Best Non Marshall Amp & Les Paul Combos

searswashere · May 17, 2025

Short version: most amps or at least lineages sound great if you know how to use them

LPSpecial6403 · May 17, 2025

I'm a bit biased I guess, I love Supro amps. I have a '64 Super — two inputs and one knob that dials in the awesome. No loop or inbuilt reverb though, so pretty limited for most uses, but it does sound great at volume and at home. Runs out of headroom fast though!

I dream of the following amps for more versatility:

Supro Black Magick (Or for my uses, maybe the 1x12" Amulet instead for its power scaling)
Marshall ST20c
Vox AC15
Fender '68 Princeton

68 Greenback · May 17, 2025

Torren61 said:
Barry Goudreau, the lead guitarist for the band Boston, bought himself a Marshall full stack to get the sound of HIS guitar heroes. When he went into the studio for his work on Boston, they gave him a Marshall pedal and a Fender Champ. THAT'S what was his studio amp on those recordings. Champ amps have been used on a LOT of classic rock tracks in the studio.

Was there such a thing as a Marshall pedal in the late 70’s ??

Torren61 · May 17, 2025

68 Greenback said:
Was there such a thing as a Marshall pedal in the late 70’s ??

Yes. During the interview, he didn't say which one but he said it was gray. I'm assuming it was this one. But you'll need around three grand to snag one.

LPSpecial6403 · May 17, 2025

Torren61 said:
Yes. During the interview, he didn't say which one but he said it was gray. I'm assuming it was this one. But you'll need around three grand to snag one.

View attachment 850971

So basically a Tone Bender?

Torren61 · May 17, 2025

LPSpecial6403 said:
So basically a Tone Bender?

No (yes), a Marshall Supa Fuzz. I don't know. He didn't seem to remember exactly which one but he remembered the color and this is the only gray "Marshall pedal" from before that album.

68 Greenback · May 17, 2025

Torren61 said:
Yes. During the interview, he didn't say which one but he said it was gray. I'm assuming it was this one. But you'll need around three grand to snag one.

View attachment 850971

I was aware of the Marshall Fuzz being available since the 60’s, but the Boston sound never reminded me of a Fuzz. I mean, it’s not a typical Marshall tube tone either, but seems more modern than a Fuzz into a Champ. I suppose anything is possible with enough studio manipulation.

Torren61 · May 17, 2025

Here is the link to the podcast.

185 | Barry Goudreau Shares Lead Guitar Adventures with Boston, Barry Goudreau's Engine Room, and More

Podcast Episode · No Guitar Is Safe · 05/12/2025 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

Sheer Cerebral Power · May 18, 2025

Memphis Soul said:
Everyone knows that a Les Paul sounds killer through a Marshall but what are some other combos that sound great? I have a Fender limited edition 65 Twin Reverb reissue that has Celestion Creamback speakers with a solid pine cabinet. My Les Paul sounds great through this setup. Running it through either my Boss Blues Driver Waza Craft or my Ibanez TS9 TS it sounds perfect for blues/blues rock. I plan on buying the Marshall DSL40CR but I’m also interested in other amps such as a Fender Princeton Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb and a Vox AC30. I know all these amps sound great with Fenders as I’ve played through all of them except the Vox. How do you think a Les Paul would sound through these combo amps? Name some of your favorite non Marshall and Les Paul setups.

My fave would have to be my 64 Fender Bassman Head or my No1 my Bogner Goldfinger 45 SL! Sounds beautiful with LP,SG,DGT,330,Tele,Strat,Jazzmaster,Jaguar,etc….

Epihof · May 18, 2025

Just got a bargain on a Mesa Cali Tweed combo. My P90 LP sounds sweet through it!

BGK529 · May 18, 2025

Memphis Soul said:
Everyone knows that a Les Paul sounds killer through a Marshall but what are some other combos that sound great? I have a Fender limited edition 65 Twin Reverb reissue that has Celestion Creamback speakers with a solid pine cabinet. My Les Paul sounds great through this setup. Running it through either my Boss Blues Driver Waza Craft or my Ibanez TS9 TS it sounds perfect for blues/blues rock. I plan on buying the Marshall DSL40CR but I’m also interested in other amps such as a Fender Princeton Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb and a Vox AC30. I know all these amps sound great with Fenders as I’ve played through all of them except the Vox. How do you think a Les Paul would sound through these combo amps? Name some of your favorite non Marshall and Les Paul setups.

I use a Magnatone Super 15 combo live and although I use it as clean with a JRAD Animal for my base Marshall like drive, it still one of the best amps if u want that awesome low drive plexi sound that people seem to chase.

Sheer Cerebral Power · May 18, 2025

Memphis Soul said:
Everyone knows that a Les Paul sounds killer through a Marshall but what are some other combos that sound great? I have a Fender limited edition 65 Twin Reverb reissue that has Celestion Creamback speakers with a solid pine cabinet. My Les Paul sounds great through this setup. Running it through either my Boss Blues Driver Waza Craft or my Ibanez TS9 TS it sounds perfect for blues/blues rock. I plan on buying the Marshall DSL40CR but I’m also interested in other amps such as a Fender Princeton Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb and a Vox AC30. I know all these amps sound great with Fenders as I’ve played through all of them except the Vox. How do you think a Les Paul would sound through these combo amps? Name some of your favorite non Marshall and Les Paul setups.

sparky2 · May 18, 2025

Crate V18.
Fabulous tube amp.

swaffy101 · May 18, 2025

I’m not a big fan of Mesa boogie amps but the Fillmore is pretty darn good.

355mono · May 18, 2025

https://imgur.com/puQY3o5

2013Standard · May 18, 2025

Through these:

howlermonkey · May 18, 2025

Mesa mark 1 reissue?

THAWK819 · May 18, 2025

Memphis Soul said:
I want to try out a Mesa Boogie. I’ve never even heard one live. The closest I’ve come is playing the models in Amplitube. Those sound good but I’m sure they’re not close to the real thing.

Yeah; no modeling I’ve ever heard has done justice to the real thing. From modeling and artist recordings, I always thought I wanted either a Mark V or a Fillmore. Once I finally got to try some Mesa amps at GC, the Badlander immediately went to the top of that list. Fast forward two years, it was the stupid deal of the day in Musician’s Friend and I couldn’t resist.

jdufour · May 18, 2025

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

Eric102673 · May 18, 2025

I feel like each and every amp I put a Les Paul through brings it’s own thing to the party.

I too am a big fan of the LP & Matchless Chieftain pairing.

I have a super old original Supro that looks like it survived a fire. So much wear and tear, cant read the various IDs on the control panel. Kills for home practice.

My OR80 rips through the original G12h30s.

The AC-15 brings all that great chime, and that zing.

I love my blonde Tremolux with both P90s and PAFs through it. Not a pairing you see a lot, but should be given a try if you have a chance.

One of these days I will end up with the right Selmer Zodiac twin! Killer sounds.

But really, anything in the Fender, Vox, Magnatone, Orange, Hiwatt, families, and their various spinoffs is worth a real go, to see if it suits what you are into.

I have a couple Marshalls, but they are not the be all, end all for sure.

Best Non Marshall Amp & Les Paul Combos

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