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Dan C · October 12th, 2011, 03:05 PM

So,

Am I right in saying headroom is the amount of clean sound your amp can push out before it starts to break up?

And to your experience what amp has the most clean headroom?!

D

Michiel · October 12th, 2011, 03:09 PM

Yes you are.

Loudest cleans?
Fender Twin Reverb or Showman (Reverb), preferrably silverface or blackface.

EAR-BLEEDING-LOUD-CLEANS!

brian blaut · October 12th, 2011, 03:09 PM

Silverface Twin reverb.

Dan C · October 12th, 2011, 03:41 PM

Awesome! I'm learning

So in comparison, Where does a Bassman rank?

gigatron · October 12th, 2011, 03:43 PM

Fender 300PS.

Skev · October 12th, 2011, 03:52 PM

Silverface twin reverb 135w version. Nice amp

Michiel · October 12th, 2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan C

Awesome! I'm learning

So in comparison, Where does a Bassman rank?

The bassman has a 2x6l6gc output stage, while the twin and the showman have 4 6l6gc tubes driving the speaker.

So, the twin and showman will be twice as loud as the bassman.

The Marlin · October 12th, 2011, 04:27 PM

A vintage bassman should break up pretty early, maybe 3 or 4 on the volume knob. Its part of it's unique sound.

Synchro · October 12th, 2011, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan C

Awesome! I'm learning

So in comparison, Where does a Bassman rank?

The 45 Watt, '59 Bassman has very little headroom. The newer, blonde tolex Bassman has more but is a somewhat darker, warmer sound than the Blackface Twin which is very clear and has a lot of headroom.

Basically, any Blackface Twin will stay clean up to the point of permanent hearing loss. My '65 RI has been used for any number of outdoor gigs and I've never had it close to breakup, not even close to close. The Blackface Twin will eventually breakup but it has a fairly wide plateau of semi-overdriven sound before it fuzzes out. Think of Hendrix' sound on The Wind Cries Mary.

MaBerY · October 12th, 2011, 05:54 PM

Mmmmm!.Do you mean Max Headroom ?

, Sorry, could not resist

Seriously, A SF twin with orange JBL's (have one, ouch, my back)

Michiel · October 13th, 2011, 01:55 AM

haha, M. There's a pic from the past!

checugs · October 13th, 2011, 07:38 AM

I just pulled out my old SF Fender Twin Reverb (with JBLs) from storage just last week and can confirm those things have crazy headroom and are louder than you'd ever need.

araT · October 13th, 2011, 07:49 AM

Mmmmm.. definitely Fender Twin. Tastiest amp for headroom bar NONE!

Dennison · October 13th, 2011, 08:03 AM

You want headroom? You need this:

www.prewarcar.com/classifieds/ad54827.html

sroux · October 13th, 2011, 08:31 AM

Saw some guys play a few weeks back.
Really good country band, I mean, REALLY good. Steel guitar, and dual Telecasters.
The 2 guitarists were playing through Fender Twins. Clean as county water, but LOUD!!!!

The Marlin · October 13th, 2011, 08:37 AM

I used to be confused by headroom....until earlier this year to be fair.

I have several amps, but my favourite amp is my (Omega Amps modified) Fender HR Deluxe (plus cab).

It does a great Fender clean sound (and Marshall, and Dumble), but it's unlike any other amp i've heard. Other amps sound compressed, but on the Fender setting, this amp has an amazing sparkling free sound, incredibly open - but backed up by serious guts. If you play is softly, the amp sounds wonderful, and if you whack the strings, the windows pop out of their frames. It sounds BIG!

It delivers over and above anything else I've tried - and is a million miles away from the FHR Deville (4x10) i had prior to that - even though they're based on roughtly the same circuit.

So, that cavenous open sound, with huge scope for gentle picking and window smashing attack (without touching the volume knob) - what is that called? I used to think that was headroom, but i've known for some time that it isn't.

Michiel · October 13th, 2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Marlin

So, that cavenous open sound, with huge scope for gentle picking and window smashing attack (without touching the volume knob) - what is that called? I used to think that was headroom, but i've known for some time that it isn't.

I call that the dynamics, responsiveness or punchyness of the amp, depending on my mood.

My BDRI does a great job at that too. Kick-in-the-gut type punch when you want it, yet gentle and transparent when you pic softly. Me likey.

The match between speaker, OT and power tubes has a lot of influence on a amp's punchyness.

The Marlin · October 13th, 2011, 12:07 PM

Good call.

WATThouse · October 13th, 2011, 12:59 PM

Hiwatt DR103 100 watt. Nothing bigger and cleaner in my opinion. It is an experience. To push one into overdrive, your pant legs will flap and you will need to clear it with local authorities. My strings sound like a Steinway piano and if I lean into it, the punch of the attack and tight bass are like a SCUD missle. Fender Twins run for cover.

GentleBen · October 13th, 2011, 01:29 PM

All this chest-beating about being loud is ok but I have learned that if you want to really sound GOOD you should use the smallest tube amp that the venue will allow.