Trying to find a great clean amp

grunge782

grunge782

New member
I'm looking for something that is pretty warm but still shimmers, I'm not into overly bright or twangy cleans. However I don't want it overly fat, or sterile (I did NOT like the JC 120). Reverb would be a big plus. I'd also be using this to put some pedals through.

My budget isn't to go over 500-600. I'm obviously going used and I've been mostly looking at some older amps recently. Vintage amps are a worry though because of reliability and people always changing parts and possibly killing the sound of it.

What do you guys know of?

So far my list is-

Fender Bassman (not sure about the differences in years)
Carvin Legacy
Carvin X100b
Carvin MTS (not so sure about this one)
Ampeg V4
Ampeg VT-22
Ampeg Reverberocket 50 (RI is the one I found)
Laney vh100r (if I can get a good price on it)
Laney GH100 or 50

Let me know what you think sounds good and whats trash also from my list. I have only tried a Laney GH100 out of that list.
 
jonny toetags":2x7p6qvx said:
Does it have to be a head?
Click to expand...

Yes, it would be greatly preferred. I figured I could get more amp for the money, considering some of the cost would go into the speaker/s if it was a combo.
 
frenzel fm800

amazing sounding preamp that has clean tones for days. i heard one and was blown away. very liquid and smooth. not harsh and direct like solid state designs.
 
glpg80":1lgkmm83 said:
frenzel fm800

amazing sounding preamp that has clean tones for days. i heard one and was blown away. very liquid and smooth. not harsh and direct like solid state designs.
Click to expand...

WOW thats a good price :rock:

So happy you told me that.
 
I know you said head, but if you can find a Peavey Prowler you should buy it. Fender-y cleans, a bright switch to add some shimmer, plenty loud at 40w, 6l6s, made in the USA, I recently got one and the cleans are killer, for probably under $350.
 
mixohoytian":pvlzcjre said:
70strathead":pvlzcjre said:
one word.....FENDER.
Click to expand...

this


I got a fender 70s silverface for clean...very happy with it
for your budget, you could get a nicer blackface etc...
Click to expand...

Yeah I have been looking around at different bassmans.

The one thing I have found about a lot of fenders I have played though is that it can get too twangy or bright for my tastes. I really liked the lonestar's cleans.

However I haven't played through any of the pre 80's fenders.

I don't understand one thing though. What makes a blackface "better" than a silverface?
 
I got my Lonestar Classic for $850. Save up a bit and find one for that price. The cleans are great on this amp, and pretty versatile. I can dial in dark warm, or bright and shimmery. The drive channel is a little finicky though but the clean channel does rule. It beats out a lot of the Fenders out there.
 
Yeah I have been looking around at different bassmans.

The one thing I have found about a lot of fenders I have played though is that it can get too twangy or bright for my tastes. I really liked the lonestar's cleans.

However I haven't played through any of the pre 80's fenders.

I don't understand one thing though. What makes a blackface "better" than a silverface?[/quote]

I'm not a fender guy, but I believe they changed the specs and manufacturing location with the silverface
blackface is warmer, more classic
I don't know
I got the silverface, and had it modded to blackface specs

not twangy
can be twangy depending on gtr and speakers used
U use modern gtrs and more marshall voiced speakers and it has a warm organic tone

plus, I modded the other channel and got a free JTM-45 voiced amp
 
grunge782":1engikco said:
glpg80":1engikco said:
frenzel fm800

amazing sounding preamp that has clean tones for days. i heard one and was blown away. very liquid and smooth. not harsh and direct like solid state designs.
Click to expand...

WOW thats a good price :rock:

So happy you told me that.
Click to expand...

im telling you, ive PLAYED a vintage fender with the built in tremolo channel - the real deal. the guy had no idea what it was.

that amp did sound great, but the clips of the frenzel BLOW it away from what i recall, and the price difference is just fucking stupid.

get a frenzel and try it out IMHO - best of both (clean) tones in one amplifier. JCM800 and Fender :thumbsup:
 
danyeo":2xfhu0x8 said:
I got my Lonestar Classic for $850. Save up a bit and find one for that price. The cleans are great on this amp, and pretty versatile. I can dial in dark warm, or bright and shimmery. The drive channel is a little finicky though but the clean channel does rule. It beats out a lot of the Fenders out there.
Click to expand...

Great amp, but at that price point there is other options for me. Plus all the lonestars around here go for around 1100.
 
glpg80":24iwm87z said:
grunge782":24iwm87z said:
glpg80":24iwm87z said:
frenzel fm800

amazing sounding preamp that has clean tones for days. i heard one and was blown away. very liquid and smooth. not harsh and direct like solid state designs.
Click to expand...

WOW thats a good price :rock:

So happy you told me that.
Click to expand...

im telling you, ive PLAYED a vintage fender with the built in tremolo channel - the real deal. the guy had no idea what it was.

that amp did sound great, but the clips of the frenzel BLOW it away from what i recall, and the price difference is just fucking stupid.

get a frenzel and try it out IMHO - best of both (clean) tones in one amplifier. JCM800 and Fender :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

The price does look quite good.

And the 2 "vintage" sounds I want are around the bassman and the JCM800.

I'm thinking of selling my poweramp and buying the full head version of it :LOL: :LOL:. Getting that marshall sound too I think is pretty dependent on the power section.
 
I don't know it the AC15 comes in a head, but maybe you could look there. That or a good used Fender Deluxe
 
I just went through this same thing recently, wanted the best cleans I could find in a FRIENDLY PRICED HEAD, ended up going Egg (I don't play MUCH cleans, so having the BEST cleans ever was no biggie...they're better than the cleans on the Q-Rod anyway and that was MY goal). Got a great deal on a new Rebel 30 and it has not disappointed, outstanding clean tones on the cheap IMO - I run it through an old Fender 2x12 cab, sounding great, and NEW, its in line with your budget. I know you didn't list them, but give one a test spin if you haven't. Zero reliability issues with mine.

Also, the Fender purists might whine, but I recently attended a Gary Hoey clinic and his tone was AWESOME, he played through a stock Band Master VM (vintage modified) combo he picked right off the store floor. I tried the head version of that and was equally blown away, toneful amp...40 watts, 6L6GC, only $699 new.

Heads.jpg
 
RockNRun":1fq4t8xw said:
I just went through this same thing recently, wanted the best cleans I could find in a FRIENDLY PRICED HEAD, ended up going Egg (I don't play MUCH cleans, so having the BEST cleans ever was no biggie...they're better than the cleans on the Q-Rod anyway and that was MY goal). Got a great deal on a new Rebel 30 and it has not disappointed, outstanding clean tones on the cheap IMO - I run it through an old Fender 2x12 cab, sounding great, and NEW, its in line with your budget. I know you didn't list them, but give one a test spin if you haven't. Zero reliability issues with mine.

Also, the Fender purists might whine, but I recently attended a Gary Hoey clinic and his tone was AWESOME, he played through a stock Band Master VM (vintage modified) combo he picked right off the store floor. I tried the head version of that and was equally blown away, toneful amp...40 watts, 6L6GC, only $699 new.

Heads.jpg
Click to expand...

I actually was looking at this head too but was very unsure. For me the clean channel has to be not just good but a certain kind of good.

The overdrive on it is awesome, I tried the 20 version. I wish I could try a 30 to get a feel for the amp.

Egnater is a great option.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top