Ultimate Jazz Guitar Amp

[Vic J]

Great post by Jazz Oud......I think thats the reason why arch top players like the Polytone and Evans amps...I prefer the grit from the tubes.....When I am not using my Fuchs I play through a 1969 Silver Face Twin or a new Black Face reissue Twin.....The new black face series amps are all pretty good....

[Jeff Smith]

Originally Posted by jazz oud

Here's how I look at it: a Deluxe will usually get as loud as a trumpet or saxophone without distorting. If you're louder than the horns, you should all be going through a PA anyway.

Exactly. Stage volume level should always be comfortable, plus the rhythm section should always play under the soloist, so they are not forced to blare if they want to use some gentler dynamics. I hate it when a zombie rhythm section forces me to scream to be heard when I solo....dumb hacks!

[jazz oud]

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith

the rhythm section should always play under the soloist, so they are not forced to blare if they want to use some gentler dynamics. I hate it when a zombie rhythm section forces me to scream to be heard when I solo....dumb hacks!

+100000000000

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by jazz oud

I've played in plenty of combo situations with a DR and had plenty of volume without distortion. Nothing like a "scofield" sound.

Oh, don't get me wrong - by 'loud drums', I'm talking about drummers who are primarily rock and metal guys - or contemporary Nashville session players.... I've certainly done gigs with that sort of drummer (and guitarists with Deluxe Reverbs) where the amp had a bit of a distortion issue...

[paolojazz]

I often ask myself why Something that comes later is always worse than Something that comes earlier.

I was looking for a Polytone and people told me: the old ones have a better sound.

Looking for something cheaper: Roland Cube 80X. I read somewhere the Cube 60 has a better clean sound.

Not to speak about the guitars.

I wonder if all these opinions are really true.
I think the only way to express opinions having some foundations is comparing two amps (or guitars) at the same time in the same place for several days.
It is already difficult finding a new Polytone (at least where I live).
Comparing a new one and an old one is something almost impossible for me to do.

[jazz oud]

Originally Posted by paolojazz

I often ask myself why Something that comes later is always worse than Something that comes earlier.

I was looking for a Polytone and people told me: the old ones have a better sound.

Looking for something cheaper: Roland Cube 80X. I read somewhere the Cube 60 has a better clean sound.

Not to speak about the guitars.

I wonder if all these opinions are really true.
I think the only way to express opinions having some foundations is comparing two amps (or guitars) at the same time in the same place for several days.
It is already difficult finding a new Polytone (at least where I live).
Comparing a new one and an old one is something almost impossible for me to do.

This is an interesting question.

I think there is something to the older=better idea in many cases.
A speaker will open up a bit after being played a lot, electronic components may 'drift' in various ways that a lot of people find pleasing, wood opens up as a guitar is played, etc. Not to mention that amps were mostly built more solidly up until the mid-70s when everything started getting put on circuit boards, and higher-quality wood for guitars used to be more abundant.

Some of it does seem to be automatic preference for older gear without any reason.
One thing that does come up in comparison of a particular model is that old amps tend to each be unique (due to manufacturing variances and component drift), while new amps will all be very similar.
E.g., all the Deluxe Reverb reissues I've played sound nearly identical, but every vintage Deluxe Reverb I've played sounds different. I've come across old DRs that don't sound half as good as my reissue, and ones that blow it out of the water.

IMO, the newer Polytones sound fine, some of the old ones sound better, but lots of the old ones sound worse. And I've played lots of both.

If you buy something new, it will sound like vintage in 10 years . . .

[paolojazz]

I am resurrecting this old (and very interesting thread).
I just wanted to say that, over the last six months I bought two amps:

Henriksen JazzAmp 112 ER, works fine with jazz guitars, you get a nice warm traditional jazz tone. A bit on the dark side.

Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue (tube amp): really nice both with jazz guitars and solid body. This amp (as for me) is fantastic and, I think, better than the Hot Rod.
It does not have the drive channel, but the clean and reverb are stellar.

I get plenty of volume from the Henriksen, and I had no problems in live gigs.
I did not have occasions of playing live with the DR yet , so I still have to experiment and see if the power (22 Watts) is enough for a live gig, but I would say so.

Someone suggested to use both at the same time.
I wonder if the two amps would work well together, considering they are completely different in wattage and tone (this can be adjusted a bit).

[Vic J]

If you hook them up in stereo you may get a buzz out of one of the amps...You may have to ground lift one of them....Should be an interesting match up, one solid state, one tube......Let us know how it works out....I used to play stereo with 2 twin reverbs,,,,,(when i was a little younger!!!)

[MonarKc]

I got a cube 80XL and I dig the JC-120 clean on such a compact little box

[Dragan Cvetkovich]

Hi everyone,

Just got me the HR Deluxe and I'm very pleased with its performance with all 3 guitars - es 175d, LP Custom and my old 1981 Strat.

I've read that many of colleagues changed the fender speaker to get better tone overall. Which one to go with, any recommendations? Not really interested in cost but rather performance of this nice amp.

Many thanks

[paolojazz]

Originally Posted by Vic J

If you hook them up in stereo you may get a buzz out of one of the amps...You may have to ground lift one of them....Should be an interesting match up, one solid state, one tube......Let us know how it works out....I used to play stereo with 2 twin reverbs,,,,,(when i was a little younger!!!)

I hooked them up in stereo (Henriksen and Deluxe Reverb) and I got the buzz out of one of the amps. I used a pedal with a stereo output. I did not use a proper A/B box, like those lehle switchers.

By using completely different amps, I think the volumes should be properly adjusted to one's own taste.
The effect I liked is that of having a dominant nice clean of Deluxe Reverb with some fattening of the sound coming from the henriksen.