#1
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Amps for archtop jazz tones?
I was debating between here and the electric guitar subforum for this question. For clean jazz tones on an archtop, what amps are you guys choosing? Solid state or tube? Brand and model?
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https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#2
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#3
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I just had a similar thread that got a lot of feedback that you may want to reference. For me I'm going for a Henriksen Bud10 because of the tone, features, and portability. I want some thing I can sing and play through, use for small performances, and transport easily. For me this translates to solid state for consistency. For clean jazz tones you should check them out.
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#4
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Roland is pretty much the benchmark for clean jazz tone.
And, of course, Fender tube amps (Princeton, Deluxe, Twin, etc.) are also synonymous with clean tone.
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"What have I learned but the proper use for several tools" -Gary Snyder Bourgeois DR-A / Bowerman "Working Man's" OM / Martin Custom D-18 (adi & flame) / Martin OM-21 / Northwood M70 MJ / 1970s Sigma DR-7 / Eastman E6D / Flatiron Signature A5 / Silverangel Econo A (Call me Dan) |
#5
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Thanks everyone. I missed the other thread. Will check it out now.
Any thoughts on the Fender Mustang GTX for clean playing?
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https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#6
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I don't know about the GTX one, but I have a v 1.o Mustang and it's a piece of crap. I bought it used, and initially I thought it sounded good modeling the Blackface. But it's noisy, junk "artifacts" in the sound. The controls are complicated, and the USB port doesn't work.
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#7
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Polytone!!
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#8
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Any thoughts on the Roland JC22?
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https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#9
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The best straight-ahead jazz tone I ever heard was a two-pickup Gibson Johnny Smith through a JBL-equipped Deluxe Reverb - only problem was that it weighed as much as a Twin...
The blue-check mid-60's Ampeg Gemini II (and to a lesser extent the rare B-12XT Portaflex 2x12" guitar amp) was the sound of the NYC "Key Club" A-list studio players - and they sell for about half the price of a Fender of similar vintage/power... Randall RG-120 "orange-panel/grey-panel" combos - available in a variety of speaker configurations - are grossly undervalued on the market, built like tanks, and were arguably the first solid-state amps with any real tone... Think old-school analog - tube or solid-state - and loads of clean headroom, and you'll be on the right track...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#10
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I have a Gemini II and used to engineer sessions with them a lot -- they have a glassy top end that I personally wouldn't want if I was trying to get that ES175 Joe Pass/Jim Hall/Kenny Burrell kinda thing. A Polytone is pretty much that sound if you can find one. The closest modern equivalent I've heard is Quilter. For me, the Roland JC's are close but not quite it. But they're more versatile for other styles and have that cool stereo chorus.
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#11
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For me personally, I'm not a classical jazz guitarist so immitating a specific player or style really isn't a big deal. I already own a PRRI and a Vox AC30. I'm thinking a nice solid state amp for very clean tones might be fun for playing nice clean jazzy runs on an archtop. As of right now, I'm kind of leaning toward the JC22. A local shop has a new one discounted $100 below what I am seeing them on the internet.
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https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#12
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Quote:
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#13
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Quote:
+1 A well respected amp among jazz players. |
#14
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Quote:
__________________
https://www.mcmakinmusic.com |
#15
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Polytone is the classic, Roland JC120 is the other, newer, classic but the AER Compact 60 definitely gets the job done too. Basically you want loud with lots of clean headroom. I have a Compact 60 II which is great with my acoustics and the jazz box.
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