Good valve combos for jazz gigging?

Megii

Just asking, and not about to rush out and actually buy anything - should make that clear. But went to see Nigel Price in concert on Wednesday, and he had a pretty awesome sound happening - was using a small D'Angelico archtop with a Mesa Boogie Rocket 44 combo. It just sounded so vivid and present. I've not been particularly into the whole valves thing, and have a very good solid state jazz amp, but I have to admit there was an unmistakable, valve-y something happening with NP's sound (besides the amazing playing!). So if, and just if... ...I was looking for a portable, fairly compact (say 1x12 or even 1x10) valve combo, capable of providing a good warm clean tone at gigging volumes (pubs, small halls, that kind of thing), what might be the contenders?

steamabacus

Funnily enough, I've just spent this lunchtime watching today's 'That Pedal Show' video on clean sounds. They touch on the subject of jazz sounds and certain classic tones being anything but squeaky clean.

In terms of amps, my gut response is 'anythging but a Marshall' - but my mate has an old JCM900 combo that he bought off an old jazzer (although maybe, if he sold it, that just confirms my prejudice?).

cbellanga

I believe John Schofield uses Vox AC30s

octatonic

My Two Rock Studio Pro Plus gets a great jazz tone.
It is sort of Fendery with a slightly different EQ curve.

Jazz is a pretty broad group- do you mean trad, or modern?
Normally 'not Marshall' is a good suggestion but Wayne Krantz frequently uses Marshalls and he gets an awesome tone.
iI isn't a trad jazz tone though.

Megii

Thanks chaps - my instinct would also be "not Marshall" @steamabacus - but of course, and as pointed out, anything is possible. @octatonic - I guess I's want something that can span the range a bit, certainly suitable for more 50s and 60s kind of jazz tones, but also which would work for more modern stuff and fusion. Generally, I like a warm, kind of beefy/full tone, but also with a bit of "air" about it, and definitely not the cliche muddy treble rolled way off kind of jazz tone. So a versitile amp, warm and with clarity. And definitely on compact/portable side, while still with good power and clean headroom - no 2x12 50 kilo monsters please...

MatthewShreddery

My Vox ac10c1 sounds superb, though struggles a bit in terms of headroom/volume depending on size of gig. 

RandallFlagg

Fender Princeton in the house or Twin at gig:

ICBM

Mesa Lonestar Special. I know a jazz guitarist - not a traditional one though - who uses one. Not too heavy for a 30W valve amp - or a Mesa - and quite versatile.

Richardj

I'm very impressed with my recently acquired Rivera Pubster. It's a single channel with FET boost EL34 1x12 and is really warm and can give that 'just a hint of hair' tone that sounds great. I tried it with an Epiphone Casino last night and it was lovely.  Rivera amps seem to have a lot of versatility built in.

robgilmo

MatthewShreddery said:

My Vox ac10c1 sounds superb, though struggles a bit in terms of headroom/volume depending on size of gig. 

Don't want to hijack the thread but what's the Vox like for home use?

ArchtopDave

As it's name suggests, the Rivera Jazz Suprema. Not at all easy to find in the UK, but I happened to find one second hand in my local GuitarGuitar some years ago. I really like it. I mainly play clean, and I use it nearly all the time at home. I have the 50 watt 1X12 version, which incidentally looks very classy.

tone1

I remember watching this on YouTube a while ago...Cornell Romany Plus

robgilmo

I really like his shoes, the rest of his attire I'm not too keen on.

Megii

RandallFlagg said:

Fender Princeton in the house or Twin at gig:

Nice setup I'm sure @RandallFlagg (and Tim Lerch is great isn't he?) but it would have to be one amp to do it all, though primarily for gigging.

ICBM said:

Mesa Lonestar Special. I know a jazz guitarist - not a traditional one though - who uses one. Not too heavy for a 30W valve amp - or a Mesa - and quite versatile.

I will admit I was looking at some of the Mesa's for sale on the forum, and there certainly is an appeal I must admit - that sounds like a lovely amp, I'll look that one up, cheers @ICBM ;

Richardj said: I'm very impressed with my recently acquired Rivera Pubster. It's a single channel with FET boost EL34 1x12 and is really warm and can give that 'just a hint of hair' tone that sounds great. I tried it with an Epiphone Casino last night and it was lovely.  Rivera amps seem to have a lot of versatility built in. Sounds good @Richardj , and the name is appropriate since I do often play in pubs. Also I have heard something about EL34s being particularly good for warmer tones. So I envy you that one, and will check it out. Funnily enough, I've also been thinking a Casino, or Casino Coupe, would likely make a great jazz guitar.

Megii

ArchtopDave said:

As it's name suggests, the Rivera Jazz Suprema. Not at all easy to find in the UK, but I happened to find one second hand in my local GuitarGuitar some years ago. I really like it. I mainly play clean, and I use it nearly all the time at home. I have the 50 watt 1X12 version, which incidentally looks very classy.

Must admit, that sounds like it would be about spot on @ArchtopDave

tone1 said:

I remember watching this on YouTube a while ago...Cornell Romany Plus

Does sound like it would do the job nicely @tone1 , although for my taste that chap is using a bit too much of a trebly tone - I'd set the controls for a bit of a fuller kind of sound. Cheers though, I'll google the amp name and have a look.

ecc83

Blackstar Artisan 15. Loaded with a Greenback which jazz mad son loved although his is driven from the much cheaper HT-20. The latter combo would be a good choice IMHO but change the speaker!

The Artisan 30 would be great but a really heavy b'std and pricey (but built like  BSH and good value IMO compared to many other "booteek" hand wired amps)

While I am plugging/spamming...HT-40 for more power than the 20 or the new Artist 30?

Dave.

Megii

ecc83 said:

Blackstar Artisan 15. Loaded with a Greenback which jazz mad son loved although his is driven from the much cheaper HT-20. The latter combo would be a good choice IMHO but change the speaker!

The Artisan 30 would be great but a really heavy b'std and pricey (but built like  BSH and good value IMO compared to many other "booteek" hand wired amps)

While I am plugging/spamming...HT-40 for more power than the 20 or the new Artist 30?

Dave.

Cheers @ecc83 - worth considering, and I'll have a google and find out more. Blackstar tend to have more of a rock image, so probably not one I would have looked into otherwise, but appreciate the heads up on them re jazz. As I said at the beginning this is really an academic exercise at the moment, with no imminent purchase, but it is good to find out about these things all the same.

jacksparrow

headstrong lil king-s would be a good portable gig amp, there is one for sale at coda in the secondhand department, no affiliation on my part.  other than i own one and they are great portable gig amps

Megii

jacksparrow said:

headstrong lil king-s would be a good portable gig amp, there is one for sale at coda in the secondhand department, no affiliation on my part.  other than i own one and they are great portable gig amps

Cheers @jacksparrow - as already stated, I'm only "browsing" at the mo, but that won't stop me having a look on Coda's website!

ourmaninthenorth

Maybe give Jeff Lewis at Matamp a bell...I borrowed ( had the bugger ages!!)  an Adrian Ingram signature Jazz amp off him a few years ago, like all Matamp's it was pretty fantastic. 

Megii

ourmaninthenorth said:

Maybe give Jeff Lewis at Matamp a bell...I borrowed ( had the bugger ages!!)  an Adrian Ingram signature Jazz amp off him a few years ago, like all Matamp's it was pretty fantastic. 

Thanks @ourmaninthenorth - good to be made aware of Matamp, having never heard of the company before. This was only an exercise in browsing (and the cash a bit thin at the mo) so probably would be unwise of me to phone the proprietor but cheers again.