OK, maybe this is heresy here at the world o' tubes, but my rig tends to incorporate both solid state and tube amps (currently 2 JC-120's and a Soldano). I use the tube amp about 50% of the time, but the solid states when I want something crystal clear clean.

But two JC-120's take up an awful lot of space in the backseat of my Prism, so now I'm thinking of looking for something smaller.

Has anyone had experience with the Polytone mini-brute? It's a 1x12 combo with 125 watts. Definitely smaller.

I'd also consider (maybe prefer, even) a couple of tube amps, if I could find something light that was powerful enough to stay 100% clean at stage volumes (I play next to an awfully loud drummer).

The Polytone is a great amp but it will be WAY darker and uni-directional than the JC's. It's a 'jazz' combo amp and pretty specialized. I've had a mini-brute since the late 70's. You know, those solid state Fenders are really not too bad - especially for the 'crytal-clean tone' thing (?). There also small, light, and loud.

What about the Acoustic Image amps? They're extremely powerful but small and light. I know Pat Martino plays through one.

I'm thinking about the Contra combo--250 watts, and 25 lbs!

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Originally posted by klasaine:
The Polytone is a great amp but it will be WAY darker and uni-directional than the JC's. It's a 'jazz' combo amp and pretty specialized. I've had a mini-brute since the late 70's. You know, those solid state Fenders are really not too bad - especially for the 'crytal-clean tone' thing (?). There also small, light, and loud.

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I agree Klasaine. Its a jazz amp that sounds good with a Jazzbox. I tried it with a fender once, and it didn't sound to good. You could try looking into an old Acoustic SS Amp, if you can find one. Very clean, very loud, but they do tend to be big. Albert King used one for long time.

I ocassionally use a Roland JC-50 for clean studio stuff. I picked one up on FleaBay a while ago for $100.00 + Shipping. It has a single Roland 12" speaker, and sounds a lot like a JC-120 without the stereo chorus. It does have mono chorus & vibrato. It is a very loud 50 SS watts.

Avoid the Polytone, and try out a Fender Stage 100 SS amp. If you want real crystal clean sound with huge headroom, the only option is a pair of Twins. Invest in a back brace!

All due respect....dude, just get a bigger sled. A Prism? Save your dough for a descent used (bigger) car. Those JC 120s are awesome clean amps.

I'm sure I'm in the minority but I think Polytones are awesome!! I'd take one over a jc-120 anyday. They are really thick sounding, the best bass response for any amp at it's size around. The problem is they are made for darker sounds, so the amp and the speaker won't last long when you play them loud in a rock setting. I usually get them for about $100 and I've had so many it's hard to recall, but some of the configs I've had are 1x12, 1x15, 2x12, 1x15 and 1x8, 1x12 and 1x5 , 1x12 + 1x8 +2 horns, etc... They are awesome in a 2 amp setup, I've always used a tube amp...Hiwatt and a Polytone for a huge sound, but the polytone rarely last more than 3 months before it starts to spit blood.

I'd seriously check out a discontinued Groove Tubes Solo 45 combo...probably the best clean tones I've yet heard from an amp and it was made to be pedal friendly...you can also change power tubes and bias on the fly for different flavors...!!

Chow,
Seegs

Thanks for the input. Yeah, beckanon, I am saving for an SUV. But part of the problem with the JC-120's is stage room, too. With all three of my amps (both Rolands and my Soldano--soon to be replaced by a Carmen Ghia or Univalve), I take up about 7 ft. of side-to-side stage space. That works 60% of the time, but 7 ft. is an awful lot of real estate on some of the stages we have to play.

That's one reason I'm actually considering the Acoustic Image Contra. It's powerful, but really small (and light). I wouldn't want to spend 800 bucks ($1600 for two of them) and have them start to "spit blood" like mr.cliche's Polytones.