What is the best amp you've ever played?

jasonbone75 · September 2023

HerbieTheRadDorklift said:
My Mark IV was 37.5kg if memory serves, that was with a Black Shadow C90!

That sounds extremely light for a Mark IV

ArchtopDave · September 2023

1. Rift Vibro 63. Glorious Brownface style Amp ….. mine just happens to be the one that Chris originally made for himself.

2. Rivera Jazz Suprema. I have the 50 Watt version, which is a beautifully warm sounding Amp with an excellent reverb.

equalsql · September 2023

HerbieTheRadDorklift said:

richardhomer said:

equalsql said:

The one that blew you away in terms of tone, flexibility, build quality etc.
Was it the clean tones or overdrive, what was the magic that the amp has/ had.
For me it was a Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul-Class in the late 1980s.
It was an utter beast which took a lot of taming, but lordy the clean tones were crystal and the overdrive just punched through everything. The build quality was awesome too.
Look at it, it's gorgeous.

I had a fully loaded MkIII (EV speaker/Simulclass power stage) exactly like that one. I agree, they were outstanding amps.

I sold mine as I’d stopped gigging and moving the thing around was problematic - they were spectacularly heavy.

My Mark IV was 37.5kg if memory serves, that was with a Black Shadow C90!

I do remember the combo being spectacularly heavy and the volume.. Christ, it was unbelievably loud for its size. You really had to work to dial in the overdrive tone. My mate back then owned one and he had mastered it. His tone just blew everything away that I experienced previously.

NicoAdie · September 2023

Three spring to mind:

Hiwatt DR103 - Just an unbelievable solidity to the sound. Huge blocks of sound.
Ampeg Reverberocket (original) - Best reverb I've ever heard on an amp, I'll forever kick myself for not buying the one I played in a shop in Edinburgh in the early 00s.
Tweed Bassman - Perfect breakup clean-going-dirty tone.

PhilKing · September 2023

A Marshall JMP 50 into a Marshall 8x10, it was an awesome sound, just a shame that the cab is so unwieldly.

blobb · September 2023

The best amp I've ever played is the one connected to the other end that cable do-dah I plug into my guitar. It really doesn't matter to me. Although saying that, I once played through one of those old Orange 70's head/cabs on the back of a trailer in a field overlooking a Welsh valley, in the middle of the night with clear sky and stars in the moonlit sky. That was a great experience. It could have been Den Dennis' sisters amp for all I cared.

26.2 · September 2023

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

stratman3142 · September 2023

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 ...Sadly they’re just too heavy...

In my 20s, I played through two of them, one stacked on top of the other.

Not sure why I needed two, because one is bloody loud on its own. I think I saw someone else with two stacked AC30s and thought it looked cool. But that was definitely a young man's game.

Wazmeister · September 2023

Barney said:

Wazmeister said:

Barney said:

IV changed through the years ..

I loved the MK4 boogie with EV ...I don't use it much now

Next up was a Redplate CDS2 ...great amp

I'm sort of going between my Omega modded hotrod deluxe ...RDA Dualist and Redplate Astrodust all really nice amps ....got to say I used the Astrodust at rehearsal last week and the sound was exceptional ...on cleans and the drives equally ....I have been using a joyo American in the front just as a EQ not sure iff I need it or not though yet

Did you sell your CDS2 in the end mate ?

No mate ....i still have it just not used it for a while it's handy though with being small and light ...I probably get a decent reverb pedal that can live in the back of it ....

Come on, come on... you knows you want to sell it to me

hotpickups · September 2023

One I have now and for the past 5 years. RD Dualist. And I’ve had some of the best in my possession in the past. Brilliant amp

Petepassion · September 2023

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

I have the AC30 S1, sounds great and a bit lighter than your average AC30.

26.2 · September 2023

Petepassion said:

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

I have the AC30 S1, sounds great and a bit lighter than your average AC30.

Been thinking about one of those. It’s top boost only though isn’t it? I used to always jumper the top boost and normal channels - a magical sound!

roberty · September 2023

I've never really fetishised amps, I see them more as pedal platforms, although I am in love with Eminence Governor speakers. Anything with four holes and a bit of crunch will do me. The Laney LA30BL is a bit derranged sounding so that's my fave right now

Petepassion · September 2023

26.2 said:

Petepassion said:

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

I have the AC30 S1, sounds great and a bit lighter than your average AC30.

Been thinking about one of those. It’s top boost only though isn’t it? I used to always jumper the top boost and normal channels - a magical sound!

Yeah, top boost only, I can’t really compare to other AC30’s as it was a while ago I owned the AC30cch and back in the eighties I had an AC30 combo…can’t remember what one though.
If you’re ever near Portsmouth you’re more than welcome to try it out

GavRichList · September 2023

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

Have you tried the AC30CCH? Head and cab over combo is the way to go, said as someone who has just made the same move (bluesbreaker to jtm45 and a 2x12). Goes from
intolerable to somewhere between manageable and fine.

