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I'm in the market for an amp (under $900 used) and have been looking for something that approximates the clean sound of a Marshall Major (the sound i have in mind), without being ridiculously overpowered. To try to put the tone in words: it's this thick, warm, uncolored sound with a nice low end. Not really a Fender clean.

The JCM 800/Jubilee crunch is perhaps my favorite, so an amp that could do this too would be ideal. If that's not possible, I guess I'll have to look into using pedals.

I use a Strat almost exclusively and play a lot of funk, if that helps. I'd just like to know what my options are.

Soldano Astroverb 16

Check out the Hughes and Kettner Edition Tube 20. Very cool amp!

EL84 amps, hm? Not sure about Eminence speakers, but I will check out the Astroverb. The Hamp;K might be hard to come by.


Originally Posted by sooperunknSoldano Astroverb 16

1 Great amp, looking to get the head version myself some day

since you're looking for the options I wanted to throw in the legendary 18 watters from marshall. They are powered by 4 EL84 and sound superb, but also cost - I think - more than 900...

Gee, a lot of the HC reviewers make it sound like cleans are nonexistent on the Astroverb.

It seems like most small amps go for Fender style cleans, rather than Marshall. That being said I really like the smaller Mesa combos that use EL84's with the trad Mesa/Fender preamp. Examples would be the DC3, Studio caliber, and F30. I like the combination of the Fender style front end with the british flavor of the EL84 power section. Also the 10quot; Subway Series are pretty amazing, they really sound like they have a 12quot; in there.

Reverend Goblin with the Schizo switch set to quot;Englandquot;. The amp got a good review in Guitar Player recently.

It has 6V6's in the output stage, but they actually make for a good lower-powered imitation of a non-MV Marshall. A lot of guys at AX84.com have built quot;Plexi 6V6quot; amps, and absolutely rave about them. Apparently, it's actually easier to get 6V6's to do the plexi thang than it is EL84's.

That said, I like my DIY 18-watter, but it might not be the greatest for funk.

well my guitar teacher has this OLD funky gibson amp like a 1x10 combo
3 1/2 watts, its has a volume knob and a tremelo knob, its awsome for jazz/blues the tone is basically godly.

but if u wanna save some cash check out pignose, they make a 1x10 40watt tube amp for like 200 bucks. drop in some new tubes and speaker, the tone just opens up.
and even stock for 200 bucks they kick ass.

i have a 60 watt one, and ive played thro a 58 bassman fender relic,fender twins and such,and i still like my pig, its great payed 250 new for a blem.

Another low budget possibility would be the Peavy classic 30... replace the speaker and you end up with a pretty nice sounding amp for not much money.
there are lots of 18 watt marshall clones out there that might do the trick for you in your price range... or maybe a Dr Z. Carmen Ghia with the right speaker...


Originally Posted by SMGGee, a lot of the HC reviewers make it sound like cleans are nonexistent on the Astroverb.

It is a single channel amp and that's definitely a limitation. But my buddy has one and he plays a strat through it and it cleans up SURPRISINGLY well just by trimming down the guitar volume.

As always, I would suggest coming up with a list of your top 5 choices and then playing them before buying one.

Good luck!


Originally Posted by milkboneCheck out the Hughes and Kettner Edition Tube 20. Very cool amp!Im going to have to second Mike on this one. Its kinda tricky to figure out how to work the eq at first, but once you find the sweet spots you can get some really nice tones. Sounds really fat with my LP. I've been GASing for a vintage strat lately, id love to see how one sounds through this amp. My only grip is the shared eq, seems like two different amps going from clean to crunch. It took me awhile to adjust to the amp, but now i love it.

I'd build a clone of the 5E3 tweed Fender Deluxe and install a Celestion speaker...either a G12H30 or G12 Alnico Blue. from : localhost/www.missionamps.com

I toyed with the idea of building a Marshall 18W a couple months ago, but the sound clips I heard really weren't to my taste at all (sorry royd, maybe I should listen to one IRL).

Why do you suggest the 5E3, Lew? The idea of building my own amp is very appealing, but I'd like to know what I'm getting into. Are the cleans that clear and open? And does the amp distortion get as Marshally as, say, Immigrant Song - if it even goes that far?