Time For A Change...

[IndyWS6]

I'm not one of those people that stockpiles equipment only to sell it off and then start again. In fact, with the exception of a handful of items, I have every piece of music equipment I've bought since the early 80's. Two of the things I've sold through the years are items I would love to have back, which is probably why I stopped doing that. (One was a '62 Gibson SG Jr <sigh>...).

Anyway, the band I'm in hasn't played in over a year; mostly because the venues around here stopped booking live music. We could book gigs at venues that are 2-3 hours away, but let's face it. I'm a middle-aged, half-ass rhythm guitar player in a generic cover band (TM) and, while I enjoy the hell out of it, driving 2 hours to play a crappy bar and pocket $75 dollars is no longer appealing. I have no intention of giving up music - I love it and I pick up a guitar for at least a few minutes every day. What I am seriously considering, though, is selling off the things I don't need or use on a regular basis (PA gear, non-favorite amps, non-favorite guitars, etc.) and settle on the "must haves" and "desert island" items. I'm not talking ridiculously expensive or rare items, necessarily, but things I've always wanted and things that would round out the collection so I could play any style and/or get nearly any tone I wanted.

Trying to think through the details of that right now, starting with amps. I would want at least one "do it all" amp and my Mesa Roadster is a reasonable fit for that slot given the number of channels and options. Plus, I already have it. Bonus... For the rest I'm thinking about a Vox AC30 (or variation thereof) a "good" JCM800, a Fender Twin (or variation thereof) and, possibly, a SLO-100. I have an 11R and, while it's not an Axe FX, it's a decent modeler and fits that slot.

If you were going to pick a small number of amps with the intention of owning them for the rest of time, what would you pick to have enough flavors in the Music Room? I know this borders on being an impossible question and there are no wrong answers given personal perferences, but I'm curious what others would choose. It might help me think of something I hadn't considered.

And, go...

 

[anomaly]

I'd be happy with just a Mesa Boogie Mark V. I love Mark series Boogies, cause they don't have the typical modern voicing of high gain amps. They are more old school sounding, and the new V's cover almost any tone I would ever need. I'm getting a IV or possibly a loaded simulclass III soon. I had a III and I regret selling that amp.

 

[Speeddemon]

The question would be; if you want to keep a collection of amps, when you're not going to gig with, how many 100W-ish ones do you need?
I'm looking at the practical side of things:
1) sheer size of the gear. I have 3 100W heads (one SS) at the moment. I've considered many times adding more. But where do I keep them?! Space in the house is not unlimited.
2) Use of the gear. Yes, I've been down the road of wanting to own the big usual suspects for studio use:
-A Roland JC-120 (2x12) for ultra clean.
-A Fender Twin Reverb (2x12) for the Fender cleans (tube)
-A Vox AC30 2x12 for the crunch.
-A JCM800 2203 vertical input + 4x12 Greenback cab for crunch/higher gain.
-A SLO100 + 4x12 (Vintage 30/G12K-85's) for high gain.

I got to the first two, but jeez, two of those insanely heavy 2x12 combo's, when can I crank them?? As I collected almost the whole Roland JC-line (proof is on TGP with images) at one point, I sold the JC-120 because of its size and the JC-77 could get me 99% there. The 1% magic tone wasn't worth it to have that behemoth around. Same with the Twin Reverb (had a '73 SF). It didn't help that I could really get my ideal surf 60's tone with it. Sold it too.
Long story short, I downsized them all.
Still have a Roland JC-55 combo (and the 120H, but I like how the 24" wide heads exactly fit my 3/4-size Marshall cabs). Have a Princeton Reverb (SF '74). So, first boxes ticked.

I would get one or two 100W heads and downsize the rest. There's a shitload of nice 20-50W heads around, to go nicely on slanted 2x12 cabs. You can easily gig with those too, but unless you have ample space, having more than 2 4x12 cabs at home is kinda pointless, right? Especially if you don't gig.
Heck, I'm planning myself to maybe add a few more heads, but also add a Two Notes Torpedo Live! No point in cranking a 100W head through a 4x12 cab where I live.
Of course, if I win a lottery, buy a $1mil. mansion with plenty space and distance to the neighbors, things change rapidly.

To give you my in-between list (somewhat compact versions of the big usual suspects + a few big ones
-Roland JC-77 combo
-Fender Deluxe Reverb or Vibrolux
-VOX AC15 custom or AC30
-Marshall JMP2204S (the 24" wide one)
-Engl Savage 60 (sold it to fund my Invader. Want it back and have it modded for a footswitchable fx-loop).
-Soldano HR25
-Engl Invader 100 or the Steve Morse sig + a good 2x12 (but I loathe that blue panel...) ---> The Do-it-all one.
-Fryette Sig:X (Do-it-all #2)
-Mesa Mark series...something
-Diezel something
-EVH 5150 III 50W.

f#ck, I could go on endlessly....argh...

