 5 watt MArshall JMP heads and a small fender Tube amp.

 

[Mattfig]

You could get a second hand Randall RM22 and a couple Salvation Modules to really sound great...

A Twinface and Mashall+ would more than cover this territory...

Actually Fig, that is a really good suggestion. You can pick up the RM22's for peanuts and get even just Friedman designed Brahma or Judge and then an egnater Fender module or the stock Randall clean module which I foudn was quite spanky anyways. I think this would be your best bet.


OR, one of those 5 watt MArshall JMP heads and a small fender Tube amp.

It's crazy how cheap the hardware has become....Now would be a great time to snag one....And let Motor City Mods hook you up on modules!

 

[CaseyCor]

I am embarrassed I didn't thnk of the Randall/Eganter module stuff. I'm a big fan! There are some new ones coming out too..trying to remember what they're called.

 

[Mattfig]

I am embarrassed I didn't thnk of the Randall/Eganter module stuff. I'm a big fan! There are some new ones coming out too..trying to remember what they're called.

Synergy but they're gonna be pricey!

 

[BackCrack]

...Is there any head/combo that can pull off both a Fender Princeton/Twin type clean and a Marshall Plexi type saturation - at a maximum of 30watts...

I've always thought that the Shiva I used to have was Bogner's take on the Twin/Plexi thing.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

You could get a second hand Randall RM22 and a couple Salvation Modules to really sound great...

A Twinface and Mashall+ would more than cover this territory...

Actually Fig, that is a really good suggestion. You can pick up the RM22's for peanuts and get even just Friedman designed Brahma or Judge and then an egnater Fender module or the stock Randall clean module which I foudn was quite spanky anyways. I think this would be your best bet.


OR, one of those 5 watt MArshall JMP heads and a small fender Tube amp.

It's crazy how cheap the hardware has become....Now would be a great time to snag one....And let Motor City Mods hook you up on modules!

Hey, is salvation ever going to come up with a MDA board that has a sag control or ability to dial in the negative feedback? A lot of the module emulations unless they account for this in the preamp, could probably benefit from this going to the power section. I have renewed respect for my lynch box. My 2204 edges it out but the LB is quieter and the brahma sounds like a very good JMP. As there are always subtle differences between Marshalls, nobody would know the difference. I am on the fence about wanting a VOX module though or just getting an AC10.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I agree MTS can really solve this problem well. The need for different cabs or finding 1 versatile cab is still a big variable though
MattFig is awesome to deal with, dude loves tone and talking mts

 

[Just Mike]

After reading this thread yesterday I decided to plug my CM PlexiTone into the clean channel of my Mesa DC-5. I was quite pleased with the results. Great clean and fun Marshally crunch.
Although it was at apartment volume...

 

[glassjaw7]

Might have to check out the Bogner Mephisto. It's truly two amps in one. Otherwise nothing will get you all the way there if you're not willing to sacrifice a bit.

 

[mooncobra]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=186673&p=2084398&hilit=mezzabarba+skill#p2084398

check this, 30 watts, 2 x el34. great cleans and good gain channel.

 

[mrcak]

https://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=186673&p=2084398&hilit=mezzabarba+skill#p2084398

check this, 30 watts, 2 x el34. great cleans and good gain channel.

My next amp

 

[Kelly]

Surprised noone mentioned this...

http://3rdpower.com/products/amps/dream-weaver-mkii/