Creative Destruction

I knew I had heard this term before;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fit79MQwyeY

 

Transistors did change the industry, but tube amps are still very popular with guitarists.

 

Oh yeah, no way a solid state amp sounds like a good ol' tube amp.

Maybe the one exception is the Roland Jazz Chorus 120 if you like super clean tones. Lots of metal guitarists like this amp too because it works great with distortion and effects pedals.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/roland-jc-120-jazz-chorus-amp

 

I'm partial to my old Fender DeVille, heavily modified by your's truly. Roland also has it's Micro-Cube amp, that can produce some great tones, but only at really low levels. They sound good plugged into a board or a recording console.

 

Do you have the 4 X 10 or the 2 X 12? Most say the 4 X 10 is the better sounding model.

I had a Hot Rod Deluxe for years, gave it to my pastor. The only Fender I have now is a Blues Jr., great little amp.

I'm a Marshall guy, I have a couple of Marshalls. Nothing sounds better than a Gibson Les Paul through a Marshall. :thumbsup:

Of course, that is an opinion.

 

I have the 2x12. Like I said, I've modified it beyond return.

The opinion is valid, I have a Les Paul, and it sounds purdy nice through my Fender. My main guitar is my American Deluxe Telecaster, along with Lester, and two Martins I use. Marshall is a fine company, lots of very loyal customers.

 

Oh, don't get me wrong, I love Fender amps too, I've had quite a few over the years. I've also got two American Strats (one Standard and one HSH) and an American Standard Tele.

I love surf tones, and nothing beats Fender for surf music.

 

I also have several lap steel guitars, and the Fender lets those just sing so sweetly.

 

I just repaired a Genz-Benz El Diablo 100 head. I am very impressed with this amp. I guess they don't make them anymore, and the price tag on this one new was over 1500 bucks. But very nice.

 

Nice amp, if you load it with EL34s it will sound like a Marshall, load it with 6L6s and it will sound like a good Fender.

I have gotten away from the big amps, just got tired of lugging them around. I prefer 15W and 30W amps now, easy to carry, and you can crank them up to where they sound like a tube amp should. You can always mic them into the PA if they are not enough, but usually they are.

 

I still us the big ole' DeVille. But at 52, its getting heavy. A good rule of thumb is a tube amp goes about a pound a watt.

 

My Blues Jr. weighs 32 lbs. I believe, it is a LOUD 15 watts.

I also own a Marshall 15 head that only weighs about 20 lbs. It is 15 watts and sounds awesome. I play it through a 2 X 12 cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers in it. Classic 70s Marshall tone.

I also own a Marshall DSL 15 watt combo with a 12" speaker. It weighs about 39 lbs. I think. Awesome tone, very high gain, I turn gain down to 1. :tongue3:

But yeah, I can't haul the heavy stuff around any more. Sometimes I simply take a pedal like the Marshall Guvnor, and plug in straight to the PA.

 

I used this rig for years, a American made Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a 2 X 12 extension cabinet with Vintage 30's. You can see my Les Paul in the foreground.