Soliciting Amp Opinions/Advice

[knopfler74]

I've got $1850 burning a hole in my "amp buying" pocket, and I'd like to buy a combo amp rather than a head - like I have right now. (KBP Matchless clone -aka: the best British sounding amp I've ever heard...like EVER)

 

I'm looking for something that is primarily blues oriented, gig friendly, and reasonably easy on my back when I lug it to and from etc...

 

I'm wondering if anyone here has personal experience with the following?

 

http://www.soundpure.com/p/oldfield-honky-tonk-dlux-1x12-combo-amplifier/6172

 

http://www.destroyallguitars.com/amps/item/461-louis-electric-buster/category_pathway-225

 

http://www.humbuckermusic.com/victoria-ivy-league-amp.html

 

I'm looking at tweed oriented stuff rather than blackface stuff, primarily because I REALLY dislike the high end of blackface amps (too bright for my taste)

 

So, any thoughts on these amps or any suggestions on others you may have used/tried/admired for some reason?

[Gitfiddler]

Based on our description, any one of the amps in your search would work in theory.

 

I'd go with the Victoria if it were my money, based on their stellar reputation for quality and great tone...and decent resale is another consideration.

[DetroitBlues]

Call KBP and have him make you a Tweed Deluxe in a 2x10 config.

[knopfler74]

Call KBP and have him make you a Tweed Deluxe in a 2x10 config.

Yeah, I thought about something like that, but I wouldn't do a 2X10 regardless. I love that configuration, but I'm looking for a 1x12. I talked to KBP about a possible Dumble build, but with the new baby he was a little too busy to do it. I'm hesitant to ask again because having a new baby is a TON of work and I'd like to try to respect that. I didn't even know that he and his wife were expecting. I guess that happened while I was on my self-imposed hiatus from the forum.

 

I don't know, I might ask him, but I'm so impatient that I'd hate to have to wait! HAHA

 

I'm kind of partial to the the Louis Electric or the Oldfield, due to the 20 watt ratings. I'd like to have as much headroom as possible, even in a tweed oriented amp.

Lots to consider for sure...

[ScottNaylor]

You have great taste in amps, amigo! Can I mention Sara Richter as an option? Her RS-33 is the definition of tweed headroom and exceptional build quality. Richter is in my neighborhood as is Victoria. My first exposure to Sara's work was when I compared one of her 5e3's to my Vicky 20112. In addition to build and parts quality every bit as good (and some ways better) as Mark's at Victoria, the Richter was more responsive dynamically, had a better clean tone, and showed the differences in my guitars to a much greater extent. The Richter 5E3 continues to be my first choice when I head out to play.

 

One other name I'll add to the mix is Swart. If having world class reverb and tremolo is a draw, the Atomic Space Tone is wicked cool. A slightly different take on tweed than your typical 5E3, they sound and respond like no other and like all the companies mentioned in the thread thus far, are built to last decades plus. People who love the Swart thing tend to forsake all others and live blissful existences bathed in glorious overtones.

[knopfler74]

You have great taste in amps, amigo! Can I mention Sara Richter as an option? Her RS-33 is the definition of tweed headroom and exceptional build quality. Richter is in my neighborhood as is Victoria. My first exposure to Sara's work was when I compared one of her 5e3's to my Vicky 20112. In addition to build and parts quality every bit as good (and some ways better) as Mark's at Victoria, the Richter was more responsive dynamically, had a better clean tone, and showed the differences in my guitars to a much greater extent. The Richter 5E3 continues to be my first choice when I head out to play.

 

One other name I'll add to the mix is Swart. If having world class reverb and tremolo is a draw, the Atomic Space Tone is wicked cool. A slightly different take on tweed than your typical 5E3, they sound and respond like no other and like all the companies mentioned in the thread thus far, are built to last decades plus. People who love the Swart thing tend to forsake all others and live blissful existences bathed in glorious overtones.

Thanks! Hey, I tried to see if I could find a website for Richter Amps and I couldn't find anything. Does she have a website?

[bolero]

I would get one of those Louis Electric amps

[ScottNaylor]

No website for the Richter's I'm afraid. They do have a small board that I know Sara monitors pretty closely. richteramplification.com/board/. They also sell amps through eBay with the username sarasmiles1820. Good folks Sara and Gene, worth the effort to contact IMHO

[H]

You missed the daddy of them all: the Tungsten Crema Wheat.

 

http://www.tungstenamp.com/amps.htm

 

[tbp0701]

I also love the tweed-type amps and like the idea of finding an independent builder. I have a Champ-based amp MuchXS at the TDPRI built, and it's great, although I did wait a while. I haven't played through one, but another builder is Jim at Li'l Dawg amps ( http://www.littledawgamps.com/ ). There are the Marsh amps, too.

 

Most of those won't burn through your budget, though. For that I think a good candidate is a Swart amp, or if you really want to blow some money, a Carr. Well, other than a vintage Fender.

[knopfler74]

You missed the daddy of them all: the Tungsten Crema Wheat.

 

http://www.tungstenamp.com/amps.htm

 

I had checked those out as well. The word I heard on them was that the headroom was considerably less than the Louis Electric, and the low end was pretty slight, comparatively.

I even watched a video where those basic differences were highlighted.

That being said, they seem like really nice amps...

[iim7v7im7]

If you're interested, I am getting ready to list my 2010 Lil Dawg D-Lux...PM me

[Spectrum13]

I'm very happy with my Swart for a chewy deluxe tweed... very light but not much headroom in th STR. You might want to look at Nolatone. Paul uses a british preamp and tweed power section for a mix with lots of headroom and the gain options can get dirty at lower volume but retains that tweedy-ish feel.

[Redsand]

The Tungsten shown above will get my vote EVERY time, they are simply excellent!!!!!!!

[smokedtires]

You can also give Trace a call at Voodoo Amps, http://www.voodooamps.com/home/Products/Amplifiers/10WattSeries/TexasHeatSE10/tabid/286/Default.aspx Look at his client list, quite impressive. Had him mod a Marshall DSL once that was amazing, just ended up be more amp than I needed.

[slider313]

A friend has both the Crema Wheat and the slightly larger Buckwheat from Tungsten amps. I didn't really care for the Crema but the Buckwheat sounded great.

[H]

I had checked those out as well. The word I heard on them was that the headroom was considerably less than the Louis Electric, and the low end was pretty slight, comparatively.

I even watched a video where those basic differences were highlighted.

That being said, they seem like really nice amps...

I'm hoping you're using these recommendations to assemble a selection that you'll personally evaluate (head-to-head where possible).

 

I couldn't imagine spending cash of that magnitude on the basis of someone else's say-so or a YouTube video.

[rjsanders]

If you're interested, I am getting ready to list my 2010 Lil Dawg D-Lux...PM me

 

of the 3, i would go with the Louis. if choices open, i would definitely look at Lil Dawgs. a friend has a couple and both are great. cabs by Peter Mather (void-free pine, dove-tail joining, arguably the very best)

[RJLII]

I have the Victoria Ivy League with a 12" Eminence Legend and really like it. It has three inputs with varied levels of attenuation and a tone control with an extremely wide range. No matter what I plug in to it I can dial up a great sound. Considering it's rated at 14 watts it has a ton of headroom. It's also very light.