Members Tidal Rhythm Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Whenever I think of the best amps for blues, I think exclusively of tube-driven amplifiers. (Some might say that statement would apply to all types of music, but to me this is especially true for blues.) Help expand my view and suggest a great solid state amp - or two - for da blues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jjpistols Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 What kind of amp did Robert Johnson use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the_gunslinger Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Lab series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WarmMachineHead Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Roland Blues Cube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members petersenb9 Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 I read someplace that BB King uses Lab Series amps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Roland Blues Cube I have one of these myself and I recommend it greatly. The "clean" channel breaks up wonderfully at higher volumes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Another vote for a Roland Blues Cube. One of the best solid state amps I've heard and played, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Standard Roland Cubes are no slouches either. Transtube Peavey Bandits are also quite good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jet9 Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Standard Roland Cubes are no slouches either.Transtube Peavey Bandits are also quite good. From my experiences with them, Peavy Bandits are some of the most versatile amps out there. I was able to play everything from ska/reggae to Gilmour style solos to Dream Dream theater on them, without a single one being compromised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members larry50 Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Any good solid state amp can be a good blues amp. It depends on the player, not the amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tidal Rhythm Posted July 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Any good solid state amp can be a good blues amp. It depends on the player, not the amp. But the same player will have a very different tone through different amps. What sounds "better" or "worse" is, of course, a subjective classification, but the amp will play a huge role in determining the overall sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fretmonster Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Transtube Peavey Bandits are also quite good. This^ [YOUTUBE]97tmGTlosdg[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]X4lPCEAd8WY&feature=relmfu[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alecto Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 What kind of amp did Robert Johnson use? The corner of his hotel room. I've seen bluesmen with Acoustic amps, old Peaveys, Gibson's Lab series, Roland Cubes and JC-120's. I really like the tones I can get from a Tech 21 Trademark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members benzem Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Lab series. Yup! Hellya! Got a L5. Awesome amp. (ugly as hell as it's in a ghetto cab, made a little cooler by the 'CRAFTSMAN logo) but sounds great. Tubey! (ducks) Breaks up like a tube. Has built in compression, EQ, spring verb. BB loves 'em. But don't let that turn you off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members larry50 Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 But the same player will have a very different tone through different amps. What sounds "better" or "worse" is, of course, a subjective classification, but the amp will play a huge role in determining the overall sound. True, but a good blues player should be able to make any amp sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alan Roberts Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 As mentioned BB used Lab series amps. Albert King used them and Rolands. Donald Kinsey used Peavey. Wes Montgomery used Standel. Kenny Neal used Roland. Johnny Clyde Copeland used Peavey. Lots of the blues guys I have seen were using SS amps. I was really bummed when I would see it, too, 'cause I was buying tube amps to try and sound like them. I think a lot of them switched over to SS in the late 60's early 70's because they held up better out on the road, but the good blues guys made 'em sound like a million dollars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mesa/Kramer Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 BB King used these for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edward Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 As mentioned BB used Lab series amps. Albert King used them and Rolands. Donald Kinsey used Peavey. Wes Montgomery used Standel. Kenny Neal used Roland. Johnny Clyde Copeland used Peavey. Lots of the blues guys I have seen were using SS amps. I was really bummed when I would see it, too, 'cause I was buying tube amps to try and sound like them. I think a lot of them switched over to SS in the late 60's early 70's because they held up better out on the road, but the good blues guys made 'em sound like a million dollars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Any SS amp will work, but you need to go through some trouble to obtain said amp - shoot a man down, barroom brawl, girlfriend left it behind when she left you, etc. Otherwise, only tubes have built-in mojo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lonnie99 Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 I've got an 83 Fender London Reverb that sounds GREAT when talented people play through it. I still sound like me though..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JR13 Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 +1 for Lab Series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kevman Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Randall Commander IV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldGuitarPlayer Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 I use an older model Roland Cube 60. ^0 watts into a 12" speaker. It only has a clean and "overdrive" channel which is pretty good for blues. I generally use the clean channel and turn it up. You can usually find these used for around $150-$200. [video=youtube;0LM_UriWLRY] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xrleroyx Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 Robert Johnson only used Mesa Triple-Recs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted July 3, 2012 Members Share Posted July 3, 2012 The only thing keeping me away from those orange Roland Cubes is the proprietary speaker thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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