When I came back to playing guitar (after 13 years as a full-time bass player) last year, I decided to go with multiple single channel amps, rather than compromise with one two or three channel. I love the sound of a stereo image behind me onstage, so I decided to go with a stereo matched pair of "clean-to-crunchy" amps on either side, and a low-wattage (20 or less) "crunchy-to-balls-out" tube amp in the center.

This system works great for me, but I'm always looking to upgrade. The pair of JC-120's I'm using makes for a heavy load-in and a huge stage setup. I've asked about Polytones as a clean alternative on this forum and gotten some interesting feedback.

But which amp do you guys think makes the best purely clean sound? It doesn't have to be solid-state. I only picked the Roland because I had one that had been sitting in storage since the 80's, and I remembered it as having a great clean sound, which it does, though it can be a little bright. I'm looking at the Rivera Sedona, the Acoustic Image Contra (tiny and light, but would it get loud enough?) and the new line of Jazz amps from Alessandro. But my mind isn't closed to anything, from Fender to Carvin.

So what's your choice for the best clean sound there is?

Hard to beat Fender clean. I'd say a pair of Black Face Deluxe Reverebs would do you well. Or if you need more power maybe a pair of Vibrolux's or Pro Reverebs. Aint gonna be cheap, but the tone will be worth it.

I'd say the JC120 is good for clean only sounds. Also a Fender Twin or (other Fenders depending on your volume needs) Hiwatt, or some Polytones.

How loud do you need it, and are you looking for 100% clean with no grit at all?

Head

The Groove Tube Solo 45 (1X12") has just about the best cleans I've ever heard...its all about clean headroom and has reverb is lightweight and was designed to be pedal friendly...it has been discontinued and replaced by the solo 30 and 50 which I have not yet heard...they can be had pretty cheap...

Plus you can run different power tubes and bias on the fly...I am contemplating getting one to replace my 64 Deluxe which is a great amp but does not have enough headroom for what I do inspite of running a Weber California in it...!!

Chow,
Seegs

Cleans, yeah, I'd think SS. Roland, polytone, etc..

I think the best clean sound is Robert Plant "Big Log" - - a PRinceton REverb and a 50's strat.

Then there's ship of fools - - steinberger EMGs thru solid state stuff.

PEarce? Remember Montrose pushing those? Duncan convertibles? ADA? Rockman Sustainor had a FANTASTIC clean sound. Gotta go back to the 80's for solid state. MOSvalve?

I mean, the threat of tube shortages made SS mfg go into overdrive.

another vote on the GT Soul O'45 (or if you need the extra power, the 75.) light, great headroom (though it really does depend on how loud you need to go), great clean sound, and just about the most pedal-friendly amp i've heard and tried. one of these will definitely be my next amp purchase.

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Originally posted by GuitArtMan:
Hard to beat Fender clean. I'd say a pair of Black Face Deluxe Reverebs would do you well. Or if you need more power maybe a pair of Vibrolux's or Pro Reverebs. Aint gonna be cheap, but the tone will be worth it.

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Hard to beat fender clean, I agree.

The best clean tone I've heard is from my Tone King Comet 40. Which is basically a high powered Deluxe Reverb.

Blackface Twin, Pro or Super Reverb!

I'd have to echo the Fender Deluxe Reverb as well--those are such fun little amps to play!

I'd also have to say the coolest clean I've personally heard (other than the fender)was from my Apollo amp (Dumble SSS clone--now sold ) That was one killer tone!!

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Originally posted by Headshot:
I'd say the JC120 is good for clean only sounds. Also a Fender Twin or (other Fenders depending on your volume needs) Hiwatt, or some Polytones.

How loud do you need it, and are you looking for 100% clean with no grit at all?

Head

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Well, for variety, I do run a couple of overdrives into the JC's, especially when I want the real 80's chorused distortion thing, like when we do "Jesse's Girl" or "Pour Some Sugar on Me." But the amp, of course, provides none of the grit. That's why I'm using a Sansamp Gt2, which is designed to go into a full-range clean system. I wouldn't mind a more bell-like clean sound that could be pushed to slight overdrive, though. I may check out those Fenders or the GT. The Tone Kink Comet sounds cool, too. Just read a review in Guitar Player.

having had my carr slant 6v 2x12 for several years and countless gigs, I have to say it's the best clean amp I've found all around. I've tried so many, from juke to fender to matchless to dr. z to allesandro to whatever...this one just makes the most sense for great clean and versatility.