 

[RJF]

The question would be; if you want to keep a collection of amps, when you're not going to gig with, how many 100W-ish ones do you need?

All someone would NEED is one guitar, and a little Peavey Rage 158 15w solid state amp, to be able to simply play at home.

If you are going to collect, it has nothing to do with needing, it's having, because the collection is part of the hobby.

What amps/guitars should be a permanent place in someone's collection is all up to them and what they like. For me, eveything that is in my sig is staying. It's all gear that I can't see my collection being without each item. I am also at a point where nothing is going to be sold really, just additions from here on out.

 

[cardinal]

I'd vote for a Fender, Marshall, Vox, and Mesa. But which of those is kinda personal tastes.

My fav Fender is the Vibrolux. The Twin is just too much amp IMHO.
My preferred Marshall is the 2204. Seems warmer than the 2203 and while we all love the 1959, that's another beastly amp like the Twin.
Vox would be the AC30 Top Boost, which probably isn't very controversial.
Mesa, like like the old Triple Rectos, but reasonable people disagree.

This leaves out the SLO and Diezels and blah blah blah, but if you're looking for "core" tones, this probably would be it.

I started down this path but stopped after the Recto and Marshall just because I know I'd practically never actually use the Fender or Vox.

 

[Oblivion DC]

Guitars and pedals would need a whole lot more thinking time than I have right now.

All the amps and cabs I'd ever need...

Amps:
Roland JC-120 (2x12)
Fender Twin Reverb (2x12)
Marshall JCM 800 2203
MESA Dual Recto (2 chan)
Framus Cobra
EVH 5150 III Stealth
Diezel Herbert

Cabs:
MESA Traditional 412 w/V30
VHT FatBottom 412 w/ P50E
Marshall 412 w/G12C
Mills Afterburner 412 w/V30 x K100
Fryette FatBottom 212 w/ F70

 

[worldcatalyst]

Well I'm already working on that as of the moment. So far I've got a Mesa MK IV, XTC 101a, and a Helios. Now I'm really thinking about getting an AC-30 right now as well. Although living in LA and knowing a few guys, I'm really interested in buying some of the classic modded marshals and moving away from buying modern amps. I've got my eye on a caswell modded plexi but the damn thing is crazy expensive, same with some of the arrendondo modded amps... But those with a few more Bogner cabs to sit on, I'd be set for life.

 

[Racerxrated]

A Mesa Mark of some sort and a JMP/JCM 2203/4. I've had a ton of amps like most here, and now have a Jubilee combo that covers my Marshall needs and a Mark 2C+ SRG for a different flavor of awesome. They are different enough for me. I've had JMPs/JCMs and Mark 3s, one of each would give you a nice contrast at a reasonable cost.

 

[Shask]

That is a big reason why I went Axe-FX II and a good computer system. Much more practical for home use......

 

[Steinmetzify]

That is a big reason why I went Axe-FX II and a good computer system. Much more practical for home use......

Like

 

[RJF]

Eh, I'll jump on the "what I want" list.

For me,
Bogner Uber rev 2 and Twin Jet +Uberkab412
Mesa MK2C+, MK3 Coli, maybe a MK4, DR rev E
Marshall: vert input 2203, 4100 DR, 2100 MK3, 2100 SLX, and maybe a DSL100.
Soldano SLO100
Fender Twin
Maybe a Fortin Natas

That pretty much makes up my long list on amps I plan to eventually acquire.

 

[splawner]

Ya

 

[ewill52]

Desert Island short list....

A plexi-style amp - half a dozen great variants come to mind...
A twin or super reverb
Ecstasy 101b

 

[Valtyr]

I started scaling back this year, trading in or selling lots of items and pooling the cash for a smaller/nicer collection.

My 2 amp solution ended up....
Bogner Shiva - great master volume, sounds good a home but can get loud enough to gig.
Marshal JVM1h - I can crank it at 3 am without waking the entire family.

Neither are combos, I run them through a Mesa 2x12 cab.

 

[IndyWS6]

Lots of good info so far, thanks. Much appreciated...

To be clear, space is not really a problem, nor is volume. If I need to crank something, I can. Selections wouldn't be based on size, wattage or volume factors. Sure, those are practical things to consider, but they wouldn't be driving my choices. I also don't need to do this; it's not a "sell everything to be able to fund other items" effort. I could keep everything, but I really have no desire to do the "Weekend Warrior" thing anymore. An "Acoustic Duo" show here and there for fun, sure, but not the full on rock show we did in the past. So, I might as well move the items I rarely or never use and get a few things to round out the Music Room. I have a really solid DAW setup, decent mics, stands, etc., so that's covered. I'm looking to have enough quality gear that the only reason I couldn't get close to the best known iconic tones is because I suck at it. The gear (as is typically the case) would not be the problem Once done, I'm sure shiny new objects would be distracting, but they would all be wants, not needs.

