FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Tube Combo Amp

Question:
I'm looking for a tube combo amp that can get good bluesey to medium gain sounds. I tried out the Fender DeVille but didn't like the overdive (great clean sounds and reverb) Peavey Classic had better overdrive, ok clean but nothing to write home about. I tried out a 30 watt Laney 2x12 combo. I don't know the model number but it was class AB with EL34s. It sounded great but didn't have enough drive. I had to max it out just to get it into SRV territory. Mesa Boogie Lonestar was the best amp that I played but it's $1400 so I'm looking for less expensive alternatives. I'd like an amp that gets the tones in the SRV blues range, but can go a little heavier (not high gain) on distortions as well. Any suggestions?

Answer:
I have the Blues Deville 410 (clean channel use only) and use a TS-9 Tube Screamer for my dirty rhythms. I also use a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive for my dirty leads (just leave the tube screamer on and set the level on the Super Overdrive just a little louder). SRV used a Super Reverb (4-10 combo) and a Vibroverb (1-15 combo) with 2 tube screamers for his sound. The Blues Deville 410 is the closest I've been able to come without buying the Super Reverb. Have you considered a (used)Mesa Boogie Heartbreaker? I have the 2-12 combo (that I actually would like to sell)and yes it can get bluesey and the overdrive channel can give an AC/DC Highway to Hell type of tone/overdrive at its most usable (channel vol/gain around 2 o'clock). I humorously tell people that the overdrive only goes to 1979. No hot-rodded Marshall/high gain/recto sounds here. If you might be interested let me know (mdorto...@yahoo.com) and perhaps we can work something out.