Best Heavy Metal Amp

T

TheSimster

New member
I need a good amp to play heavy metal, but I would still like one that can be good for classic rock and some other genres. I've seen Line6 recommended as a good amp but I just want to know everyone heres opinion of what I should get. I have a squire strat now, but I"m looking to buy a BC Rich Avenge or Warlock soon. I'm willing to spend about 200 bucks btw. Thanks
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

The only good flexible amp i can think of for $200 that will sound decent is a Vox VT15.

You won't see any pros using it cuz they are going to spend around 20 times that amount on their amp and rig...but for a little bedroom combo the VT15 rules.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

I guess for bedroom practice a line 6 would be good.
I heard the Peavey Vypyrs are really good. Better than line 6...

Ohh... I hate digital amps though...

Maybe you should go with the Vox VT15 Empty Pockets recommended...
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

it's hard to say if the Spider or the Vypyr is better. The Spider is simpler and easier to use and sounds better to me, but the Vypyr has more options and is designed to look like it has fangs or something.

neither of them are as good as the Vox tho. it's like where Peavey and Line 6 spent on marketing and making their amps look 'metal,' Vox spent on quality and making their amps sound good.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

for around 200 bucks i think it'd be best to look for a used fender vibrochamp hybrid.

or if your willing to spend the extra bucks, a windsor stack can be had around $300 or less used. those things are monsters for metal, when you use a drive pedal out front;)
 
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Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

Save your money for a good amp instead of buying crap now which you WILL regret.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

I got all excited when I saw the title of this thread! :)

I really have no idea, but the used Peavey looks as good a choice as any.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

theodie said:
Save your money for a good amp instead of buying crap now which you WILL regret.
Click to expand...

See, if I would have listened to dudes like this 4 years ago or so, I would have saved a lot of money in my quest for tone.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

phil_104 said:
See, if I would have listened to dudes like this 4 years ago or so, I would have saved a lot of money in my quest for tone.
Click to expand...
My theory is: the money will be spent regardless. The quest for tone really requires a lot of trial and error. I'm all for 'measure twice, cut once' but until you've actually lived and gigged with a significant amount of gear, I think it's impossible to really know what you want.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

If youre on a small budget but want an amp with tones that will cover metal and classic rock, I'd also recommend one of the smaller Peavey Trans-tube amps. They do a darn good job of emulating tube overdrive, and a lot of the Trans tube amps have switches to change the voicing of the distortion channel for a vintage or classic overdrive to a metal or high gain distortion.
I haven't tried out the Peavey Vypyr amps yet, but if the modeling is as good as their ReValver 3 software, they're definitely worth listening to.

You gotta work with what you can get. Get the best stuff you can afford now, practice, get with a band that's going places, and you can always upgrade gear later.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

TwilightOdyssey said:
My theory is: the money will be spent regardless. The quest for tone really requires a lot of trial and error. I'm all for 'measure twice, cut once' but until you've actually lived and gigged with a significant amount of gear, I think it's impossible to really know what you want.
Click to expand...

+1

So I say go for the Line 6. It'll help you figure out what sort of amp/sound you're really after and be a decent all-round practice amp for now. And if you still feel the same way about your tone in a couple years, think about an upgrade. I wish modeling amps were around when I was growing up. They sound a buttload better than comparably priced solid state stuff that was available back when.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

I would snagg that Bandit off ebay, I picked 1 of those up in a pawnshop last november 2hrs after I took a Peavey Vyper back to GC for crapping out on me and I'm glad I did. That bandit can hold it's own, it's good at low vol and high vol I dont think you will walk away disappointed with the bandit, the Vyper was a serious let down I would honestly stay away from. The line 6 amps are pretty decent but a Peavey bandit is well worth the investment new or used.
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

Maybe a bit too expensive, but i tested this very model at my local mom&pop about two months ago, and it impressed the sox off me - for a modelling amp !

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...100VTXL-100W-2x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=483007

This is the one with all the Hi-Gain and hot rodded amps !
Might be $100.00 over yer budget, but at 100Watts well worth looking into.
I am NOT a metal-head, but every now and again, i like to play w huge wollops of gain, and this amp sounded real bloody good !
Real GOOD Low End Punch too !


James
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

Okay well, I was in guitar center today and I tried out both a Vox and a line6 and I kind liked the line6. I still want to try the Vox again, but the line6 was so easy to use and sounded really good. I'm a beginner guitarist so I'm looking for something that will last me a year or two until I'm proficient enough to get a really good amp. That's why I don't want to spend so much money.
(the amp was the Line 6 Spider III 30 30W 1x12 Guitar Combo Amp and I can't remember what the Vox was)
((I don't want to buy anything off eBay, I've had bad experiences with electronics sellers))
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

^^^ . . . i really think that both amps will be a good choice for an open minded beginner, like yourself, if you want alot of diff modelling options.

It might also help you to see what type of tones you like, via the amp modelling sections.

My 2cents
James
 
Re: Best Heavy Metal Amp

do you think Vox amps are better for more genres than metal? I'd like to have ability to play whatever I'm in the mood for. I ask this because I was reading reviews for the Line6 I just posted and almost all the reviewers were metal players, and while I like to play a lot of metal I want to keep my options open. Thanks for all the help so far by the way.
 
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