New Today, Iconic Tomorrow

[pauliebass]

Is there too much innovation too quickly today for any head or combo to stand the test of time? Is there one "newer" design today that you feel will be desirable in 25 years? What's the next B-15? (not that there needs to be) I tend to think amps are like cars or computers now... gotta have the new fancy one with the extra horsepower and 32 gigs of RAM every 3-4 years. Good or bad, it is what it is.

I understand there are plenty of you who will say they have used the same amp for 25 years, and I dig that, but then that wouldn't be a "newer" design now would it?

I know, "shut up and play a tube amp"

[escaraBAJO]

That's a good question and I bet at least some of the amp makers consider it for their designs.
What are the features that make an amp survive the test of time? Innovation? Tone? Reliability?
I don't think weight, extra features (tuner, effects), or power are important.

[JimiLL]

Anything Genz Benz

[dsanders]

Serious contenders for B15ish satus:

1. Aguilar DB 750
2. Eden WT 800
3. SWR SM900
4. Mesa 400+
5. MB 200
7. Streamlier 900

Most of us will agree with 2 or 3 on this list. My SM900 will never leave me and I'm beginning to feel the same about the DB 750.

[pauliebass]

Good choices on that list.

[staindbass]

i dont think anything that is currently manufactured will be as sought after in 25 years as the b15 is now. those amps were above the competetion in sound and tone, but i think todays gear has reached a plateau.

[rpsands]

The next gear to get infested with some kind of weird mojo is probably the GK 800 RB, and a bunch of other random solid state amps that got used a ton.

I keep thinking some of the older toroidal class A/B amps will catch on. Maybe. You will hear people natter on about the peavey Mark VI for example sounding "way louder than its watts suggest" and similar with some of the Acoustic stuff.

Maybe.


* Regarding currently new stuff, the industry is changing so fast and these amps seem so disposably priced that I doubt you will see any of them in 10 years. Very very few. They'll all be replaced by 50 gram 318139518 watt amps the size of your ipod.

[Boostedrex]

I could see the Streamliner making the "Iconic" list in time. Same for some of the TC Electronic gear.

[RickenBoogie]

Mesa Walkabout Scout.

[seungkoo]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Mesa Walkabout Scout.

Bingo

[zachoff]

Kinda happened already but the Peavey VB will be/is the new "What tube amp to start with?" IMO...

[escaraBAJO]

Originally Posted by rpsands

* Regarding currently new stuff, the industry is changing so fast and these amps seem so disposably priced that I doubt you will see any of them in 10 years. Very very few. They'll all be replaced by 50 gram 318139518 watt amps the size of your ipod.

This. I guess GAS (translated as "i don't need this but It's new so i have to get it") has a lot to do with it.

This is a question best answered by the proffesional musicians

[dmrogers]

Good question. Assuming you are referring to very recent offerings, I can't think of anything, with my limited knowledge.
For the most part, they seem small, light and cheap. This could be a misconception, but that is my thoughts.

However, I would say that the following should be desirable:

Thunderfunk heads. A proven design improved upon!

Aguilar DB series. They just rock!

Gallien Krueger RB series. Solid, well known, dependable!

Mesa heads. They seem to be solidly built!

Possibly the Genz Benz GBE and Shuttlemax series. I would consider owning a shuttlemax.

I would think the Ampeg SVT head to still be in demand. It is a legendary head.

Personally, when a head get too small, I become concerned with long term reliability issues. Probably unfounded, but that's my concern.

[skb5string]

GK 800 RB
SWR SM-900 (Pre Fender)
SWR SM-400(s) (Pre Fender)
Mesa Boogie 400+

These are 4 that you will see..some are already 20 years or older

[Joe Gress]

GK RB series. How many years strong and counting now?

[escaraBAJO]

Originally Posted by Joe Gress

GK RB series. How many years strong and counting now?

+1

[MK1]

I think the 800rb is already kind of a classic in it's own right. In the day of 3-5lb 1,000w amps what other 20lb 300w solid state amp is being used as widely. I think when there are claims that "this version is better than that version" (horizontal switch/red LED vs vertical switch/green LED) then it has arrived at classic status. Plus it's almost 30years old (1983 was the first year I believe).

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by MK1

I think the 800rb is already kind of a classic in it's own right. In the day of 3-5lb 1,000w amps what other 20lb 300w solid state amp is being used as widely. I think when there are claims that "this version is better than that version" (horizontal switch/red LED vs vertical switch/green LED) then it has arrived at classic status. Plus it's almost 30years old (1983 was the first year I believe).

+1, I'm sensing a trend here for GK.

That said, you can argue in favor of Mesa 400/+ being on the short list besides a few others mentioned already.

Have amps plateaued? Maybe, but like any other piece of technology, there's always another rise on the S curve somewhere down the line so it ain't over yet.

[JimmyM]

Today's B-15 is the Heritage B-15.



I don't know if any other amps have hit the status of the SVT. However, I do realize that not everyone likes the SVT. Trouble is, there doesn't seem to be much agreement about what the top SS amp is like there is on the tube amp side. And until one emerges as THE solid state amp to have, it's probably going to be a big dogfight where one amp really never emerges supreme.

[B-string]

You have to hand it to G-K though, SAME owner and designer that first made its appearance at Woodstock with Santana. How many other brands can say that?