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 Best choices in Tube Amps for steel (Page 2)
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Jeff Strouse Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 01:26 AM
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I finally got out today to visit one music store (Guitar Center) and looked at a few amps. I took a steel and everyone in the store thought it was cool, since they rarely see them. I tried several amps which I listed below. I wanted to get a used Roland Cube 60 they had for $249.00, but it sold before I got up there  . I at least would have liked to have tried it out. Crate GT 112 SL 1X12 50w $199.99 I really didn't care much for the Line 6, Fender Frontman, Peavey Blazer, or Vox DA15. The Crate Palamino was okay, however, there was a slight ringing when I hit a certain string...sounded like something was loose inside...I don't know what this was, but I didn't hear it on the other amps. This one was noticably better than the lower priced solid state, but still didn't reach out and grab me. Then I tried the Peavey Valve King. Nice! My favorite of the lot. But I'd like to try some of the others in that category before I spend the money. The last one I tried was the Crate GT 112. Of lower priced solid states I tried, this was the best. But I would need to play with it more before deciding to buy it or not. I'm going to try another music store later today. The problem is that they are all spread out (and Jacksonville is the largest city "area"-wise in the U.S.)! [This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 14 November 2006 at 01:29 AM.] |
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-Øystein Røysi Member From: Trondheim, Norway |
posted 14 November 2006 02:58 AM
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Jeff, Have you heard about Matamp in the UK? www.matamp.co.uk They build amps in different sizes and price classes, and you can customize to your heart's content. I'm GASing for a Minimat head at the moment...  They're supposed to have some quite dedicated fans in the US, so you might be able to find out more about them, if you're lucky. They are tube amps, however, but they seem extremely well put together, so I don't think you'll have much trouble with maintenance. Good luck in your search! ------------------
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Mike Ruffin Member From: El Paso, Texas, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 04:21 PM
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Jeff If you like the Peavey, check with Bobbe Seymore. He has real good pricing on Peavey amps. |
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Larry Jones Member From: Santa Rosa, CA, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 06:18 PM
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i ues a fender twin custom 15" with my stringmasters it don't get any better than that. i was using a hot rod deluxe that sounded real good too but nothing like the twin. i use for western swing and hawaiian. good luck sometimes it takes awhile to find your voice.for me ive settled on a session 500 and the twin 15' because i like a big sound without getting to loud. being under powered is the worse thing. having that headroom makes alot of difference . |
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Jeff Strouse Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 06:25 PM
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Went to a different store today...I played the Fender Blues Jr $399.99...very nice! I think I liked it even better than the Valve King, (which I tried first as a reference point from yesterday...this particular unit had a buzz in the reverb channel...no good). But that Blues, Jr. sounded the sweetest of all the lower priced tubes I've tried. So if I go tube, I think it will be the Blues Jr... As far as "practice" amps go, I tried the Marshall MG15-CDR, and an Ibanez Tone Blaster 25R. I was quite impressed with the sound of either for a practice type amp. Practice amps sure have come a long way. If I went in this amp class, I'd probably get either the Ibanez Tone Blaster 25R ($149.00) or the Crate GT-112. I'm still ISO a Roland Cube 60, Nashville 112, and Carvin Vintage 16 to try before I make a decision...still have a couple of more stores to go to. (Rick, if I can't find them here, I may take you up on your offer and come down South to try your Nashville 112!) [This message was edited by Jeff Strouse on 14 November 2006 at 06:40 PM.] |
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Garry Vanderlinde Member From: Garden Grove, California, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 07:00 PM
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200045543020&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010 Laquered Tweed |
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Gerald Ross Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 07:04 PM
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200045543020&ssPage Name=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010 No speaker. ------------------ |
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Garry Vanderlinde Member From: Garden Grove, California, USA |
posted 14 November 2006 08:02 PM
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You could put a JBL in it or any speaker better than the one that came with it.  Jeff, I don't know how far from Boca Raton you are but Dave at String Theory Instrument Repair can help you out I bet. He made my Blues Jr into a dynamite lap steel amp. [This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 14 November 2006 at 08:25 PM.] |
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