What is the best amp you've ever played?

StuartMac290 · September 2023

Matchless HC-30 / early Bad Cat BC30.

There's just nothing like them, and they feel fantastic to play. The new Bad Cats are nothing like the originals, sadly.

After that, my old '68 Twin was an amazing amp.

PAL · September 2023

My DR Z Maz 18JR & Rift PR35.

gumbothewiddler · September 2023

My (now sold) 67 JTM50 black flag plexi into 67 pinstripe strap handle cab…

twangydave · September 2023

1958 Gibson GA-8 Gibsonette - Sold it as the wiring terrified me (google a pic!) and I didn't have a tech anywhere close, and I needed rent money. Went for about £400.00 which is sad when I see what they sell for now!

Dominic · September 2023

Soldano SLO 30
Gartone Bluesman
Carr Lincoln ( just the sweetest Voxy clean and a whole lot of Brian May when driven hard ) Incredible Amp and the favourite choice of Joe Gore ,the Tone fiend

maharg101 · September 2023

1979 Marshall JMP Super Lead 100w head into a pair of 4x12s. Cross-plugged. Amazing.

Barney · September 2023

IV changed through the years ..

I loved the MK4 boogie with EV ...I don't use it much now

Next up was a Redplate CDS2 ...great amp

I'm sort of going between my Omega modded hotrod deluxe ...RDA Dualist and Redplate Astrodust all really nice amps ....got to say I used the Astrodust at rehearsal last week and the sound was exceptional ...on cleans and the drives equally ....I have been using a joyo American in the front just as a EQ not sure iff I need it or not though yet

Wazmeister · September 2023

Barney said:

IV changed through the years ..

I loved the MK4 boogie with EV ...I don't use it much now

Next up was a Redplate CDS2 ...great amp

I'm sort of going between my Omega modded hotrod deluxe ...RDA Dualist and Redplate Astrodust all really nice amps ....got to say I used the Astrodust at rehearsal last week and the sound was exceptional ...on cleans and the drives equally ....I have been using a joyo American in the front just as a EQ not sure iff I need it or not though yet

Did you sell your CDS2 in the end mate ?

GoldenEraGuitars · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Ignoring practicalities like size weight and sheer volume, it’s old AC30s

Enough about you.. what about the amp??

NickB · September 2023

I’m very much enjoying my Rift Blonde Bassman. My band mates tell me it’s the best amp they have heard me use. My Cornell Romany 12 is pretty special too.

tone1 · September 2023

My old Blackstar Artisan 15 clean was an amazing 3D pedal platform.

earwighoney · September 2023

The best amp I played is a late 60's Marshall JMP 50w.

Oddly enough the finest live sounds/tones I have heard have all been guitarists playing HRD's (I presume all hired), so I have a suspicion a truly exceptional amp isn't as important as the guitarist.

Barney · September 2023

Wazmeister said:

Barney said:

IV changed through the years ..

I loved the MK4 boogie with EV ...I don't use it much now

Next up was a Redplate CDS2 ...great amp

I'm sort of going between my Omega modded hotrod deluxe ...RDA Dualist and Redplate Astrodust all really nice amps ....got to say I used the Astrodust at rehearsal last week and the sound was exceptional ...on cleans and the drives equally ....I have been using a joyo American in the front just as a EQ not sure iff I need it or not though yet

Did you sell your CDS2 in the end mate ?

No mate ....i still have it just not used it for a while it's handy though with being small and light ...I probably get a decent reverb pedal that can live in the back of it ....

Fiftyshadesofjay · September 2023

Blackstar Artisan 30. Absolutely insane that such an incredible sounding handwired pedal platform can sell for as little as £400.

It’s true that the combos are extremely heavy (and one of the reasons I moved mine on) but get yourself a head and cab and you’re well away.

HerrMetal · September 2023

Like a few other people - 70's Marshall JMP 50W, cranked.

Petepassion · September 2023

My 1966 Vox AC50 into my 4x12 orange cab pushed with a box of rock beats all my Marshall/attenuator combinations of the past, although I had one 1959SLP/4x12 Greenbacks and Powerbrake combination that sounded pretty awesome too.

And my 1967 super reverb sold on here.

chris78 · September 2023

I realise not everyone will get the chance to play one, but if you're ever close to Coda, you owe it to yourself to try a Bartel. The only problem is, nothing else will ever compare.
These aren't well built, they're obsessive. They're inspiring and the more you own one, the more tones and settings you discover. For an incredibly simple single channel amp, it's insane.
I've had all number of high end amps, it's just the very best.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eziabqrh8xd301e/0F8C413F-9C54-4EBF-8DD1-9D2FABF4523E.jpeg?raw=1

sticker · September 2023

My old Silverface Twin Reverb with JBL’s … I’ll never forget that amp …. The pains in my back remind me of it daily .

rze99 · September 2023

HerrMetal said:

Like a few other people - 70's Marshall JMP 50W, cranked.

This is the thing. Cranked.

Sound very good at regular volumes but when those output valves start cooking a new and wonderful dimension occurs. The richness and frequencies change and it is so touch sensitive.

I use an attenuator with mine all the time no matter the volume in the room, because it gets those output valves reallcooking.

HerbieTheRadDorklift · September 2023

richardhomer said:

equalsql said:

The one that blew you away in terms of tone, flexibility, build quality etc.
Was it the clean tones or overdrive, what was the magic that the amp has/ had.
For me it was a Mesa Boogie Mark III Simul-Class in the late 1980s.
It was an utter beast which took a lot of taming, but lordy the clean tones were crystal and the overdrive just punched through everything. The build quality was awesome too.
Look at it, it's gorgeous.

I had a fully loaded MkIII (EV speaker/Simulclass power stage) exactly like that one. I agree, they were outstanding amps.

I sold mine as I’d stopped gigging and moving the thing around was problematic - they were spectacularly heavy.

My Mark IV was 37.5kg if memory serves, that was with a Black Shadow C90!

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What is the best amp you've ever played?

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