Good amp for blues/rock

[FlaminFender]

I'm looking to get an amp that will allow me to get a good blues/rock distortion sound right from the amp(ie - not using stomps exclusively for the gain sound). I play a mix of clapton, vaughn, page, and other bluesy styles. My guitars include a les paul standard, and a self-hotrodded strat, and i've got a BOSS DS-1 and a vintage kent fuzzface that i can throw in the line for a boost if i need to. I'd like something tube for the dynamics and warmth they give, in addition to the beautiful tones and some tube compression to sustain my sound.

Any advice/suggestions?

[BassTallica]

theres a fender bass amp that ALOT of guitarist use for blues but i forget the name.. i think peavey might also be good for blues/jazz stuff too

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[B-Funk420]

Check out some reviews at www.Harmony-Central.com on the Fender Blues Deluxe amp. It's a gritty little tube monster that's great for Blues, and the glorious Fender clean sound is there as well. Can't go wrong with Fender amps for that stuff !

[FlaminFender]

yeah, i've used the hot rod deluxe (it's the 40 watt tube amp), and although i enjoyed it, i was in a store, and didn't feel comfortable cranking it way up. Do you think i should look at amps with enough power to run a club gig (say... 60-100 watts), or something smaller that i could get the benefit of cranked tubes fun at a reasonable volume (say... 20-30 watts)?

[B-Funk420]

here's my opinion on that... I'd go with the smaller amp, maybe 40-60 watts. In fact I'm in the process of switching from my Marshall 100 watt half stack to a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or Hot Rod Deville. This way, like you said, you can get the full effect of the tubes. Also, if you're playing a larger size venue and you need more volume... chances are you'll have a PA that you can mic your amp. You can pick up a little kick back stand from Musician's Friend for around $30 that will tilt your combo amp back for better projection. This actually makes a huge difference and the stand also has an adjustable threaded tube on the back so you can use a gooseneck and mic your amp directly from the stand. I use one of those little kick back stands with my Fender Princeton Chorus amp and I'll use it when I make the switch to the Deluxe or Deville. Let me know what you decide to go with. Good luck.

[FlaminFender]

Wow, i had completely forgotten the kickback... and i suppose i could always buy an extension cab as well. I'm not a big fan of mic-ing my amps, but i've never had to either. I suppose that's the soundguy's job ;).

[B-Funk420]

Right on ! Another cool thing about mic-ing your amp is that you'll be able to hear in on your floor monitors if you use them.

[FlaminFender]

True, but i haven't a hope of ever singing. I make my guitar do that for me, and it doesn't need to hear itself ;). In the past, i position myself so as i can hear it while i play, as well as the audience.

[Rocket17]

My friend recently owned a Peavy Classic 30. He was dissatisfied with it, because he mostly plays metal. However, in late May we did a little Blues thing at a spring concert, and it sounded great. About as good as you could expect. However, he eventually traded it in for a Washburn 100. He has said, however, that if he were more into bluesy rock, that would be a perfect amp.

[Mr B]

hmmm, so far noone's mentioned that new Marshall MG50, it's very cheap, 50 watts, Marshall, the choice of Hendrix, and has built in effects, and a foot switch channel.

[FlaminFender]

Lookin' for tubes, I didn't think the MG series had tubes at all... but i've been known to make mistakes

[Mr B]

oh right, sorry, you're right. All the MG50 really is is a super excellent, very large and cool practice amp. Laney make a good tube amp for the money I think.

[nirvanastrat]

I think marshall amps are good for Rock

[mindwave_21]

Try a Traynor YCV40 40 watt tube amp. I've tried this side by side with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and found that this one has a little more character (and OD) to it. Sounds good for blues, but I've only tried it with single coil pickups. Plus, it's extremely cheap. Check out the reviews at harmony central.

[FlaminFender]

I did some reading on the traynor amps, but they seem rather close in price to the Fender Hot Rod American series amps. I suppose it might be time to convince my dad to get a big new amp ;).