Forumites - please help me with my hardware direction

[12Pack]

OK - so here is the thing. I've been playing and gigging with my acoustics for the last few years in an acoustic cover band. I love my acoustic Takamine EAN series guitar and it really sounds good. I am completely happy with it. My set up with it is as follows:

Takamine Guitar---> Crybaby Wah----> Digitech Chorus Factory--->Roland RC20 Loop station--->Ibanez SW80 Bass Amp which was mic'ed to the PA with a SM57

For an acoustic it sounds pretty sweet and I can get my reverb off the board.

So about a year ago we decided that as me playing lead and handling most of the guitar work - I try to get some over drive/distortion on some of the songs to help mix up the sound a bit. I wound up getting an Ibanez Montage which is an acoustic hybrid that has some distortion in the preamp. I pretty much have the same set up as above. I can do the songs that I need to with the acoustic side of it - then toggle the distortion when needed. Problem is - the more I play it the less I like the sound of it as it doesn't really deliver good tone for for the acoustic side as well as the electric side.

So - We've been talking about playing our set list where the start of the night (first set) we do it as strictly acoustic - then I change to an electric for the second two sets while my rhythm guitar player keeps his acoustic. I can always switch back and fourth as my acoustic will probably be directly into the PA board - bypassing the effects.

I currently own a Fender Strat (Mexican Made) - but it has lace senor pickups in it. I also own a crate Vintage Club 50 Tube Amp that weighs a ton and I don't know if I want to lug that around for the next few years. My fear is I show up and the tubes break because I can barely lift the thing.

So - I'm in the market looking for a potential new amp for an electric guitar sound plus potential effects- over drive or distortion - I don't know the difference and then later probably an upgraded guitar.

Based on my current set list - what should I be potentially looking for - I like a nice blue's blues sound - but would that really be practical for me based on my gig's of covers? I don't play the blue's for all of the night. I also don't want to be lugging around 300lbs of equipment being I can mic the amp and go direct into the PA with my acoustic. I need some direction on what amps to potentially be looking at as well as some Distortion/overdrive differences

Set List:

Set One
Slide
Secret Agent Man
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
All The Small Things
Melt With You
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
Let it Bleed
Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong
Take It Easy
I’m a Believer
You May Be Right
What I Like About You
Call Me The Breeze

Set Two
Hotel California
Some Kind of Wonderful
If You Could Only See
Play That Funky Music
Jenny (867-5309)
Imma Bitch
All Summer Long
Sweet Home Alabama
Want Somebody to Love
Sweet Caroline
Brown Eyed Girl
Love Shack
She Hates Me

Set Three
Black Water
Like The Way I Do
Amy
Margaretaville
Hit Me w/ur Best Shot
Good As Gone
Allison Road
Joker
I Kissed a Girl
I Want You To Want Me
Walkin’ on Sunshine
I Will Survive
Stray Cat Strut
Goodbye To You

[Prages]

Peavey Classic 30 is a great sounding, small, light amp. I actually prefer its overdrive sounds to its clean sounds, but even the cleans are very good.

Another option would be a Fender DRRI. Again, great sounding and lightweight, and the cleans are better than the Peavey's. Probably would need a pedal for your overdrive though.

[Mark Wein]

I'd probably second Prages suggestions.

It sounds like you are playing in a very low volume situation, so pedals would be an important part of the equation if you need more than just a clean electric sound.

I am a big fan of the Barber pedals...here is a vid of a few of them through my 1971 Deluxe Reverb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhfz11vTYsI

Here is a (now out of date) article I wrote on my pedalboard:

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=41

[SLBluz]

I don't disagree with the Peavey Classic 30, had Delta Blues, and bought a used Classic 50 over the weekend. However, if I were in your position, I think I would look seriously at a Fender Super Champ XD. Should cover all the tones/effects and volume you require. Will the tone be as good as a good tube amp with boutique pedals? Prolly not 100%, but should get you 90-95% there, especially in a live setting. Plus all you need to do is plug in and play, no worries about pedals. Check out some of the clips on You Tube for examples of what it can do. Here's one to get you started:

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek6PiHd-H2U

[Ronk]

I wouldn't rule out your TM 30 dialed in to a nice clean tone with a nice dirt box in front of it.

I think if you can get a solid tube amp with a nice clean sound there are lots of nice overdrive/distortion pedals out there that will get you were you need to be for classic rock tones. My personal favorite is the OCD - I really like how I can roll off the volume and really get a nice range of overdrives from it.