For years, we've been frustrated with the fact that guitar builders have figured out ways to make affordable guitars and basses that have turned out to be fantastic, but none of the amp builders were able to do this. What added to this, was the fact that certain companies had moved home production of amps overseas, but kept prices the same or raised them. In the last couple years, some of these amp builders have gotten a clue and have started to make amps that sound good and are affordable (or at least more so then their higher line production models). What follows is a list of some current tube amps that are available for a bargain when compared to the bigger names.
Bugera
Bugera has been responsible for making copies of some more popular amps, and they don't hide this fact. Their amps are modeled after some world renown amplifiers, and the model names give a big clue as to what they're going after. The 1960 is their take on a Marshall Plexi 1959, but has 150 watts instead of the normal 100. The 1990 is their take on the Marshall 4100 JCM900 head, and sounds quite convincing. It even has the JCM900 love-it-or-hate-it overdrive nailed. The reverb on the 1990 is digital, but doesn't sound sterile like some, think Holy Grail reverb sound. The 333 is their version of the Peavey XXX (they use to have a 6260 which was a convincing 5150 ripoff). The BC-30 may have you believing it's a Vox AC-30 clone, but actually is closer to a Matchless DC-30. The V55HD is one that doesn't exactly have one particular clone, but is compared to a Fender Hot Rod DeVille, and has a MUCH more usable overdrive, and the same digital reverb as the 1990. Bugera has on their website the Tri-Rec which you'd think was their take on the Mesa Triple Rectifier, but is actually more like the Dual. It still has the 3 channels. The Tri-Rec doesn't seemed to available for sale in the US yet, and neither does their BVV3000, which is an Ampeg SVT-CL ripoff.
There were some technical issues in the beginning with Bugera, but seemingly it was a simple fix, and there don't seem to be as many issues with newer ones. The tone of these amps is great right out of the box, but can be improved by replacing their stock tubes (Bugera brand) for JJ's or whatever tubes you're into. Also, they do make affordable cabs, but they have a particle board cabinet, and Bugera speakers.
Jet City
Jet City came about rather recently, and these amps were designed from the ground up by Mike Soldano. Everything about these amps screams Soldano, even down to the SLO overdrive sound. The wording that we got from the forums, is that Mike didn't want to just make amps overseas and slap his name on them like other amp builders are doing, he wanted to keep the lines separate between Jet City and Soldano. For those familiar with Soldano sound, these amps are a godsend! Also, Jet City is using Eminence speakers, like the Soldano cabs and combos.
Orange
OK, now Orange's Crush series isn't exactly a tube amp, but they do have a TH30H head (and TH30 combo) that is all tube, and though it comes in at $1200 street, is still considerably more pocket friendly when compared to their higher-end amps. These particular heads offer 30 watts, which can be switchable to 15, or 7 watt operation, and are 2 channel. The overdrive channel offers one tone knob, but that one knob is more useful than some heads with multiple EQ's. Again,we recommend swapping the stock tubes with a set of better ones.
Marshall
Marshall finally came around to building an affordable tube head in the MA100H. This amp is quite suspect, and the reviews on it are quite negative in regards to the overdrive channel. Basically, our fear is that this head is just a lesser Marshall, and people are just paying for the name. It's hard to assess this head, because the employees of the big box stores hate it so much, they don't have it ready to try. One employee told us that it basically sounds like a Crate. For $800 street, you're probably going to be happier with a Bugera, or a Jet City head.
Another thing to consider is that with cabs by these companies, seemingly all speakers (even Celestion Vintage 30) are made in China, so there's no way around that with standard new speakers. With any tube head, the tubes make a big difference, so if an amp sounds good with bad tubes,it can only get better with good ones. We're kinda split down the middle over who makes the best tubes, but we generally go with JJ's or Sovtek.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Artist Models
There's always been a stigma about buying a guitar or bass with some artist's name on it. A lot of people have equated the concept of buying them with the idea of wanting to sound just like said artist. This may hold true for a lot of buyers, but the way we see it, artist models are a great way to get guitars and basses with some different options from the factory quo.
