new build for a friend

[DocJames]

Hi folks, just looking for opinions for a good build for a friend of mine. Thinking 15-20 watts, with a fairly clean tone so that it'll accept pedals well. I had thought about a blackface princeton-ish amp. Anyone else have any suggestions?

James

[dcribbs1412]

Hi folks, just looking for opinions for a good build for a friend of mine. Thinking 15-20 watts, with a fairly clean tone so that it'll accept pedals well. I had thought about a blackface princeton-ish amp. Anyone else have any suggestions?

James

5E3, Marshall 18 watt, 6V6 Rocket...
you'll probably need one of each...and let him decide

Darin

[xtian]

5e3 and 18 watt Marshall = two of my favorite circuits, but NOT clean.

[thejaf]

AB763 with 6L6GC power tubes, delete the vibrato channel. Simple, easy, and sounds great. Minor tweaks and mods aplenty already to experiment with as well.

[Structo]

Yeah, for clean tones a 6L6 amp is good.

Or, have you considered a Rocket?

They are sort of like a 18w but a bit cleaner.

[telentubes]

A 2XEL84 Rocket. My go to amp these days. Easy to build, cheap (Edcor iron), loud (and quiet at idle), clean, a great tone machine. Run it into a Celestion Blue (not so cheap).

[DocJames]

Yeah I'd build a rocket, but that's what I'm using right now . We play in the same band, and I'm looking for something to compliment the rocket in terms of sounds.

The 6L6 type amp is probably the way to go. However, I've been contemplating the 5E3. Its nice and easy, but not a lot of clean headroom.

[Cliff Schecht]

Doc what you described is exactly what I gig with. AB763 with 6V6's running all stock tubes (and voltages dead nuts on). Takes pedals extremely well and is perfect for gigging volumes in bars/clubs. If there is a PA, I turn down, turn my cab towards the wall and mic the amp. If there is no PA I turn the amp towards me and crank it a bit. 6L6's are nice for more headroom but I love the 6V6's when you start to push em!

[telentubes]

I built a 5E3 which is out on permanent loan to one of my cranked up slide playing buddies. Another awesome choice and an easy project. I love the sound, but feel it's a bit of a one trick pony (I'm sure that's just my limitations, not the amps). I'm currently working on another Princeton Reverb (with just one channel and bigger iron), which may be a good choice, and a 100W D style (not so good for your situation).

[ampmike]

5E3 for sure,Talk To Jim D. He built one with a few tweeks and I dont think being too clean is the problem.I believe he did some vids on you Tube.
It is a amazing amp capable of bigBIG sounds,Mike