What Amp??

[Citrus]

Ok, so been trying my best to bond with my Buddah Superdrive 18 combo

When I got it I was told it had enough clean headroom, and would be too loud before breakup. Not for me.

I'm thinking 30 watt min, would love 6L6 instead of EL84s(not a must), still a combo. Ideally would have trem, but not a deal breaker.

I would rather go real clean and use pedals for dirt (OCD will take care of that)

Gonna put the Buddah up for about $750, so thats what the price range will be

[Mitch]

...and let the record show that what cost $690 in 1998 would cost $979.27 in 2013.

[JohnnyB]

...and let the record show that what cost $690 in 1998 would cost $979.27 in 2013.

... Or $1006.86, depending on which inflation calculator you use.

Relatively the same deal. The Fender Deluxe Reverb RI is $1099, but now made in China. But then, so is the Greenback. Either decade, the introductory price on those Top Hats was a steal.

Oh! I just remembered the Traynor YCV40, and the price is perfect! Great match with Hamers, too.

[Jakeboy]

Do you need a master volume? If not, contact Jim Nicholson at Lil Dawg Amps and tell him Mark sent you.

At that price he can build you whatever classic circuit you want. Based upon what you have said, I would recommend either a 5f6-a tweed Bassman or a 6g6-b Blonde Bassman. I have the Blonde and love it dearly. It has made me appreciate clean guitar again.

Or, scour Craigslist and buy an old AB165 BF Bassman or a Traynor YBA-1. Easily within your price range all day long.

Mark

[Feynman]

The Fender Deluxe Reverb RI is $1099, but now made in China.

What? When did that start? Is this very recent?

I felt pretty confident all these vintage reissues were made in the USA, but I am often wrong.

[JohnnyB]

The Fender Deluxe Reverb RI is $1099, but now made in China.

What? When did that start? Is this very recent?

I felt pretty confident all these vintage reissues were made in the USA, but I am often wrong.

I think I jumped to a hasty conclusion. I saw one or two customer reviews that referred to this, but a wider general search of the I-Net seems to indicate that it's still made in USA. Sorry.

[crunchee]

Ok, so been trying my best to bond with my Buddah Superdrive 18 combo

When I got it I was told it had enough clean headroom, and would be too loud before breakup. Not for me.

I'm thinking 30 watt min, would love 6L6 instead of EL84s(not a must), still a combo. Ideally would have trem, but not a deal breaker.

I would rather go real clean and use pedals for dirt (OCD will take care of that)

Gonna put the Buddah up for about $750, so thats what the price range will be

Back to the original question, for clarity...if you want CLEAN but tube powered, maybe one of those late 70s Silverface Fender Pro Reverbs or Super Reverbs, that had their ratings upped to 70 watts might be the ticket. Need more volume? a later 135 watt Twin Reverb might do it. Ditto the Bassman 70 and Bassman 135 heads. IIRC, all these particular Fender amps are known for being REALLY clean sounding, but I don't know if that was due to the 'ultra linear' output transformers, or the fact that they REALLY socked the power to the 6L6 power tubes, or both. The reasonably readily available alternatives to getting any cleaner than that, would have to be a hybrid-type tube amp (old Music Man amps, for example), or (Egad!) Solid State. Just my 0.02.

[tomteriffic]

Or a certain Music Man 65 watt combo that I have for sale....

[Caddie]

You need a Mesa Mark IV dude.

[Biz Prof]

Or a certain Music Man 65 watt combo that I have for sale....

^^^^This. I think you'd be satisfied with any hybrid Music Man combo given the criteria you provided.

