Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
- Thread starter Megagwar
- Start date
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
I dunno. I was just kind of surprised that it wasn't suggested in the first 15 posts.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Peavey 6505+
Krank Krankenstein Jr. 50W
B-52 AT100
I think this would easily do what you want.
My suggestions.
Peavey 6505+
Krank Krankenstein Jr. 50W
B-52 AT100
I think this would easily do what you want.
My suggestions.
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Megagwar
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Ooooooooooo man! Soo many dang options!!!!! Jim Root Dark Terror, Peacvey JSX, Mesa Dual Rect, peavey 3120, used Rivera Knucklehead, Huges and Kettner Triamp MKI, EVH 5150, Peavey 6505, Peavey XXX....!!!!! Man, gotta find a store with most of these in it and spend an all-dayer there playing each one
Ooooooooooo man! Soo many dang options!!!!! Jim Root Dark Terror, Peacvey JSX, Mesa Dual Rect, peavey 3120, used Rivera Knucklehead, Huges and Kettner Triamp MKI, EVH 5150, Peavey 6505, Peavey XXX....!!!!! Man, gotta find a store with most of these in it and spend an all-dayer there playing each one
Red_Label
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Wow... you got a SWEET deal on that Knucklehead! I'd jump on a steal like that if I ever found one.
I had a Triamp Mk I (EL34, MIDI) for a couple of years and LOVED it. Might be the best clean tone I've ever had (for my tastes). SO chimey, spankey, snappy. And channel 2A was ACDC pexi heaven. Channel 3B had a great hot-rodded Marshall thing going. I wouldn't say there were any modern-metal scooped-mayhem tones in there though. But it was an awesome amp and because they're such a good buy anymore, I've been very close to picking another one up for years. But DAYUMMMM... those beasts are HEAVY! Mine weighed 96# in its road case! My Engl Powerball 2 is heavy, as was my Bogner XTC... but that H&K was in another league altogether in terms of being heavily built.
I know you menitoned you were looking for a new amp but here's my two cents just in case you change your mind. I bought my Rivera Knucklehead II last year for $650 and it was in excellent conditions... basically new... If you look around hard enough you might found one. Although Rivera has their own unique voice and they are a pain to dial in for some, they are similar in gain to a mix between a modded JCM800and an Soldano SLO, I does a good "Recto" sound if pushed hard and the cleans are out of this world "even though is a 120W RMS High gainer". Plus is USA made and very tough built.
Amp shown is not mine, but from imageshack:
Another one I almost pull the trigger on recently was the Hughes and Kettner Triamp MKI... they are selling used around the $700-$1000 and they are beasts that virtually will do whatever you want them to do. The only down side it's that you will need some serious cahs for a re-tubing, as they have 9 preamp and 4 power amp tubes.
Wow... you got a SWEET deal on that Knucklehead! I'd jump on a steal like that if I ever found one.
I had a Triamp Mk I (EL34, MIDI) for a couple of years and LOVED it. Might be the best clean tone I've ever had (for my tastes). SO chimey, spankey, snappy. And channel 2A was ACDC pexi heaven. Channel 3B had a great hot-rodded Marshall thing going. I wouldn't say there were any modern-metal scooped-mayhem tones in there though. But it was an awesome amp and because they're such a good buy anymore, I've been very close to picking another one up for years. But DAYUMMMM... those beasts are HEAVY! Mine weighed 96# in its road case! My Engl Powerball 2 is heavy, as was my Bogner XTC... but that H&K was in another league altogether in terms of being heavily built.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
There was one for sale in Chicago for $150, no joke. They are cheap as hell, but check out the amazing metal tones you can sculpt with these:
More here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/surfacexmusic/videos
That b-52 has a modded Marshall tone to it. Like a Megadethy tone.... I like it!and nice clean channel. That's an option.
There was one for sale in Chicago for $150, no joke. They are cheap as hell, but check out the amazing metal tones you can sculpt with these:
More here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/surfacexmusic/videos
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Lots of good recommendations in here, I'll just add that you should buy used, save a ton of dough.
