Best amp for an ES?

[Gerardss]

Hey guys

I have been playing mostly vintage single coils (strat, jazzmaster, LP with P-90's, Mosrite) through a series of Fender amps: 63 Blonde Bandmaster, 66 BF Showman (both 6L6 amps); I also have a little 17w Valco-made Gretsch Playboy (1-12).

Now that I have resucitated a long dormant 1967 ES-345, I'm looking to get a bluesier sound that is friendly to humbuckers. I am assuming that my 345 will probably be kinder to El-84 amps (Marshall, Vox, Peavey). Is this true?

So.. which amp do you suggest I get to play blues/rock with my 345? As you can see I have very nice amps, and would prefer something, let's say "really good" without having to go vintage if avoidable. I don't know much about the newer Marshall combos (such as the jtc-600) or the Peavey Delt Blues 30 (mixed reviews on HC).

I'm looking at maybe a combo, 20 to 60W max, 112 or 115 or something like that. Does anyone here have any suggestions?

Just for the record, my 335/345 hero is Alvin Lee; I would LOVE to aproximate that sound without having to carve-in a third pickup. I'm already having the Varitone removed and getting a 335 harness installed. I don't know which exact pu's I have on my 345 but they should be hot enough to play some "I'm comming home", I hope :) My 345 is Burgundy Sparkle Red with gold hardware and pu covers (Freddie King had one just like mine).

Thanx in advance
gerry

[Joe-Bob]

It should sound good with the amps you have. My '73 335 sounds good through any amp.

You said you're a long-time single-coil player...you just need to re-learn what you know about amp settings.

[Wally]

I agree with JOe....any amp and learn the settings that work.
I saw A. Lee in '72 in San Francisco....I can't really recall what amps he was using, but Marshalls come to mind.
RE: mods to the ES-345 You might have your tech thrown the neck pup into the Peter Green mode so that the middle position yields a thinner out-of-phase sound....B.B. King's guitars are wired this way, too. I don't know how Alvin Lee's 3-pup semi was wired; but if it was wired like a 3-pup Gibson L.P., the middle switch position yields the bridge andmiddle pups out-of-phase. Something to think about since you have been a single coil guy for so long. You could have a 'home away from home'...
Re: mods I have had an ES-345 since '67. The best amp for one of these is a true stereo amp or two identical amps...one for each pup. Since you are negating the stereo function this is of no consequence to you, but there is a huge sound waiting for a player who runs a true stereo rig with a Gibson Stereo guitar. I keep a couple of Fender Super Champs for this use.

[dsharman]

Here's a link to a previous thread on this topic. Maybe it will help. I have found that my 335 sounds great through all of my amps once I get the settings to my liking. The amps you have should work well for you.

http://www.gibson-talk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=641

[mad dog]

My 335 is like a tele, sounds good through almost any amp. But these are my favorites:

late 50s Gibson GA40
'62 Twilighter 260 (same as magnatone)
Sewell Wampus Cat (sorta tweed pro)
Fender '57 Tweed Twin RI

[cantom]

You might consider the Fender Blues Deluxe. It is rated at 40 watts and has a single 12" Eminance speaker. I also use a Blues Junior which is rated at the loudest 15 watts I have ever heard.
Best take your guitar out on a shopping trip and see what it sounds like. The shop I deal with lets me take the amps out on a gig to try them. After dealing with them for about 25 years, the sort of trust me.
I am using an Epi Sheraton, LP Ultra, 85 Strat and a 65 Tele. They all sound great through these amps.
Good Luck

[59bassman]

Hi Guys,

I have come here to Amp 'hack' too! First post!

When I finally got my 335 after 32 years of waiting(!) last fall, I then realised it should have the best amp to match. BUT, this is not such an easy thing as the darkness of the 335 means you do have to be careful what you use to get that perfect tone you have in your head!

So, here are my findings to date based on my personal experience only.

I started off with my stock Session Rocket 30 ss amp which I have had since '86 and actually, it wasn't half bad (I now realise!!) as has super clean channel and you can blend in some OD to get a half decent 'Tweed edge'. But I thought 'Only Tubes will do'... so as money was tight to start with I got an Epi V Jr combo after reading all the hype - it went back straightaway - too boxy. Got the head unit instead and matched to a Celestion V30 c1x12 cab... hmmm... was unconvinced, then picked up a 59Bassman and this also was not the match made in heaven I thought it would - not without a pedal or two. Then got a Pignose G40V - Ah! Getting close now. So, the Bassman and the V jr were moved-on as the Pig did both better and is so articulate it can be brown or blue, loud or quiet. BUT I find the V30 speaker in the 1x12 ext cab a tad too dark for the 335 and prefer the Pig's 10" onboard.

