zeittgeist Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 Ok, so here is the context: learning jazz, playing archtops, small room, solo, no plans to expand beyond, looking for the best tone/sound I can afford. There are currently three amps out there in different sites for sale that peak my interest: Victoria 5112, Heritage Lobo, Juke Vamp. All are priced within a few hundred bucks of each other with the Victoria the cheapest and the Juke the highest. I live in an area where there are no places one can go to hear or try out equipment, so I am in the same boat as when I started looking for guitars: reading reviews, asking for advice, but then ultimately jumping in and buying something to in order find out what I like and what works for me. This also means what I buy must hold it's value pretty well because I have to be able to resell the items which don't work out in order to try others. So, any thoughts or advice? Other models to suggest? I am beginning my search with the premise that a low powered 6v6, Fender Tweed sounding amp is the best starting point. In addition, and this may sound off the mark, but looks are also important to me. I live in a very small house and like to be surrounded by nice looking things. I really like the appearance of the Victoria 5112. Thanks again for everyone's patience, Daniel
rjsanders Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 tough call, three great amps. if the Lobo has a Heritage badge, it was prob'ly redesigned by Paul Cochrane. great builder. me, i'd go for the Juke (is it 6v6 or el84?). great Ampeg-style reverb and Magnatone-Valco vibrato-tremolo, 5-18w depending on whether you run it triode or pentode & which tubes are in it. the Victoria will be to-a-fault rendering of tweed Deluxe, IIRC.
DetroitBlues Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 Sounds like you do have a tough choice to make. Any chance you can find demo videos out there? Where did you come up with just those three sites?
zeittgeist Posted March 29, 2011 Author Posted March 29, 2011 The Victoria doesn't have reverb. But I could add that with a pedal? I am watching eBay and TGP for amps, any other sites I should be monitoring.?
rjsanders Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 if the Juke is Noah Miller's (whom i know via another forum), he posted clean clips here using his archtop. "sounds" to me, tho, like Daniel would be happy with the 5112 (a tweed Champ in a tweed Deluxe cab - i got it wrong on first go-round). so, it's like 5w, looks great, one knob - volume - but it goes to 12! right?
kbp810 Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 if the Juke is Noah Miller's (whom i know via another forum), he posted clean clips here using his archtop. "sounds" to me, tho, like Daniel would be happy with the 5112 (a tweed Champ in a tweed Deluxe cab - i got it wrong on first go-round). so, it's like 5w, looks great, one knob - volume - but it goes to 12! right? A Tweed Champ circuit paired with a 12" speaker is a wonderful thing! With a Tweed Champ... you can also swap out that 12ax7 for a 12au7 and get a really great smooth jazzy warm/clean tone (though overall volume level also takes a little hit) Find a spring reverb unit to pair it with and I think you will be a very happy person!
H Posted March 29, 2011 Posted March 29, 2011 How about the Tungsten Crema Wheat or the Lazy J amps? http://www.lazyjprojects.com/ Both highly rated Tweed Deluxe clones. I want both
zeittgeist Posted March 30, 2011 Author Posted March 30, 2011 With a Tweed Champ... you can also swap out that 12ax7 for a 12au7 and get a really great smooth jazzy warm/clean tone (though overall volume level also takes a little hit) Find a spring reverb unit to pair it with and I think you will be a very happy person! Ha, this the sort of info I was hoping to get. Any requiremendations for a primer so I could get an overview on how tube amps work?
rjsanders Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 Ha, this the sort of info I was hoping to get. Any requiremendations for a primer so I could get an overview on how tube amps work? my fave to date is Dave Zimmerman's Guitar Amplifier Player's Guide - link to amazon cuz they show the table of contents & stuff...
zeittgeist Posted March 30, 2011 Author Posted March 30, 2011 my fave to date is Dave Zimmerman's Guitar Amplifier Player's Guide - link to amazon cuz they show the table of contents & stuff... Thanks, it's on its way. Love Amazon Prime.
rjsanders Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 Thanks, it's on its way. Love Amazon Prime. yeahman. Zimmerman really knows his stuff, MSEE, i think. have played a couple of his amps & they were great, too...(some pretty funny & entertaining bits in the book, too)
pegleg32 Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 I don't know if you Ebay, but here is a Lobo on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220761800817&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
DetroitBlues Posted March 30, 2011 Posted March 30, 2011 A Tweed Champ circuit paired with a 12" speaker is a wonderful thing! With a Tweed Champ... you can also swap out that 12ax7 for a 12au7 and get a really great smooth jazzy warm/clean tone (though overall volume level also takes a little hit) Find a spring reverb unit to pair it with and I think you will be a very happy person! You sound like a guy who can actually make all these devices yourself?
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