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(Now New Amp Day) Amp suggestions to compliment a JTM-45. Thinking Bassman or AC30?

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
I'm going to be doing some recording soon and need another amp to create some separation in the mix. I'm currently using a handwired JTM45 through 55hz greenback's. I was thinking of getting either a '59 style Bassman or one of the early 60's piggyback's to compliment it. But I'm wondering if I should go with something less similar like an AC30? It's a tough call because I think I'd like the Bassman on its own better than an AC30. But the AC30 might be better in terms of standing out in a mix against my JTM45.
 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,017
Everything you said is right.
I can't help you much.
A JTM45 is virtually a Bassman.
If you like 4-speaker combos, consider a Super Reverb.
Different enough from the Marshall, and great enough to be gigged on its own.
Perfect club amp and great recording amp.
Microphones love 10s.
 

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
Everything you said is right.
I can't help you much.
A JTM45 is virtually a Bassman.
If you like 4-speaker combos, consider a Super Reverb.
Different enough from the Marshall, and great enough to be gigged on its own.
Perfect club amp and great recording amp.
Microphones love 10s.
That actually does help put me in the right direction. It does seem like getting a Bassman is a bit redundant if those are my only 2 amps. And I almost bought a couple so I'm kind of glad I didn't. I don't have a particular thing for a 4 speaker combo but I'll check out the Super Reverb. I don't know much about them. I know that I at least want a twin of some kind.

There is a 1964 AC30 that came up for a pretty great price. But it's beat to hell and I have very little info on it. If it's in good working condition, I feel like that's one of those amps you can't go wrong with.
 

charliechitlins

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Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,017
A 4x10 disperses sound like no other.
Maximum spread, minimum beam.
If you stand 10' in front of it, you hear what the house hears.
This not only helps you to keep your stage mix/volume right, but you get to fully enjoy your cool amp.
For so many years, I had to walk out I to the house (long cord or wireless) to find out how my guitar sounded out there.
I've had combos that were s beamy that if I got 10' to the side on a big stage, I couldn't hear the amp AT ALL.
 

Any Name You Wish

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Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Messages
493
For recording I recommend adding one of the many high quality 1x12 tube combos on the market. The Bassman might be too similar to the JTM to get what you are looking for. Add an AB-Y to combine the JTM and the small combo for some really beautiful clean tones, especially if you have a reverb tank. I use a Victoria 5112 combined with my Bassman, but you could go with a blackface Fender 1x12 too. Another amp I like is the Victorilux 3x10 for a bit more sparkle than the Bassman.

The comments on the single speaker amp and beaming are spot on.
 

jb_abides

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Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
Can't add more than concur. One of my favorite rig set-ups is my Soultone JTM clone with AC30HW in ABY.
 

Graffy

New member
Joined
Feb 16, 2023
Messages
8
Hi,
for the amp model to choose I do not have too much experience except that I love the JTM45.
On the other hand, to help you in your choice, I advise you to try the different amp models first in modeling (plugins)... This will give you an idea of the rendering and when you have selected a model you switch to the real one. .
 

Gridlock

Well-known member
Joined
May 16, 2019
Messages
287
My amp needs are Marshall and Fender. I’d suggest a vintage SF or BF Fender combo amp with Reverb as an alternate.

I have never owned or spent any time with a Vox amp.

Never really tried a Vox amp since I’ve not had good experiences with other brands of EL84 powered amps.

Even so, I would still love to test out a nice AC15HW sometime.
 

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
For recording I recommend adding one of the many high quality 1x12 tube combos on the market. The Bassman might be too similar to the JTM to get what you are looking for. Add an AB-Y to combine the JTM and the small combo for some really beautiful clean tones, especially if you have a reverb tank. I use a Victoria 5112 combined with my Bassman, but you could go with a blackface Fender 1x12 too. Another amp I like is the Victorilux 3x10 for a bit more sparkle than the Bassman.

The comments on the single speaker amp and beaming are spot on.
That's a great idea. I hadn't thought about using a small combo that way. I have a Danelectro 6100 reverb tank that I found for $150. It adds a really nice top end that just opens up the amp. Just putting a hair of reverb on there sounds incredible. It can go very surfy and psychedelic but I think its secret weapon is at low levels. I'll have a look at those combos.
 

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
Hi,
for the amp model to choose I do not have too much experience except that I love the JTM45.
On the other hand, to help you in your choice, I advise you to try the different amp models first in modeling (plugins)... This will give you an idea of the rendering and when you have selected a model you switch to the real one. .
That's kind of the problem. I love my JTM45 so much that I don't want to buy an amp that I'll like less. Best cleans I've heard and the overdrive is so classic.

Interesting suggestion with the modelers!
 

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
My amp needs are Marshall and Fender. I’d suggest a vintage SF or BF Fender combo amp with Reverb as an alternate.

