Grateful Dead Music Forum

tigerstrat wrote:

Crazy 9.5 Fingers wrote: Steve Winwood using one on the 1994 Traffic tour is one specific that springs to mind...

94 Soldier's Field with the GD was one of the highlights of my early concert going experiences (was 19 at the time)

Just came back from the store. I played the vox ac30 and the Mesa Lone star. I would not trade either one of those for the one I have. So I am back to the drawing board.

They were both nice but the vox didnt have a foot switch to change channels and the clean wasnt as nice as my fender. The lonestar had no reverb but I liked it more than the vox but not enough to buy it.

They didnt have a fender supersonic there but they are getting one in. I think that if I am going to stay with a fender, I'll stick with what I have.

I tried a bogner alchemist also and didnt care for that.

You might try a Rivera. Several models. The Thirty-Twelve or Chubster might work. Your get clean (close to fender clean, it is Paul Rivera) and drive on the second channel, plus lots of options to dial in a tone. They do use EL84s instead of 6L6 power tubes and I don't know if that will make it a little less warm than a Fender. They are heavy-but well built and like a Mark series, packs a lot of punch in a small box. Good luck with your search.

Will

i've heard good things about the riveras but haven't played any. I'll see who has some in my area. thanks

PTP

(play the Peavey)

Maybeck09 wrote:You might try a Rivera. Several models. The Thirty-Twelve or Chubster might work. Your get clean (close to fender clean, it is Paul Rivera) and drive on the second channel, plus lots of options to dial in a tone. They do use EL84s instead of 6L6 power tubes and I don't know if that will make it a little less warm than a Fender. They are heavy-but well built and like a Mark series, packs a lot of punch in a small box. Good luck with your search.

Will

Looks like most use EL34. The Pubster 45 is under 1000! Interesting how they reference the Super Champ in the Pubster/Clubster blurb on their site.

I went and looked at some Riveras today. I was very impressed. I really loved the Fandango. The one I really liked was a 55 watt 1x12. It also comes as a fandango 55 watt head and I can get a matching 2 x 12 cab for it. That would also solve the weight problem.

Was a bit pricey though. However the tone and the features were pretty much what I was looking for. So far that is my front runny but I'll have to save up a few more pennies.

jackr wrote:The lonestar had no reverb but I liked it more than the vox but not enough to buy it.

Umm, they do

Damn! I missed it. I even talked to the sales guy about it and he said it had no reverb.
I looked at the front and this is what I saw.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/ ... nt-LG.html



Now going through the mesa site, I see it is on the back.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/ ... Bk-LG.html



http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/ ... nestar.htm

jackr wrote:Damn! I missed it. I even talked to the sales guy about it and he said it had no reverb.

Now going through the mesa site, I see it is on the back.

Dude, you missed alot. The LS really has alot to offer. 2 types of reverb and the switch between diode & tube rectification.
Plus the hard bypass loop and setting the level, etc. It has a lot of features and good tone.

Well I see that now, duh. I will have to go for another test drive. I am not really sure what all that means on the back. And I never really used the effects loop in my fender. I'll have to figure all that out too. When I didnt see the reverb on the front I just took the salesperson's word for it that it didnt have reverb. Much less two different kinds, obviously another guitar center well trained salesperson!

The tone is the most important to me and after hearing the Rivera, it is going to be tough to beat. I have seen some where they they sell a lonestar head. Maybe if I decide I like the tone of the combo amp I can order a head and cab and that will solve the weight issue.

Set the amp to hard bypass the loop.

Set the rect = diodes

Set reverb = warm

This will get you close to a Twin sorta sound.

For hums try (o'clocks) on ch 1:
FULL POWER - push the on switch all the way to the right
G= 10
T = 3
M = 8
B = 10
P = 10

IF you like that then try:
TWEED POWER - push the on switch to the left for a bassman sorta sound with lots of body
Tube rect for that sag & bloom

Not saying this is THE amp for you only that you should give it a proper test drive.

Ok, I went back to GC. I gave the amp a good test drive. I really liked it now. Thanks for the pointers Strumminsix.

They had a combo amp there. I think I'd be better off with the head and cab. And unless GC is ready to deal, I will be damned if I am going to pay full retail or anywhere near that. It is $2400. The combo was $1999 but it is very heavy and I dont want to lug it around. THat is retail and nothing discounted. I'll have to talk to the manager who wasnt in. I know all the guys at my local GC.

So I'll start shopping. If this amp or the Rivera fandago come up for the right price I will most likely jump on it.

I thought the original point was to get a lighter amp for under a about grand?

Mesa F-50: http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/msg/1091027323.html

tigerstrat wrote:I thought the original point was to get a lighter amp for under a about grand?

Mesa F-50: http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/msg/1091027323.html

Yeah it was until I started shopping!! The lighter part I can overcome by using a head and cab instead of a combo. The money part, well that is a different story. You know how that goes once someone gets GAS.

Anyway, I still wont pay retail and I do have a few contacts in the gear business, so I should be able to get a pretty good deal somewhere, but we'll see.