Halfstack Madness!

[Rigel775]

Hi softies!

Since a "wealth" is coming my way soon, been thinking of getting an all-tube halfstack.

Currently using 10w practice amp & my theatre set amp/small 5.1 speakers with my 1622FX mixer for recordings...

Play anything from blues, jazz, rock to metal.

Budget around 1.5k - 2k+ (Thanks DjThugs)
Personally I think if it sounds good even at low volumes, it should be ok? :X

Would appreciate any recommendations/reviews !

Krank Krank Rev Jr. Pro 20w Half Stack (US$799?)


Bogner Alchemist™ 40w Head + 2x12 Extension Cabinet (S$1k + S$640 @ City Music Year End Sale)


Marshall JVM Series JVM205H 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head (US$1,699.99?)


Peavey ValveKing 100w Half-Stack (US$899.99?)

 

[Rigel775]

Peavey Windsor 100W All Tube Half Stack (US$499.99?)


Crate V-Series Guitar Amplifier 100w Half Stack with V100H Head and V412A Cabinet (US$549.95?)


Crate Blue Voodoo BV120HB Guitar Amp Head + Crate FlexWave Series FW412 120W 4x12 Guitar Cabinet (US$749.99? + US$299.99?)

 

[DjThugs]

wah bro...all ur half-stacks like different wattage and different prices...wads ur budget...thats the most important..

 

[subversion]

Alchemist head not in stock...

 

[CITY_MUSIC]

Hi everyone,

the new shipment of Bogner Alchemist heads have just arrived. Cheers!

 

[gsonique]

Looks like they were all made in the same factory ...ha ha .., :mrgreen:
....except for the JVM.

 

[Godspeed64]

What kind of tone are you going for bro? Plus with all those heads, you REALLY need attenuators!

I'd recommend:
Ceriatone Overtone Head
THD Univalve Head
Any 2x12" cabinet, if on a budget, get a Vox 2x12" cab and swap the speakers to something else..

If you want a Marshall tone:
Ceriatone Bluesbreaker Head
Brown Note Lite 18 Head
Dr Z Mazerati GT Head
They work well with Celestion Vintage 30s IMO, so equip the cab with them..

 

[smurfpiss]

I don't know if you've heard of these Egnater amps, the module series are incredibly versatile beasts. Even the tourmaster one's are jack of all trades too, check out the features!

http://www.egnateramps.com/splash.html

 

[ChanMin]

hmm.. im a ceriatone owner... ive had the JTM45 (sold) and now im using both the trainwreck head and overtone special head. awesome amps.

for the price its really a very good deal.
Bogner alchemist is cool for most stuff. but id suggest a proper full sized closed back 2x12 or 4x12.

 

[Rigel775]

Thanks for the inputs, will go research more on CeriaTone & Egnater amps.
Gonna head down to CityMusic for a trial at the Bogner Alchemist

Read some reviews that the Ceriatone Overtone Head is more Fenderish than Marshall?

Source From Harmony Central:
Sound Quality : 10
The best way to describe tone complexities of an amplifier like this are firstly to recognise Dumbles are Fender influenced and run 6L6 tubes.
This means the amp will behave to one degree or another like a nice Fender Tube amp.
But the sonic equation doesn`t end there and this is where things get interesting.(Dumbles are in a league of their own).
With the overtone you get the rich, warm cleans of a Fender but with added harmonic midrange complexities much like you would expect from a nice class-A Vox.
the harmonic content in this amp is out standing and this is in the clean channel!
Selecting the overdrive channel via the remote footswich kicks things into overdrive heaven.
The clean channel is very impressive on its own but the O/D channel takes harmonic complexity to higher ground.
Inside the amp is a small pot for adjusting the gain in the circuit and there is a difference with how this is set.
The higher you go the more Marshall like the gain character is.
If you run with a lower gain setting on this pot, the amp seems to retain the Dumble character alot more even when driven hard.

I tested this amp through a single EVM12L in a ported cab.
I plugged in my treasured old pre CBS Telecaster with rosewood board and heard the Tele speak like I have not before.
I prefur Tele`s through AC30s or old tweed Fenders, but the overtone had its own thing happening that was more than impressive.
I borrowed a Les Paul to see how things cooked with humbuckers and was pleasantly surprised the amp retained alot of the complex tone character, even when driven hard on higher gain settings.

