an amp for metal
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Brown Note
New member
Re: an amp for metal
I have a half stack of 100W marshall Dsl and 4*12 with V30's for home playing. The amp sounds *much* better than any solid state or digital thingie that i've ever tried. It's the sounds that people are recommending, not amps for venues with 100 000 people! Tubes sound great even with low volumes, they sound better when pushed though, but better than solid state in any vol level!!!
I have a half stack of 100W marshall Dsl and 4*12 with V30's for home playing. The amp sounds *much* better than any solid state or digital thingie that i've ever tried. It's the sounds that people are recommending, not amps for venues with 100 000 people! Tubes sound great even with low volumes, they sound better when pushed though, but better than solid state in any vol level!!!
SrDeMaFp
New member
Re: an amp for metal
Agreed. The tone just don't cut it for me at lower volumes. I recommend the Blackstar HT-5.
Agreed. The tone just don't cut it for me at lower volumes. I recommend the Blackstar HT-5.
Animal
Well-known member
Re: an amp for metal
Yes, big tube amps can sound good at low volumes but that's not what thread starter is asking for.
Yes, big tube amps can sound good at low volumes but that's not what thread starter is asking for.
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Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: an amp for metal
what about a cheaper tube amp? the Peavey Valveking is all tube, and good for metal. the 1x12 combo only goes for like $420 on musicians friend
what about a cheaper tube amp? the Peavey Valveking is all tube, and good for metal. the 1x12 combo only goes for like $420 on musicians friend
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: an amp for metal
I didn't know tube amps sounded good at low volumes. I always thought they should be cranked, otherwise they'd be pointless to own. Interesting.
I didn't know tube amps sounded good at low volumes. I always thought they should be cranked, otherwise they'd be pointless to own. Interesting.
Christopher Caruana
New member
Re: an amp for metal
(most) tube amps sound really bad at low volumes. they wont sound "good" until you really open them up and get those power tubes working
(most) tube amps sound really bad at low volumes. they wont sound "good" until you really open them up and get those power tubes working
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: an amp for metal
Not all tube amps are 100 watt beasts that upon crankage will rip your cock off with their sheer volume.
Not all tube amps are 100 watt beasts that upon crankage will rip your cock off with their sheer volume.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: an amp for metal
Yeah, I guess you're right, ha,ha. I got caught up in 100w-ville.
Yeah, I guess you're right, ha,ha. I got caught up in 100w-ville.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: an amp for metal
i think "really bad" is kidna strong here. my bassman sounds great on 2...it's just not as full or lush or dynamic as it gets to be on 4 or 5.
it definitely sounds better than my solidstate marshall combo or my 5 watt valve junior. vintage, tube, handwired...tooooonessssss.
i think "really bad" is kidna strong here. my bassman sounds great on 2...it's just not as full or lush or dynamic as it gets to be on 4 or 5.
it definitely sounds better than my solidstate marshall combo or my 5 watt valve junior. vintage, tube, handwired...tooooonessssss.
PVFan
Fudgeitallologist
Re: an amp for metal
1. The solid state choice - a Roland Cube, size to taste, get the biggest one for not much extra and most features. The clean part of Call of Cthulhu will be more or less exact on the JC channel. Lots of distortion models to choose from.
2. The tubies choice - 6505 112. Has a spring verb. It is my vote for amp of the year.
you will like this one better, and the cleans and crunch on the green channel are really, really, really good. Good for 80s metal in its own way. The red channel can be backed down to overlap with the green channel. Or, gank it and ride the creamy molten lava. People will tell you that the speaker sucks and to change it. It's fine. It's a big one, but it's kind of a "modeling speaker", plain jane, no real character of it's own. And that's what people sometimes hear. But, I think it sort of needed to be designed for this amp that way, because the result is HUGE ASS 5150 DISTORTION that sounds like it's big brother the 140w head version, except at lower volumes!!!! If you like the head, you will like this too. If you don't like the head, you still might love this.
sounds great at a whisper. And an XLR out for recording, called a Mic Sim Direct Interface. Have a try anyway.
