Best Guitar Amps from Budget to Boutique (with
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- Опубліковано 23 лип 2023
- Episode 65: Best Guitar Amps from Budget to Boutique
Welcome to the Chairmen of the Boards Podcast! The ultimate pedalboard podcast with the foremost rig builders in the world: Grant Klassen (Goodwood Audio), Brian Omilion (Omilion Audio), and Mason Marangella (Vertex Effects/The Rig Doctor). We've teamed up to democratize great tone and provide you with our best tricks, tips, resources and hacks so you can build the pedalboard of your dreams!
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//GUEST//
Lyle Caldwell (Psionic Audio)
YT - @PsionicAudio
//HOSTS//
Grant Klassen (Goodwood Audio)
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IG - / goodwoodaudio
Brian Omilion (Omilion Audio)
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Mason "The Rig Doctor" Marangella (Vertex Effects)
YT - @VertexEffectsInc
IG - / vertexeffects
#guitaramp #guitaramplifier #guitaramps
Here from the psionic channel!
Thanks for joining!
Here from both. Happy to see two channels I follow talking together. Love the smile by Mason about all the shots fired at problematic amps. Lol. No punches pulled.
I use a Modeler, but I regularly watch Lyle's Channel to learn about amp design, what the manufacturers did right and wrong, and how they amps are meant to work. Thanks
One glaring mistake - I said to jumper the 330K in series before the volume pot of the “Gain” channel in the AC15C1 and AC30C2 series.
I meant to say the Normal channel. See folks, live without a net…
But you still don’t know anything, excuse me, nothing about Marshall! And yet still everyone denigrates, too big a word for a Flarda boy, the DSL40CR! So that just says it all.
@PsionicAudio what are your thoughts on the fender bassbreaker 15
About Peavey:
A few months ago I played with an old bandmate of mine for the first time since 1993.
In 1993 he played his father’s old Peavey Deuce 100 watt 2x12 tube combo. At band rehearsals I’d play my bass into it too, together with him playing his guitar into it. I used to rent a bass amp for gigs. It sounded great. Only thing was the reverb unit needed repair. But hey, when you’re young you want new guitars and not spent money on stupid repairs... 😎
So, after 31 years we played together for the first time again. We both had been playing for all those years but never met up again because we both moved to different cities.
Guess what! He was still playing that same old Peavey Deuce!! Only had to change the power tubes a few times and yes, the reverb unit still acted funny... 😂
Lyle’s honesty is refreshing and lead me to shop for an AC15C1
Just got one, the ac15c2 versión, its really good, considering that I have a Fender deluxe reverb reissue 65 that sounds great, now I couldn’t live without the other amp, but the vox was much cheaper, and really it has a great tone and volume, I bought it to récord an ep and get more overdriven and natural british times for some arrengements that the deluxe couldnt get without specific pedals, and when so, the vox got them right in a Much musical way
Always enjoy these roundtable discussions. I rarely walk away w/o having learned something new or hearing a take on something that I may not have considered previously. Hearing you guys speak truthfully about equipment is infinitely helpful and is something that I can in turn, potentially pass on to bandmates.
What a great discussion. I love this type of content. Thanks so much for creating/posting this.
I sometimes watch Lyle’s vids as a relaxation strategy because of that wonderful deep, soothing voice 😂
I watch them to go to sleep, really.
The Bob Ross of amp techs
Always, and I say again, I ALWAYS appreciate Mr.Caldwell's candor! Very refreshing!
Thanks for posting, great discussion!
I just couldn't stop listening to Lyle and you guys! I appreciate the honesty!
Mason, thank you for having Lyle on. I've been following his channel since his early days on UA-cam. Lyle is a class act and a remarkable tech.
I became addicted to Lyle's channel, when I saw his Master-Class on: Upgrades & Mods to the 65 Fender Princeton Reverb Amp = meticulous work. An absolute "Clinic" - he is phenomenal. oNe LoVe from NYC
Guitar sanctuary is amazing, anyone living in Texas or surrounding states I recommend visiting them for their high end guitars, boutique amps, and plethora of pedals!
This was great. Enjoyed it a lot.
I love buying cheap hot rod fenders and ripping out the pcb and hand wiring bassmans or JMPs in them. So fun.