[crunchee]

There are a couple of Fender alternatives that I forgot to mention...one is the Rivera-era 60 W Concert amp, all tube, has reverb but no tremolo, 2 x 6L6 power tubes, tube preamp, tube buffered effects loop, master volume, handwired, came in 1 x 12", 2 x 10", 4 x 10", and head versions. I have one, and it is my go-to for Fender cleans in a combo...that is, it WAS, until I got my Tweed Bassman clone. I still use the Concert now and then, though, for a 'blackface/silverface' kind of Fender sound. These Concert amps are two channels, the first is a 'clean' channel, the second is a 'lead' channel but it doesn't really get very gainy unless you crank it, by then it'll be ungodly loud. When I switch the channels, I use the 'lead' channel as basically a 'clean boost' side, and adjust the controls accordingly. They're known for taking pedals well, AND they're usually found cheaply on FeePay, when compared to a Deluxe Reverb II, Princeton Reverb II, or Super Champ. The front and back panels are almost the same as the Twin Reverb II, as far as having all the features...the smaller amps aren't as well equipped, especially 'round back. There's a LOT of misleading info on these Concert amps out there, one point being is that they're supposed to sound like a Boogie. Concerts? Not really...Fender's actual attempt at making a Boogie semi-clone (according to Paul Rivera himself) is the earlier, pre-Rivera, Ed Jahns-designed Fender 75 combo/head.

The second Fender tube amp is probably too small for your needs, but next to a Twin Reverb, it's also probably the cleanest sounding Fender...that's a Blackface or Silverface Princeton (non reverb) amp, and they pretty much lack for having ANY gain. Gerald Weber published a mod in one of his tube amp books, about disabling/modding the tremolo control/function and modifying the amp to have more gain, as much if not more gain than the Princeton Reverb. Unfortunately, the Princetons (non reverbs) tend to go for stupid prices used, because WAY too many people confuse Princeton Amp = Princeton Reverb Amp. They definitely don't sound the same, when you compare the 'stock' models!

[atomicwash]

My wife used a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for years. It was very clean and played nicely with pedals. My complaint was the touchy volume (0-60 with the slightest touch). Reviews state that the III version fixed that problem.

Anyone else using the HRD?

[cmatthes]

I played a number of gigs this summer with a band where the guitarist used a HRD. Totally agree with the 0-60 comment. Taking it from 1 to 4 takes it from barely audible to earplug volume. Other than that, it is a pretty sweet sounding amp.

[Cary]

My wife used a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for years. It was very clean and played nicely with pedals. My complaint was the touchy volume (0-60 with the slightest touch). Reviews state that the III version fixed that problem.

Anyone else using the HRD?

I have a HR Deluxe. Mine must be an early version, because it says it's made in the USA. Mine just sat for years because of that volume issue, but I recently solved it by picking up a volume box from Carl's Custom and putting it in the effects loop. This has tamed the volume considerably.

http://carlscustomguitars.com/The-Original-Volume-Box-Guitar-Amp-Attenuator-Volume-Box.htm

[cmatthes]

Thanks, Cary! I just ordered one of those for my buddy with the LOUD HRD!!!!

[Cary]

Thanks, Cary! I just ordered one of those for my buddy with the LOUD HRD!!!!

Good deal - hopefully he'll like it. It's about $2 worth of parts for $20, but solving that volume issue is priceless!

[cmatthes]

My ears are worth the extra $20...

[hamerhead]

SEND ME $20 AND I'LL TURN THE CAPS LOCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Armitage]

I was just talking to a studio buddy of mine about amps that really work well with pedals and his two favs are;

Bad Cat : Classic Bad Cat

Two Rock : Studio Pro

I imagine these are more then the original posters dollar value, but I'm sure others may be interested.

[Teh]

I've been very happy with the clean tone of my Rebel 30. It has the advantage of the tube mix control that lets you decide whether to go all 6v6, all EL84, or blend the two sides to taste. On the clean side, I typically keep it all 6v6, but will occasionally bring in 20%-30% of the EL84 for a little grime and chime.

To be honest, I'm not sure what the state of Egnater is these days. They were having problems with the transformers in the R30 crapping out, though mine's been ok. I just checked their website and it looks like they're still around and they've updated the design to address the complaints and add a couple features. Looks like Sweetwater has them in stock...

[stonge]

I'm gigging a deluxe reverb reissue; never had to go to "4"for a gig and it stays pretty clean with a tele. Had a loud jam with a friend's band and I had it on "5"right behind me; still had to use a pedal for overdrive. Works great with pedals (wampler paisley drive or velvet fuzz and dirt, chorus\delay). Still thinking of s princeton reverb just to getthe power tubes screaming.