1. The solid state choice - a Roland Cube, size to taste, get the biggest one for not much extra and most features. The clean part of Call of Cthulhu will be more or less exact on the JC channel. Lots of distortion models to choose from.
2. The tubies choice - 6505 112. Has a spring verb. It is my vote for amp of the year.
you will like this one better, and the cleans and crunch on the green channel are really, really, really good. Good for 80s metal in its own way. The red channel can be backed down to overlap with the green channel. Or, gank it and ride the creamy molten lava. People will tell you that the speaker sucks and to change it. It's fine. It's a big one, but it's kind of a "modeling speaker", plain jane, no real character of it's own. And that's what people sometimes hear. But, I think it sort of needed to be designed for this amp that way, because the result is HUGE ASS 5150 DISTORTION that sounds like it's big brother the 140w head version, except at lower volumes!!!! If you like the head, you will like this too. If you don't like the head, you still might love this.
sounds great at a whisper. And an XLR out for recording, called a Mic Sim Direct Interface. Have a try anyway.
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some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: an amp for metal
I wouldn't go quite that far. Most modern master volume tube amps I've used are capable of sounding good at low volumes, you just can't expect it to sound the same as it would at high volumes. Once you accept things for their limitations it's really not such a big deal.
I wouldn't go quite that far. Most modern master volume tube amps I've used are capable of sounding good at low volumes, you just can't expect it to sound the same as it would at high volumes. Once you accept things for their limitations it's really not such a big deal.
eschoendorff
New member
Re: an amp for metal
This is the logical choice. However, seeing as some of the other responses posted have completely ignored the OP's parameters for an amp, I'd like to jump on that dog pile too:
JVM full stack. Completely necessary for metal and, in spite of what you have heard, completely practical in an apartment.
This is the logical choice. However, seeing as some of the other responses posted have completely ignored the OP's parameters for an amp, I'd like to jump on that dog pile too:
JVM full stack. Completely necessary for metal and, in spite of what you have heard, completely practical in an apartment.
Nightburst
New member
Re: an amp for metal
We're talking about metal at low volumes here!
Tube amps don't give up the goods unless you can turn them up, thats way louder than apartement volume even with a master volume! We're talking about super high gain here, cleans can be allright and crunch too at low volume with tubes, but not the metal kind of distortion, no way!
I've tried many amps at low volumes in search for that apartement super high gain volume and the modeling amps just do it. They have that cranked sound in a box thing going and will sound just as good when turning it up to match a full band set-up.
The only thing better is a tube-amp stack with an attenuator but thats really expensive if you want to do it right.
Solid-state amps became obsolete once digital amps became good in quality and affordable.
We're talking about metal at low volumes here!
Tube amps don't give up the goods unless you can turn them up, thats way louder than apartement volume even with a master volume! We're talking about super high gain here, cleans can be allright and crunch too at low volume with tubes, but not the metal kind of distortion, no way!
I've tried many amps at low volumes in search for that apartement super high gain volume and the modeling amps just do it. They have that cranked sound in a box thing going and will sound just as good when turning it up to match a full band set-up.
The only thing better is a tube-amp stack with an attenuator but thats really expensive if you want to do it right.
Solid-state amps became obsolete once digital amps became good in quality and affordable.
Mattr4president
New member
Re: an amp for metal
I understand what everyone is saying that tube amps don't sound good unless they're turned up. Yes this is true. But the fact is you need to ask yourself 1) Is this going to be your main amp? 2) Do you see using this amp in a Jam/Practice/Gig situation 3) . It may be worth it to go to the 6505+ 1x12 because it's an amp you can grow into. Grab one of those $80 attenuators if playing in your apartment is that much of an issue. But If yoiu have $500 to burn on an amp, you want something quality that you're going to grow into and is geared toward your style of music. If you buy some 30watt line 6 spider, for example, do you really think you'll be using it in live situations? or would you just need to go out and buy another amp once you get serious?