20 watt cathode bias, 20 watt fixed, 40 watt mixed, good reverb, nice eq sweeps, tight, a little chime added (not common from fenderish style amps) and a nice drive channel to boot.

great amp that even I take for granted sometimes...but it's why I haven't bought any other clean amps for several years and it remains in use. i keep trying other clean amps when they come out from boredom, I think.

I've got a Solo 75. The cleans are definitely in Fender land. If the 45 or 50 etc, are the same as the 75, then you can switch between class A(bassman) or class A/B ((blackface) you can also use ANY power tube. The scream channel doesn't have the Marshall presence or "chung" but it's still a very defined and REfined sound

Solid state amps are good for cleans, but if you want the dynamics of tubes, forget it.


If you want the sweetest Fender tones - go Groove Tubes.
If you want more muscle - go Hiwatt.

Vox amps are pretty nice for cleans, as well.

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Originally posted by Hendrix2430:

Hard to beat fender clean, I agree.

The best clean tone I've heard is from my Tone King Comet 40. Which is basically a high powered Deluxe Reverb.

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Another vote for the Tone King Comet 40B...

where does one find a gt soul 0 45 head anymore? nothing on ebay right now. any place more likely to have them, and at what price would they be had?

i've seen 3 or 4 of them posted on GearNet the last couple of months. most seem to go in the high 5 to 600.00 range for the combo. the head, which i've only seen for sale twice, is somewhat less.

they go really quick though, so you need to jump on em. you might want to post a "Wanted" over there and see if someone bites. i'm going to be getting a '45 or '75 as soon as i sell off a couple of Ampegs i have.

i also saw a couple of NOS ones listed at some dealers, but the price was pretty high, and i can't remember which dealers they were.

jon

Hi AJ...a couple pop up from time to time (heads and combos) over at the Gearpage in the members members classified section for between 550-650...

I want one but I'd have to give up my 64 Deluxe to do it...?? of course not even up!!

That's my dilema as it actually suits what I do better than the Deluxe...??

Chow,
Seegs

GP

If you don't require higher wattage and you're on a budget the Fender Blues Jr. is good bang for the buck. I'd also have to second the Carr Rambler. I laughed at the other guitarist in my band when he walked in with this little amp but when he plugged in and played I laughed no more.

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Originally posted by Guitar George:
If you don't require higher wattage and you're on a budget the Fender Blues Jr. is good bang for the buck. I'd also have to second the Carr Rambler. I laughed at the other guitarist in my band when he walked in with this little amp but when he plugged in and played I laughed no more.

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yes ! another vote for the blues jr. i have a tweed nam edition with a c12n spk. great clean and natural od as you start to crank the amp.
fender got it right on this one. i wish they would make a hand made model. that would be real cool!

Jim Kelley 30/60. Four 6V6s running at high voltage in a tight, tough, toneful combo with a Mesa black shadow 12" speaker. One of the best Fender+ tones out there.

K&M Custom with special sauce. I asked the folks at K&M to carve a Dumbleator into it. Rich and beautiful cleans through a Mad Sound detuned 1x12 with an EV SRO 12". Another great Fender+ tone.

JMI Vox AC30. Mine was rebuilt and super reliable now. Sports a pair of Weber speakers (a P12S and a P12B). Ultimate shimmery clean tone and smells like old tube incense when its been cooking for awhile.

Komet 60. With the wick trimmed back a bit and the amp biased cool with a pair of GE6L6s and amperex tubes in the preamp/PI running through a 1960A with a quad of '70 G12ms, an excellent tough clean like a Marshall, but with the Vox shimmer on top. Really special.

So many good tones out there...I'm just scratching the surface.

Tweed Bassman '59. I'm just a sucker for 10's I guess. My other amps are a Custom Vibrolux Reverb and a Pro Junior.