Your remarkable non-peddle amp

Steve Pierce · Post by **Steve Pierce** » 24 Jul 2005 8:32 pm

I agree that the MicroCube is cool for what it is, but I wouldn't record with it. It can make going to a small cafe type gig really easy (which might be Bobby's angle). If you're like me, then just the thought of lugging the larger amp instantly compromises my standards (and my other amp is just a 112). Maybe it's because I live 48 steps from the street.

The MicroCube has gotten me hooked on delay. I've never owned a delay pedal and now I find myself addicted to that really heavy Steve Kimock sound. I only use it on a couple of songs, but now I feel like I need to bring the MicroCube on gigs just for that delay!

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Steve Pierce

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 24 Jul 2005 9:37 pm

Well, my Fender nonPSG love a Fender tube amp. The Blues Deluxe. 40w, 12"speaker. It don't get no better.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 25 Jul 2005 2:41 am

I just picked up a Blues Deluxe over the weekend and agree. this is the first tube amp I've had and I can see people have been talking about. I've put my Nashville 112 up for sale as a result.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 27 Jul 2005 5:43 am

My favorite sound for lap steel (Hawaiian or Western Swing) is a class A tube amp. I have Magnatone Varsity Deluxe in the 6-10 watt range that is wonderful for practice or very low volume performance, like a live radio show. As you can see from this link it's got volume and tone controls and that's it.
http://www.vibroworld.com/magnatone/108.html

Picked it up for $25.00, had it re-capped, put in a new Jenson 8" spaeaker and it really sings. I also have a Fender blackface Princeton, that has been tweedified, that sounds pretty good, but I prefer the Magnatone.

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 27 Jul 2005 7:15 am

Kris mentioned the ROLAND CUBE 30...I latched on to this great amp as I am beginning to realize, at my age, the FENDER DELUXE REVERB is just becomming too darned heavy to haul up and down stairs, etc. Man, this ROLAND knocks me out with the variety of sounds it produces! It's a very clean amp so light in weight. Priced reasonably due to the fact ROLAND is making these beauties in China...(but I don't want to go into that subject here !)

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 27 Jul 2005 9:07 am

I'm also not a big fan of the microcube. If I had to play a gig with no power I would use one. If I want to stay light I have an old Oahu 1X10" amp that's less than twice the weight of the microcube (less than 14 lbs) but sounds about a million times better.

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www.tyack.com

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 27 Jul 2005 10:32 am

THD Univalve with a 2x12 Celestion/Jensen cab (a Gallien-Krueger with the Celestion front loaded, the Jensen rear) and/or `66 Vibrolux Reverb.

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Olli Haavisto,
Finland

[This message was edited by Olli Haavisto on 27 July 2005 at 11:37 AM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 27 Jul 2005 1:03 pm

The micro cube sure isn't the answer for everthing, but serves the purpoes for what it was meant OK. It could never compare to a larger amp, but it wasn't suposed to.

db · Post by db » 27 Jul 2005 5:26 pm

1965 Fender Princeton Reverb
With "Blow-Out-Proof" speaker.
I have played through "Blues Jr.s"
They are the best thing currently out there.
My preference is for the 10" spk model.
Don't know the model # . . .

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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 28 Jul 2005 2:38 am

Boy, am I sorry I traded off my way-pre-CBS Fender 600.... I think it was built out of redwood.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 6 Aug 2005 8:39 am

I just got my new Epiphone Valve Junior yesterday ...

At $119 and free shippin' ... can't beat that with a Käla`au ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 6 Aug 2005 9:22 am

I play through two 59 fender bassmens and get most sounds that I,m after both clean and overdriven.I do also use a gibson ga8T that I turn wide open and get some tube compression sounds that pedals just can,t reproduce.I have a d8 stringmaster that I use a lot but I get a harder and possibly better sound from my t8 custom with the trap pickups.There is something about the trap pickups that is hard to identify.I have a love hate relationship with the t8.I love the way it sounds but I hated it when one of the three legs loosened and it hit me right on the back of my foot as I was turning to adjust my amp.Triple 8s are heavy.I never turn my back on that steel now. lakeshrk

George Rout · Post by **George Rout** » 7 Aug 2005 6:38 pm

Well, I might as well put in my two-bits worth!!! I'm a "bottle man" from way back, I prefer the warmer sounds of tubes, but usually that means a "boatanchor" of an amp such as my reasonably new Traynor YCV40.

However, since 1953, I have been using a Bogen Challenger CHA33 (33watt) PA amplifier into a 12 inch speaker in a reasonably sized cabinet. The amp has 6L6's. Because I play with just a touch of reverb, I have an old Fender tube reverb in between the guitar and the amp naturally. That whole set up was bought when I got my Console Grande in 1953.

I also have a National circa 1958 tube amp, which is only 5 watts, but I like it better than any Peavey I've owned.

Long live bottles!!!!

George in Peach Pickin' country, Niagara!!

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 8 Aug 2005 3:34 pm

Like Brad, I play my D8 through a 1962 Fender, Princton Reverb amp and have yet to find anything better. The band that I play with rib me about it but have no problem with my little amp sitting amongst their monsters.

If we are in a large dance hall or anything similar, I plug into a spare Nashville 1000 (for volume only) that none of the guys seem to want to use. For bars and such, the old Princton Reverb does the job quite nicely.

