What Amps Represent the Main Food Groups?

[GJgo]

There are so many amps out there that are copies of this, clones of that, hot rodded version of the other thing. So here's my question. What amp families represent the MAIN guitar tones? Here's what I can think of. What else?

- The Marshall circuit & a million hot rods and clones
- The Fender / Mesa Mark circuit
- The SLO / Rectifier / 5150 circuit
- ..?

 

[braintheory]

Definitely Vox and Hiwatt deserve their own I think and probably also Jim Kelley, which is based off a certain model Ampeg, but sounds nothing like it. I guess Dumble would probably be in the modded-Fender/Boogie Mark I area and Trainwreck like a Marshall/Vox hybrid. Soldano SLO, 5150 and Recto’s all sound so different from each other even if they’re very close on paper. The Gjika is I’m guessing also it’s own thing

There’s also a million clones of fenders, vox’s, Dumbles, Trainwrecks, but not many of Hiwatt’s and not really any I know of for Recto or Mark clones oddly (at least for actual amps, not pedals or preamps)

 

[SpiderWars]

Used to be Fender/Marshall/Vox but I think more have been added like the SLO/Recto/5150 (even though they sound different, the era and high gain match). I think the new modelers are a whole new group and I've never even played one.

To me, Dumble is a Fender variant/extension (the ODS anyway). Mesa Marks are as well. Trainwreck is more Vox to my ear, even the Express which is not a Vox-y circuit.

And for me...Marshall is the meat. Plexi = Beef; JCM800 = Pork. Because I like beef a little more than pork but still love both.

 

[Metalhex]

To me nothing else sounds like Hughes and Kettner amps. At least the BS200 and the GM40. They are unique in that they have this harsh grainyness that is impossible to dial out using the amps controls

 

[Will Onyx]

So are modelers considered a ‘diet’ or ’sugar free‘ version?

 

[cardinal]

Maybe Black Face American, "British", and then maybe some type of aggro modern stuff.

 

[glpg80]

- The Marshall circuit
- The Fender / Mesa Mark circuit
- The SLO / Rectifier / 5150 circuit
- Hiwatt / Vox / Laney circuit
- The Herbert/KSR/Peters/Fortin boutique circuits
- Cameron

 

[braintheory]

- The Marshall circuit
- The Fender / Mesa Mark circuit
- The SLO / Rectifier / 5150 circuit
- Hiwatt / Vox / Laney circuit
- The Herbert/KSR/Peters/Fortin boutique circuits
- Cameron

The Hiwatt, Vox and Laney all sounds very different from each other and I don't think are even at all similar on paper. If anything the Laney, particularly the old Supergroup model can be grouped with Marshall (many say the Supergroup sounded a lot like the SLP's), but definitely not grouped with those other 2. They're all British, but otherwise more differences than similarities

The Hebert, KSR, Peters, and Fortin also are all pretty different (I have lots of experience owning and/or playing all those amps), but none of those are amps I think are honestly that worthwhile imo after trying and now owning other stuff later. The Fortin would make more sense to group with Cameron, Gower, and maybe Monomyth. I guess the one thing those "boutique" amps you listed have in common is that they tend to sound more polished/less raw, something I'm not a fan of

 

[acidvoodoo]

How about some vitamin C - Orange has some nice sounding amps!

 

[marvcus]

Fender
Vox
Marshall
Digital modeling.

 

[GJgo]

Thanks guys, lots of good stuff here. Ok so here's the next question which plays right into this.

If you wanted to say have 3-6 TUBE amps to cover all the MAIN awesome guitar tones, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

 

[braintheory]

Thanks guys, lots of good stuff here. Ok so here's the next question which plays right into this.

If you wanted to say have 3-6 TUBE amps to cover all the MAIN awesome guitar tones, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

If only high gain is needed I’d say:
-Mark IIC+/++/Coliseum
-Badlander Rectifier or Early Rev Triple
-Marshall (either JMP or SLP)
-Diezel VH4 Blueface
-Naylor
-Wizard

For everything but high gain:
-Gjika
-‘60’s Vox AC30 Copperpanel (Top Boost or Non-Top Boost)
-‘64 Fender Vibroverb
-Jim Kelley
-Hiwatt
-Naylor and Marshall can be included here too

 

[cardinal]

Thanks guys, lots of good stuff here. Ok so here's the next question which plays right into this.

If you wanted to say have 3-6 TUBE amps to cover all the MAIN awesome guitar tones, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Deluxe Reverb
Marshall 2204
AC30
Boost pedals for high gain

But if you needed a high gain amp,
Deluxe Reverb
2204
Rectifier

IMHO, based on the amps I've had, these are most worthwhile.