My son has a Peavey Transtube that I really like TS. I forget the specific model, but it has an 8" speaker. And CB has a Roland Micro Cube that is pretty sweet.
Yes, solid state. Those nasty little transistor amps.
I remember my first amp was a Fender Studio Lead that I picked up probably in the 80's. Before that, I had an old solid state practice amp that my great uncle had given me.
The Fender Studio Lead was Rivera designed I believe, and I remember some of the other solid states I've played or owned...Fender Deluxe 85 and a Fender Princeton Chorus.
Just curious, has anyone played a solid state amp that they liked? Even though my amps are tube now, there were quite a few I really liked besides those mentioned above, but my favorites were a Peavey Transtube Supreme Head and a Roland Blues Cube.
Guitars: 2003 and 2004 American series strats, Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat, Squier Deluxe Strat.
Amps: Line 6 Spider IV 120, Vox AD50VT 212, and Peavey Transtube Bandit 112.
Pedals: Digitech Bad Monkey.
My son has a Peavey Transtube that I really like TS. I forget the specific model, but it has an 8" speaker. And CB has a Roland Micro Cube that is pretty sweet.
Guitars and other stringed instruments: Washburn D10S, Washburn EA52SWCE, Washburn Cumberland J28SDL, Washburn D46S12, D'Aquisto Centura, Rover RM-50B Mando
Amps and Cabs: Behringer AT108, Firefly Tube Amph, Blackheart Little Giant BH5H, Shiner's Custom Cab v.1.0
". . . because without beer, things do not seem to go as well . . ." Brother Epp, Capuchin Monastery, Munjor, Kansas 1902
I finally found the solid state amp that lets me forget tube amps: Tech21 Trademark 60 1x12 Combo.
^^
AXES: Fender '81 The STRAT, '12 Standard Tele, '78 Musicmaster Bass, '13 CN-240SCE Thinline; Rickenbacker '82 360-12BWB; Epiphone '05 Casino, '08 John Lennon EJ-160E; Guild '70 D-40NT; Ovation '99 Celebrity CS-257; Yamaha '96 FG411CE-12; Washburn '05 M6SW Mando, '08 Oscar Schmidt OU250Bell Uke; Johnson '96 JR-200-SB Squareneck Reso; Hofner '07 Icon B-Bass; Ibanez '12 AR-325. AMPS: Tech 21 Trademark 10; Peavey ValveKing Royal 8; Fender Acoustonic 90, Passport Mini, Mini Tonemaster; Marshall MS-2 Micro Stack; Behringer BX-108 Thunderbird; Tom Scholz Rockman. PEDALS/FX: Boss ME-50; Yamaha EMP100; Stage DE-1; Samson C-Com 16 L.R. Baggs ParaAcoustic D.I; MXR EQ-10.
One of my favorites is the Marshall Lead 12. Replace the crappy 10" speaker, and it sounds great. It is a two-trick pony: 80s style hot rodded distortion and icy clean tones. It came in a combo and a head and two cabinets. There was also a Lead 20 which came with a 12" speaker.
I played an 80s Peavey Bandit 65 yesterday when trying out pedals. It was kind of blah sounding by itself, but it seemed to take pedals very well.
The Roland Blues Cube line from the 90s were very good sounding as well as the current MicroCube, Cube 20X, 30X 60 and the new 80.
Also the classic for icy clean is the Roland JC-120. Still wish I hadn't gotten rid of mine in the late 80s
I've never heard one, but I'd like to try out Carvin's SX-300 amp.
tung
- Dave Lizewski, Kick-A$$I was just a regular guy. My only super power was being invisible to girls.
'Tung' speaks the truth... a Roland JC-120 is a classic amp for clean tones. I've heard the Micro Cube and the X series and think they sounded great for the money as well.