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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 12 Aug 2005 3:50 pm

I'm using a Fender Princeton DSP 65 for steel and tele...I can get a good sound out of it...sort of. The clean channel is fine but only has bass/treble. The overdrive channel is typical SS and over-done, but at low gain settings is passable. The DSP stuff is pre-set but works for live playing.

Now what I really want to try is the VOX Valvetronics. Sounds like a good setup with a tube pre and amp modeling. It also has output switching for 1-30 watts. The reviews are great and the price is low. Has anybody tried one yet? Please let me know if you have.

Tom

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 15 Aug 2005 12:02 pm

I run my Stringmaster D8 to a Hilton digital sustain, Dunlop Vol. pedal, RV3 and into my old (bought it in "60") Fender Concert Amp. 4 10" speakers, normal channel. It's a battleship, can't destroy it!!! 40 watts, but with all tube, it's up there with 100 watt power. The downside issss, it weighs like a battleship. Still, I like the tone, (more like I'm used to it) soooo no pain, no gain. Bought a fold up hand truck for it....that helps. TX
Rgds,
Ron

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JCFSC member since 2005 "Be of Good Cheer"
"55" Stringmaster D8,"59" Stringmaster D6
"67" Telecaster,
"60"Fender Concert Amp 4-10's

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 15 Aug 2005 2:35 pm

posted 27 June 2002 04:52 AM
Under the title "My New "Ashdown Reso 2" "

I have been using this amp for 2 months now and feel that I can report on it's capabilities etc. having put it through it's paces so to speak.
A1+++++ Hawaiian lap and reso guitar amp, definitely the ultimate amp for these instruments , PLUS ,, it's VERY impresive on pedal steel.
I'll post some clips later in the week. For now you can see it at :--
http://groups.msn.com/TheBritishSteeliesSociety/basilhenriques.msnw?action=Sho wPhoto&PhotoID=123
http://www.ashdownmusic.co.uk/

The relevant topic is here:- http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003032.html
Basil Henriques

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Steel players do it without fretting

[This message was edited by basilh on 15 August 2005 at 03:46 PM.]

Andre Nizzari · Post by **Andre Nizzari** » 16 Aug 2005 2:27 am

I love my 70's Fender Musicmaster Bass amps with 12" webber alnicos. 12 watts of 6V6s tubes. Pure blues! I usually daisy chain 2 of them for gigs.

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http://www.andreandthenighthounds.com/

Rich Sullivan · Post by **Rich Sullivan** » 16 Aug 2005 7:49 am

I bought a new Standel 25L15 (Reissue) a few years ago. It has 25 watts and no reverb. As far as I can tell, it's built the same as the original amps from the '50's. I've been playing a Gibson T-8 Console Grande thru it and have really liked it. But a few months ago I was fortunate to acquire a Bigsby T-8. (It has 5 pedals, but I am playing it non-pedal, so I guess it's still ok to post here.) Anyway, the combination of the Bigsby and Standel is better than I ever imagined. Needless to say, I think I'll be happy with this combination for a long time.

Kris Oka · Post by **Kris Oka** » 23 Aug 2005 11:39 am

WOW, have you heard Bobby Ingano play Kauli Ili on his Rick thru a Roland MicroCube. Check it out: New Tune HSGA: Bobby Ingano "Live". You won't be disappointed.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 23 Aug 2005 11:49 am

Tom Jordan · Post by **Tom Jordan** » 26 Aug 2005 11:48 am

Well, I chickened out on the VOX modeling amps after some research and playing. They're really cool but I don't think they are road-worthy...yet. I bet they'll be a good choice once the bugs are worked out.

I just snatched up the last available Roland BluesCube BC-60 from MF and it was delivered yesterday. I haven't been in love with a piece of equipment for a while...it's really cool! There is plenty of clean and sparkle but if it isn't enough, there is also a bright switch and presence knob for clearing out the front rows. The number two channel has the drive stuff and goes from mild tube drive to distortion...channel 1 also has some light crunch features. The reverb is a 3 spring and is plenty wet for my tastes.

I can't really gush much more until I try it at an outside rodeo gig in a couple of weeks but so far so good with the midi tracks.

I'm gonna go smell it some more...they smell so good fresh out of the box. Maybe even do some more tweaking!

Tom

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 26 Aug 2005 11:23 pm

I am a true novice at the Amp game!

I have a BOSS - MA-15A Small amplifier which weighs about 15 lbs and measures 12"x6"x5". It is electric and no battery capability. It has 3 plug ins and two lines out. It has served me well over the years as a travel amp.

Has anyone used BOSS amps before? I believe that Roland took over BOSS some years back.

It now needs a little work on it.

WHERE WOULD I GO TO HAVE THIS SMALL AMP REPAIRED?

Mahalo nui for your kokua.
(Thank you very much for your help)

Aloha,
Don[This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 28 August 2005 at 08:57 PM.]

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 29 Aug 2005 11:13 pm

Would someone kindly respond to this previous guy's request?

Thank you so much.

Gary Boyett · Post by **Gary Boyett** » 30 Aug 2005 3:07 am

Hey Don, I will gladly respond to your request.

I have no idea!

Have you tried a local amp repair shop in your town? I had a guy fix my Fender and found out he works on all tube amps, and specializes in vintage stuff. He is in Denver but if you want I could get you his name.