As far as sounding like the artist, one must remember that the artist models made available to the public may (and often do) differ from the ones handed to the artists. The actual ones you see may be made in the custom shop of that company, actually have different components and specs. In regards to not wanting to buy an artist model because of there being an artists name on it, we must look at the history of this. Les Paul was an artist that Gibson made a guitar after, and Gretsch 6120's are Chet Atkins models. Duncan JB humbuckers, one of their best sounding bridge pickups gets its JB from Jeff Beck.
That said, we look at the bare bone aspects of artist models as we do any other guitar. In the last decade, a lot of artist models have made available some rather in expensive guitars with great pickups, and hardware. Fender for example, uses a lot of pickups by Seymour Duncan in their artist series. Here's a list of some artist models we've really liked in the past few years.
Gretsch Brian Setzer Models: These have been around for quite a few years now, and they are every bit a 6120 as other 6120 models. The plus side with these is with the Setzer models, you're getting a 6120 with TV Jones Classics, Sperzel locking tuners, a pinned bridge, and trestle bracing. There are a few models, which are like traditional 6120's as far as electronics go, and there are the Hot Rod Setzer models, which sport the Sperzels, TV Classics, and the trestle bracing, but have some great colors not found on traditional Gretsch guitars, and have the electronics stripped down to a pickup switch, and master volume only. Reverand Horton Heat also has a 6120 model with the TV Classics, and Soerzel locking tuners. These work great with the Bigsby trems all these have
Gretsch G5191 Tim Armstrong Model: This guitar is like the highest end on the Electromatic series. It has a hardtail, unique matte black finish, and comes stock with gold Grover tuners (Grover makes a locking tuner that uses a thumbwheel like a Sperzel now, that should be a direct replacement), and with Gretsch "Blackout" HS Filtertrons (HS Filtertrons are stock on the higher end Gretsch models that don't have TV Jones or Dynasonic style pickups, and the "Blackout" is just a cosmetic feature). This guitar doesn't have the tone switch like the higher end Gretsch guitars with Filtertrons, but instead has Les Paul style controls (2 volume, 2 tone, and a pickup switch). Say what you will about Armstrong as a guitarist, this guitar gets a great clean Gretsch tone, and is a major contrast to what Rancid is known for, but is still capable of giving that shredding high-gain guitar sound, as is every Gretsch.
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass: This is by far the best Jazz Bass that Fender has been offering. Made in Japan, and sporting a neck that has a maple fretboard with black binding and black block-style inlays. Plus it comes stock with a Leo Quan Badass II bridge. This is by no means a bass just for Rush fans, it has been seen in every genre form punk, to R&B.
Fender Mike Dirnt Precision Bass: This bass has actually influenced the latest Anniversary model Fender Precision. The Dirnt P-Bass is essentially a '51 P-Bass with a '57 style P-pickup (rather than the single-coil ones on a '51), a rosewood fretboard (most '51 style P-Basses have maple), and also has a Badass II bridge. Great P-Bass tone all-in-all for anyone who likes the look of the '51, but not that single-coil pickup.
Fender Mark Hoppus Jazz Bass: This bass should actually be called a Precision, as the only thing Jazz Bass about it is the body. This bass is a great marriage of P and Jazz bass, as it has a P neck, and Jazz body, but only one P pickup that happens to be our favorite P pickup available; the Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound P. There is also only one knob on this bass for volume, which is also a big plus.We never did like tone knobs on P-Basses, and never use them. We highly recommend looking for the pre-2010 models, as the new ones have the P pickup installed reverse from the traditional way. All in all, when comparing these to Standard P-Basses, they have more output with the SPB-3, but when compared to a P-Bass with the same pickup, they're a bit warmer with the larger bodies.
As stated, these are some great guitars and basses with a few changes from the norm. They're also great for customizing as well, and other than the Setzer models, are fairly cheap when compared to the higher-end cookie-cutter instruments by the same company.