Absolutely loved this episode! Lyle is easily the Michelangelo of amp AND guitar circuits and repairs. Although most of what he says flies right over my head as far as circuitry and design goes and modding and fixing/restoring them goes, I have learned so much from him as to what to look for when considering purchasing an amp and looking ahead to how well it will hold up and how much you can expect to spend doing any repairs and maintenance. I have a Ceriatone amp and he had some really good things to say about it as far as build quality and tone potential. Other than a bit of a strange grounding bus issue that is easily improved, he seemed to like it and helped me feel better about my purchase and how easily it can be serviced. Yep. Lyle is the man!
To Lyle’s point about guys showing up on a Tuesday night with a 4x12 and a 50 watt Marshall - some years ago I decided to ditch all that and now I roll into most gigs with a Friedman 1x12 cab and a Dirty Shirley or a 1987x (with attenuator when necessary) and my tone has never been better and it’s been years since I’ve gotten on the wrong side of the soundman. These really are exciting times haha
OMG Mason what a beautiful family you have... seeing you light up when they came in the room really tells what kind of man you are..mad respect to you my man❤️🤘😁
The reason I love to watch videos like this are when I get to hear real professionals who actually know what they are talking about say something contradictory to something a similarly qualified person I know has said.
The shop I drop all of my disposable income off at HATES those less expensive Vox amps because their amp tech is always working on them.
Makes me want to know more...like maybe that is because people are using the Hell out of them so they break 'more often' ...?
I like answers which lead to more questions.
Your shops view might still be in line with Lyle's, because I believe in some of his videos he mentions not being a fan of the AC10, build quality and sound.
Glad to see Lyle! Love his channel
Me too. I subscribe ( hit like ) and watch him regularly . . . he is: sooooo knowledgable.
Lyle’s voice is the bob ross of the amp world. It is so relaxing.
SUCH a great episode! Love Lyle, been watching him for a while now, LOVE that you had him on!
I got a used Swart AST at a great price on Lyle's recommendation (about Swart as a company) and I couldn't be happier. Fantastic amp and it is built to last forever.
Lyle's honesty and straight-forward talk is WHY is follow him and trust his opinions. Thanks boys.
I chose the peavey classic 20w head and matching cab 1w5wand20w. XLR mic out with cab simulation, headphone input to play through headphones.
I hope Lyle becomes a regular guest. My electronics knowledge ends at cable soldering, but I love Lyle's channel and learn at least one interesting thing every episode he puts up. This was a great discussion.
I love going to sleep with amp repair videos!
Heck yea!
Really great episode! I wanted to get your guys takes on the tone king imperial (amp circuitry wise) and whether its worth the long term investment based on its circuit design / ease of servicing etc
I Love the honesty.
Dear Lyle, i fully respect your knowledge about tube amps so if you say that a tube amp has design problems, its probably true.
But while you can have factual and objective criticism about a design of a tube amp, any comment about sound is always subjective.
There are no good or bad sounding amps, there are just amp that you think sound nice and amps that you think do not sounds nice.
And dont forget that some of the most beautiful solo guitar sounds are made with very inexpensive, weird, incorrectly used or sometimes even broken amps ;)
I can say that I own a Marshall DSL40CR and it's honestly a decent tube amp! Is it the amp of my dreams....absolutely not but it gets me the sound I want regardless.
I've been subscribed to psionic since watching the very first video I came across..it was a multi part explanation of how tube amps work.. between the amazing presentation of highly technical information to the beautiful storytelling voice I was immediately hooked and subbed..great insight and fantastic content @ chairman of the boards!!
Lyle, 1st off. I enjoy watching your amp service videos. I’m always impressed on your knowledge.
Mason,
I have a vertex steel string V2 I believe,
It’s a bit microphonic.
You can hear me tapping on the pedal through the amp.
I bought it in 2020 I believe.
I love that pedal, however I have to remove off the chain due to the noise when I click it on.
Do you think it is a ground issue?
Lyle is definately has the experience that guitar players need always chasing sound but also chasing a amp that will hold upI have learned alot from him in 3 weeks amazing guy !!!1 thanks Lyle for putting it straight with no BS
Great to see Lyle here too. @psionicaudio knows amps if anyone.
