Sick of pedals. Please recommend me a good two-channel combo amp!

[zorrow]

I'm in the hunt for a good two-channel combo that would go from clear clean to crunchy distortion. Reverb is a must. Great tone is a must too. As of power go, around 50w or 60w would be great. Two speakers would be a nice to have too. And BTW, I don't know if this is reasonable, but I also wonder if there are amps with an effect loop per channel. I'd prefer not a boutique one, I even don't care if it's an import. Good quality/features/price ratio is what matters to me. Any suggestions?

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

If you can get a US Peavey 212 you can't go wrong! After 30 years of Marshalls/valves etc my Peavey Classic Stereo (2 x 75w) is the best amp I ever had. Clean or driven

Might not be enough crunch without a pedal but it's pretty good. Sounds fab with a pedal too though

[murkat]

I'm fookin picky.

So,

Uberschall.

no verb, has loop, and the loop is good.

[BadgerDave]

Best I've ever played was a Bogner Shiva, EL34 version, everything you want except the dual loop (IIRC). Boutique price, though.

Best under $1K is my ValveTech VAC.

[velorush]

What about that Bogner Goldfinger that Santella had? Didn't it do all of the above including separate loops?

[Carl.B]

I had a Kustom Defender 50W 1x12. It had great fender like cleans and reverb. I really liked it but it was more amp than I really needed for a practice amp. I think on the used market they can be had for $250 - $350.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/kustom-the-defender-50w-1x12-tube-guitar-combo-amp

[zorrow]

If you can get a US Peavey 212 you can't go wrong! After 30 years of Marshalls/valves etc my Peavey Classic Stereo (2 x 75w) is the best amp I ever had. Clean or driven

Might not be enough crunch without a pedal but it's pretty good. Sounds fab with a pedal too though

Interesting...

At this very moment I'm at guitar shop, but they just have Marshall, Fender and PRS in stock, plus the ubiquitous Line 6's. I just tried a couple of Marshals SL or LS or something, but they sounded like crap to me. Also tried some PRS which had all the (supposedly) desired features and produced great clean tones, but their distortion was virtually non-existent.

So, I was right now thinking on a Peavey! Sadly I feel tired and don't want to drive to the other local shop in town that I know do have them in stock, but will do tomorrow --if I find some time.

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

I had $2000 of Marshall JCM900 Half stack & my (used) Peavey Classic Stereo Chorus 212 (cost $90) blows the Marshall outta the water. I do however use a pedal for the crunch but the reverb/chorus on my Peavey is fantastic. It also gives me the best cleans when I play any of my electro-acoustics which is the main reason I wanted one of these! I hardly remember what the crunch is like because amp drive aint my thing. I think I only tried it once so I can't help with that...

[ghamerinfrance]

Definituvely à swart atimic épave tone

Or any swart

[Guest gearwhore]

ingore the rest listen to the amp..trademark 60..I just bought one for $375 on evilbay..they are $600 new..greg talked me into one...I bought the pickups too but thats a whole other thread

[Caddie]

Put that credit card back into wallet. Check your PM.

Cheers

caddie

[guitararmy]

My local guitar god just got a Blackstar ID30 combo amp and loves it....They also make larger combos and a head in the series...

[tbonesullivan]

I love my Mesa Boogie DC-5. I have also heard good things about the MB express series. Eventually I may trade in my TSL122 for one of the 5:50+ express combos.

[serial]

+1 on the TM60. Cheap, light, indestructible and awesome.

[LordsoftheJungle]

+1 on the Bogner Goldfinger 45. It's my favorite clean to mean amp with plenty of in between. The footswitch offers several boost levels, no need for pedals.

[Caddie]

I love my Mesa Boogie DC-5. I have also heard good things about the MB express series. Eventually I may trade in my TSL122 for one of the 5:50+ express combos.

Big Mesa fan here. I currently own a Blue Angel head with a matching 4x10 cab. And a DC-3 combo with a matching 1x12 cab. Love 'em both. Keepers……although at Thee Caddie House of Gear all gear is always for sale at the right price.

