Tube Amp Selection / Blues & Jazz

I have reached a point in my playing that I am ready to upgrade from a front end modeling amp and solid state amp to a nice tube amp. I want a tube amp that is not too big for home recording yet large enough for small gig venues.

My playing style is simmilar to song by SRV "Riviera Paradise" and Carlos Santanas where you would have a nice clean sound using Dorian, Pentatonic, Blues Scales in conjunction with nice jazz progressions / Blues Progressions.

I play a Les Paul re issue.

I am considering a Traynor 15W Custom Tube Amp that has two channels and the Fender Blues Jr.

I want to find an amp that when you play chords like G13 or a tritone subsitute or B11 the notes ring out like chimes. When I play lead I want to have the option of a really nice bluesy sound to a jazzy clean sound.

Any of you that have experience in blues or jazz would you give me some feedback on Tube Amps.

Remember I am looking for tone not shear volume.

Thanks

Fender Twin Reverb is always a good way to go. You said you want the notes to ring out like chimes..to get that kind of sound, you would want a compressor pedal.

You can't go wrong with Fender. Gibson makes some pretty awsome amps as well. If you like sustaining ringing sounds then you should get a delay or echo pedal. look up the line 6 Dl-4 pedal, I own one and it's awsome!!!! Blues and Jazz is my favorite style of playing as well, I especially love using major and minor modes.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-DL4-Delay-Modeler-Pedal?sku=150380

I really don't like Gibson Tube amps. Gibson although make realy great guitars there tube amps are too muddy. I am not looking for delays, echos, or compressors or any other pedal for an amp. I am looking for a great studio size Tube Amp. The best that I have played with nice features is the Mesa Boogie (lonestar). This amp uses a very nice speaker and has the option of switching from 5W, 15W, and 30W. I have played the Fender Blues Jr., Traynor, Gibson, Epiphone, Crate, and Marshal. They all have a good sound but the Mesa Boogie sounds the best. In the end, I want that will not have microphonics problems and one that will sound crystal clear whan playing chords like A13. I want to be able to hear the 13th to ring out like a bell not echo echo echo out like a delay or delay pedal. Although the Fender Twin is a nice amp for larger gigs it is really too big for the studio. I want to be able to control the crunch sound from my playing and the amp. I am not happy with the soild state solutions out there for good blues and jazz.

Thanks for your post.

Well, the fender twin is known as one of, or THE best amp for crystal clear and clean sounds ever. If that is what you are looking for, I suggest you give one a try. The Mesa Boogie won't begin to compare when it comes to clean tones.

Moonlit,

I will try it. My concern with the Fender Twin is my understanding it is a 40W and when I want to play the crunch sound from the natural distortion of the tube that the volume would have to be way too loud. I have a Guitar Center near me so I will be able to try it out.

I think in the end, this is why so many guitar players have more than one guitar and amp because for specific songs need specific sounds. Thanks for your input.

Like you said, it will be hard to get that crunchy sound out of it, without turning it way up. Most tube amps will be this way. Tube amps sound best at full, or near full volume. If you are looking to get a natural "crunch", then you would be best off getting a very low watt tube amp, that would be bearable at full volume.

I play a peavey classic 30. The design is loosely based around the old fenders except that it has much more versatility. You can go from a nice deep rounded bass sound that is great for playing some cool laid back jazz, to something with more treble for some really funky blues licks and solos. I also find that you really don't have to turn it up that much to make it sing and scream.

Hey check out the new Epiphone Blues custom .I have the valve jr that I'm going to trade in for one of these.getting great reviews

I'm playing blues/jazz 52 years, and went though this dilemma in spades two years ago. Tried everything, but issue is lightweight and clean channel with headroom, good tone. Finally Narrowed it to Tone King Imperial, Swart Atomic and Fender Princeton Reverb (all tube and 30 lbs.). Fender reissued the Reverb last month and I took it. Onboard reverb/trem, 15W, 10" Jensen Vintage speaker (now $800). I changed out all tubes, even rectifier (sag) for NOS. See YouTube video. Now I can grab and go and have toneful, articulate clean single note and rhythm sound. My main axe is Gibson ES-345 with 57 Classic pups and Varitone. Princeton has 6V6 big bottle tubes (not bright EL84's). Jazz works better with softer tubes (6V6 or 6L6) IMHO. Hope this helps. The 6L6 tubes are probably why you like the Mesa.

i really, really suggest you get a big powerful amp, with loads of headroom, and a decent distortion/drive pedal, that has tubes in it. the english muff'n and the lpb 2ube stereo preamp, both from ehx, are pedals that would fit the bill very, very nicely.

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