I understand what everyone is saying that tube amps don't sound good unless they're turned up. Yes this is true. But the fact is you need to ask yourself 1) Is this going to be your main amp? 2) Do you see using this amp in a Jam/Practice/Gig situation 3) . It may be worth it to go to the 6505+ 1x12 because it's an amp you can grow into. Grab one of those $80 attenuators if playing in your apartment is that much of an issue. But If yoiu have $500 to burn on an amp, you want something quality that you're going to grow into and is geared toward your style of music. If you buy some 30watt line 6 spider, for example, do you really think you'll be using it in live situations? or would you just need to go out and buy another amp once you get serious?
Metalman_666
New member
Re: an amp for metal
I'm going to add to the few guys that have already suggested the Vox modelers. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
I bought my AD30VT when I was starting university three years ago and obviously couldn't bring my Triple XXX head with me. I needed something I could play in my dorm room but also potentially use when I wanted to jam with people. At the time all I really cared about was metal. The Valvetronix amps fit the bill with several high-gain models to choose from; the "US High Gain" model (based on the SLO? Correct me if I'm wrong) still remains one of my favourite tones and I still use it when I can't play with the Mark IV. The kinds of vocal sounds I can coax out of it with the right pick attack... someone get me a towel.
Aside from metal the Valvetronix amps have so much more so you're not going to be limited by just high gain tones. They sound fantastic at low volumes and will sound awesome too when you give them some room to breathe. I use mine to play along with all three bands you mentioned and then some. I'm even playing three classical pieces at a wedding tomorrow where I get to crank the boutique clean model.
If you know that you're only interested in metal and hard rock I also agree that you won't be disappointed by a 5150/6505 combo. Those amps will always be metal monsters... so juicy and thick. If you can find one in good shape in your price range, power to you, but I think you should hit up a guitar store and check out the Vox combos for yourself.
I'm going to add to the few guys that have already suggested the Vox modelers. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
I bought my AD30VT when I was starting university three years ago and obviously couldn't bring my Triple XXX head with me. I needed something I could play in my dorm room but also potentially use when I wanted to jam with people. At the time all I really cared about was metal. The Valvetronix amps fit the bill with several high-gain models to choose from; the "US High Gain" model (based on the SLO? Correct me if I'm wrong) still remains one of my favourite tones and I still use it when I can't play with the Mark IV. The kinds of vocal sounds I can coax out of it with the right pick attack... someone get me a towel.
Aside from metal the Valvetronix amps have so much more so you're not going to be limited by just high gain tones. They sound fantastic at low volumes and will sound awesome too when you give them some room to breathe. I use mine to play along with all three bands you mentioned and then some. I'm even playing three classical pieces at a wedding tomorrow where I get to crank the boutique clean model.
If you know that you're only interested in metal and hard rock I also agree that you won't be disappointed by a 5150/6505 combo. Those amps will always be metal monsters... so juicy and thick. If you can find one in good shape in your price range, power to you, but I think you should hit up a guitar store and check out the Vox combos for yourself.
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donnievaz
New member
Re: an amp for metal
I have a Single Rec Head with the Serial FX Loop mod for sale. Just sayin' :fing2:
I have a Single Rec Head with the Serial FX Loop mod for sale. Just sayin' :fing2:
John E Rokker
New member
Re: an amp for metal
Line 6 Flextone III combo with footcontroller. Great at low volumes plus you can gig with it.
Line 6 Flextone III combo with footcontroller. Great at low volumes plus you can gig with it.
Animal
Well-known member
Re: an amp for metal
FWIW, I've "downgraded" from a Mesa Quad Preamp (same preamp Metallica and Dream Theater used in the early 90s) + Mesa Fifty/Fifty rack setup to a mere Blackstar HT-5 and I'm MUCH happier now.
The HT-5 pulls off high-gain BETTER at low volumes than ANY big expensive tube rig I've ever put my hands on. When a bigger amp is called for you just use a bigger amp.
FWIW, I've "downgraded" from a Mesa Quad Preamp (same preamp Metallica and Dream Theater used in the early 90s) + Mesa Fifty/Fifty rack setup to a mere Blackstar HT-5 and I'm MUCH happier now.
The HT-5 pulls off high-gain BETTER at low volumes than ANY big expensive tube rig I've ever put my hands on. When a bigger amp is called for you just use a bigger amp.