BTW, my Suhr Badger 18 is most likely gonna outlive me. My only amp since 2011.
Lyle is an awesome guest. Love his videos
I went through a decade of buying all brands of tube amps and opening them up to examine them. I settled on 2 Silverface Fenders, a Deluxe Reverb and a Bassman 100.
I have an Origin20 and even if it doesn't do the plexi thing, I still think it's a great sounding amplifier. Got mine for dirt cheap as well with an effects loop, not a burden to lug around to rehearsals.
This is awesome. I would love some smaller amp recommendations though. I live in an apartment so the DSL40 is just too loud for me. Would the smaller Marshall's like the DSL5 and DSL1 also be worth buying?
Off topic, but did Lyle ever work in radio? Thanks for the podcast! I can Always learn something!
I’m new to guitar, I was looking at the traynor ygl 15 and ygl 30, I’m just playing at home and I was wondering where the 30 has a master volume and the 15 doesn’t, would the 30 make more sense to get better driven sounds at lower volumes or should I get the 15 and pick up a volume pedal or a attenuator(reasonable price one) , I enjoy your videos thanks
I love the DSL40CR. I had 2 of them. They do have this weird flaw in the circuit board (can't remember what the tech called it) that overheats a $3 capacitor. I had to have one fixed and sold the other before it could happen again. They were the first amps I had bought in 20 years. They sound great, but you will likely have to fix them at some point. Good news is the fix is cheap. I moved on to a JCM800 2203x and a Friedman BE 100 Deluxe and a Quad Cortex.
The Fryette PS’s are awesome… as an attenuator… I don’t use the effects loop much at all.
What are your thoughts on the Roland GA-112? There's one available here for 50% less and I was wondering if that's a good pick for the times we're in. The amp is discontinued by Roland.
I'd like Lyle's opinion of Quilter amps. Specifically the Cub models.
I went all in and now have my perfect setup. DRZ Cure, AN Ampliphonics, and a stack of pedals. If I ever buy anything else it will be extra heads.
It was Manic Depression that Seal and Jeff Beck covered. Holy smokes what a track that was.
I found a one year old Vox ac15 in a pawn shop and paid $400 out the door! Great sounding amp! Very heavy! Two channels, normal and top boost with reverb and tremolo! I was also able to pick up a brand new Marshall origin 50c for $611 + tax. The dsl is probably a better amp, but I love my pedals, and with 50 watts, three power modes, efx loop, FS, and tons of clean headroom, and the price I paid, I can't complain. It even gets old 70s AC/DC, Free, classic rock dirty IF you can handle the volume!? Cause it be LOUD AF!! Even in tge 5 watt mode it's no one else home loud. So for just over $1k I got a couple of really usable, good sounding, tube amps from the classic British vibe. I'm happy. 😊
Thanks for this great episode, I always learn something new. And thanks Lyle for sharing his knowledge I’ll suscribe right now to his channel. Greetings from Mexico
Great guest. I follow his channel as well and is a wealth of knowledge. Look forward to the episode.
Only thing keeping me for buying a VOX AC15C1 is the lack of an effects loop. Have to move up to the AC30 which is out of my price range.
It's out of my weight range
Isn’t there a 1x12 AC30?
The most legendary amplifiers didn't have one either... The fx loop need a buffer to reduce the signal to a pedal level and then another buffer to restore it. In the process you will undeniably lose tone, although this can be more or less invasive depending on the fx loop design.
Lyle's comments on the Marshall Orgin and the Studio 20 were a revelation! I would submit that because the Studio 20 is built in England, the price point is higher but as a quality of build issue, it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the price difference. I own a HRD version 4, and, with certain drives, I can get somewhere in the Marshall ballpark. Also, thanks for the 'fire alert' on the HRD and is there a fix for this problem?
Yeah, the Studio 20s are indeed very overpriced in the US and I don`t know why exactly. In Europe they only cost about 800-900 EUR/USD new.
However I think they do sound (and feel!) really good and actually very close to vintage Marshalls, so I disagree with Lyle here.
Yeah… I’m looking for anything 30-50watts, ideally something that can model an AC30 or at LEAST a Fender Deluxe Twin Reverb, with an FX loop and an output attenuator.
