Best Amp For Electric Mando

[holdenzdad]

Hey,

Just purchased a '66 Fender Super after selling a newer model acoustic only amp...I was shocked at the difference...maybe it's my neophyte ears or worn pickup, but the fender out classes the acoustic by far (the reverb sounds sweetly surreal). Just wondering if anyone else uses vintage amps (pickup or mic) for their mandos,

Steven

[Dave Hicks]

I use a Gretsch 5150 (mid 60s) or Fender Blues Jr.

[Christian McKee]

Start by going all-tube, and then head whichever direction your ears pull you. I'm playing a modified Fender Pro Jr. right now, and *love* the little thing... I won't ever play through a solid-state amp again except in case of emergency...

Christian

[Perry]

I have a 65' Fender Deluxe Reissue...a great amp right out of the box but even better I think with my Tone Tubby Hemp cone speaker!

effects I use (on the rare occasion I even play electric)

Fulldrive II
aNALOG man compressor and chorus
Teese wah

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

OK - so let's have a go at that again - a '66 Fender "Super Deluxe"?

[holdenzdad]

i wasn't quite thinking too straight while i was typing that and...ah, sorry...just a Super, no Deluxe,...though it sounded good at the time...basically I'm completely new to vintage amps...but they do sound good...thanks for the posts,

Steven

[jmcgann]

"Super Reverb" maybe? 4 10" speakers- a dream amp (i hate myself for selling mine- it was a 1966! Had to "make room" in a small apartment!)

I've had good luck w/ electric mando through the Fender Deluxe Reverb, Vibrolux Reverb (both from 1969), Matchless SC-30 ('92). For the real vintage vibe I have a '56 tweed Princeton that sounds like The Real Deal!

[michaell]

I use a polytone Mega-Brute, or a Musicman 65 watt 210 (I forget the model number). It does seem like 10 or 8 inch speakers are a little better than 12s.

[Ted Eschliman]

I dig my little Bad Cat Mini Cat "boutique" tube amp.
Sea Foam Green.

[Jim Garber]

The first time I used a real tube amp it blew me away. I have a great '64 Vibrolux Reverb. I also have a maxi Mouse battery powered amp which sounds surprisingly good for its size. My favorite emando is circa '63 EM200 Florentine.

Jim

[holdenzdad]

"Super Reverb" maybe? 4 10" speakers- a dream amp (i hate myself for selling mine- it was a 1966! Had to "make room" in a small apartment!)-

jmcgann, that's exactly what it is...it's strange how it works well with both the acoustic mics and the P90 type pickups or a humbucker for that matter...wow!!! I've had a couple weeks to play with this thing and I'm sold. Thanks again for the posts!

[PlayerOf8]

Very old Vox AC15 w/DigiTech 200 pedal

George

[Bob A]

Gotten far away from electric, but an interesting combination is a Gibson 79RVT stereo amp with a t.c. electronics stereo chorus. Aside from an old Ampeg VT22, it's all that I have left. (Yes, I hate myself for selling the blacktop Deluxe Reverb - wouldn't you?)

Tube amps are where it's at.

[Jim Garber]

When I was in high school my mom and dad bought me a deluxe reverb. That would have been around 1962 or so. When I went off to college, i said, "never play electric again" and my mom sold it for me getting a $100 or so. Oh well.

Jim

[Sellars]

I have a Vox Pathfinder 15, which is a solid state amplifier, but for inhouse use, it is more than enough.

If I would do gigs, or was in a band where the volume really matters I'd use a tube amp, but in my opinion, at very low volumes this isn't really an issue.


(what is more an issue is that my neighbours won't let me play a Vox AC30 tube amp )

[Lee]

If you're going the vintage tube route; bravo! But be careful of odd-ball tubes that might be tough or pricey to obtain.
After much searching I'm really liking my 5-string Schwab played through a 25-watt 6V6 powered Holland Lobo (with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker upgrade), or either of the Top Hat 18-watt Club series amps.

[London Al]

Nice to see someone else with a Musicman 65 2x 10 combo. I ve been happy with mine since 1990. The best sounding rig I ever borrowed on a big open air festival stage though was a Marshall transistror 100w head with a 4x10.
Superb top end and very wide spread.
At home playing around with lots of FX I use an early 1960s Marshall 50w valve PA head through 2 JBL E110s (alnico)in sealed cabs. I know this set-up is as rare as rocking-horse ####, but I reckon it's about as good as it gets.
Rock on Electric Mandolins everywhere!
Al

[busstopeddy]

I am using a Carr Rambler.

This is a small guitar tube amp built here in Pittsboro, NC.

http://www.carramps.com

The amp sounds incredible and only weighs 38 lbs.

I also use this as my guitar amp.

BTW I am playing a Rigel G110.

[Russ(String-Alley)]

for my electric endevors I use, a Mesa/Boogie #.50 cal head, 2x12 bottom, and a #mandobird. thats it. #cuts thru real well, just need to back off a tad.
cheers all!
-Russ

[mandocaster]

I use a 1983 Marshall JCM800 50 watt 1X12 combo, the kind with a split channel. It is plenty loud un-miced. Around the house I usually use a late 60's Kalamazoo Model 1, a 5 watt 1X10. Tubes rule.

[London Al]

Over here in London, England, bands tend to use rehearsal studios where they provide all the gear for you. The one our band goes to has Marshall JCM 800 amps with 4x12s. These things sound great with a 4 string electric mandolin. I always try and keep the amp sounding clean and use pedals for overdrive etc.

How about this-" you can push a Marshall and make it rock, but you cant pull it back for a bluegrass chop."

Al

[softshell]

I tried going the vintage Fender route but it turns out that the amp I liked the most is the Peavey Classic 30 that I am using now. It is very versatile, two channels, reverb, and very portable.

[Alucard]

Just purchased a Vox 15W Tube amp, tried it out on my Fender 52FS and it sounded like butter, so I ended up getting it.

[Sellars]

Alucard,

Which amp did you buy? I love Vox amps, but the tube amps (especialy the AC30's) are very expensive.

I was wondering how those valvetronix amps would sound.

Roel

[Alucard]

It was a 15W Valvetronix (AD15VT.) Pretty amazing clean sound when set properly, excellent effects, and overall just a good experience. It's not a full tube amp, but it has a tube preamp I believe... which is usually the safest way to go.