Lots of good recommendations in here, I'll just add that you should buy used, save a ton of dough.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Good luck finding that price, that was some insane guy on craigslist. You'll probably have to pay over $300. However, I think you should steer towards higher quality gear. Cheaper tube amps like b52, peavey valveking, hell even the xxx lead to a series of expensive repairs. They get parts from china that fail pretty easily. I recently have to replace quite a bit of stuff in my xxx, cost almost as much as the amp.
Good luck finding that price, that was some insane guy on craigslist. You'll probably have to pay over $300. However, I think you should steer towards higher quality gear. Cheaper tube amps like b52, peavey valveking, hell even the xxx lead to a series of expensive repairs. They get parts from china that fail pretty easily. I recently have to replace quite a bit of stuff in my xxx, cost almost as much as the amp.
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Also, it doesn't sound like you are playing sold out arenas. If I were you, I'd go for one of the louder micro amps. They are so easy to carry around, lugging a 100watt amp around might be unnecessary.
Mesa Mini Rectifier, or Carvin V3M would be a dream to carry around, they are light as hell but still very loud.
Also, it doesn't sound like you are playing sold out arenas. If I were you, I'd go for one of the louder micro amps. They are so easy to carry around, lugging a 100watt amp around might be unnecessary.
Mesa Mini Rectifier, or Carvin V3M would be a dream to carry around, they are light as hell but still very loud.
ToneScavenger
Member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
That's the dfficult part, but you might be able to pull it off if you live in a big city or have good stores near you. Also check craigslist and some people would let you test before you buy.
That's the dfficult part, but you might be able to pull it off if you live in a big city or have good stores near you. Also check craigslist and some people would let you test before you buy.
ToneScavenger
Member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
I'm glad I found that Rivera for that low, although you can still find them below the $1000's (but recently I've seen that people are starting to notice them a lot more than in the past 10 years so they are slowly rising back up in price in the streets)
The description that you give for the H&K Triamp it's the reason I wanted one! The Rivera does all that too, but with only 2 channels, its not as versatile for live use (Not a problem for me, since I'm mostly a recording player) I still want one fo those Triamps though! Once my wife forgets about the money I recently spent in gear, I might start looking again :smokin:
About the Triamp not being a beast, I tought it was?!?! Here's some clips of Ola Englund doing some high gain amp shootout and the Triamp in this clip sounds massive! Although it's the MKII though, there was not a big change in the circuit topology, but cosmetically it looks quite updated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJSyNOHpCPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T78frZcT5sU
Also for Megagwar, this link was pretty useful for me to hear some of the tonal features of amps I couldn't test in person...
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=965182
Some of the amps here are beyond expensive, but some others like the 5150, the ENGL Screamer and the Rivera are some of the ones within the budget you mentoned for the used ones.
Also, forgot to mention that my cousin just landed on a Mesa Boogie Roadster for $1,000 on eBay... Shipping was $80 for him so I think the final price for this Mesa was killer!
I'm glad I found that Rivera for that low, although you can still find them below the $1000's (but recently I've seen that people are starting to notice them a lot more than in the past 10 years so they are slowly rising back up in price in the streets)
The description that you give for the H&K Triamp it's the reason I wanted one! The Rivera does all that too, but with only 2 channels, its not as versatile for live use (Not a problem for me, since I'm mostly a recording player) I still want one fo those Triamps though! Once my wife forgets about the money I recently spent in gear, I might start looking again :smokin:
About the Triamp not being a beast, I tought it was?!?! Here's some clips of Ola Englund doing some high gain amp shootout and the Triamp in this clip sounds massive! Although it's the MKII though, there was not a big change in the circuit topology, but cosmetically it looks quite updated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJSyNOHpCPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T78frZcT5sU
Also for Megagwar, this link was pretty useful for me to hear some of the tonal features of amps I couldn't test in person...
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=965182
Some of the amps here are beyond expensive, but some others like the 5150, the ENGL Screamer and the Rivera are some of the ones within the budget you mentoned for the used ones.
Also, forgot to mention that my cousin just landed on a Mesa Boogie Roadster for $1,000 on eBay... Shipping was $80 for him so I think the final price for this Mesa was killer!
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Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
B-52 has been nothing but sturdy and durable to me. And I often find the AT100 for about the same price you posted. It would at least make the perfect back up amp, since it is so good and easily replaceable because of the cost.
