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Solid State Amplifiers => Amplifier Discussion => Topic started by: Crystallas on March 25, 2006, 10:55:32 PM

Title: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Crystallas on March 25, 2006, 10:55:32 PM
Im sure everyone uses a little of everything from time to time. But some performers, usually sponsored, are know to use certain combos of amp/guitars ect.
More in specifically, who can you name off the top of your head that is known for their SS equiptiment.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: DoctorC on March 26, 2006, 06:38:34 PM
Well, the original "Deacy" was solid state  :tu:
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on March 26, 2006, 09:47:11 PM
Who used that?
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Crystallas on March 26, 2006, 10:00:34 PM
Ive seen a few Mac Amps that offered sponsors. Unfortunately the ones they list are all the tubed variants, or combos.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: trevize on March 27, 2006, 01:45:18 PM
I think that roland jazz chorus where used a lot by pro. i think it was the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus.

It was used for sure by Slowdive.

One of the Radiohead guitarist uses a fender SS amp in stereo with a vox ac 30.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: trevize on March 27, 2006, 01:46:44 PM
look what i've found...
http://guitargeek.com/gearview/1134/
http://guitargeek.com/gearview/418/
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: RDV on March 27, 2006, 04:45:03 PM
Just off the top of my head:

Trevor Rabin
Frank Marino
Alex Lifeson
Ronnie Montrose
Dimebag Darrell

I'll think of more.

RDV
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: DoctorC on March 27, 2006, 05:15:54 PM
Quote from: joecool85 on March 26, 2006, 09:47:11 PM
Who used that?

Brian May of Queen built and used the original Deacy.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on March 27, 2006, 07:57:04 PM
Anyone have a schematic for this thing?  (The deucy)
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: DoctorC on March 27, 2006, 09:30:31 PM
unfortunately I have not seen a schem for the Deacy anywhere.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: teemuk on March 28, 2006, 06:42:54 PM
B.B. King used Lab series amplifier and Wes Montgomery used a Standel amplifier. Lab series amps are considered as one of the best SS amplifiers and they were used by many other big name acts too (unfortunately I can't remeber who). Standel was basically a huge innovator of all SS guitar stuff. (If i recall correctly they were the first company that manufactured a solid state guitar amplifier).
Then the SS Vox gear: Beatles used it at a time since it was "hip" and Status Quo used SS Vox AC30's.
I also quite often see some SS stuff from Crate used by metalheads.

Teemu K
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on March 28, 2006, 06:48:15 PM
Sounds like I need to look into Vox a lot more.  I've heard a ton of good stuff about them.  And here I thought it was all about marshall.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: RDV on March 28, 2006, 07:28:08 PM
Try Hiwatt, Traynor, Ampeg, Vox, Supro, Teisco, Peavey, and a world of other cool amp brands too.
Marshall is where it's at, it's just not the only place. ;D

RDV
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on March 28, 2006, 09:21:42 PM
Out of that list Peavey is all I've played.  Not crazy impressed, it was nice though. 
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: RDV on March 29, 2006, 02:26:04 PM
Quote from: joecool85 on March 28, 2006, 09:21:42 PM
Out of that list Peavey is all I've played. Not crazy impressed, it was nice though.
There's lots of Peavey amps. Some are killer, some not.
I love the old Studio Pro 40, it's the ultimate small gig/practice amp. If you see one somewhere for cheap, grab it. The old "Vintage" series was pretty cool too, they had an SS preamp into a 6 6L6 150 watt tube power section and covered in tweed. Any of their SS steel guitar amps are worthwhile as well.