CoffeeAndTV · September 2023

A Groove Tube Trio pre-amp and power amp, and a mesa mark iv.

MaxA867 · September 2023

Cornford MK50 mk1. Back in the day all the Guitar Techniques magazine recordings were tracked on Cornfords and I just loved the sound of them, though this could well have been because it was often Guthrie Govan playing!

Tried one out in a shop (maybe Mansons? RIP) and fell in love with it, gain was to die for, so crisp. Always promised I’d buy myself one when I was a grown up but it all went tits up for Cornford and now they’re hard to find (and I still haven’t grown up)

26.2 · September 2023

GavRichList said:

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

Have you tried the AC30CCH? Head and cab over combo is the way to go, said as someone who has just made the same move (bluesbreaker to jtm45 and a 2x12). Goes from
intolerable to somewhere between manageable and fine.

Good info Gav! Cheers!

26.2 · September 2023

Petepassion said:

26.2 said:

Petepassion said:

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

I have the AC30 S1, sounds great and a bit lighter than your average AC30.

Been thinking about one of those. It’s top boost only though isn’t it? I used to always jumper the top boost and normal channels - a magical sound!

Yeah, top boost only, I can’t really compare to other AC30’s as it was a while ago I owned the AC30cch and back in the eighties I had an AC30 combo…can’t remember what one though.
If you’re ever near Portsmouth you’re more than welcome to try it out

Thanks I do get about, so you never know. Our drummer lives in Southampton which isn’t a million miles away.

I’ve had a couple of AC15s, which I’ve liked but they just weren’t loud enough.

beed84 · September 2023

Wazmeister said:

- Matchless DC30/ Lightning/Nighthawk

- Redplate CDS2/ Redplate Blackverb - Id def own one again, the CDS2 is probably my fave amp ever (when they work...)

- Mesa Snake King (rather loud though)

- Milkman Creamer 20w - the one sound still haunts me.

- Carr Rambler - huge Carr fan, and pre-Two Rock, my fave clean amp ever.

- Two Rock Studio Signature - absolutely mind blowing live; currently own one.

- Lazy J10 LC - currently own.

- Boss Dual Cube - currently own.

- Bartel Starwood - Everyone should experience playing one of these...

Bloody hell, you're five months away from an amp porn calendar there @Wazmeister ;

NelsonP · September 2023

Or maybe

stratman3142 · September 2023

roberty said:

I've never really fetishised amps, I see them more as pedal platforms...

That's where I've ended up, after playing through loads of stuff, from classic amps and fx pedals, to complex midi switched rack mounted gear.

Now it's just a Helix LT into an HRD IV and it's probably the best sound and easiest set up I've ever had.

I know I'm a philistine but it works for me in a live band context.

fretfinder · September 2023

My Bartel Starwood has a stunning range of quality tones and a glorious two-knob reverb. It’s definitely the best amp I’ve ever played but sadly it’s now for sale, for various reasons. Check it out in the classifieds folks!

RiftAmps · September 2023

My own amps aside...

- Carr Rambler

- Z-Wreck

- Gartone 5E3

These three are by far the best I've played, both in harmonic content and touch response. As I said before, I'd order an amp from Gartone without hesitation.

Sporky · September 2023

I really liked the Matchless they plugged me into when I tried a Vigier in World Guitars.

But the MJW I had was even better (the brief was "zingy like the Matchless I tried"), and sparkly blue.

Image: http://monkeyfx.co.uk/pictures/sale/Amps/MJWfront.jpg

rze99 · September 2023

26.2 said:

Just about any AC30 is the best for me, apart from solid state ones. It’s my sound. Sadly they’re just too heavy and unreliable so I switched to Fenders a decade ago.

If there’s ever a convincing ‘Tonemaster’ AC30 I’m in!

The Yamaha THR 100 does a very good tone impression based on my experience but obviously looks nothing like one...

GoFish · September 2023

Some amazing amps here. My submission is more of a trip down memory lane, and the first proper or good amp I ever plugged in to. Coming from solid state practice crap and lower end branded amps, I was offered a go on a JCM800 I think at actual trouser flapping volume. The thing that stayed with me most was the sheer raw power of the beast, and the ringing in my ears. It was a revelation and something that I knew would not be replicated at home. So that saved me a lot of hassle too.

CountryDave · September 2023

Dr Z Carmen Ghia / Maz 18

Marshall Jubilee

Rift PR18

Matamp V28

All made me smile a lot and if I was a collector, would all still be with me. Only 1 remains.

markj · September 2023

RiftAmps said:

My own amps aside...

- Carr Rambler

- Z-Wreck

- Gartone 5E3

These three are by far the best I've played, both in harmonic content and touch response. As I said before, I'd order an amp from Gartone without hesitation.

Love my Gartone 5e3.

Fingers657 · September 2023

I don’t have a best ever but my latest favourite is the Electro Harmonix Mig-50 through their 2 X 12”

https://ibb.co/K5ctmbY

https://ibb.co/b60QSdT

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What is the best amp you've ever played?

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