I strummed through one at a guitar shop, but never got to open one up at show volumes. It pains me to say this, as I want Mr. Verellen to do well, but if something is supposed to be like X, and X is cheaper than the clone, I just buy X. Bassman amps are all over the place, and pretty cheap -there is a nice bassman 10 (the closed back 4x10 combo) near my house for $550 right now. My issue w/ the blues/hotrod series is that they are hard to repair.

Verellen CoopI ask as more of a curiousity, as it is a bit pricey. The Coop is Verellen's "American Style" amp (i.e. Fender). Over the years my style has mutated from super high gain amps (had a Recto, wanted an Orange Rockerverb, etc), to "pushed" Fender tones. I'm definitely going to do something about my live setup in the next few months. Just not sure what.I had been in the market for a Blues DeVille (as I rather like the breakup/tone of my Blues Junior and the Blues Deluxe and amps of that ilk) when I stumbled into a Hot Rod DeVille 212. I don't totally care for the Hot Rod. The gain is not to my liking and I keep it dialed back at three (and it's just not as mid-rangey as the Blues models in that series). I basically like a Rory Gallagher like Fender grind (but with more reverb ala Rick Froberg's tone on the Obits records) using a boost pedal or a Barbershop Overdrive, or just straight Fuzz.I know that Ben's amps are popular in the Northwest's punk/post-hardcore scene (his brother was in Botch and Minus the Bear, he was in Harkonen, These Arms are Snakes used em, etc). I searched the forum but didn't find anything on this particular amp.Any other amps around 50-watts that would be recommended in that style? I like Bassmen too, but Blues DeVilles seem to go for pretty cheap as they just are not as popular as the Hot Rods (which is mind boggling to me as the Hot Rod sounds so shitty in comparison).

I'm with Chris. Shoot for an old Bassman. There are tons of little circuit differences between the models, but most of the ones from the 60's sound good to me. I prefer the 6g6-B circuit, if we're counting.Bandmasters are a little skinnier sounding, but still sound great and are cheap and plentiful. I played through a refurbished Bandmaster Reverb head that sounded boss. Showmans are really fucking loud, but have an unyielding and strident quality that makes them unique and not just a loud clean might-as-well-be-solid-state kind of thing.I have no doubt that Verellen makes a mean amp, though.

Plus that Verellen amp is hideous. You guys might disagree, but ick.

I don't really mind the darker ones, though I still don't think they look good, but the one he's playing in the video looks totally naked/unfinished. It just looks stupid. I'm not a fan of the sloppy burnt logo thing, either, but it's just not my taste. Maybe they're still going to stain that one, I dunno. I see in another video a coop that is darker.

Heath wrote:A vs B wrote:Plus that Verellen amp is hideous. You guys might disagree, but ick.Yeah, Verellen and Emperor's stained wood aesthetic really rubs me the wrong way. I'm sure they're built great and obviously they get a lot of people excited, but yikes.I want tolex, damnit! And lots of it.man, i really don't get this. who hates stained wood?

bleh. wrote:man, i really don't get this. who hates stained wood?Seriously, what's wrong with you people?

A vs B wrote:Plus that Verellen amp is hideous. You guys might disagree, but ick.Yeah, Verellen and Emperor's stained wood aesthetic really rubs me the wrong way. I'm sure they're built great and obviously they get a lot of people excited, but yikes.I want tolex, damnit! And lots of it.

bleh. wrote:man, i really don't get this. who hates stained wood?Okay, I don't hate stained wood. Just stained plywood on amps and cabinets.

Yeah, I hear nothing exciting, and even hear a thing or two that I don't like. The Vibrato in the second amp in that link sounds broken to me. Maybe it is just shitty youtube sound. You can buy real amps that are better than these mock amps all the time for less. Look for Gibson/Epiphone and Ampeg combos. They sound great and will cost you half as much.