best heavy metal amp

hellrider77

New member
this should get a pretty long discussion going. what is the best amp for heavy metal in your opinion. and why do you think its the best. i wanna hear amp models cab models and types of speakers. if you got an opinion on it, then put it right here.


my choice has got to be the marshall 800 head with 4x12 cabs runnin celestion vintage 30's. for some reason i really like those speakers. but im pretty sure there are some out there that are much better that i just havent tried yet.
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

What is "Heavy Metal"? For 80's stuff, the 800 is pretty classic, but there's a big world out there under the term Metal.
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

Depends on the kind of metal. For extreme metal, I don't that much beats an XXX, 5150, or Krank.
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

the best sounding one IMO, that I have every heard personally is the Mesa/Boogie DC-10, that's why I bought it. After I cranked that amp up, I knew I had to own it.

It was also used on one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite guitarists, so I knew it would work for me.

I know there are a lot of other great amps for METAL \m/ but the Mesa DC-10 is the best one for me.

:headbang: Rock On :headbang:
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

I can't say I have a favorite, I kinda have this sitting on the fence obsession going on. From day to day I can appreciate the "metalish" noise that may come out of any amp. I've heard Mesas, Line 6s, Peaveys, Marshalls, Kranks, Diezels, Engls, Laneys...etc and on any given day any of those amps can give out the "ultimate" tone. That being said I really like Peavey amps becuase they seem to have a more middle of the road voicing structure, there aren't any overbearing frequencies coming out of those amps when eq'd by a sane human being. Of course it's all different strokes for different folks but I think for the price and sound quality it's hard to beat Peavey, period.
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

For heads? I would have to say Hughes and Kettner Attax heads, hybrid, very clear and thumpy and still gets great tube saturation at high volumes and is very cheap used. Also the Mesa Mark 4 just because I have yet to hear it sound bad.
For cabs? Any good construction cab with Celestion RockDriver Speakers. Nobody has a clue what these are mostly because Hughes and Kettner are the only company using them, pair them with a marshall and prepare for hell.
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

hmmm..so many good amps..tough to say....BUT, if I had the money I'd either get a Bogner XTC or a Diezel Herbert =)
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

For the most widely used amp in metal, it's a toss-up between the Marshall JCM 800, Peavey 5150, and Mesa/Boogie Rectifier. However, the best amp for metal IMO is the VHT Pittbull, particularly the type with graphic EQ. Nothing says thick, high gain, thorough, uber-tone like VHT
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

shreder75 said:
hmmm..so many good amps..tough to say....BUT, if I had the money I'd either get a Bogner XTC or a Diezel Herbert =)
both these amps can only be described as -positive wood-
:beerchug:
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

Best metal amp?

Any high gain amp when cranked conjures the devil himself into the pure sound of hell unleashed upon the ears of those careless enough to stand directly in front of it.

:saeek:
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

philthis said:
both these amps can only be described as -positive wood-
:beerchug:

yeah, and negative bank balance....LOL..would that I had the money, my friend!
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

ENGL powerball .. mark briody used it on the track mission (1943) AFAIK and the sound is right between old school and modern, the sound i'm after (actually i'm all over the board LOL)
and a 5150 paired with EMG's (In Flames sound which i really love lately)
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

A gorilla with a 1990's digitech multi effects unit in front of it!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

+1 for mesa rectifier
I prefer softer distortion of 6L6 to the fast dynamics of EL34.
I am gonna test drive mesa f-50 next week. don't know if rect-o-verb is worth the extra 400 over f-50, tho.
any1 A/B them?
 
Re: best heavy metal amp

rguser said:
+1 for mesa rectifier
I prefer softer distortion of 6L6 to the fast dynamics of EL34.
I am gonna test drive mesa f-50 next week. don't know if rect-o-verb is worth the extra 400 over f-50, tho.
any1 A/B them?

If your wanting a lot of versitility then your answer is yes, its worth the extra money. Its also the loudest and fullest sounding 1X12 I've ever heard.
 
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