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After years of gigging sub-20 watt beasties in the city I'm on my way back to the medium/big camp. Certainly appreciate that tube saturation is easier and still reasonably loud with the li'l guys, but my desire for more headroom and dynamics has pushed me into the higher wattages. Besides, who needs ears, anyway?

I’m looking at old Ampeg combos thanks to the other thread, but my 2 amps right now are a DR504 and a 66 Bassman. I may have other amps but these 2 will always be my #1 and #2…

If it doesn’t have at least two power tubes, a mid-sized OT and speaker(s) 10“ or bigger, I can’t use it in a band. As much as i love small amps, if it doesn’t have the above-mentioned, it won’t have enough low end for me to enjoy playing through it outside the house. Output transformer size matters.

I don’t like them too powerful either though; anything with four power tubes is overkill for my needs. Just too loud. 30-50 watts seems to be the sweet spot; run it through a cab with efficient speakers and it’s clean and more than loud enough, run it through a single, less efficient one and it breaks up at a reasonable volume. That’s why I’m practically married to my ‘65 Tremolux, though I’m sure I’d also be happy with a Bassman, Bandmaster, AC30, or most other 30-50 watt amps. Maybe not the AC30 as much; I love using different cabs with the same head, it gives you more options for less money.

Ampeg Jets just about make the cut, if you don’t need it to stay clean. They’re really a bit underpowered for my needs.

For my louder setup (using a 2x12”), I use a Klon clone (Tumnus) at the end of my effect chain as an always-on preamp to liven up the sound a little.

My setup...


But I also have a Vibro-Champ at home and a Orange Tiny Terror for smaller room/venue and portability.

fever606 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:43 pm

I’m looking at old Ampeg combos thanks to the other thread

This is the way.

garyfanclub wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 6:43 am

fever606 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:43 pm

I’m looking at old Ampeg combos thanks to the other thread

This is the way.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! GOOBLE GOBBLE GOOBLE GOBBLE!

Jonesie wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:34 am

garyfanclub wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 6:43 am

fever606 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:43 pm

I’m looking at old Ampeg combos thanks to the other thread

This is the way.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! GOOBLE GOBBLE GOOBLE GOBBLE!

I've been looking for one of those late-60s Ampeg accordion combos for ages (AC12 is it?). Pure unobtainium in the UK from what I can tell.

johnnysomersett wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 12:28 pm

Jonesie wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 7:34 am

garyfanclub wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 6:43 am

This is the way.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US! GOOBLE GOBBLE GOOBLE GOBBLE!

I've been looking for one of those late-60s Ampeg accordion combos for ages (AC12 is it?). Pure unobtainium from what I can tell.

There's also the GU-12 (same thing with a slightly different cap value in the input) that you might want to look into.

There was also a late-60s Reverbojet on Reverb a couple days ago that you may like, but it's basically just a repackaged 60's Jet. Still looks really cool though! Word to the wise, these amps have lovely verb and trem, but they are BRIGHT!

Happy hunting!

Scale is relative, but 50W of tube power is my sweet spot, and I like combo amps for some reason. Sure, I've been in really loud band situations where that was just enough power, but I feel like I know what 50W of clean volume feels like and how it's going to respond to my playing. I rarely have a gigging situation where it won't cut it, and if I do, it's never anywhere without PA support, so I throw an SM57 in my gig bag, problem solved.

With 100W, I can only barely get it going anywhere but the practice space or a gig, and I'm a pedal player, so needing a clean platform for volume rules out small amps for me. Amp breakup is my enemy, but I like the warm tubey canvas and the feeling of 2-4 speakers moving even at low volumes, so 50 watts is where I live.

fever606 wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 5:43 pm

I’m looking at old Ampeg combos thanks to the other thread, but my 2 amps right now are a DR504 and a 66 Bassman. I may have other amps but these 2 will always be my #1 and #2…

My 2 primary amps right now are a '66 Bassman and a jtm45 but I'm drooling over the thoughts pf a dr504!

i like big amps and i cannot lie.

For some things, nothing but sheer air movement will do. There is something really special about standing in front a stack and feeling the air movement on your pant legs. The feedback. The sustain. The lowend. I love little amps too but I have to have both.

'76 Orange Overdrive 120 and a Matamp GT120MV


For less volume but not little... the in-betweeners.. a '66 Bassman and '64 Bandmaster

i love sharin foo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:22 pm

For some things, nothing but sheer air movement will do. There is something really special about standing in front a stack and feeling the air movement on your pant legs. The feedback. The sustain. The lowend. I love little amps too but I have to have both.

'76 Orange Overdrive 120 and a Matamp GT120MV


For less volume but not little... the in-betweeners.. a '66 Bassman and '64 Bandmaster

Damn, if I had someone to enjoy these, I would DEFINITELY indulge.

That Orange setup is hot as hell.

i love sharin foo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:22 pm

For some things, nothing but sheer air movement will do. There is something really special about standing in front a stack and feeling the air movement on your pant legs. The feedback. The sustain. The lowend. I love little amps too but I have to have both.

'76 Orange Overdrive 120 and a Matamp GT120MV

I'll be in my rack.

i love sharin foo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:22 pm

For some things, nothing but sheer air movement will do. There is something really special about standing in front a stack and feeling the air movement on your pant legs. The feedback. The sustain. The lowend. I love little amps too but I have to have both

Yes doctor, I concur.