Best head

thomasross20

I'll have to check the differences between the ID60 and the ID100 - see what features are missing from the 60, if any.

Cabicular

My current Rig is a Helix and valve power amps. You can then change head as your taste evolves
Previously I went through the more expensive route of buying 1 of every boutique amp I liked
Harder to change mid song though and you need a big van!

camf

ICBM said:

thomasross20 said:

No weight specified for MJW? 

@camf has got a great little MJW which doesn't weigh a lot - I don't know exactly how much but I don't think even you would find it heavy . It has power scaling as well as a very good switchable master volume arrangement, so ideal for home use.

Yep, can't recommend Martin's work enough. Great amp, flexible and very portable.

thomasross20

I've never seen or heard an MJW in person - are they "popular"?

digitalscream

thomasross20 said:

I've never seen or heard an MJW in person - are they "popular"?

Does that matter? That they're "good" would seem to be far more important

thomasross20

Yes, I agree! That's what I was getting at - how good are they lol

ennspek

Very. Properly we'd pay much more if they were American good.

thomasross20

There's a V30 going for £650 on eBay and a Mark V:25 for £1k (cheaper than the £1.6k new here... ships from USA, £44 delivery). 

Not sure about V30 as really seems like Marmite on here!

RaymondLin

Be sure to add about £300 to that Mesa when it lands on your door.

thomasross20

Yeah I've sort of discounted that "deal"....!

thomasross20

Guys - is there a recommended manufacturer for speaker cables and do you guys like to have them short or long? 

Have been checking out those mini Mesa heads - cleans sound fantastic, they look rock solid, have just about every feature I want. Downsides are cost and that crunch sharing the same channel as clean! Come on, Mesa!

For small and portable and inexpensive (to a degree) I keep coming back to those Victory amps. Simple to use, it seems - and I technically could get a V40 and just use my pedalboard for everything. I could use the V40 as an amp for my acoustic if I really wanted, rather than chucking it through the PA. Who knows... 

thomasross20

I just spent a small fortune - got a Mono bag off eBay for a PedalTrain Classic 2 I just ordered. Also got the mounting brackets for Voodoo Lobs Pedal Power 2 Plus and the supply itself. 
--> Almost set. Just need the amp(s), and to put my old gear up for sale. 
--> I don't plan on buying a backup power supply - I'm crossing my fingers that the PP2+ wont die on me. 

Nerine

If there's a superlative to "quest". This thread is it... 

thomasross20

Hey, I'm Scottish - I want to make sure my money is well spent

By the way, MJW amps are sounding good!

Going into this, I always fancied a Victory V40 and that hasn't really died. Even though I'd need a gain pedal to get proper distortion, the idea of using a single-channel clean amp and pedals for everything else ... simplicity itself, which I'm all for.

RaymondLin

Bogner Goldfinger Phi, 9w to 66w, single channel, effects loop.

its basically a pedal platform amp.  

thomasross20

I'll check that out! Definitely. I'm half about to pull the trigger on a V30 or V40, though... if only there was a used V40 in the classifieds!

ThePrettyDamned

thomasross20 said:

Yes, I agree! That's what I was getting at - how good are they lol

Really good.  As in, he has been making them and repairing for years, knows his onions and will custom tailor an amp to a customers requirements.  In other words, if you want a sparkly clean that'll sound great with a Suhr Riot, he'd make it as well as any top amp builder could. 

Plus, you won't pay for the fact it's a popular USA builder. That's smart. 

There is a bogner that may suit, the Barcelona. But the victory v40 sounds good too. There are plenty of builders who will make you a plexi style amp with 50 watts and that will actually be perfect I reckon. They can be squeezed into smaller heads. 

I'd write to a couple of amp builders based in the UK and see what they say. Your budget allows you to be picky - so get the best. 

RaymondLin

I was going to suggest the Barcelona but they are not  easy to come by these days.

thomasross20

Those Bogners sound fab but I can get the Brunetti Singleman Head for much cheaper, and the V40 for cheaper still..

ThePrettyDamned

http://jpfamps.com/jpf-guitar-amp-products/jpf-production-guitar-amps Maybe ask @jpfamps about the 30 watt one. Immaculate work, small size as has that chimey Brit clean too.