RDV
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: RDV on March 29, 2006, 04:30:33 PM
Here's a cool Brian May Vox amp. (http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/brianMay.htm)

RDV
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Ge_Whiz on April 10, 2006, 02:21:35 PM
Woah, hang on there. The 'Deacy' was built by John Deacon, Queen's bass player, from a junk germanium transistor amplifier of unknown origin (possibly an old car radio). Brian May used it as a studio amplifier, miked up. It was hardly a stage amp! Almost certainly less than one watt, the exact circuit is not public domain.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: teemuk on April 10, 2006, 04:11:22 PM
The circuit details of the original Deacy are not very well known indeed. As far as i know, it was built into an old "bookshelf" 12" x 6" hifi speaker box, yes, using germanium transistors. The circuit was reputedly based to an old 1960's car amp so i'm quite sure that the output topology was transformer coupled. I'd also guess that the circuit has been changed during maintenance more than once after the first build. The output power? Hard to say but that battery looks like the ones used for powering portable tube radios.
http://www.dawsonsonline.com/newlettpics/deacy2.jpg
http://www.guitarraonline.com.ar/set-ups/brianmay/chicas/05MAYfotoE.jpg
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: RDV on April 10, 2006, 04:43:22 PM
My previous post is a link(though you can't tell unless you put your curser over it) that has a picture of the original Deacy as well as the little Vox BM amp.

RDV
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Stompin_Tom on April 14, 2006, 11:55:28 AM
Buzzo from the Melvins used a Sunn beta lead... nice amp, by the way. You can blend the two channels so you can have a clean signal mixed with the overdriven one... kind of like a tube screamer.

BB King and Ty Tabor(?) from King's X used a LabSeries L5 (although I've heard that Ty just ran the preamp through a tube power amp).
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Ge_Whiz on April 16, 2006, 07:29:03 PM
David Gedge of The Wedding Present has always used HH VS Musician solid-state amps. I have one, so I can appreciate his choice!
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on April 16, 2006, 09:42:07 PM
Isaac Raymond uses a Sunn Bass amp when playing with Cenedal.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Ge_Whiz on May 10, 2006, 08:01:01 PM
The Buzzcocks used HH IC-120 amps. Dunno if they still do.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on May 10, 2006, 08:27:30 PM
Buzz Cocks?  Older band or current?
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Ge_Whiz on May 11, 2006, 03:59:37 PM
Buzzcocks, one word. Originally founded by Malcolm McLaren as support for the Sex Pistols, released the first independent UK single, had several hits. Reformed a few years ago.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: joecool85 on May 11, 2006, 04:00:33 PM
Huh.  Apparently they never really hit the US.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: Stompin_Tom on May 11, 2006, 05:18:56 PM
Buzzcocks are one of the founding fathers of pop punk. I'd say they're just good pop (maybe because I'm not into their imitators... see new wave and greenday/fat wreck chords/epitaph/lookout records/etc.).

Watch out for that rock music history... easy to lose track of imitation when you never knew the original innovation.

Ok. sorry. I'm done side-tracking the thread.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: SECONDandBOWERY on May 18, 2006, 10:54:50 PM
The Buzzcocks are great.

Since we're on the topic of punk rock, Greg Ginn of Black Flag was notorious for using solid state amps.  I quote from wikipedia (which probably quoted some other source):
QuoteHe [Greg] has said that this Sound City amp was horrible and was the last time he used a tube amp. He has said that he dislikes tube amps because they round off the sound and he wants a sharper tone.

He used a Roland until 1985 when he began using a Yamaha preamp. He used a Peavey P.A. head for a while too.

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: javacody on May 22, 2006, 01:12:00 PM
Add Albert King to the list. Not sure what make/model, but I'm sure someone could google it.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: teemuk on May 22, 2006, 01:45:20 PM
I googled.  :) He reputedly used Roland's JC-120 and SS Acoustic Control Corp. amp, I believe it was 260 (http://acoustic360.homeunix.net/products/main/260.html, http://acoustic360.homeunix.net/images/schematics/260_160.jpg). The same amp was also used by numerous other artists including Chuck Berry (this guy used whatever he got) and The Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger.
Title: Re: What famous performers use SS amps?
Post by: steve_m on June 12, 2006, 10:54:25 AM
I believe Ty Tabor of Kings X used one of the Gibson Lab Series amps. He used it on my two favorite recordings: Gretchen Goes to Nebraska and Out of a Silent Planet.

steve