B-52 has been nothing but sturdy and durable to me. And I often find the AT100 for about the same price you posted. It would at least make the perfect back up amp, since it is so good and easily replaceable because of the cost.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Wow... that guy did a good job with those clips! I don't remember those scooped tones being in my Mk I. But I'll admit that I wasn't really looking for those tones back then. Used the Triamp in the classic rock/country cover band I was in at the time.
My biggest beef with the Triamp was/is that it lacks any kind of a real solo boost. There are two gain knobs for each of the three channels. But they are stricly gain and don't add anything to the overall volume. Also, channels 2B and 3A aren't as impressive as 1A/B, 2A and 3B. That's been a well-known issue with them since the beginning. At least with the Mk I (dunno about the Mk II or Lifeson Sig). And again... it's HEAVY.
But still a great amp and I do miss it. I don't think I liked it as much as my Bogner XTC or Shiva, but I definitely liked it more than my VHT Pittbull or Traynor YCS100s. As far as my current amps, I like the Triamp more than my DSL50 (though I do like the DSL a lot), but the Engl Powerball 2 is king for me right now and I have never had a more versatile amp as it is (that sounds GREAT on all four channels).
Wow... that guy did a good job with those clips! I don't remember those scooped tones being in my Mk I. But I'll admit that I wasn't really looking for those tones back then. Used the Triamp in the classic rock/country cover band I was in at the time.
My biggest beef with the Triamp was/is that it lacks any kind of a real solo boost. There are two gain knobs for each of the three channels. But they are stricly gain and don't add anything to the overall volume. Also, channels 2B and 3A aren't as impressive as 1A/B, 2A and 3B. That's been a well-known issue with them since the beginning. At least with the Mk I (dunno about the Mk II or Lifeson Sig). And again... it's HEAVY.
But still a great amp and I do miss it. I don't think I liked it as much as my Bogner XTC or Shiva, but I definitely liked it more than my VHT Pittbull or Traynor YCS100s. As far as my current amps, I like the Triamp more than my DSL50 (though I do like the DSL a lot), but the Engl Powerball 2 is king for me right now and I have never had a more versatile amp as it is (that sounds GREAT on all four channels).
ToneScavenger
Member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
I agree with you about the Triamp and that's why I'm very happy with the Knucklehead so far. I don't know if the MKII has improved those issues either... I would like to check it out. I'm very curious about the ENGL Powerball 2 because so many people think like you about it. I've had played thru just about every Rivera model, H&K Triamp MKI, Bogner Uberschall, Diezel VH4, Soldano (SLO, Hot Rod) and thru a VHT Deliverance, but never thru any ENGL... I can't find anyone who has one of them here in Kansas City area :no: so I can check 'em out.
I agree with you about the Triamp and that's why I'm very happy with the Knucklehead so far. I don't know if the MKII has improved those issues either... I would like to check it out. I'm very curious about the ENGL Powerball 2 because so many people think like you about it. I've had played thru just about every Rivera model, H&K Triamp MKI, Bogner Uberschall, Diezel VH4, Soldano (SLO, Hot Rod) and thru a VHT Deliverance, but never thru any ENGL... I can't find anyone who has one of them here in Kansas City area :no: so I can check 'em out.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
I finally got to spend a few hours with the Egnater Vengeance and Armageddon.
These amps are really similar to Diezel amps, and are definitely "metal amps."
I was glad to know that my favorite of the two was the 2 channel Vengeance, since it's $1100 not $1800 like the 3 channel Armageddon. There was something about the mids and all the mid features that I wasn't able to dial in to my complete liking in the Armageddon. It also sounds like there's a bit too much in the gain channel's signal path that strips it of harmonic content and clarity.
Now the Vengeance on the other hand is a nearly perfect metal voiced amp. It's a little more organic like a Bogner Ubershall or Diezel Herbert. I was able to get a nice crystal clean and pushed clean on the green channel, and a really smooth and throaty highgain tone on the red channel. You can flip a switch on the gain channel for more gain, so you've got two gain floors. These also have a footswitchable second master, and FX loop that you can use as a volume boost as well. The amp has reverb on each channel too........gotta set'em low though.