Had a Mesa MkIV, one n only gig amp for several years. Its a true legend. Does it all. All warriors should own one at some point. Its heavy. Don't forget the casters.

Owned a DC-5 combo. Loved it. Traded it for a Bad Cat + $200.

Owned a Studio 22+. Really liked it, no love, just strong like.

Played an Express 5:25 for a few minutes at a GC. Too many knobs n switches for me. More than the MkIV? I didn't do the math but it seemed to be overwhelming. The MkIV had plenty of switches, push/pulls and dials but in my pretzel logic mind the layout made sense to me. The Express did not make sense to me.

Cheers

caddie

[LucSulla]

I have a Mark V and love it to pieces. My old Marshall 1960 cab, however, does not. Need to do something about that.

I am GASing for a Mesa Combo myself.

[JohnnyB]

I had a DC-10. It's a DC-5 x 2--twice the drivers (2x12) and twice the power. It pretty much gives you what you're looking for, and I judge its clean channel superior to many other Mesas I've tried. And if you want clean vs. high gain from the two channels, it'll give you just what you want.

My taste, however, runs more to the clean + classic rock dirty, and for that I like the Traynor YCV series, particularly the YCV50 or YCV80 for your situation. They are very reasonably priced and road rugged. The lead channel is more of an overdrive/classic rock sound instead of the buzzy high-gain sound. And the clean channel is sweet, full, and ballsy. They are easily in your price range and the used ones are really reasonable.

Since I auditioned the YCV40, Traynor has come out with the YCV50B, which is similar but has a dirtier dirt channel. I recommend you hunt one down and try it out.

[Caddie]

Wow JohnnyB, a DC-10? That's a lot of Mesa. Where are you playing, Wembley? When I was doing the weekend warrior thing my Mesa MkIV would rarely have the output past 3.5, didn't need to, that was plenty of loud for any indoor gig. I distinctly recall playing our regular Sat night outdoor gig. 100 acres of corn behind us, and that MkIV was cranked up to 6 by the end of the night. Woohoo baby now that's smokin'! I can't imagine what it would be like dimed out but I sure wouldn't want to be anywhere near it.

I have to think that few of us here at the venerable HFC need 50W. Most of us would be well served by 20w or less. The MkIV had way more power than I could ever use. When I sold it I alternated the DC-5 combo with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, still more power than I needed. I sold those and got a DC-3 combo with a 1x12 ext cab. Puuuurfect! More than enough Mesa power at 35w. Plus the 2x12 (do the math, 1 in the combo + 1 in the ext cab) sounded sooooo sweet.

Now that I'm out of the gig biz I have really dialed down. I just picked up a Fender '68 Custom Princeton Reverb. Its rated 12w. The cool part is at around 4-5 it begins to overdrive, way short of "call the police" volume. If you need more clean headroom you can change a couple of pre-amp tubes and move the VOL knob up a click or 2 and still not get in trouble. I'm going to try to play with a few old bandmates in a couple weekends. Looking forward to taking the Princeton. I'm confident it's 12w will hold its own. If you need 2 channels, effects loop, and 22w from (2) 6v6 tubes will do the job for you, try the Fender '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb Re-Issue.

Cheers

caddie

[velorush]

I'm with Caddie: Give me 20w or less!

The last larger amp I owned was a 60w Fender - weighed about a pound per watt and gigging I never got the volume control above 3.

Now I'm down to two very different single channel amps rated at 20 and 12 watts and rather than a channel switch I use the guitar's volume knob. Utter simplicity!

Also agreed: that new '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb looks mighty fine (but no effects loop)!

An additional +1 on the TM60. That's an amp that would be great to have around always. They sound great, lightweight, indestructible, and the built-in SansAmp will make you the sound guy's best friend!

[tommy p]

I love my Mesa Boogie DC-5. I have also heard good things about the MB express series. Eventually I may trade in my TSL122 for one of the 5:50+ express combos.

Played an Express 5:25 for a few minutes at a GC. Too many knobs n switches for me. More than the MkIV? I didn't do the math but it seemed to be overwhelming. The MkIV had plenty of switches, push/pulls and dials but in my pretzel logic mind the layout made sense to me. The Express did not make sense to me.

