Re: Good clanky solid state amps
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:12 am
I'm no expert, but my "B-line" of the few amps I have include a ZT Lunchbox, which I love, esp pushing a second 1x15, and a Fender Deluxe 112 Plus from the 90s, which works for me, but does have a little bit of a plasticky sound at times, almost boxy when pushed hard.
But I've been refurbing a 1977 Peavey Classic 212 that I mentioned in another thread. Yes, it does Skynyrd, and it acquitted itself nicely for years in a garage/punk band as a loud "I need an amp" amp to blast with a pedal. I didn't know anything about amps OR tones back then. But I do now. Setting the preamp at 2 and scooping the mids keeps it clean and tilts toward the sounds my SF Bassman Ten makes, but that amp won't get that clanky grit this SS pre delivers.
But the guy I bought it from had owned it since the early 80s and gigged around in a band that he said was "very Gang of Four" back then. He said he used to set it for "maximum 'chank,'". I cleaned the pots yesterday (and it was like Lazarus) and have only been experimenting today, but geez, it might really suit anyone who's looking for this kind of thing. With the SS preamp set to "edge of breakup" at 3-4 depending on your pickups, it grazes that harsh clipping on those types of records and messing around with my wife's Strat definitely put me in that spiky post-punk rhythmic territory. A Dist+ set low and a Phase 90 only added to that. I lost like an hour this morning. And best of all, a few knob twiddles and I'm back in southern rock territory or clean pedal platform territory.
In my reading on these, this is the "vanilla" Classic hybrid from the "100 Series", and I keep reading Gill played the similar Classic VT for a while himself. Elvis Costello apparently played something similar too. Really anything in the "Mace/Deuce/Classic/Artist" group would have pretty much the same preamp, and I understand the VT Series version of those preamps (the ones with ICs) are pretty close. I can't vouch for the later, more advanced VTX Series, never tried one, but people seem to like 'em.
Seems like these Classics (NOT the all-tube ones) are cheap all day, I see them on craigslist, and 50w tube volume with a clanky/chanky/raspy front end seems like a good deal for (at this moment in time) under $200. And if you need more than 50w, upgrade to the 100w Deuce or *160w* Mace or Artist. But with the preamps being what they are, I'd heartily suggest these hybrids for exactly this type of tone search. If I were joining a band like that, I could even see myself going without pedals *gasp*! It's that clanky and throaty.
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Been enjoying the thread! Good luck with the Yamaha!
But I've been refurbing a 1977 Peavey Classic 212 that I mentioned in another thread. Yes, it does Skynyrd, and it acquitted itself nicely for years in a garage/punk band as a loud "I need an amp" amp to blast with a pedal. I didn't know anything about amps OR tones back then. But I do now. Setting the preamp at 2 and scooping the mids keeps it clean and tilts toward the sounds my SF Bassman Ten makes, but that amp won't get that clanky grit this SS pre delivers.
But the guy I bought it from had owned it since the early 80s and gigged around in a band that he said was "very Gang of Four" back then. He said he used to set it for "maximum 'chank,'". I cleaned the pots yesterday (and it was like Lazarus) and have only been experimenting today, but geez, it might really suit anyone who's looking for this kind of thing. With the SS preamp set to "edge of breakup" at 3-4 depending on your pickups, it grazes that harsh clipping on those types of records and messing around with my wife's Strat definitely put me in that spiky post-punk rhythmic territory. A Dist+ set low and a Phase 90 only added to that. I lost like an hour this morning. And best of all, a few knob twiddles and I'm back in southern rock territory or clean pedal platform territory.
In my reading on these, this is the "vanilla" Classic hybrid from the "100 Series", and I keep reading Gill played the similar Classic VT for a while himself. Elvis Costello apparently played something similar too. Really anything in the "Mace/Deuce/Classic/Artist" group would have pretty much the same preamp, and I understand the VT Series version of those preamps (the ones with ICs) are pretty close. I can't vouch for the later, more advanced VTX Series, never tried one, but people seem to like 'em.
Seems like these Classics (NOT the all-tube ones) are cheap all day, I see them on craigslist, and 50w tube volume with a clanky/chanky/raspy front end seems like a good deal for (at this moment in time) under $200. And if you need more than 50w, upgrade to the 100w Deuce or *160w* Mace or Artist. But with the preamps being what they are, I'd heartily suggest these hybrids for exactly this type of tone search. If I were joining a band like that, I could even see myself going without pedals *gasp*! It's that clanky and throaty.
images hosting
Been enjoying the thread! Good luck with the Yamaha!