I have never owned or spent any time with a Vox amp.

Never really tried a Vox amp since I’ve not had good experiences with other brands of EL84 powered amps.

Even so, I would still love to test out a nice AC15HW sometime.
I'm in the same boat. I have little to no experience with Vox's. They just seem to be the most sonically different out of the classic amps. I'm seeing a lot of suggestions for a SF or BF combo. I was always intimidated but the number of variations. I have no idea how anyone picks a favorite out of all of those. When you're looking for something like an AC30 or JTM45, it's much easier to narrow down the options. I think I'd just have to try some locally until I found one I liked and not worry about hunting down a specific model.
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,853
I like the idea of adding vox as a different tone to try. Bassmans are so close to the JTM-45 sound anyway. well, the tube rect versions are. JTM45 can get pretty "voxy" but not quite as chimey as those EL84s. I like the AC15 (just got one with a Blue in it! My other Vox is a '64 Cambridge Reverb with 12" blue in it.

The Vox has a weird EQ setup and is interactive with the top boost channel. Takes some getting used to. But, a great choice to compliment the JTM-45
 

Any Name You Wish

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Messages
493
I like the idea of adding vox as a different tone to try. Bassmans are so close to the JTM-45 sound anyway. well, the tube rect versions are. JTM45 can get pretty "voxy" but not quite as chimey as those EL84s. I like the AC15 (just got one with a Blue in it! My other Vox is a '64 Cambridge Reverb with 12" blue in it.

The Vox has a weird EQ setup and is interactive with the top boost channel. Takes some getting used to. But, a great choice to compliment the JTM-45
I have never been able to get an AC15 or 30 to work for me. That dang bright switch just gets way too bright. There are mods for it though. Crazy bright amps. So bright you have to wear shades. So bright the dark side of the moon is lit up. For recording you probably want something to blend in and add a dimension. Something that is complementary to the JTM. I don't the the Vox is going to do that because, well you know, that dang bright switch.
 

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
I like the idea of adding vox as a different tone to try. Bassmans are so close to the JTM-45 sound anyway. well, the tube rect versions are. JTM45 can get pretty "voxy" but not quite as chimey as those EL84s. I like the AC15 (just got one with a Blue in it! My other Vox is a '64 Cambridge Reverb with 12" blue in it.

The Vox has a weird EQ setup and is interactive with the top boost channel. Takes some getting used to. But, a great choice to compliment the JTM-45
I think there's a good chance I'm going to go for a 1964 AC30 head. It has the top boost and vibrato (which I would love.) The head would be really convenient and I save a bunch of money not buying a combo. All the mid 60's Vox's I've heard sound pretty darn great. They don't have that shrillness that some of the new ones have. I should also mention I have a blues deluxe tweed reissue. So I already have a Fender combo. I'm just not super impressed with that amp. It always sounds a bit choked on recordings. It really doesn't hold up if I have my JTM-45 on one side and the Blues Deluxe on the other.
 

Graffy

New member
Joined
Feb 16, 2023
Messages
8
That's kind of the problem. I love my JTM45 so much that I don't want to buy an amp that I'll like less. Best cleans I've heard and the overdrive is so classic.

Interesting suggestion with the modelers!
I can understand the jtm45 has a really nice grain.
I discovered this rendering thanks to my little Spark 40 from positive grid which has a lot of models from Marshall including the JTM45 and of course other models from Fender or Vox or Orange..ect..
Maybe a track to try a lot of amps ..
46E725A6-9B22-44F8-B478-FA5AE438C9F1.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Icandrive55

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Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
Well... it's a done deal :) I went for a '64 AC30 head. The price was too good to pass up. Been doing this long enough that when I see something from a golden era at an affordable price, I know you get one chance at it. The music I'm working on sounds very 60's rock influenced so I don't know that there's a better choice for amp #2. I also use a 60's Vox Tonebender so will be pretty cool to pair those up.

It was very helpful to see the pretty much unanimous response against going with a Bassman. I wasn't expecting that. Will let you all know how the AC30 sounds when it arrives!
 

Wilko

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If you think a JTM-45 has great clean, you'll be blown away by the vox. I've never played one with a closed back cab.

I recently did the hardware to fit a JMI AC30 into a handmade head cab in fawn tolex.
 

Icandrive55

Active member
Joined
Oct 26, 2019
Messages
166
Yeah.. the JTM isn't really known for chimey cleans. But what I love about it is how much usable low end it has. It's just big and fat and really pleasing on the ears. There's no harshness in the high end at all. I also like that you really hear what a specific guitar sounds like plugged into it. It doesn't make them all sound kind of the same.

I'll eventually track down a 2x12 open cab for the Vox. My Marshall cab has pre Rola Greenback's so I imagine that will still sound pretty darn good for now. But would eventually like to have the traditional setup.
 
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