Good amp for a Danelectro?

powellmacaque · #1 11-18-2009, 12:38 PM

So I am primarily a bassist, but I dabble in guitar occasionally for songwriting or just for fun.

I picked up a Dano '63 for $250 over the summer, and I've been playing it through my GK or my buddy's Marshall.

I would really like to get a proper guitar amp for it, and I kind of want to go for something that goes really well with a Danelectro. I'm going to be playing it for practices and maybe live at bars, and I want to use it for western, folk, garage punk, surf, ska, and stuff like that. Basically I want a good clean tone (I'll probably buy pedals for the effects) but a nice overdriven tone, but nothing too overdriven, just enough to play some early punk tunes.

Any ideas?

RickenBoogie · #2 11-18-2009, 04:37 PM

Buy whatever guitar combo that sounds good to you, and that you can afford. There's alot of choices, but just as buying a bass amp, you need to go test drive many before buying. And, there are no certain amps that go with certain guitars. Play what you like.

powellmacaque · #3 11-18-2009, 06:21 PM

Where's a good place to start to get a classic sound? Vox, Fender, Orange, Marshall?

lunarpollen · #4 11-19-2009, 12:17 PM

How much are you looking to spend? A Fender tube combo with built-in spring reverb would be great. Or an old Ampeg Gemini. Or a Vox AC15.

powellmacaque · #5 11-19-2009, 03:16 PM

Not a fortune. I can't afford a Marshall JCM half stack, so maybe $1500 or less, the cheaper, the better.

I really wish I could find an affordable Mesa, those things sound really good to me, but I just don't have the cash for one.

powellmacaque · #6 11-19-2009, 03:35 PM

Additionally, what are some good wattage ratings? I see 15, 35, 100, and 150 tossed around, which are all really low in the bass world. If I wanted to play with another guitarist and maybe a drummer, how much power is needed?

christw · #7 11-19-2009, 03:39 PM

A medium light hitting drummer and no support, a 5w combo cranked to grittiness can do. Anything 15 and up will keep up when turned up in a loud hard-hitting scenario. Look to higher wattages for cleaner tones at higher volumes. A 50w tuber will keep up clean for your purposes probably. You'll never use all 50 of them and 150 is just hearing loss begging to happen.

I'd sell you a whole darn JCM2000 half stack if you lived closer! The heads resell in the $550 (50w) - $700 (100w) range. Add Marshall 4x12 ($350-$550) and that's still within your price range.

RickenBoogie · #8 11-19-2009, 04:42 PM

I wouldn't go beyond a 15 watter, unless you plan on playing very loud. And, a 1x12 combo is also plenty. Some of my favorites, Vox AC15, (with the Celestion), Fender Blues Jr, and for $1500, you could certainly get a Mesa, like the Express 5:25.

Baskesman · #9 11-20-2009, 05:51 AM

15 Watt might be too tight though if you want to keep it clean, but definately good if you want to crank it up and have a distorted sound.
I read a review on a "new" Marshall Head & Combo yesterday:
The Marshall Haze 15W head or 40W Combo.

But Marshall is that typical Brit Rock sound, maybe not versatile to comply with the range of styles you mentioned? Definately try out VOX and Fender combos or ultimately Mesa and other boutique brands. I always prefered Mesa over Marshall as it's sound got more balls, that might matter since you're a Bass player!