Gearlist:
Electric: Ibanez 'AS103', Fender Dlx Nash Pwr Tele, Fender Squier '62 JV Strat, Squier '51, Squier 60's Classic Vibe Strat, Epi Elite LP Studio, Hagstrom Swede Acoustic: Larrivee LV-03RE, A&L AMI, Yamaha FG340-T Bass: Yamaha BB 450 Amps: Roland JC-120, JC-50, Peavey Classic 30, Fender Super Champ XD Pedals: Marshall Guv'nor Plus, Danelectro Cool Cat Drive, Transparent Overdrive, Digitech Digiverb, Bad Monkey, Ibanez TS-9, Boss AC-2, CE-5, CS-2, DD-3, DF-2, DS-1, FV-100, GE-7, OC-2, PSM-5, SD-1, TU-2, DVM~BYOC 'Lush Puppy' Chorus
Another happy Trademark 60 user here. I've often been asked what tubes it uses by people who could only see the front of it. I've also had good tones from old Peavey Bandits, the aforementioned Marshall Lead 12 and an old Roland Cube 40 from the 80s. I mainly play clean(ish) so I look for an amp with a good clean tone and fill in the rest from pedals. The Trademark can do that "just breaking up" thing better than any other ss amp I've heard (I'm not counting modelers here).
Electric: Fat strat > Korg PB > TS7 > DS1 > DD-20 > Cube 60 (Fender model)
Acoustic: Guitar > microphone > audience
Frank Gambale uses Carvin solid state amps for everything. Now if I could only sweep pick like him . . .
Axen: Jackson DK2M, Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster, Reverend Warhawk 390, Taylor 914ce, ESP LTD Surveyor-414
Amphen: Jet City JCA22H and JCA12S cab, Carvin X-60 combo, Acoustic B20
Effecten: "Thesis 96" Overdrive/Boost (aka DVM OD2), Hardwire DL-8 Digital Delay/Looper, DigiTech Polara Reverb, DigiTech EX-7 Expression Factory and CF-7 Chorus Factory, Danelectro CF-1 Cool Cat Fuzz
"I wish Imagine Dragons would be stuck in an Arcade Fire for an entire Vampire Weekend."--Brian Posehn
My Behringer GM110 is a great little solid state amp (a very poor mans Tech 21-esque amp).
Guitars Gordon Smith GS1.5-40, Peavey Generation EXP, Ovation Celebrity electro
Amps Behringer GM110
Effects Danelectro Blue Paisley pure drive, Danelectro Cool Cat CD1 Distortion, Danelectro Black Paisley liquid metal, Danelectro Cool Cat chorus(original 18v model), Danelectro Dan Echo delay, Line 6 Toneport GX,
The Peavey Bandit 112 Transtube is one I wish I still had.....the Vintage settings were very cool
Guitars: 2002 Les Paul Studio Limited Color's Edition | 2004 Greg Bennett Avion Les Paul Copy | S101 Telecaster project | 2004 Washburn D46 Acoustic
Amplification: Epiphone Valve Jr. Head and Cabinet | VOX AD30VT
Effects: Rocktron Delay | BBE Free Fuzz | Big Muff Pi | Boss Flanger | Bad Monkey | Jekyll and Hyde | Cry Baby Wah | Boss EQ | Behrenger TU300 Tuner |
Gibson's "Lab Series" amphs sounded fantastic to me. I hardly ever see one nowadays, maybe they weren't as roadworthy as Fenders. They may also be a problem to repair.
Guitars
Wilburn Versatare, '52 FrankenTele(Fender licensed parts), Fender USA Roadhouse Strat, Fender USA Standard B-bender Telecaster, Agile AL 3000 w/ WCR pickups, Ibanez MIJ V300 Acoustic, Squier Precision Bass,
Amps
Ceriatone Overtone Special, Musicman 212 Sixty-Five, Fender Blues Jr., Peavey Classic 30, Fender Super Reverb, Traynor YCV-40 WR Anniversary w/ matching 1x12 ext. cab, Epiphone SoCal 50w head w/ matching 4x12 cab (Lady Luck speakers), Avatar 2x12 semi-open back cab w/ Celestion speakers
Pedals
Digitech Bad Monkey, Digitech Jamman, DVM's ZYS, Goodrich volume pedal
I've also heard good things about Pearce amps from the 80s. Dan Pearce went on to design amps for ART.