I have a Vox Cambridge 50 that I love; however, it has no FX loop. I need an FX Loop for a couple of my modulators and time-based effects. It has a few built-in, but they’re not up to my standards for recording. I’m a former mix engineer (retired due to disability), and my biggest problem is my budget.
While I'm not in the amp tech business myself, I do share a similar skill set with Lyle in a more industrial setting. I've learned so much from watching his videos and it has enabled me to find some incredible deals on amps that would be considered a terrible deal for most but are quite the steal if you can do your own work. It's turned into quite the lucrative side hustle. I guess that makes me a sort of amp tech in a way, but I couldn't even begin to hold a candle to Lyle's knowledge and professional experience. If you want to be an amp tech or you want to do your own work, Lyle is an invaluable resource for learning what kind of problems to look for in a used (and sometimes new **ahem** MESA **ahem**)amp.
If you want more theoretical knowledge on circuit design, Uncle Doug's channel is a must subscribe as well.
VERTEX, Instead of using the amplifiers effects loops because of the , Interfacing issues, S/N issues ,makeup gain compensation issues, the phase inverter distortion issues. etc. Try doing "effects loop SLAVING" which is taking the effects loop SEND from amplifier#1 and going to your guitar pedals/pedalboard then feeding that into another amplifiers#2 front end input jack then sending amplifers#2 effects loop SEND port to feed into amplifers#1 effects loop RETURN port. This is Effects loop Slaving might have a better S/N ratio and impedance matching. Have you tried doing this setup?
What exactly makes a Fender cleaner than a Marshall, circuit component wise?
So what’s the best “small” amp you could gig with if money was no problem???
Lyle rocks! Love watching his channel, it’s like amp asmr.
Just a comment to the fx loop part: Brian May has a wet-dry setup with his cranked AC30s (not using a delay in front of his amps).
True, but the response of the AC30s to the delay repeats stays the same. At least for when he used a delay like most of us do, not when he was playing harmonies with himself. He has a fantastic setup.
I'm taking notes.
I currently have a HRD IV. I like it for what it is, but I understand the shortcomings and work with the amp vs against it. If I were to get a higher quality, less noisy, more robust version of a HRD what should I get? As far as I know there isn't another amp that fits the sonic middle ground between Deluxe Reverb and Tweed Deluxe. I'm not looking for a different amp per se just a higher quality version... What do you suggest?
Edit: I use pedals quite a lot and play blues, rock, and P&W.
Did you find a good replacement? I’m in the same boat
@@Spoon8lld I've not made a purchase but I'm thinking either the Victory V40 Deluxe, Mesa Cali Tweed, or Gibson Falcon 20. Magnatone and Tone King could also be in the running but are too expensive for me.
@@codybaggett9741 cool thanks! I forgot about Victory. I heard the Falcon is questionable quality though I was interested in it as well
1:06:41 There's a great episode of Song Exploder that answers that exact question, Lyle! Go listen, it's fascinating.
LYLE!!! Dropping some knowledge on us saplings. Thanks everybody; good chat.
Peavy vtm was awesome head it was a take on the jose mod on marshall
Lyle is awesome. Love Psionic
I had an ac10 c1 that was decent. But it was annoying to change tubes.
I like the tone master takes my pedals well and convenient for gigs
Which one ?
If you like it, and it fulfills your amplification needs, well then, that's truly all that matters, right!
Wait are we talking the 'kiss from a rose' Seal has heaps of guitar pedals?
Yep
I had 2 brand new Marshal DSL CR40 with the 6 button footswitch. Both failed me on stage, separate occasions while switching from dirty to clean channel, within one month of purchase. Both were having issues with reverb upon powering up. You'd have to shut it down, then restart - it works! I loved the sound, but it was unreliable. I got a full refund.
Apparently, Lyle didn’t check with any gigging musicians maybe Tylor Bryant or Mike McCready I don’t think those guys would sacrifice tone
any thoughts on roland jc120?
Ive played gigs with a 50w/4x12 on tuesday nights to almost nobody, gotta make sure they see mines bigger
I got the first Chinese AC30 and it was rubbish blew tubes every week it was badly wired at the factory I found out
As a bassplayer I learned early on about the importance of good speakers and cabinets (and the combination of both...).
