Members unit11 Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 I'm looking for a decent volume amp for playing with my school's jazz and pep bands. The jazz band obviously requires a nice clean sounds, and the pep band plays alot of rock music. I'm not sure what environments the jazz band is playing in, probably an auditorium type setting, where as the pep band will be playing mostly in school gyms. In jazz band, I'm sitting underneath a horn section mainly as rhythm. In pep band it kinda goes back and forth between rhythm(mostly) and lead. The amps I was looking at so far include a Fender 15W Blues Jr.($400) and a Marshall AVT50 Combo ($200). I also thought the 30W Crate Taxi amps looked neat, but I haven't had a chance to play one. Portability would be fun, though. The Blues Jr. Sounds like it will match the AVT50 for volume for the most part(even though its only 15W...), though I would expect the AVT to get louder. Between these two, which would be the better buy? Also, are there any other amps (under $500) that could pump out enough clean volume for jazz? I have some pedals for the distortion, so I'm not worried about on board effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bcfoxtransy Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 the line 6 spider II range is worth checking out. my 212 i have is pretty sweet. it is slightly out of the 500 range, but they make them smaller as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members unit11 Posted August 16, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 I haven't had a chacne to play a Spyder, but I've never heard much on their clean sound. Rather, what I've heard about there clean sound isn't that good - would they really be worth playing jazz on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chittypantz Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 I use my Univalve for both jazz and rock with good results. Choose a lower gain preamp tube and a higher clean headroom tube for jazz, and the opposite for rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members unit11 Posted August 16, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 The Univalve sounds great, but its price leans a little more towards double what I'm looking for than I'd prefer... mostly, I see it for around $900, and I'd like an amp for around 500 or less - any other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chittypantz Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 You can find them much cheaper. I got mine from a local store for $600, and I've seen them sell on ebay for less. By no means am I trying to pimp the Univalve here. I'm just saying $900 is a bit steep. If you're not set on a tube setup, you might try a Tech 21. I think Alex Skolnick uses the Trademark 60 with his Gibson hollowbody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members unit11 Posted August 16, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 If I could find one for around $600, I think I'd spring for it. I've never had a tube amp before, so the self biasing feature of the THDs does sound nice. I do wonder, though, what kind of tubes are high or low gain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members musicdog400 Posted August 16, 2005 Members Share Posted August 16, 2005 Price-wise you're in the ballpark for a used Mesa F-30. I use an F-50 for jazz, fusion rock and metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members acousticvoodoo Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 The UniValve is only a head, not a combo... so if you go that direction, remember you'll need at least a 1x12 or 2x12 cab. michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitaristbum Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 the fender stage 100 dsp has a great clean, and alright dirty channel......about 400 bucks and you can get an extension cab for it....i have it and it rocks, 100 watts....i play everything from classical and jazz to hard rock and metal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members unit11 Posted August 17, 2005 Author Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 This is true, but I have the materials on hand to build a cabinet, so I'm not too terribly worried. The F-30 interests me though, I'm going to have to go play one. I've found several used listings online for between 300 and 600 dollars, so its worth a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members keith335 Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 If you had 2 gran it would definetely be the fuchs supreme overdrive which even has the jazz setting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -=MYK=- Posted August 17, 2005 Members Share Posted August 17, 2005 Originally posted by keith335 If you had 2 gran it would definetely be the fuchs supreme overdrive which even has the jazz setting. and it has a 'Rock' settings;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pigboy Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 Try the Tech 21 Trademark 60. I play Blues, Funk and Jazz using a Gibson 336 > Wah, Compressor, OD, DDL >Amp. I've managed to get the best sound/portability ratio for years.... Great amp plus the DI is Amazing..... just played 15 gigs in the last 3 weeks with this set-up.... brilliant!!! I've owned Boogie, Twin, Vox etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shredhead666 Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 Laney valve combos. Didn't they make one that was sorta like a poor man's Vox AC-30? Very sweet sounding cleans with a bit of treble roll-off. The overdrive sounds pretty monstrous as well. I don't know what your budget is, but you might consider a carvin Legacy combo as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lambros Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 Ampeg Gemini I; made for jazz and can rock as well if you can dial in the tones or put a good pedal in front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pink freud Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 A carvin MTS series could do it. People always seem to LOVE the clean channels on carvin amps. Oppinions on the distortion channels vary though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fancynapkin Posted August 30, 2005 Members Share Posted August 30, 2005 dude, a jazz amp basically just needs HEADROOM. Most jazzers use solid state for this reason, and because the tube sound will often muddy up the articulation. I think your best getting 2 amps, or a tech 21 or roland cube, since those have emulations. But do not get a smaller 20 watt tube combo, its not going to work for jazz. I would look on ebay for an older solid state (or clean tube) jazz amp. Then, buy a nice pedal (barber direct drive is a safe choice). Seriously though, stay away from amps like the blue junior, especially if your playing in a pep band. get something with 50+ watts. Check out the roland amps, all models should be good, jusdt find one with the right size and watts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dann'sTheMan Posted August 31, 2005 Members Share Posted August 31, 2005 Originally posted by musicdog400 Price-wise you're in the ballpark for a used Mesa F-30. I use an F-50 for jazz, fusion rock and metal. +1. Check out the clips in my sig - the jazzy video clip one might be particularly relevant. Big smiles, Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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