Which Amp, clean warm and sweet?

[RobKay]

I rekon i have one amp build left in me at the age of 66, not really looking for overdrive or distorted sounds...fingerstyle jazz chord melody chet atkins fan.....what should i build?

[sluckey]

Sounds like Ampeg to me.

[xtian]

Showman.

[didit]

Hello --

Good suggestions all. For more ideas, Gibson GA50 per Jim Hall. Or perhaps a variation inspired by Fender "blonde" 6G3 Deluxe. Speaker choices will be important.

Best ..

[didit]

Showman.

Which Showman?

..

[nuke]

Polytone.

Polytone Fusion if you want tubes.

Polytone Brute or Mini Brute for solid state.

[xtian]

Showman.

Which Showman?

..

Standard, 40w blackface Fender thing. I understand the Alembic F2B preamp is a similar tone stack.

[cdemike]

What about a take on the Gretsch Chet Atkins amp (6160)? Schematic involves some unique stuff and pretty easy to strip down to make simpler in a world where we seldom need amps with 6 input jacks. Schematic: https://schematicheaven.net/bargainbin/gretsch_6160.pdf

[B Ingram]

What about a take on the Gretsch Chet Atkins amp (6160)? Schematic involves some unique stuff and pretty easy to strip down to make simpler in a world where we seldom need amps with 6 input jacks. Schematic: https://schematicheaven.net/bargainbin/gretsch_6160.pdf

There's a reason why those amps don't sell for a ba-jillion dollars. And despite the present fad of asking $2k for them, that's double the price they've actually fetched recently.


Despite having Chet's name, I've never seen him play one of those amps. I've built a 25L15, since Chet used that amp most & longest. Even so, I agree with Sluckey: if the player has Chet-chops, they will enjoy an Ampeg with reverb, like the octal-preamp Reverberocket.


https://youtu.be/9eVuDc8BpmY?si=CIkvnRuryV8D9qJp&t=97


The only caveat is depending on your location, it may be cheaper to buy a vintage Ampeg than to build a clone.

[cdemike]

There's a reason why those amps don't sell for a ba-jillion dollars. And despite the present fad of asking $2k for them, that's double the price they've actually fetched recently.


Despite having Chet's name, I've never seen him play one of those amps. I've built a 25L15, since Chet used that amp most & longest. Even so, I agree with Sluckey: if the player has Chet-chops, they will enjoy an Ampeg with reverb, like the octal-preamp Reverberocket.


https://youtu.be/9eVuDc8BpmY?si=CIkvnRuryV8D9qJp&t=97


The only caveat is depending on your location, it may be cheaper to buy a vintage Ampeg than to build a clone.

Huh, didn’t know that, but it stands to reason. Never heard much about Les Paul recording through GA-40s either!

[jabguit]

Or perhaps a variation inspired by Fender "blonde" 6G3 Deluxe.

Never seen a blonde Deluxe - I think you mean Brown Deluxe....

cheers,

[didit]

Marilyn Advises.jpg

[katopan]

I had a client that wanted a jazz amp as a single channel version of the Gibson GA-75 with some specific extras (switchable preamp stage local NFB, effects loop, bright and treble bleed). It turned out very nice for finger style jazz playing.

[B Ingram]

... Or perhaps a variation inspired by Fender "blonde" 6G3 Deluxe. Speaker choices will be important. ...

Never seen a blonde Deluxe - I think you mean Brown Deluxe....

Marilyn Advises.jpg

Unfortunately, the tolex is also brown.

I own the amp below. It is brighter, edgier & mid-pushed more than what is best for copping Chet Atkins tunes.