Now, I have added a Cornford Roadhouse 30 and if you want hi-gain then you get it, but not what I want from my 335 - from my LP yes - they are perfect partners. It is essentially a modern equiv of a Marshall Bluesbreaker...

So, still somewhat disappointed.

Then a contact showed me some of his gear and amongst the pedals was a Proel DS10 distortion pedal that was giving super blues tones when mixed in with his rig. So I grabbed a used one off ebay and hey! Suddenly, with the Cornford (and its V30) it makes the 335 come alive! Super Texas growl at low volumes, no shrillness or mud... It is an extremely bright pedal with attitude - no fizz/fuzz and so adds needed articulation to the mix.

So I actually have 3 amps that give equal good tonal clarity but each different: The super clean Session (Moss Fet Clelstion G12 30w); The US flavored brown tones of the Pignose (3x12AX7 2x6L6 40w) and both hi gain grunt standard from the Cornford (3xEC83 2x EL34 Celestion V30 30w) and when using the Proel DS10 - Fendery DR (blue!) 'spanky' blues tones.

So, I have come to the conclusion that the guitar gives such a wide range of tones, that you have to work at understanding them all and really getting down to detail - unlike a Strat for instance, which is what it is always near as dman it.

BUT, still I want a sexy Tweed - 57 Deluxe maybe... being here in UK, am starved of all the fantastic US 5e3 'OEM' offerings like the fabulous Richter 'Tweed Deluxe'...

Hope this provides food for thought.

[indianation66]

Emulating a hero is admiral, but discovering your own voice is key. Of course, the songwriting is real window that opens opportunity.
My British tube KMD 60 is a powerhouse and unique. However, I still love my Roland JC 120, which is not unique. Whether I play my 335, Gretsch Super Axe, Rick 330, Reverend Club King, or any other guitar, the JC provides a chambered sound that is big. Some forum brothers may prefer the distinct glass sound of old tubes, hence, for me, my KMD. It's all good and again, a man's ears provide the real tone!

Indian Folklore and Wisdom--Love, Learn, Listen

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[colimodio]

Get the re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb - 15Watts- (not a point-to-point wired)but it has rectifier. REAL GOOD sound!!
Swart makes real point to point(s), too! The Space Tone is my fav.
Also, if U can, get a GA-5 from Gibson...they are discountinued, but eBay and craig list has them sometimes...
same for the CRATE V16...but no recto in this one. But it sounds real sweet..
good luck!!

[59bassman]

...to follow up on my earlier post here... only a few weeks and in meantime have grabbed a Tweed Deluxe off ebay. Well, I am learning the inconsistencies of old circuit design... but I had the 335 and the Tweed up at 75% and was treated to the most organic, rich, rockiest tones ever to stumble from my inept fingers... I nearly got wood! Fantastic... shame I can only get to this Nirvana between 3pm and 4.30pm every Thursday when the bloody neighbors go shopping (old couple - but not old enough ie DEAF!)...

[JohnnyCrash]

I'd like to hear an update on gerry's 345 :)

+1 59Bassman, 5E3's are pretty magical.

I was going to say the Valco/Gretsch is likely similar to a 5E3 tweed Fender Deluxe, but darker on the top (no cathode bypass on the 6V6's) and thinner in the mids (smaller coupling caps, which may actually balance the top a bit). If coming from single coils to humbuckers and wanting similar sounds, but brighter and meatier, a 5E3 would be close to the Valco/Gretsch, but maybe brighter for a single coil guy using humbuckers.

Otherwise, the Bandmaster and Showman should sound fantastic.

As far as emulating hero's tones... aint nothing wrong with that.

Plug your hero into any guitar/amp and you'll still recognize the playing - plug any of us into our hero's guitar+amp and we'll still sound like ourselves - and not like our hero. It's all bought from the same mortal factories, regardless of who you are :)

Tone is in the equipment, talent/individuality is in the hands.