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For solid state amps I would differentiate between analog and digital. At this point I think that is a bigger distinction than that between tube and solid state. So here are the currently available 100% analog ss amps that I would recommend:
Fender Princeton 65 (1999).
These sell used for $100-150 and have a really great clean channel- with 65 watts you will be heard. The OD channel needs to be modded to get decent sounds but the Normal channel takes pedals very well so in lieu of mods I would suggest running an OD pedal. These amps are LOUD so a master volume is a good addition. Adding a MV to a ss amp using op amps is very easy and very transparent. There is a 47k NFB resistor R59 on U5a which is the last op amp stage in the preamp and is immediately before the pre out and power in jacks which then goes into the power amp section. If only it was so easy to add a completely transparent MV to a tube amp! Recommended mods for the Normal channel include an adjustable mid control and a switch for the treble cap, which work just like they do in the BF tone stack only the values are adjusted for the lower impedance (capacitance x 10, resistance divided by 10.) BTW the Princeton 112+ for maybe $25 less is also good but requires more mods (main one is replacing the 470R mid resistor with the 1K8 value used in the P65.)
Champion 30 (1999) or Champion 110 (1992)
These sell used for $60-120 and are basically the same although the C110 has a 25 watt output while the C30 has 30 watts. They sound pretty good without mods if you fiddle with the controls- for me that would be keeping the treble and the Drive channel gain controls turned down to 1.5 or 2. I really like the distortion when you crank up the Normal channel; it ain't BF breakup but it ain't bad either. As with the Princeton 65 and 112+ you are better off running an OD pedal into the Normal channel. BTW all 4 of these amps have real spring reverb and have cabinets built like tanks.
Steve Ahola
P.S. Whatever amp I am working on is always "the best amp ever" to me so there is that bias- but these really are great amps for blue, country and all of the varieties of roots rock.And with pedal they are also great for classic hard rock.
Fender Princeton 65 (1999).
These sell used for $100-150 and have a really great clean channel- with 65 watts you will be heard. The OD channel needs to be modded to get decent sounds but the Normal channel takes pedals very well so in lieu of mods I would suggest running an OD pedal. These amps are LOUD so a master volume is a good addition. Adding a MV to a ss amp using op amps is very easy and very transparent. There is a 47k NFB resistor R59 on U5a which is the last op amp stage in the preamp and is immediately before the pre out and power in jacks which then goes into the power amp section. If only it was so easy to add a completely transparent MV to a tube amp! Recommended mods for the Normal channel include an adjustable mid control and a switch for the treble cap, which work just like they do in the BF tone stack only the values are adjusted for the lower impedance (capacitance x 10, resistance divided by 10.) BTW the Princeton 112+ for maybe $25 less is also good but requires more mods (main one is replacing the 470R mid resistor with the 1K8 value used in the P65.)
Champion 30 (1999) or Champion 110 (1992)
These sell used for $60-120 and are basically the same although the C110 has a 25 watt output while the C30 has 30 watts. They sound pretty good without mods if you fiddle with the controls- for me that would be keeping the treble and the Drive channel gain controls turned down to 1.5 or 2. I really like the distortion when you crank up the Normal channel; it ain't BF breakup but it ain't bad either. As with the Princeton 65 and 112+ you are better off running an OD pedal into the Normal channel. BTW all 4 of these amps have real spring reverb and have cabinets built like tanks.
Steve Ahola
P.S. Whatever amp I am working on is always "the best amp ever" to me so there is that bias- but these really are great amps for blue, country and all of the varieties of roots rock.And with pedal they are also great for classic hard rock.
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