Which Amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MistaGuitah
  • Start date Start date

I Picked This One

  • Friedman BE-100

    Votes: 10 62.5%

  • Smallbox

    Votes: 6 37.5%
  • Total voters
    16
I'd have to look up some schematics, but IIRC, the tweed Deluxes are easy to convert. I think they're cathode biased, so self-biasing. On the sockets, pin 1 and pin 8 need to be tied together for use with EL34s. The connection is internal in 6V6s and Fender sometimes used pin 1 for something else (since it wasn't required for 6V6s). The biggest obstacle is to ensure that the power transformer, specifically the heater winding, can handle the extra heater current. Each EL34 pulls about 1.5A, while each 6V6 pulls about 0.5A. If the transformer can't handle it, it'll overheat. Anyway...

Tweeds are usually pretty strong in the mids, anyway, so the EL34s tend to sweeten that and tighten up the lows a little. Obviously, it won't turn it into a gain monster, but I do like the result. The tweed Bassman isn't really different than a JTM45 and we know what happens when you swap out the 5881s or KT66s for EL34s in those... ;)

MetalHeadMike, you are *really* not helping to ease my desire for a Splawn... Or a KSR... :lol: :LOL:
 
ChurchHill":2ih9gef2 said:
MetalHeadMike, you are *really* not helping to ease my desire for a Splawn... Or a KSR... :lol: :LOL:
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Do it! Man they're both bad ass. The KSR I've had for about a year now I think, and its freakin amazing. Have only had the QR for a week now, but I''m thoroughly impressed. On a side note the 20th Anny got quite a bit of play this morning while I was all jacked up on coffee and WOW :inlove: Really reminds me of the Fireball 100 a bit but warmer, not as stiff and with a little more sag/give.
 
sutepaj":1n9ms3m4 said:
I just hate this shit. Which expensive amp is good for me? I say buy a JCM800 and crank it up.
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Are you kidding man? The JCM 800 reissue is retailing for nearly $2600 these days.
 
MistaGuitah":3eg4o99u said:
sutepaj":3eg4o99u said:
I just hate this shit. Which expensive amp is good for me? I say buy a JCM800 and crank it up.
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Are you kidding man? The JCM 800 reissue is retailing for nearly $2600 these days.
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Just go to some ghetto pawn shops and find one for like $900, throw some JJ's in it, ya golden!
 
MetalHeadMike":3tfiyv9w said:
On a side note the 20th Anny got quite a bit of play this morning while I was all jacked up on coffee and WOW :inlove: Really reminds me of the Fireball 100 a bit but warmer, not as stiff and with a little more sag/give.
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Yeah, the 20th Sheeves is a really amazing piece of kit. The cleans are gorgeous! Only things I have better are a '64 blond Bassman and a '66 Super Reverb. Not even my Twin Reverb will keep up. You can get some nice crunch, too, and that's just the clean channel. There are some wicked '80s sounds in the dirt channel, then you kick on the Mode switch and it gets pretty brutal. Not quite my Rev Green Uber, but not too far off, either. It's such an easy amp to play, but is still very touch sensitive. The boost on the dirt channel is just perfect. Really glad you're enjoying it!! :rock: Definitely one of my favorite amps!
 
Blue stripe MK III++ I haven't gotten it yet but I expect it to crush anything.
 
I've got a stock MK III blue stripe and, yeah, it pretty much crushes everything. Just got some new tubes for mine today (nothing special, just Mesa). It can rip the heads off small animals at 500ft! Damn fine amp! Let me know what you think of the ++ mod when you get it back.
 
ChurchHill":3jbrxgn8 said:
Yeah, the 20th Sheeves is a really amazing piece of kit. The cleans are gorgeous! Only things I have better are a '64 blond Bassman and a '66 Super Reverb. Not even my Twin Reverb will keep up. You can get some nice crunch, too, and that's just the clean channel. There are some wicked '80s sounds in the dirt channel, then you kick on the Mode switch and it gets pretty brutal. Not quite my Rev Green Uber, but not too far off, either. It's such an easy amp to play, but is still very touch sensitive. The boost on the dirt channel is just perfect. Really glad you're enjoying it!! :rock: Definitely one of my favorite amps!
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I know this amp gets praised for its cleans, but honestly I never play clean :aww: I picked it up for playing the brootz :lol: :LOL: I did mess with the clean ch for few minutes and thought it sounded pretty good. That was the day the amp arrived however, and it came loaded with Sovtek 6550s. I swapped those for the stock KT88s and rebiased but haven't tried the cleans again since making the tube change. I'll have to check it out today. I think the cleans on my Germino club 40 have it beat. I rarely play clean but the Germino's are something to behold IMO.
 
ChurchHill":2an8sas3 said:
I've got a stock MK III blue stripe and, yeah, it pretty much crushes everything. Just got some new tubes for mine today (nothing special, just Mesa). It can rip the heads off small animals at 500ft! Damn fine amp! Let me know what you think of the ++ mod when you get it back.
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Does yours have the +
 
Oblivion DC":3kvakxux said:
Of the amps listed it would have to be the Dual Rectifier boosted with a Maxon od808. Drop a Zuul in the loop and you’re gonna be ready for anything.
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I've heard there is a lot of truth to this. I don't much about the Zuul but I'm guessing it kills any unwanted noise, what about tone though?
 
sutepaj":1hldgahz said:
I just hate this shit. Which expensive amp is good for me? I say buy a JCM800 and crank it up.
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How could anybody not like this guy. I'm with him and so is Schenker.
 
MetalHeadMike":xca7lu3f said:
I think the cleans on my Germino club 40 have it beat. I rarely play clean but the Germino's are something to behold IMO.
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You're not kidding, those Germinos are insanely good at what they do. Is your Club 40 stock or did you get the Black Flag version? I've been going back and forth between picking up either a Club 40 or a Lead 55. My wife is in LOVE with the Black Flag, but it's hard to compete with a cranked up 50w Plexi. Either way, a Germino is definitely on my short list.
 
exo-metal":2vul7hka said:
ChurchHill":2vul7hka said:
I've got a stock MK III blue stripe...
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Does yours have the +
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No, just the stock MK III. It's already an insane beast. If the ++ mod is worth it, I'd consider picking up another MK III and have one of each. I'm curious because I've heard good things and not so good things, as in it smoothing out the highs and removing a little of that aggression. I have a MK IV, too, which isn't as aggressive, hence my curiosity. The MK III is a raging demon! :rock:
 
ChurchHill":27kf3m7o said:
MetalHeadMike":27kf3m7o said:
I think the cleans on my Germino club 40 have it beat. I rarely play clean but the Germino's are something to behold IMO.
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You're not kidding, those Germinos are insanely good at what they do. Is your Club 40 stock or did you get the Black Flag version? I've been going back and forth between picking up either a Club 40 or a Lead 55. My wife is in LOVE with the Black Flag, but it's hard to compete with a cranked up 50w Plexi. Either way, a Germino is definitely on my short list.
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Its a straight Club 40. I play it through a 412 loaded with Heritage GBs and drive it with a Timmy and its simply tonal bliss. Pure 60/70s rock n roll.

I hear ya between the Lead 55 or Club 40 thing; I was torn as well. The Lead 55LV still haunts me a bit. I'd love to compare one to the Club 40.
 
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