Guitar - Compared Mesa, Fender and Marshall Combo Amps and Amp Heads

[alanbass1]

Oh yeah, the only thing about the MkIII Simul Class is that it is not feasible how something so small weigh's so much (especially with the EV speaker as I had).  But they are probably the most versatile amp with that 'special' tone.  One thing though, I found the the Class A setting almost as loud as the A/B setting despite the reputed difference in wattage; and sounded sweeter.  You can also use either 6L6's or EL34's for more tone variation and, if you get the switcheable graphic eq, you can get three channels and set a great lead boost tone for all these by switching in the eq.
 
If you are seriously looking at a Mk4 I would think again and track one of these down.

[lbpesq]

Alan:
 
Did you have the Hardwood cabinet?  Talk about HEAVY!  Can you say handtruck required?   As heavy as it is, though, I have NO COMPLAINTS.  It is well worth it for the sound I get (and the fact that it fits in my Nissan 300ZX).  And the beautiful cabinet loves to hang out next to my Alembic. They are truly a lovely looking couple.  I use mine with the Theile bottom - great low end projection!  The EQ can be set three differnt ways:  OFF at all times; ON when the amp is in lead channel mode only; or ON at all times.  Very versatile indeed.  I also find the simul class settings to have more tonal than volume differences, at least at lower volumes.  The A 15 watt setting has a sweeter tone at lower volume, but the AB 75 watt setting sounds great at higher volume when used for the back line at a gig.  Even then, though, I rarely set the master volume past 3!
 
Bill, tgo

[alanbass1]

Yep, mine was a really nice flamed Koa with the wicker front.  This was the only amp I wish I hadn't sold as the Simul Class/Graphic/Reverb/EV/Hardwood versions are as rare as hens teeth and it had a special sound.  I got a real good offer which I took but.....
 
Still, of all the amps I have ever played/owned the Bad Cat Cub II is the best sounding, but it's only a 15 watter (but incredibly loud like the Simul Class low setting).  However, it's a single channel amp so the sacrifice for that 'little extra' sound quality over the MkIII is a whole lot less versatility.  Forgot to mention that the graphic and reverb, as well as the three channels are all foot switchable with the three diiferent boxes so you can lay them out however you like and mix into a pedal board layout.  How cool was that.

[lbpesq]

Alan:
 
I never heard of Bad Cat so I googled 'em.  Wow, $2500 for a 15 watt combo!  It better sound good.
 
Bill, tgo

[alanbass1]

Bill
Hunt one out and try it, but beware; you just might start to want one.

[kmh364]

Just my $0.02:
 
You don't have to find a wood cab Boogie to have one...buy a tolex covered one, save the dosh and have Sultone make you a new wood cab. You pick the size, wood, grille cloth, hardware, and driver(s). You may even get one that looks and sounds better than the original wood cabbed Boogie.

[exploiterplayer]

My 2 1/2 cents......
A Roland Jazz-Chorus amp with a few good analog pedals will get all the good Jerry tones.... and you dont need a forklift to get it to the gig. ;~]

[andrewknight]

I haven't checked in in this thread for awhile. I guess the answer to my original question is simply: buy what you like the sound of after trying a whole bunch of things.

[kmh364]

Andrew:
 
Let us know how you made out. I for one am interested in what you ultimately settle on. Good luck in your quest. There is no right answer, only what you prefer and what makes you happy. Enjoy!

[gtrguy]

And my .02 cents worth: I have a MKIII simul class blue stripe and a MKIV combo and have played Fenders for decades. I love the MKIV combo most of all. It's open back design give you a good stage referance and the footswitch gets you 3 great sounding channels. I also put in 4 6V6 tubes. It sounds great for rock and blues. They also sound good when turned down, unlike my friends Marshall. They are back killers, though. I'd get a normal one just to save weight.

[charley]

I second the Two-Rock motion.  Give em a look.  I have a Custom Reverb and it is just awesome.  Kimock has been using one for a few years, and he can really nail that Garcia tone.  Also, the guitarist is Weir's band is using one.  Don't be intimidated by the price, you can usually piuck one up used for around $2000. It's a lot of dough, but well worth it.  Try one, and you'll know what I mean.  Aftr all, your playing an alembic guitar, don't let the flaws of an inferior amplifier prevent you from getting the tone you want.

[charley]

Just to follow up the above post.....
 
The Boogie stuff is great, and so are most of the boutique amps out there.  When I say inferior, I'm talking about some of the newer, cheaply made amps.  
Just wanted to clarify so I don't get flamed.

[kmh364]

Andrew:
 
Just a crazy thought...have you looked into any of those clean-only jazz amps out there? Taking the Jerry Garcia and/or David Gilmour approach of using a clean amp and then adding color via efffects (stompboxes) could likely yield great, great tone! Here's a couple of very different choices from what's been discussed here just for sh*ts and giggles:
 
Kendrick makes a real, real nice real-wood cabbed all-tube, hand-wired (by designer Gerald Weber) combo designed for huge clean headroom and pure tone (althought it is VERY pricy):
 
http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/kendrick.html
 
The favored jazz combo these days appears to be an Acoustic Image head combined with a Raezor's Edge cab (much more reasonable than the above):
 
http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/acousticImage.html
 
http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/raezersEdge.html
 
Heritage (nee Gibson's old Kalamazoo MI factory run by ex-Gibson employees) just came out with a line of all-tube, hand-wired amps as well...the Kenny Burrell model looks particularly interesting:
 
http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/heritageAmps.html
 
Just some food for thought...variety is the spice of life, right? LOL!
 
Good Amp Hunting!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin
 
(Message edited by kmh364 on September 25, 2005)

[kmh364]

Oh, and one other thing:
 
Reeves Amplification is selling all-tube, hand-wired, all discrete made in Britain Dave Reeves-designed Sound City-era Hiwatt-clone amps that are just like the originals. They sell direct (S&H included, exc. speaker cabs!), and the prices are better than the Fernandes's Corp. Hiwatt oferings...cosmetics (exc. the nameplate) are identical:  
 
 
http://www.reevesamps.com/reeves_amplification-6-6_001.htm
 
Particularly interesting is the signature 100W head that encorporates David Gilmour's personal preferred mods...even though they can't use DG's name due to Hiwatt's licensing agreement with DG:
 
http://images.andale.com/f2/121/111/10123725/1050174480362_Reeves100wtop.jpg  
 
Thanks go to Dr. Jonathan Levine (jalevinemd) for turning me on to these!

[charley]

I've hard great things about the Raezer's edge cabs too, but you might have some trouble getting one.  Apparently, a couple of weeks ago, the guy who makes them was murdered.  A very sad story.