Jazz amps
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trickyrick
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I am not a jazz guy, but I remember reading a couple of Guitar Player articles, and those guy's requested Mark IV's at gigs. I don't remember the Artists, but I thought it was cool that they requested pretty high gain amps for there gigs, as opposed to a JC120 or some similar clean amp.
scottieL
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best modern amp would have to be the lonestar classic or special depending on your volume needs.
as for older mesas, santana uses mark I's and a tube screamer to get his sound so I would assume they would have a great clean base. Have heard alot of guys swear by a Mark III plus single coils for the best cleans. Can personally attest to the cleans on the mark IV, they are crystal clear with ridiculous amounts headroom or can be dialed in to break up at any level you wish. Rhythm 2 can get a great pushed clean sound for bluesier soloing aswell. Not sure what if anything you'd do with the lead channel though. what kind of guitars do you play? what application will it be used in (bedroom, stage, etc.? what kind of jazz are you into particularily
as for older mesas, santana uses mark I's and a tube screamer to get his sound so I would assume they would have a great clean base. Have heard alot of guys swear by a Mark III plus single coils for the best cleans. Can personally attest to the cleans on the mark IV, they are crystal clear with ridiculous amounts headroom or can be dialed in to break up at any level you wish. Rhythm 2 can get a great pushed clean sound for bluesier soloing aswell. Not sure what if anything you'd do with the lead channel though. what kind of guitars do you play? what application will it be used in (bedroom, stage, etc.? what kind of jazz are you into particularily
nosajwp
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I would say Heartbreaker, because that's what I use mine for! Big clean tones, and warm smooth overdrive are possible.
siggy14
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Just take a look at one of the master jazz player uses.
http://www.mesaboogie.com/gallery_artist/art_gall.php?id=334
http://www.mesaboogie.com/gallery_artist/art_gall.php?id=334
Octavarius
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siggy14 said:
The Road Kings have the Lonestar cleans. I'd suspect that being a jazz guy, you wouldn't have use for the high gain channels, therefore: Lonestar Classic or Lonestar Special.
These are absolutely fantastic amps for use in that genre (as well as blues, country, funk, etc.) and the cleans are amazing. I primarily play jazz, and I really didn't find any current Mesa amp that matched that clean (this I say after four days of extensive Boogie-testing at the Musikmesse in Frankfurt...).
It also depends on what kind of jazz you play.. I'm more into a warm, Metheny-esque tone, only more solidbody "wet"-like (in terms tone, not effects), if that makes any sense. More blend of sweet highs/high midrange. His is more dry and high-lacking. The amp can also nail some Scofield-like tones as well... but it depends very on the player, of course.
As far as vintage boogies go, I'd definitely say one of the old Marks (my Mark IIC+ has amazing cleans). I hear the Mark IIBs and Cs are much used for jazz, as well as a lot of IVs... John McLaughlin also used the Mark I a lot, I've heard...
djw
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I 2nd/3rd/15th the Lone Star recommendation for jazz of just about any stripe. No question.
Tweeked
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nosajwp said:
Same for me.The clean channel is great.I did check out a LS same great Mesa clean sound.
ToneAddictJon
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I've used a Mark IIC, III and IV, Maverick, Tremoverb, Heartbreaker, and even my 3 channel DR for jazz and all had very nice outcomes depending on the guitar and pups. I think some of the best jazz tones I ever got were out of my Quad - G-Major - Peavey 50/50 - Mesa 1x12 Open backs and Thieles w/EV's setup. That was a pain to move around though. For gigging and buying today I would go with either a Lonestar Classic Combo, or a Maverick Combo for jazz.
Octavarius
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Since the majority is mainly already talking Lonestars:
I've sometimes noticed, a bit picky detail perhaps, that the Lonestar can be a bit low-end/bass heavy when going for that warm Metheny/Martino tone. I think that switching to EL34s would eliminate or cure that to a conciderable extent at the least. For me personally, it isn't an issue, (I play a solidbody/chambered) but for (semi-)hollowbody/archtop players, I can easily see this causing som low-frequency feedback. So in my opinion; EL34 loaded Lonestar Classic or the EL84 loaded Lonestar Special. :wink:
I've sometimes noticed, a bit picky detail perhaps, that the Lonestar can be a bit low-end/bass heavy when going for that warm Metheny/Martino tone. I think that switching to EL34s would eliminate or cure that to a conciderable extent at the least. For me personally, it isn't an issue, (I play a solidbody/chambered) but for (semi-)hollowbody/archtop players, I can easily see this causing som low-frequency feedback. So in my opinion; EL34 loaded Lonestar Classic or the EL84 loaded Lonestar Special. :wink:
Newysurfer
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I played in a Trad Jazz band for 3 yrs.
Of all the Mesa's I've heard the best cleans and reverb are on the Express 5:50 and the Lonestar.
They're both 6L6 amps with virtually identical cleans & reverb.
A lot of Lonestar owners like to think that amp rules the Mesa cleans but I cannot tell the diff between it and the 5:50.
For Jazz though you don't need much volume so the 5w Class A setting on the 5:50 would probably be plenty for ya.
The 5:50 is also $500 cheaper and a lot lighter.
Check em both out and decide for yourself :mrgreen:
Of all the Mesa's I've heard the best cleans and reverb are on the Express 5:50 and the Lonestar.
They're both 6L6 amps with virtually identical cleans & reverb.
A lot of Lonestar owners like to think that amp rules the Mesa cleans but I cannot tell the diff between it and the 5:50.
For Jazz though you don't need much volume so the 5w Class A setting on the 5:50 would probably be plenty for ya.
The 5:50 is also $500 cheaper and a lot lighter.
Check em both out and decide for yourself :mrgreen:
djw
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Really? I always thought he was a die-hard AC30 guy...fatoni said:
Octavarius
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djw said:
Nah, he has actually used a lot of Marks. Usually seen him with Mark Is or IIIs, and a couple of IIC+s once.
KH Guitar Freak
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Of the ones listed here already, them Blue Angels are good too...
rabies
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Octavarius said:
Amps
VOX AC30 or MESA BOOGIE MARK I reissue
http://johnscofield.com/equipment.html
Scofield is sick (and anyone else who played with miles). leave him alone.
Mike Stern had a couple of Fender combos when I saw him live....
I've had a Mark III and a IV combo. They do have pretty decent clean channels....