As far as sounding like the artist, one must remember that the artist models made available to the public may (and often do) differ from the ones handed to the artists. The actual ones you see may be made in the custom shop of that company, actually have different components and specs. In regards to not wanting to buy an artist model because of there being an artists name on it, we must look at the history of this. Les Paul was an artist that Gibson made a guitar after, and Gretsch 6120's are Chet Atkins models. Duncan JB humbuckers, one of their best sounding bridge pickups gets its JB from Jeff Beck.
That said, we look at the bare bone aspects of artist models as we do any other guitar. In the last decade, a lot of artist models have made available some rather in expensive guitars with great pickups, and hardware. Fender for example, uses a lot of pickups by Seymour Duncan in their artist series. Here's a list of some artist models we've really liked in the past few years.
Gretsch Brian Setzer Models: These have been around for quite a few years now, and they are every bit a 6120 as other 6120 models. The plus side with these is with the Setzer models, you're getting a 6120 with TV Jones Classics, Sperzel locking tuners, a pinned bridge, and trestle bracing. There are a few models, which are like traditional 6120's as far as electronics go, and there are the Hot Rod Setzer models, which sport the Sperzels, TV Classics, and the trestle bracing, but have some great colors not found on traditional Gretsch guitars, and have the electronics stripped down to a pickup switch, and master volume only. Reverand Horton Heat also has a 6120 model with the TV Classics, and Soerzel locking tuners. These work great with the Bigsby trems all these have
Gretsch G5191 Tim Armstrong Model: This guitar is like the highest end on the Electromatic series. It has a hardtail, unique matte black finish, and comes stock with gold Grover tuners (Grover makes a locking tuner that uses a thumbwheel like a Sperzel now, that should be a direct replacement), and with Gretsch "Blackout" HS Filtertrons (HS Filtertrons are stock on the higher end Gretsch models that don't have TV Jones or Dynasonic style pickups, and the "Blackout" is just a cosmetic feature). This guitar doesn't have the tone switch like the higher end Gretsch guitars with Filtertrons, but instead has Les Paul style controls (2 volume, 2 tone, and a pickup switch). Say what you will about Armstrong as a guitarist, this guitar gets a great clean Gretsch tone, and is a major contrast to what Rancid is known for, but is still capable of giving that shredding high-gain guitar sound, as is every Gretsch.
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass: This is by far the best Jazz Bass that Fender has been offering. Made in Japan, and sporting a neck that has a maple fretboard with black binding and black block-style inlays. Plus it comes stock with a Leo Quan Badass II bridge. This is by no means a bass just for Rush fans, it has been seen in every genre form punk, to R&B.
Fender Mike Dirnt Precision Bass: This bass has actually influenced the latest Anniversary model Fender Precision. The Dirnt P-Bass is essentially a '51 P-Bass with a '57 style P-pickup (rather than the single-coil ones on a '51), a rosewood fretboard (most '51 style P-Basses have maple), and also has a Badass II bridge. Great P-Bass tone all-in-all for anyone who likes the look of the '51, but not that single-coil pickup.
Fender Mark Hoppus Jazz Bass: This bass should actually be called a Precision, as the only thing Jazz Bass about it is the body. This bass is a great marriage of P and Jazz bass, as it has a P neck, and Jazz body, but only one P pickup that happens to be our favorite P pickup available; the Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound P. There is also only one knob on this bass for volume, which is also a big plus.We never did like tone knobs on P-Basses, and never use them. We highly recommend looking for the pre-2010 models, as the new ones have the P pickup installed reverse from the traditional way. All in all, when comparing these to Standard P-Basses, they have more output with the SPB-3, but when compared to a P-Bass with the same pickup, they're a bit warmer with the larger bodies.
As stated, these are some great guitars and basses with a few changes from the norm. They're also great for customizing as well, and other than the Setzer models, are fairly cheap when compared to the higher-end cookie-cutter instruments by the same company.
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