 

[Godspeed64]

The Overtone is a Dumble clone..

 

[Rigel775]

Hmm Egnator Tourmaster™ 4100
MAIN FEATURES
* 100-Watt All-Tube Head
* Four Channels with Selectable voicing
* Power Grid: Set Wattage for Each Channel
from 10w up to 100w
* Tube-driven Assignable Effects Loop
* Tube Driven Reverb
* Rugged Six-Button Footswitch
* Powered by Groovetubes™ FRONT PANEL
* Four independent channels each with:
— Gain control
— Master control
— Treble, middle, bass
— Classic/modern voicing switch
* Tube driven reverb
* Master Presence/Density

REAR PANEL
* Assignable tube driven effects loop
— Assign to channels 1&2
— Assign to channels 3&4
— Assign to all four channels
— Assign to pedal only
— Send and return level controls
— Selectable series or parallel
* Cabinet voiced line/recording out
* Simple master bias adjust with test points POWER GRID
* Six preset power output levels for
each channel from 10 to 100 watts
* Full or half power switch

Hmm it's pretty versatile in the power department, there's six preset power levels in it.

 

[leecs]

If for me, i would go for the Marshall JVM

 

[MrBukka]

Hmmmm if marshalls i would either go for the vintage modern 50 for the kt66 tubes or the jcm 2000 dsl 50 and u can get them 2nd hand for a pretty gd price. Or any of the ceriatone heads r great too, like the plexi 50 watt clone, trainwreck, overtone special....but imo if u want a versatile ceriatone amp, get the dc30 clone! Cab wise ceriatone cabs r sweet (getting one myself soon), marshall cabs r ok but if on budget go for the vox cabs (bang for buck). Overall i would not suggest getting a 100watt monster cause it will be overkill to play at home and even some stagees, and instead of paying the premium, why not use the money to get a lower wattage but better amp and cab.

 

[Rigel775]

If for me, i would go for the Marshall JVM

I read sub saying Davis won't bring in the JVM 50w? :???:

Hmmmm if marshalls i would either go for the vintage modern 50 for the kt66 tubes or the jcm 2000 dsl 50 and u can get them 2nd hand for a pretty gd price. Or any of the ceriatone heads r great too, like the plexi 50 watt clone, trainwreck, overtone special....but imo if u want a versatile ceriatone amp, get the dc30 clone! Cab wise ceriatone cabs r sweet (getting one myself soon), marshall cabs r ok but if on budget go for the vox cabs (bang for buck). Overall i would not suggest getting a 100watt monster cause it will be overkill to play at home and even some stagees, and instead of paying the premium, why not use the money to get a lower wattage but better amp and cab.

You have a point, which is what I was initially thinking of, maybe an amp around 50w would suffice for me and like you said a better amp + cab :-D

 

[subversion]

I read sub saying Davis won't bring in the JVM 50w? :???:

they don't have plans to do so, it's not a definite negative...

many of us have a self-imposed restriction when it comes to getting good tones- too loud, won't buy...

 

[MrBukka]

U have a point sub, it is true that many people do have this restriction, honestly being loud can be equal to great tones as well, i would love to have a plexi 100 watt which is always my dream......but sadly it is pretty impractical to do that especially in sg (hdb, late nite playing a definite no no), and would be wasting the amp's true potential even when used with an attenuator. Imo a loud amp must be played loud to reach its full potential, but of course this is not to offend anyone who owns a big wattage amp, cause u guys love ur craft and sound and who is to deny that rite? Cheers!

 

[malaysian]

no love for tiny terror half stack?

 

[subversion]

regardless of manifesting the amp's true potential if one doesn't crank up the amp etc., if you wish for a spanking Marshall tone, then going with a Marshall is it. same goes for MESA etc. i live in an HDB flat (this hole in the wall...), it didn't stop me from getting a 100W Marshall. not boasting or anything but it seems that due to certain circumstances, we are deprived of good tones- if this is the case then we should not exalt what we cannot attain.

 

[dudelove]

i would love to have a 100w plexi too. but even i dont stay in a hdb, its still very inconsiderate.

sub, u can blast a 100w marshall in a hdb flat because? u dont have neighbours or they are just plain super cool?