The Black Keys Fan Lounge Forum

Just curious to see what others are using to get their black keys tones. I have a vox ac15 custom and it's a bit flabby in the bass section. Im trying to find a cheaper amp to pair with it... i like the idea of finding an obscure vintage amp kinda like dan's gemini 2 or Jack Whites silvertone, but im not amp savy and im not holding my breath lol.

lol i just order a smokey amp because of this site too... i was looking at some danelectro combos but im afraid they'll rattle to death

1972 Fender Musicmaster - it's technically a bass amp but sounds even better with guitar. Original speaker. NOS tubes. It's only got a volume knob and a tone knob but it sounds fantastic. Dan used one of these while recording Brothers, and same amp was also used to record Hacienda's Big Red & Barbacoa. I use an EH Holy Grail for my reverb since the amp doesn't have any.

Since I keep this amp at my buddy's house where we jam/record (I'm too lazy to cart it back and forth), I have a VOX Pathfinder 15R at home as my "practice amp". It's got reverb and tremolo and you can dial in some REALLY nice tones if you have the skills and the time. Very affordable - highly recommended if you're looking for a cheap amp for practice or whatever. Insane value for the $$$. Got mine for $60 used, but they're only $115 new I think.

I have a 5E3 Fender Tweed Deluxe clone with a Webber Blue Dog speaker that I made and an Orange Rocker 30 combo all with NOS tubes. The tweed doesn't have any clean head room but it plays really well with certain pedals. A green big muff with a Analogman Juicer in front used as a boost it really sings and has that awesome sag. The Orange has a really good clean channel (not quite as chimey as Fender clean) and a Marshallesque dirty channel that you can footswitch. It also plays really well with pedals. No reverb or effects loop which is a drag and thus I'm on the search for a good reverb pedal. I once had a Vibro King. Awesome amp but just too fucking big and heavy for me.

I have a Peavey Classic 30, which is basically the same as the
Delta Blues minus the tremelo and a 12" speaker instead of the 15 on the Delta Blues.
Like TBK said, the dirty channel aint that great, but the clean channel is really nice.
I did swap out the speaker with a WGS Reaper and put an old rca 5751 in v1,
which improved the tone as well.

I also have a Blackheart Little Giant head for practice, which is great for practice,
as well as a Pignose battery amp.

cheap little fender mustang one gets supprisingly close

Though I know this link will expire quickly, I can't tell how awesome these little guys are!

http://cgi.ebay.com/UNIVOX-U-45B-U-45-/150578751126?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item230f316696

Univox u-45b. They are probably about 10 watts but they get really gritty and when you jump the channels they sound as good as just about anything.

I use one with my Ampeg Gemini I when I am gigging at a place that mics the amps. Such a great combination. I will never sell mine. NEVERRRR!

My amp is a silvertone 1483 from the sixties. It was made as a bassamp but it sounds great for guitar and loves pedals. In the sixties it was called "the poor peoples bassman" I bought it several years ago of ebay for around $175 (that's without the original piggyback speakercabinet) and replaced the torn and ugly looking "tolex" it came with. Since I bought it it has gone up in value and on ebay they're allready going for around $300.
I play it through a 2x10 cabinet I build myself with 2 webers in it. It's "only" 20 watts but it are very loud 20 watts,also since the webers are very efficient speakers. Halfway up on the volume you'll get great clean thick tones and all the way up you'll get a great natural thick juicy overdriven tone. You can also jumper the channels and get more overdrive if you want. If you can find one of these amps for around or under $200, don't hestitate and buy it.

The only problem is......... I developed RSI in my left hand from overplaying guitar and it's been like that for almost 3 years.