Educate me please!

[fogman]

Regarding tube amps!

Eventually I will get my EBMM, then I will want a tube amp.
If shopping for an amp takes me as long as it did to pick out a guitar, well then
I currently have a 30 watt Marshall MG30dxf solid state amp. It's OK since I will probably never gig or maybe even jam. I pretty much play for myself.
With that I'm not crazy about the tone or clarity that the Marshall gives me.
I've had other amplifiers, but economics never allowed me to go tubes.
I know little tidbits here and there, but since I'm asking the questions, I might as well re-question some things I think I know in case I am wrong.

What I do know about tube amps is this:
- most of our classic rock was made with them
- they are more expensive
- they require a little time to warm up (like an old stereo or television)
- I like the sounds they can produce over a cheaper modelling amp
- Marshall and Fender dominated the market for many years!

What I don't know is:
- what should I watch for when shopping for one?
- do they come in a practice amp size? or are they always stacks?
- what's a rectifier? etc....
- is a head the small unit at the top of a stack? is everything below only speakers?
- what do you recommend?
I hear good things about various Mesa amps, Vox.

I am a virgin in this subject and I don't want to make any mistakes.
In case it matters, the type of music I'd be playing would be a little of everything!
That's why I'm getting an EBMM guitar because they are soooo versatile!
Zeppelin, Ozzy, SRV, Clapton, VH, Chopin.................
I haven't decided 100% yet, but the guitar will either be the Silo or Silo Special.

I only need 30, 50, (maybe 100 watts! if it's not too huge! or overly expensive)

Thanks in advance! You guys are the best and I really value your opinion.

 

[SteveB]

fogman,

* yes, tube amps come in combos (i.e. electronics + speakers all in one enclosure), in all shapes & sizes.

* a 'head' is just the amp electronics, which must then be connected to 1 or more speaker cabinets to produce sound. It is the small part on top of a stack, and everything below it (in the stack) are speakers.

* When shopping for one, just trust your ears. Try several amps (using the same guitar so you have a real comparison) and buy one that sounds good to you. Most of the brands that have been around for ages are of decent quality. The 'boutique' amps are generally hand-made, sound great, but cost major bucks. Probably not for you if you don't intend to gig.

Personally, I have an old Fender Vibrolux Reverb combo amp which is just great, and now a Peavey Triple XXX head, which I also like a lot. They make the Peavey Triple XXX in a combo as well, and the 6505 Peavey's are tube models, too.

 

[Raz]

Regarding tube amps!

Eventually I will get my EBMM, then I will want a tube amp.
If shopping for an amp takes me as long as it did to pick out a guitar, well then
I currently have a 30 watt Marshall MG30dxf solid state amp. It's OK since I will probably never gig or maybe even jam. I pretty much play for myself.
With that I'm not crazy about the tone or clarity that the Marshall gives me.
I've had other amplifiers, but economics never allowed me to go tubes.
I know little tidbits here and there, but since I'm asking the questions, I might as well re-question some things I think I know in case I am wrong.

What I do know about tube amps is this:
- most of our classic rock was made with them
- they are more expensive
- they require a little time to warm up (like an old stereo or television)
- I like the sounds they can produce over a cheaper modelling amp
- Marshall and Fender dominated the market for many years!

What I don't know is:
- what should I watch for when shopping for one?
- do they come in a practice amp size? or are they always stacks?
- what's a rectifier? etc....
- is a head the small unit at the top of a stack? is everything below only speakers?
- what do you recommend?
I hear good things about various Mesa amps, Vox.

I am a virgin in this subject and I don't want to make any mistakes.
In case it matters, the type of music I'd be playing would be a little of everything!
That's why I'm getting an EBMM guitar because they are soooo versatile!
Zeppelin, Ozzy, SRV, Clapton, VH, Chopin.................
I haven't decided 100% yet, but the guitar will either be the Silo or Silo Special.

I only need 30, 50, (maybe 100 watts! if it's not too huge! or overly expensive)

Thanks in advance! You guys are the best and I really value your opinion.

I could give you advice if you want

 

[fogman]

Raz,

Forget the other thread!
I'll listen to you. (I didn't say I'd follow your advice! )

 

[mhorse]

Alright, welcome to tubemania!

What I don't know is:
- what should I watch for when shopping for one?
- do they come in a practice amp size? or are they always stacks?
- what's a rectifier? etc....
- is a head the small unit at the top of a stack? is everything below only speakers?
- what do you recommend?
I hear good things about various Mesa amps, Vox.

I am a virgin in this subject and I don't want to make any mistakes.
In case it matters, the type of music I'd be playing would be a little of everything!
That's why I'm getting an EBMM guitar because they are soooo versatile!
Zeppelin, Ozzy, SRV, Clapton, VH, Chopin.................
I haven't decided 100% yet, but the guitar will either be the Silo or Silo Special.

I only need 30, 50, (maybe 100 watts! if it's not too huge! or overly expensive)

Thanks in advance! You guys are the best and I really value your opinion.

First the simple answers: they come in sizes from 1/2 to 400 watts, 15-50 watt is generally the power you would want to play at home.
Rectifier is a) part of the amp b) name of series of amps by Mesa Boogie. For technical details, read up, for example in this article by Randall Smith, the founder of Mesa http://www.mesaboogie.com/US/Smith/ClassA-WebVersion.htm
Yes, the head is the small part on top of the speaker enclosures, but you can also get a combo. As a matter of fact, heads often have more power then the combos, but some companies make both head and combo versions of the same amp available.