Cheers

caddie

I have a 5:25 combo and it has a really simple layout; it's basically 2 sets of the same exact controls. Are you sure you weren't playing a 5:25 Plus? That adds a graphic EQ and solo boost.

[Montelovesco]

Zorrow,

I am happy with my Carvin v3m. Not much of boutique here, and maybe one channel more than you ask for. But very versatile, with wattage (?) to change, loop, reverb, and available as cabinet and as combo (incl. cool snakeskin finish, which fits to Vectors and Standards ;-)).

[JohnnyB]

Wow JohnnyB, a DC-10? That's a lot of Mesa. Where are you playing, Wembley?

Trust me, being a living room noodler extremely proud of my 18w Top Hat Club Deluxe, I didn't go out seeking 100 2x12 watts of firestorm. I was killing time on a day off driving up the main drag and stopping at the pawn shops. At the last stop I saw this 2x12 Mesa/Boogie DC-10 in 8/10 condition. Knowing how wack the pawnshops are at pricing gear with big brand names (sometimes higher than new prices at GC), I bent down to read the price sticker just to entertain myself. $299.00! Blue book at that time was $1K. I grabbed a guitar, plugged it in, and tried all the settings, knobs, switches, and EQ sliders. Everything worked perfectly. So I walked out with it. It had just come in the day before, and since this was Fri. Dec. 22, I knew it wouldn't last the weekend.

I intended to flip it. I was perfectly happy with my Top Hat. But this Mesa sounded perfect with my just-acquired Newport, and I enjoyed that synergistic combination for several years until I got into bass and traded it for an Eden 2x10 combo.

I agree with what you say about 12-20 watts. I know my Top Hat is good for venues up to around 300. Another approach is to get a tiny amp like a Champ or similar 6w 1x8 or 1x6 offerings from Supro, Dano, Airline, etc. and mic it into an expensive high power (even solid state) 2x12. The little amp will give you the full range of genuine overdriven tubey goodness and the other amp will make sure everybody hears it appropriate to the band and the venue. I've tried this theory out in a store full of vintage gear and it sounds great.

[unfun75]

Another vote for the Trademark 60.

I'll throw the VHT/Fryette Pittbull 45 and Mesa F-series into the mix, as well.

[albacore]

I'm liking the look of this, but I can't vouch for it: http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/FAT-Series/FAT-50-Tube-Guitar-Combo-50-W-PFAT50.htm

Cheers, Matt

[Caddie]

Wow JohnnyB, a DC-10? That's a lot of Mesa. Where are you playing, Wembley?

1) At the last stop I saw this 2x12 Mesa/Boogie DC-10 in 8/10 condition. $299.00! Blue book at that time was $1K. I grabbed a guitar, plugged it in, and tried all the settings, knobs, switches, and EQ sliders. Everything worked perfectly. So I walked out with it. It had just come in the day before, and since this was Fri. Dec. 22, I knew it wouldn't last the weekend.

2) I intended to flip it. I was perfectly happy with my Top Hat. But this Mesa sounded perfect with my just-acquired Newport, and I enjoyed that synergistic combination for several years until I got into bass and traded it for an Eden 2x10 combo.

1) You lucky bastard! Santa dropped one off the back of the sled for you on his way back north from a pre-christmas shopping trip. You dog!

2) Oh no, you di n't pick up an Eden Metro 2x10 combo? i scored one cheap, flipped it in about 6 weeks for a nice couple hundred bucks profit. (Even a blind pig finds an acorn every now n then.) But that was NOT a portable combo. Definitely a (2) man carry. Get the ol' Radio Flyer out for that one. But it sure sounded great. Felt great to quickly unload it on the plus $$$ side.

Also agreed: that new '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb looks mighty fine (but no effects loop)!

Agreed on the fx loop. It was in my "CON" column too. As was I want it in a 2x10. IMHO everything sounds better out of 2 speakers.

I sent my suggestions to the Fender Suggestion Box. I'm confident that engineering is breaking a sweat at this very moment to mod a prototype for me. The Caddie Deluxe Reverb! Stay tuned...

Cheers

caddie