Another amp I thought of was a Dean Markley RM-80-DR. The Dean Markley RM-80-SR is similar. I owned a half stack in the late 80s. It had preamp tube and a solid state output so it is really more of a hybrid than a conventional SS amp. That amp had one of the best lead tones I've ever heard. It sounded only okay just plugging straight into the amp, but when I put a Boss Compressor pedal on the front end it changed the whole character of the amp for the better. Endless liquid sustain. The only caveat is that DM amps are very spotty construction wise and had lots of reliability problems.
They also made a two-space rackmount preamp version, the DR Preamp.
tung
Last edited by tunghaichuan; March 21st, 2009 at 10:21 AM. Reason: added content
- Dave Lizewski, Kick-A$$I was just a regular guy. My only super power was being invisible to girls.
+1 for the Peavey Transtube Envoy 110. 3 kinds of overdrive/distortion, reverb, and nice cleans. If you EQ it right, it sounds pretty good.
Guitars: Jimmie Vaughan Strat, 2001 Affinity Squier Strat with 70's Japanese pickups, Affinity Squier Tele
Amps: Fender Pro Junior w/ Ragin' Cajun speaker, Peavey Delta Blues 115
Pedals: Ibanez TS9DX w/ Humphrey mod, Dunlop Crybaby Wah, Dano PB&J Delay, Arion Tubulator w/Indyguitarist mod, Boss CS-3, Dano Fish and Chips EQ, Boss CH-1, Dano TunaMelt Tremolo, Boss RV-3, Boss DS-1
Strings: Darco 10's
Website: www.bluesrow.com
I guess my hearing's not as good as you guys, but I've got 2 Crate solid state amps (GLX65 & GX1200H) that I really enjoy and will hopefully last me a long time. They're my "go to" amps when I'm gigging in public. I've got a VC20 that I'm enjoying at home, but will probably let her make her debut soon. SS is OK with me.
Ronnie
Guitars: Washburn WI64DL Idol, Yamaha Pacifica 112, Yamaha EG112C, Washburn House of Blues Electric, Washburn G30 Acoustic
Amps: Crate GX1200H Head, Crate 4x12 Cabinet, Crate GLX65 12" Combo, Johnson 15 watt, Fender Frontman 25R
Pedals: Cry Baby Wah, DOD FX20-B Stereo Phaser, Danelectro Cool Cat Transparent Overdrive, Daneletro CM2 Metal II, Danelectro FAB Chorus, Danelectro FAB Flange
Here in Germany you can read a lot of good things about PCL-VintageAmp - a young brand formed by 2 well known ampbuilders.
Never checked one but they have a very good reputation.
My only solidstate amp is the good old Gallien Krüger 250ML - a monster when connected to a 4x12-cab
Cheers Uli
Another GREAT sounding SS amph is the Award Sessionette, http://www.award-session.com/sessionette.html
I can't say that I've given up on a flanger cause I've never liked the effect either. I also can't say the same about Tremolo. I hate them both equally. - Tone2TheBone 2009
Yes, they do sound fantastic. I use an L5 that is completely stock, is loud as a tube amp at the same power rating but still sounds good turned down, and is whisper quiet when not played through. It's the one non-modeling SS amp that I think gives tube amps a run for their money. I picked mine up from the original owner for $150. No way in blazing hell could I find a decent tube amp for that little of money.Originally Posted by oldguy
I believe the Gibson Lab Series was Ty Tabor's secret weapon (at the time) when he recorded his parts on "Gretchen Goes to Nebraska" and "Out of a Silent Planet." I wore out cassette copies of each commuting to grad school.
tung
Originally Posted by goonrick
- Dave Lizewski, Kick-A$$I was just a regular guy. My only super power was being invisible to girls.
He played them with an '83 Fender Strat Plus (equipped with a midrange booster) directly into the second channel (the non-fender side) with the gain full up and the compressor turned off. He used this rig up until the sessions for Ear Candy.Originally Posted by tunghaichuan
He has changed amps and guitars since then but still uses the mid booster in stompbox form.
