Hello, I've been looking to get an old tube amp with reverb, But I'm not sure which one would be the right one for me. I don't like alot of bass, and I don't much care for the mellow tone that a fender gets. I like a lot of treble and midrange with very deep reverb. Any suggestions?
QuoteI like a lot of treble and midrange with very deep reverb.
Don't hate me for this, but you are *asking* for a classic Fender :o ::)
Or a similar one from the same era, including Ampegs and many others.
They should use the large, full size reverb tank, similar to what Super Reverbs and Twins used.
Or you could try to find a hybrid Peavey Mace.
Don't hate me for this, but you are *asking* for a classic Fender :o ::)
I don't hate you for that. I don't really hate fenders either, They're good for some things. Remember The Doors? 8)
Or a similar one from the same era, including Ampegs and many others.
They should use the large, full size reverb tank, similar to what Super Reverbs and Twins used.
Or you could try to find a hybrid Peavey Mace.
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I don't much believe that hybrid trans/tube amps can get the same tone. I played on one once, and it seemed to lack something that only an all tube amp has. The tone was similar, But not true tube tone. I've owned 2 tube amps from the '60's, a silvertone 1481, and an airline that was built in 1965. I sure miss those things. They had a sound that you just can't duplicate with IC's, and the vibrato was great on the airline amp.Of course, It's functionality that counts. For the reverb and vibrato, sure, I'd own a fender. But as for tone, I'd rather have a vox or marshall. You've been a big help to me. Thanks for the advice, Juan. I'll see what I can find. :tu:
Hi LJN,
Yes some of the older model Amps are ALL Valve BUT be warned most of the latter ones use SS Reverb inside the valve circuits.
As to your first Q Get A big fat Marshall and buy a stand alne reverb unit,, bypassing all the needles hassles.
Phil.
I sure wish I could afford a marshall, But I can't. If I do get a tube amp, It'll probably be another cheapo. If I don't find one, it makes no difference. I'll still have my old sears. I'll just get a reverb pedal to solve the problem. I hear the EH holy grail is pretty good. Anyway, thanks, Phil.
Quote from: LJN on April 27, 2011, 03:45:39 PM
Hello, I've been looking to get an old tube amp with reverb, But I'm not sure which one would be the right one for me. I don't like alot of bass, and I don't much care for the mellow tone that a fender gets. I like a lot of treble and midrange with very deep reverb. Any suggestions?
I use a late eighties Marshall 4203 Artist Combo with a 1 x 12" Celestion and 2 x EL34 in the power stage. The sprign reverb unit is pretty good and produces a big washy sound. Due to the age of the unit it occasionally "disconnects" and stops working but probably just needs a cleanup. Theyre getting hard to find. I read recently in an interview with Joe Bonamassa that he bought one in Germany and uses it to record.
I use a late eighties Marshall 4203 Artist Combo with a 1 x 12" Celestion and 2 x EL34 in the power stage. The sprign reverb unit is pretty good and produces a big washy sound. Due to the age of the unit it occasionally "disconnects" and stops working but probably just needs a cleanup. Theyre getting hard to find. I read recently in an interview with Joe Bonamassa that he bought one in Germany and uses it to record.
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Yes, your reverb unit could use a cleanup. I've played through a couple of SS marshalls, but I didn't like the way they sounded. I like the late '60's and early '70's tones. To me, most marshalls sound too modern. Of course, It would depend on the model. A tube type marshall would probably have that late '60's metallic sound I'm looking for. I'm into psychedelic rock, blues, brit-rock, very early metal, and southern rock. What type of marshall do you think would be best for that type of music?
Sorry chum but when people ask what type of fast car goes faster that the other fast cars you are not going to get much help!!!!!
My mental picture of a fast car might be very different to your mental image of a fast car? Catch my drift 8|
9 out of ten kids that come to me asking similar Q's buy some silly fendery sounding Amp when in reality they need a marshall/Soldarno/ pick one?
As to modern metal sound go chase a good tone control setup.
Metal just requires a lot of mid cut. The hip phrase is called *Scoop* but you can get by with any old crap Graphic EQ if you can't afford the latest Soldarno.
Or consider using a Para EQ then into a Graphic EQ,,, if the basic amp is good then this can save you heaps$$$$$
Cheers, Phil.
That makes sense. I'm thinking about getting a marshall class 5 combo. It doesn't have reverb, but it's supposed to be all-tube.
Some of the new model and re-issue amps from Vox have spring reverb. If you want decent reverb without the Fender tone you could try some of the Crate tube amps from the `90s or some of the Peavey tube amps from 1980s to present-day. I had a Crate Club 20 combo that had great reverb and did the Marshall thing perfectly. (but I sold it `cause that sound just really isn't my sound) The Peavey Vintage 30 is another good one. Sort of a cross between a Vox and a Marshall sound-wise.
Just try to find something with EL84 or EL34 power tubes. They usually get you closer to the British tone. Another good one to look for is the Traynor YCV50-Blue. It does the British sounds really well and it comes with a full-size Accutronics reverb tank. I see more of these amps at gigs than any other, lately.
I mention these amps because they were produced in fairly large numbers and they turn up in the used market a fair bit. Just start searching Craigslist and Kijiji.
One thing, most the amps I mention above have probably got transistors driving the reverb. It's generally the approach most companies have taken over the past 30 years or so. Oh, and most of these amps are all PCB. For a point-to-point tube amp, you either have to pay the big bucks or else get very lucky and do lots of research while bargain-hunting.
I tried a boss/fender reverb pedal next to a stand alone fender reverb plus various fender amps.I bought one and am using it with a original 60's voxac30tb plus early 50 watt marshall head.The pedal goes from subtle to surf with ease. Try one it might just solve your problem it did it for me.
This is a very subjective question... I think personally I never liked the reverb on any tube amp that I have owned. I guess that might be why your asking this question. The horrible part about it is that I never tried other reverbs and just stuck with what was there on the amp. However, I do love reverbs on solid state amps much better but not in regard to playing in a band. I love the reverb effect of solid states when practicing in low key environment on my own(no drums or whole live band). I think if I was gonna slap some reverb on it then I would choose a Boss reverb pedal or a Lexicon reverb rack mount unit. All this is subjective but reverb in tubes is a hard thing to get just right.
I am sorry if my reply is HIjacking the thread, but my question is so similar that is would be weird to make a new post.
For a friend I am building a small practice amp based on this amp: http://www.sophtamps.ca/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=39 (http://www.sophtamps.ca/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=39)
With lots of help from Ian Thompson-Bell I am adding his great poor men's eqp1a Pultec eq. (check his websites: http://www.customtubeconsoles.com/index.html (http://www.customtubeconsoles.com/index.html) and http://www.ianbell.ukfsn.org/EzTubeMixer/ (http://www.ianbell.ukfsn.org/EzTubeMixer/))
Now I want to add a nice little reverb. The amp will be too small to house an actual spring reverb unit. Anyone any clues on what kind of reverb to put in here?
Cheers
Erik
Google the Belton Digital Reverb "tank".
You'll have to fed it power (5V?) and proper signal levels, but it sounds good and is made by the spring tank guys themselves.
They *know* what's needed. 8)
cool.. tnx!
Yes , the reverb on tube amps is very good ( on most of them) .
LJN what it sounds like to me that you want is a Marshall with reverb , here's what you can do , what I have done.
Find a Peavey Triumph and do some simple tone mods ( you can do this with 4 very simple mods).
INSTANT JCM800 WITH REVERB plus a better clean channel lol