small valve amps

[redeye1964]

Just wondering what amps jeff uses for live/recording? I've got a Ceria Ultra Champ, a 5watt fender copy which sounds great with my reso. Just recently got a Valvetone Impact, a 2 watter which I'm yet to try with any acoustics - pretty ballsy through a 2x10,nice crunch, should be interesting with the reso and a pedal or two!

[Langster]

Hi,
Well my favourite of late has to be my Almach Custom 20 combo - it's all over Chimeradour. Pretty much every song with electric or amped up acoustic is through that amp.
Also the Music Man 112 RD is a mainstay, ditto the Fender Deluxe Reverb, Rex Mascot, Goldentone Reverbmaster 40. I've also used the amp-in-case that came with my old Silvertone electric, particularly on the You Have To Dig Deep To Bury Daddy album and even a tiny Danelectro Bacon and Eggs pedal with a tiny plastic speaker (the overdriven uke solo at the end of Here SHe Comes Again was through that one for instance). Whatever works!

Happy tone hunting! Jeff Lang.

[redeye1964]

I had a chance to get a Musicman 112 nearly 30 years ago, but was a LONG way from home, had to pass it up;
been regretting it ever since. You've got some very desirable amps there, Goldentone,Rex, don't know Almach could trigger more GAS - bugger

[Langster]

Yep GAS (gear acquisition syndrome for those who aren't afflicted), it's a killer. Wait until you catch the recording equipment bug...

Well worth getting onto Alan Kelly at Almach. He has been responsible for the servicing and customising of all my gear for a long, long time now. Almach Amps are on Myspace if you want to find him.

Shame you had to pass up the Music Man, great and strangely under-rated amplifier. It was the entire electrified acoustic sound on my 'Cedar Grove' and 'Everything Is Still' records and I used it in tandem with the Almach on a few songs on 'Chimeradour' too. Really tight low end and the overdrive channel actually sounds really good for either lap steel or amped-up acoustic, not so effective with say a telecaster. The Almach is a beast for all of the above uses: loving it!

Cheers, Jeff Lang.