SORTED....RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A GREAT 'CLEAN HEADROOM' AMP

Castro

Guitar people

I am on the lookout for a small boutique combo or head+single-speaker cab that can be heard above a drummer in small, mostly pub venues. 

I currently have a Divided By 13 JRT 9/15 which is incredible at lower volumes but gets all Vox AC30/gritty when being pushed...lovely sound though.

I'm thinking that a 30-40 watter might do the trick, something like a Carr Impala?

Wish list

• Modest size.
• A single speaker, no 2x12s or large cabinets.
• Single channel - I don't need two or more channels as I use pedals for dirt.
• Simple controls - I don't want every switch to be push-pull like the Boogie MkIV I once owned.
• I'd really like a master volume.
• Reverb and tremolo not required, but I wouldn't avoid amps that have them.
• I like Blackface-type cleans with plenty of sparkle but also with effective EQ, i.e. tone controls that actually do something.
• High build quality - I'll consider Carr, Tone King, DB13, Swart, Two Rock and similar 'boutique' hand-made stuff.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

Steve

colourofsound

I'd consider any of @RiftAmps offerings if I were you; Chris will sort you out!

monquixote

H&K Puretone  - There is one in the classifieds ATM for not much money.

Amazing amps.

kennedydream1980

Two Rock Studio Pro 35

Lebarque

Carr Impala :0)

Vaiai

Victory V40 and matching cab (or they do a combo)

Castro

Thank you for the responses so far people.

Already a couple of suggestions that I hadn't considered which is great.

Kebabkid

We have the same amp but I have the head version and use it with a Tone Tubby 2x12 cab (H Bomb speaker combo) = one Alnico (40W), one ceramic (50W) and don't experience a clean headroom issue at all. Have you thought of changing out the speaker?

How are you using the 2 gains as I have the cleaner, higher headroom one (? 1st one) higher up and only introduce a bit of the second one to thicken things out but it's that one that adds the grit.

Does this happen on both 6V6 an EL84 mode?

If this isn't of interest, I'd check out the Morgan Amp range. Despite low wattages, they are designed to deliver loud, clean headroom. Tried a couple in Guitar Guitar on a late closing night with no one around and turned it up and they sound plenty loud to me. Andertons have them, too.

Apparently, Hamstead amp can do this but they might be "over spec'd" for you. Seems like GAK stock them now.

Castro

Kebabkid that's really useful feedback and would be a great route for me as it means spending less cash.

Kebabkid

What's the current speaker in the combo and rating? The only thing with my TT H-Bomb Combo is that I don't know what either of them sound like on their own and so I can't recommend one over the other but I know together, they're really good and looking stuff up on sites, the Alnico has been recommended by some for being warmer or a Scumback G12.

Castro

My speaker is a Celestion G12H 30W

RandallFlagg

Vaiai said:

Victory V40 and matching cab (or they do a combo)

Have a look at the new Victory V40 Deluxe, it's being hailed as a more Blackface sounding version of the V40 with trem and reverb 

thebreeze

A Tone King Imperial would do the trick I think.

ArchtopDave

Rivera Jazz Suprema - 50 watt Combo (either single 12" or single 15" Speaker). Designed to give a warm clean sound until it's really turned up. It does have a beautiful reverb.

imalrightjack

Here's just the cab for clean headroom in a 1 x 12: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/98764/fs-ft-zilla-dinky-1-x-12-cabinet-loaded-with-16ohm-celestion-alnico-cream-200#latest

mgaw

louis electric columbia may do it

Castro

Excellent suggestions flooding in.

Pete24v

Carol Ann Satin. 

Your requirements echo mine a year and a half ago. I've not even looked at other amps since buying the Carol Ann. 

Castro

Thanks Pete.

Kebabkid

ArchtopDave said:

Rivera Jazz Suprema - 50 watt Combo (either single 12" or single 15" Speaker). Designed to give a warm clean sound until it's really turned up. It does have a beautiful reverb.

Yep ^ and this Rivera Model, too and specifically designed for clean maximum headroom
http://www.rivera.com/product/combos/venus-deux/

ThePrettyDamned

monquixote said:

H&K Puretone  - There is one in the classifieds ATM for not much money.

Amazing amps.

Loud as sin, too.