Now in terms of versatility. You probably want channel switching amp with some preamp gain. The choice really depends on the amount of money you want to invest. I have some amp manufacturers websites bookmarked, an the list barely fits on the screen.
Generally, affordable amps are Traynor, Peavey, some Marshalls/Vox, Fenders and Laneys, Randall, Crate, GenzBenz, Rocktron, to some extent Mesa, Ashdown.
More expensive amps include Soldano, Bogner, Cornford, Orange, Rivera, Budda, Engl - the list can go on.
Out of what I tried I like Mesa (which I own) and Soldano the best. Supreeth recently converted from digital to tube by buying a Peavey Classic 30 amp. Choises are endless, and the only judge is your ears. Go to closes GC and you should be able to try Mesa, Peavey and Crate.
Hope this helps.

 

[fogman]

I will definately want some gain!

What is preamp?

This purchase probably wont happen for about a year, but I want to start looking.
I am looking to spend up to $1600 CND depending on what I can get.
We don't have any GCs around here.

 

[mhorse]

I will definately want some gain!

What is preamp?

This purchase probably wont happen for about a year, but I want to start looking.
I am looking to spend up to $1600 CND depending on what I can get.
We don't have any GCs around here.

Sorry I didn't know you lived in Canada.

Every amp (solid state as well) has two important blocks - preamp, where tone shaping happens (EQ, distortion, effects, etc) and power amp, which amplifies whatever comes out of preamp and drives the speakers.

There are 2 main ways of getting distorted sounds out of a tube amp (without pedals) - to add gain stage(s) to the preamp to get the signal to clip there, or to drive the power amp to the point where it starts to distort, by cranking the volume knob. Latter one usually produces very high volumes...

If I remember corrently, 1600 CND is somewhere between 800 and 900 US, so you should be really looking at the first group I've mentioned.

 

[fogman]

Thanks mhorse!

This is all good info.

As far as Canadian currency goes it actually higher than that. Our dollar is a little too strong lately. One US buck is approx. $1.20 CND. But prices of things don't move with the market.
Ironically, despite the difference in currency, list price of EBMM guitars are very similar between US and Canada (some other brands as well).
That works for me!!

 

[Raz]

Sorry I didn't know you lived in Canada.

Every amp (solid state as well) has two important blocks - preamp, where tone shaping happens (EQ, distortion, effects, etc) and power amp, which amplifies whatever comes out of preamp and drives the speakers.

There are 2 main ways of getting distorted sounds out of a tube amp (without pedals) - to add gain stage(s) to the preamp to get the signal to clip there, or to drive the power amp to the point where it starts to distort, by cranking the volume knob. Latter one usually produces very high volumes...

If I remember corrently, 1600 CND is somewhere between 800 and 900 US, so you should be really looking at the first group I've mentioned.

I don't think our dollar is that bad...hahahahahahaha!
1,600.00 CAD
Canada Dollars = 1,292.25 USD
United States Dollars

 

[Raz]

Thanks mhorse!

This is all good info.

As far as Canadian currency goes it actually higher than that. Our dollar is a little too strong lately. One US buck is approx. $1.20 CND. But prices of things don't move with the market.
Ironically, despite the difference in currency, list price of EBMM guitars are very similar between US and Canada (some other brands as well).
That works for me!!

Hey fogman whereabouts you live, eh?

 

[fogman]

I just updated my profile. I am at the very bottom of the province.
My town borders Windsor and I'm across the river from Detroit, Michigan.

 

[fogman]

I actually talked to a friend of mine who works at Customs. Seeing EBMM is made strictly in the USA I could make the purchase state side and not have to pay any duty. However, the joke is that it's actually cheaper to buy it here!
I'll have to check out the prices of amplifiers across the water though.

 

[Raz]

I actually talked to a friend of mine who works at Customs. Seeing EBMM is made strictly in the USA I could make the purchase state side and not have to pay any duty. However, the joke is that it's actually cheaper to buy it here!
I'll have to check out the prices of amplifiers across the water though.

Well I may have a Silo Spec or two for sale if your interested(MINT)...I've been playing seven strings exclusively lately and I would love to get a JP7...

 

[fogman]

Because I'm a designer, looks are very important to me.
What colours do you have? Any pics?
I am about 98% sure that I want a maple fretboard.

 

[Raz]

Because I'm a designer, looks are very important to me.
What colours do you have? Any pics?
I am about 98% sure that I want a maple fretboard.

Man I feel like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber...so with a rosewood, I still have a chance then.

It's white, with a trem and rosewood fretboard, oh did I mention it's mint!

 

[jongitarz]

Regarding tube amps!


Never...I repeat. NEVER take them in the bathtub. Trust me.

 

[mhorse]

So even better, 1300US should get you most small Mesas which are if not the best, then close to the best amps in that price range.
Many people on this forum like Peavey, although I don't. Ask Supreeth about his Classic 30, I think he loves it.
I've heard very good things about Genz Benz El Diablo.
I was very dissapointed with modern-day Marshalls.
If you can live with 1 channel, Soldano Astroverb is a great amp. I'm thinking of getting one myself, if someone will buy my Mesa.
Laney have good reputation, but I haven't tried one myself.
Ashdown is black horse,so is new tube amp line by Kustom
Crate's reputation is generally not that good, but again, I haven't played it myself.
Rocktrons and Randalls are designed by Bruce Egnater, who has very-well established repuatation as a great tube amp designer.
There is a new line of affordable Rivera's out there too, I think someone on this board just got himself one of those.

 

[fogman]

If it looks like this

It's very nice but not what I'm looking for.
I use to have a white Kramer a very long time ago. The roseood is still a possibility but not with white. Sorry Budy.

I'm thinking something more like this

 

[jongitarz]

Man I feel like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber...
It's white, oh did I mention it's mint!

I may be wrong, but I think mint would be Light Green..Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck

 

[fogman]

I may be wrong, but I think mint would be Light Green..Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck

Oh you slay me!!!
Keep them comin'