I absolutely loved Ty's tones in that era. I don't try to copy them, because there are literally dozens of great sounds to be had out of the L5. It sounds fabulous with an overdrive. I don't know how they did it, but they made a SS amp as good as a tube amp with that one. It's not exactly the same, but it's easily as good in its own right.
I did check over at solid state guitar amps forum and found a couple posts on them. I was wrong, they were not made by Gibson, apparently they were made by Moog. In any event, they sounded fantastic to me.
"Lab Series. These are not Gibson amplifiers. Lab Series were manufactured and designed by Moog, which at the time was owned by Norlin - a company that also owned Gibson. Norlin used Moog's resources to release Lab Series in a response to Gibson seizing its amplifier production. Gibson did handle the distribution of these amplifiers though. The series included guitar amplifiers L3 (60W combo), L5 (100W combo Model 308A), L7 (100W combo Model 309A), L9 (100W combo Model 312A) and L11 (200W head Model 313A + 2 cabinets), which were all (except the L3) based on the same circuit but used a different speaker configuration. The higher power head model L11 also had a fan, beefier output transistor configuration and different power amplifier with higher VA rating and secondary voltages. Other Lab Series models were bass amplifiers L2 (100W head), L4 (200W head Model 317A) and L6 (100W combo) - plus keyboard amplifier K5. Very likely all of the amplifiers (except the low power L3) were using the same power amplifier module (with slight modifications) but a different set of preamp modules."
"I too bought a Lab Series L5 earlier than 1979. As I recall, it was '77. I will try to confirm this and get back to this forum.
I have compared the L5 to my 1971 Fender Twin Reverb in terms of sound and circuits. It sounds remarkably like a Twin Reverb in side by side comparison, but provides a little more note separation and clarity. The Normal channel of the L5 is a clone of the Fender Twin Reverb in many ways. The tone stack has the same corner points, but is designed to work at lower impedance to match opamps instead of tubes, so the R and C values differ. I have rigged the reverb tank to run off of the Normal channel, and in this configuration, the amp excels at doing the surf music & twang thing.
The Limiter control seems to emulate the tendency of Fender BF and early SF amps to hit the wall when cranked past 4 or 5. The distortion circuitry in the L5, which comes into play if you crank the volume but reduce the master volume, seems to be an attempt to emulate the 12AX7 / 7025 preamp distortion that you can get if you dime some of the old Fender, but of course it sounds a bit harsh and "solid state" compared to the real thing.
By the way, you can get a reasonable bluesy sound by setting the controls so that the amp just begins to distort when the limiter engages, although this takes quite a bit of tweaking.
The Reverb channel on the L5 is another story. I'm not sure what the designers were going for here. With the Mid control at "0" and the Multifilter at "0", the treble does not provide very much brightness. You have to add Multifilter to get the amp into brighter territory. The sound with the Multifilter turned up is interesting and different, but not particularly my cup of tea for most songs. I think the Multifilter is either an attempt to make a solid body guitar sound "woody" like an acoustic or archtop, or else it is an attempt to emulate the standing wave nodes and sound of a 4 x 12 cabinet as in Marshall. It would be interesting to get some info from the original designers about the design philosophy behind the Reverb channel."
Guitars
Wilburn Versatare, '52 FrankenTele(Fender licensed parts), Fender USA Roadhouse Strat, Fender USA Standard B-bender Telecaster, Agile AL 3000 w/ WCR pickups, Ibanez MIJ V300 Acoustic, Squier Precision Bass,
Amps
Ceriatone Overtone Special, Musicman 212 Sixty-Five, Fender Blues Jr., Peavey Classic 30, Fender Super Reverb, Traynor YCV-40 WR Anniversary w/ matching 1x12 ext. cab, Epiphone SoCal 50w head w/ matching 4x12 cab (Lady Luck speakers), Avatar 2x12 semi-open back cab w/ Celestion speakers
Pedals
Digitech Bad Monkey, Digitech Jamman, DVM's ZYS, Goodrich volume pedal