Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

KINGV02

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It doesnt have to be anything really powerful since I will mostly be playing in my house. Thanks before hand.
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Track down an older used Marshall Valvestate VS100 combo or head and run a BBE Sonic Maximizer through the loop
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Track down an older used Marshall Valvestate VS100 combo or head and run a BBE Sonic Maximizer through the loop

Im looking to just plug straight into the amp with no effects. Would the vs100 still work with lets say a dean v with emg 81b 60n?
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Im looking to just plug straight into the amp with no effects. Would the vs100 still work with lets say a dean v with emg 81b 60n?

Yes. It's a very inexpensive amp on the used market- you can find them for $200 on ebay, very underrated, though the BBE Sonic Maximizer- while barely and effect, will get you closer to Megadeth
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

i think dave used a standar jcm 800 cranked to hell with a rockman pedal unit (it had overdrive dist and chorus or delay into a single unit)

the BBE sonic maximizer is like some kind of boost if you wanna look at it like that, both dave and scott used them back in the day, scott keeped using the BBE until he was given his signature randall and dave made a big gear update after changing to the jcm900 and then again on the 2004 for TSHF
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

I always liked his thinner earlier guitar tones. His riffs don't work as well with the huge beefy tone sneap gives him usually. Heck a Marshall lead 12 and a tube screamer gets close.
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Jet City JCA20H or JCA22H. It'll work perfectly with no effects. (Can't say the combo is exactly right, since I don't think the speaker is a perfect fit.)
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

I always liked his thinner earlier guitar tones. His riffs don't work as well with the huge beefy tone sneap gives him usually. Heck a Marshall lead 12 and a tube screamer gets close.

I'm actually gonna agree with you. His riffs are usually really aggressive and complex. A beefy tone gets in the way of everything else and creates clutter with "Mustainian" riffs. They used to have a very cutting and prominent midrangey bass tone that seems to get lost on their newer material after the rest of the band joins in.
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

New: Marshall DSL 40C. While the DSL 15 is probably a little better for bedroom playing I personally couldn't bring my self to but it when the 40 is only $100 more, and if you order it from Sweetwater you can get one with a Celestion G12M-65 Creamback (IMO a much better speaker than the stock 70/80) for no extra charge. Or, there are plenty of used ones out there that you could buy and change the speaker to what ever you want and still be at the same price or less than a brand new one. Also plenty of JCM 900 and JCM 2000 DSL and TSL out there for under $700.
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

i think dave used a standar jcm 800 cranked to hell with a rockman pedal unit (it had overdrive dist and chorus or delay into a single unit)

the BBE sonic maximizer is like some kind of boost if you wanna look at it like that, both dave and scott used them back in the day, scott keeped using the BBE until he was given his signature randall and dave made a big gear update after changing to the jcm900 and then again on the 2004 for TSHF

For Killing is My Business Dave and Chris both used stock 2203s, and it sounds like they were loaded with EL-34s though that's just a guess. For Peace Sells Chris switched to a Rockman while Dave was still using 2203s, though they sound like they're loaded with 6550s at that point. The Rockman is really easy to distinguish from Dave's tone due to the grainy high end. I'm not sure what Dave used on So Far, So Good, So What!, but Jeff Young used a 2210. I've seen live pictures from that period with Dave playing Jubilee heads, but nothing from the studio.

Dave and Marty were both into rack gear; they each used a Bogner Triple Giant (very rare forerunner to the Fish) into a VHT 2150 for Rust in Peace. They switched to the Custom Audio Electronics 3+ for Countdown and the 3+SE for Youthanasia; both of these were run through the same VHT 2150s. Dave switched to a JMP-1 & EL-34 100/100 for Cryptic Writings while Marty supposedly used Crate Blue Voodoos which he also used for Risk. Dave switched to the Rocktron Prophecy for Risk & The World Needs a Hero. I don't know what Al Pitrelli used, but I've heard rumors that it was a Triaxis / 2:90.

For The System has Failed Chris Poland described Dave's recording amp as a "great sounding 50W Marshall head", but never said what it was. I saw Megadeth live on that tour, and Dave's rack appeared to have switched back to the 3+SE / 2150. I haven't been into any more recent Megadeth, so I have no idea about their more recent gear.

Also AFAIK Dave's never recorded with a JCM900, though I have seen live footage of him using one in South America in 1995.

Jet City JCA20H or JCA22H. It'll work perfectly with no effects. (Can't say the combo is exactly right, since I don't think the speaker is a perfect fit.)

Those would work great for Countdown or Youth era tones, but I'm not sure about Killing is My Business. Of the suggestions so far I like the Valvestate, and a Lead 12 + tube screamer may work if the gain on the amp is set right. Plugging straight into the Lead 12 with the gain cranked has too much low-mid for early Megadeth.
 
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Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

don't forget the gsp 1101 he used for a bit (video below) and that weird one-off line 6 head thing.



I personally believe you can cop about any 80s-90s marshall type guitar tone with a GSP (both by working within the unit and adding an OD in front as needed); others might disagree.
 
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Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Unfortunately for most bedroom applications a tube amp will be too much, as you do really need the power tubes cooking for this type of thing.

I would try the VS...I have a small AVT (a later version of the VS) and its quite versatile and can do the megadeth quite well for bedroom levels.
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

I bet the slash combo would do it well - I've played it but not with that specific intent in mind. Food for thought OP.
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Love my VS100 - could easily do Killing… with that alone.

Blackout loaded Vendetta, check
JB loaded Caddy, check
Custom Custom loaded Custom 350…maybe a stretch

Also think ADA Preamp….
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Lol a while ago i tried to play rattlehead, and while i failed with the main riff the tone i've got was so stupid close, i was running my envoy on the modern channel with bass and highs dimed and the mids and gain on 6 with a berzerker overdrive punishing the front as it has the output at max and tone and gain are 'round 2 'o clock
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

I'd check out the new Panama Fuego 15 in a 1x12 or 2x12 cab.. That little amp is in your price point and will nail the sounds you're wanting..
I have an EVH 5150iii combo and its a little more than you're wanting to spend at $1400 but I dialed in a wicked Master of Puppets and Seek and Destroy tone with it.
It will easily do Peace Sells.. I'd look at the Panamas first though, They are wicked and I am gassing for a Shaman really bad..
They sound as well as amps costing twice as much..
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

Ceriatone Son Of Yeti without a doubt.

20w 6v6 does classic 80s, 70s and even modern stuff at $675
 
Re: Amp for early Megadeth tone for around $700-$800

I had my lead 12 out and did a quick mega-test. I think it's a bit more like the "so far so good...so what" sound so I used one of those riffs. Didn't spend a lot of time on it but gives you an idear.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16938354/mega test.mp3

Edit - listened again through headphones and decided it's not really close, lol. Maybe with some eq-ing.
 
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