The JC120 was something I hadn't considered...
Something Bogner? (love the Helios demos)
Lots of various Mesa suggestions - the Roadster head I have is close enough for me to cover that territory

Fender tone question - If you ignore size and volume, is the Twin the best choice if you only have one amp to cover all things Fender?

Vox tone question - Similar to the above; the AC30 is the one I think of, but if you only have one amp, which would you pick to cover all things Vox?

Thanks again

 

[rupe]

Fender tone question - If you ignore size and volume, is the Twin the best choice if you only have one amp to cover all things Fender?

The Twin is a good choice, but there are two others that I prefer. My favorite Fender is the Deluxe Reverb...crank it up and from clean to mean with your guitar's volume knob. Still a loud amp but you can stand in the room with it (unlike a cranked Twin). Seeing as it is a 6V6 amp, it also has a warmer and smoother tone than a Twin, which can sound pretty harsh and spiky when dimed.

I also like the Super Reverb a lot. The tone is very much like the Twin fundamentally, but with better dynamics. Much like the Twin, it also makes a fantastic pedal platform.

A DR and SR together make an awesome lead/rhythm combination.

Vox tone question - Similar to the above; the AC30 is the one I think of, but if you only have one amp, which would you pick to cover all things Vox?

Matchless C-Series...it's a Vox inspired amp but essentially bullet-proof (unlike Vox). I dumped an AC30 immediately after demoing a Matchless DC-30. IMO, the Matchless does everything that the Vox does, but better and more reliably.

 

[IndyWS6]

Fender tone question - If you ignore size and volume, is the Twin the best choice if you only have one amp to cover all things Fender?

The Twin is a good choice, but there are two others that I prefer. My favorite Fender is the Deluxe Reverb...crank it up and from clean to mean with your guitar's volume knob. Still a loud amp but you can stand in the room with it (unlike a cranked Twin). Seeing as it is a 6V6 amp, it also has a warmer and smoother tone than a Twin, which can sound pretty harsh and spiky when dimed.

I also like the Super Reverb a lot. The tone is very much like the Twin fundamentally, but with better dynamics. Much like the Twin, it also makes a fantastic pedal platform.

A DR and SR together make an awesome lead/rhythm combination.

Vox tone question - Similar to the above; the AC30 is the one I think of, but if you only have one amp, which would you pick to cover all things Vox?

Matchless C-Series...it's a Vox inspired amp but essentially bullet-proof (unlike Vox). I dumped an AC30 immediately after demoing a Matchless DC-30. IMO, the Matchless does everything that the Vox does, but better and more reliably.

Thanks for the input...

 

[rlord1974]

Vox tone question - Similar to the above; the AC30 is the one I think of, but if you only have one amp, which would you pick to cover all things Vox?

Matchless C-Series...it's a Vox inspired amp but essentially bullet-proof (unlike Vox). I dumped an AC30 immediately after demoing a Matchless DC-30. IMO, the Matchless does everything that the Vox does, but better and more reliably.

^ truth.

 

[ewill52]

Fender tone question - If you ignore size and volume, is the Twin the best choice if you only have one amp to cover all things Fender?

The Twin is a good choice, but there are two others that I prefer. My favorite Fender is the Deluxe Reverb...crank it up and from clean to mean with your guitar's volume knob. Still a loud amp but you can stand in the room with it (unlike a cranked Twin). Seeing as it is a 6V6 amp, it also has a warmer and smoother tone than a Twin, which can sound pretty harsh and spiky when dimed.

I also like the Super Reverb a lot. The tone is very much like the Twin fundamentally, but with better dynamics. Much like the Twin, it also makes a fantastic pedal platform.

A DR and SR together make an awesome lead/rhythm combination.

Vox tone question - Similar to the above; the AC30 is the one I think of, but if you only have one amp, which would you pick to cover all things Vox?

Matchless C-Series...it's a Vox inspired amp but essentially bullet-proof (unlike Vox). I dumped an AC30 immediately after demoing a Matchless DC-30. IMO, the Matchless does everything that the Vox does, but better and more reliably.

I have a DR and it's awesome. Can do a ton of different styles. Having said that....Super Reverb is one of my favorite amps ever. Cleans are awesome and the few I've played sounded great with just an OD and maybe a little delay in front of the amp, I could cover a lot of territory with it.

 

[BrentSSL]

I feel like I would want one good solid rig I could play my style or styles music I like and guitars that sound good doing that music. Anything else I keep is because it has some significant reason I never sold it.