So I invested in various high quality ones.
I don’t care so much if my amp head only lasts 5 to 10 years, like Markbass, Taurus, Aguilar. But, I stay away from brands like Ashdown and Ampeg the last 15-20 years. Their amps, even the more expensive models, sometimes are already broken on the website...🤫
(My old Trace Elliot head from the mid 80’s still works like it came from the factory yesterday. 😄)
But what I’m seeing with guitarplayers these days is the opposite: they buy a nice amp head, and what cash is left is for just a cabinet!
Also, they change out speakers without even checking if they’ve been designed to go with the cabinet... And than typically don’t understand why the ‘stupid speakers’ sound like sh*t...
I find that strange. More so because all the information is just a few clicks away, quality brands are quite easy to approach on internet and even almost all their guitar heroes have their own UA-cam channels and are in contact with their fans almost on a day to day basis.
Bless Mr. Caldwell✝️
Lyle.. the man.. Caldwell
Great video Mason and Guy's great info, very cute baby ❤ Mason congratulations to you and your wife
Friggin Delores!
I had a 600 dollar soldano hot rod 50 and a low serial number 1982 jv the top end for 500. I couldnt afford alot but i held on to em and people are selling that first low serial jv for 4000
Watched the whole thing believing the title that you guys would eventually get to higher-end recommendations . . .
We did mention several makers, but not so many specific models: SUHR, Friedman, GERMINO, Top Hat, Fender amps from the 1970s or earlier.
Lyle rules and you guys do too! Cheers eh!🇨🇦👍
Dont over look the early 80's Rivera Fender stuff. Point to point built like a tank. Needs a bit of work but really nice
59:25: Wet/dry/wet rigs.
VOX AC15C1 just found one online under $500 He is right! Dang.
Friedman - GAME OVER
laney supertop 15 - marshell origen 20 fender superchamp x3 pevey classic 20
Psionic rocks
Ok … this stuff is awesome … cute kid Mason!
The last show i played was 2007 i would play 4 4x12 and a jose style modded super lead 72 and mesa recto together. Sound men hated me
Hats off to you Lyle for highlighting how a poorly designed amp can cost a poor kid all their hard earned, only to go up in smoke soon after the warranty period is up... G'day from the land down under also! 🤘
what about Fuchs amps?
Fuch em
Thank u Lyle for protecting our earned money to achieve the best tone without giving it away for cheap parts and labor.
Huh… Mason said “Re-cap that,” to an amp tech.
Most amps sound great, all they need is a good speaker. I love tech and tubes as much as anybody, but most of the tone is in your hands, literally.
had to give this a like a soon a lyle got stuck in to reviewers capabilities.
Budget: Vox ac30 or ac15 by far
Lyle is the reason why I clicked on this video. Psionic rules.
You guys missed Splawn
Love Lyle's show and opinions, but as with almost every other amp reviews, he is biased towards amps that handle distortion, breakup, pedals.
Now, I'm a professional guitarist, performing almost every weekend and sometimes more, and I want clean tones. I have been using Blues Juniors ever since they hit the market, and the very same one since the creme board came out, with zero problems. Of course, the jacks are flimsy, and I have re-flowed solder joints, but... I don't crank it, and am careful of the jacks, as ANYONE should be!
Then I grabbed a Tonemaster Deluxe Reverb a while back, and since I care not a bit for pedals, cranking, etc, and can't stand lifting heavy shit, it's PERFECT. Great reverb, great tone, half the weight, and by gosh, Class D is extremely reliable these days!
However, as with ANY amp, you HAVE to take good care of them!! Don't get plastered and stoned and then load out, etc.
My point is: not EVERYONE wants to get unnatural noise and distortion from an amp. The TM DR does what the original Deluxe Reverb was built for and intended to do, and does it well!!!!
I went to a weird Blues Jam a year ago (I don't frequent jams, but..), with a band on the stage, and about fifteen guys with their amps, guitars and huge pedalboards in a semi-circle in front (Circle Jerk??). Everyone got 12 or 24 bars in each song. To the man, EVERY SINGLE ONE of the players (some pretty good players) came up to me afterwards and asked me "HOW DO YOU GET THAT TONE??"". I answered them. "I have a guitar, cord, and amp. Nothing else!"