You can also bias these from the back with a volt meter. Also half power and the ability to use the amp at 110 or 220!
Overall, the Vengeance is a crusher. It's as close as you'll get to a Diezel or Bogner for around $1000. They sell from $900 to $1200, so shop around. Think of it as a more affordable Diezel Herbert.
If you can find one at wholesale or used, grab it!!!
They look cool too.
I finally got to spend a few hours with the Egnater Vengeance and Armageddon.
These amps are really similar to Diezel amps, and are definitely "metal amps."
I was glad to know that my favorite of the two was the 2 channel Vengeance, since it's $1100 not $1800 like the 3 channel Armageddon. There was something about the mids and all the mid features that I wasn't able to dial in to my complete liking in the Armageddon. It also sounds like there's a bit too much in the gain channel's signal path that strips it of harmonic content and clarity.
Now the Vengeance on the other hand is a nearly perfect metal voiced amp. It's a little more organic like a Bogner Ubershall or Diezel Herbert. I was able to get a nice crystal clean and pushed clean on the green channel, and a really smooth and throaty highgain tone on the red channel. You can flip a switch on the gain channel for more gain, so you've got two gain floors. These also have a footswitchable second master, and FX loop that you can use as a volume boost as well. The amp has reverb on each channel too........gotta set'em low though.
You can also bias these from the back with a volt meter. Also half power and the ability to use the amp at 110 or 220!
Overall, the Vengeance is a crusher. It's as close as you'll get to a Diezel or Bogner for around $1000. They sell from $900 to $1200, so shop around. Think of it as a more affordable Diezel Herbert.
If you can find one at wholesale or used, grab it!!!
They look cool too.
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Red_Label
New member
Re: Best Hi Gain Amps for Under $1000
Yeah... my local funshop is an Egnater dealer and and Engl dealer. I haven't plugged into the Vengance that they've got down there, but it does look nice. I did however plug into the Armageddon and it seemed to be a buzzy, mushy mess. Didn't even come close in quality of tone or definition to the Engls or to the Bogner Uberschall Twin Jet that was down there at the same time. My son kept walking over to the Armageddon and drooling over it (because of its looks) and I kept steering him back over to the Engls... LOL.
Btw... I own an Egnater Rebel 20 head and 1X12 cab (and used to own a Tweaker 15 head), so my lack of zeal for the Armageddon isn't a snobbery deal. Just thought it didn't measure up to other amps in its price range. For what they want for the Armageddon... a guy would be better off going for a Triple Rec or a nice used piece of great gear. I sold my VHT Ultra Lead for $1500 with a road case. It spanked the Armageddon pretty soundly for metal or anything else.
I finally got to spend a few hours with the Egnater Vengeance and Armageddon.
These amps are really similar to Diezel amps, and are definitely "metal amps."
I was glad to know that my favorite of the two was the 2 channel Vengeance, since it's $1100 not $1800 like the 3 channel Armageddon. There was something about the mids and all the mid features that I wasn't able to dial in to my complete liking in the Armageddon. It also sounds like there's a bit too much in the gain channel's signal path that strips it of harmonic content and clarity.
Now the Vengeance on the other hand is a nearly perfect metal voiced amp. It's a little more organic like a Bogner Ubershall or Diezel Herbert. I was able to get a nice crystal clean and pushed clean on the green channel, and a really smooth and throaty highgain tone on the red channel. You can flip a switch on the gain channel for more gain, so you've got two gain floors. These also have a footswitchable second master, and FX loop that you can use as a volume boost as well. The amp has reverb on each channel too........gotta set'em low though.
You can also bias these from the back with a volt meter. Also half power and the ability to use the amp at 110 or 220!
Overall, the Vengeance is a crusher. It's as close as you'll get to a Diezel or Bogner for around $1000. They sell from $900 to $1200, so shop around. Think of it as a more affordable Diezel Herbert.
If you can find one at wholesale or used, grab it!!!
They look cool too.
Yeah... my local funshop is an Egnater dealer and and Engl dealer. I haven't plugged into the Vengance that they've got down there, but it does look nice. I did however plug into the Armageddon and it seemed to be a buzzy, mushy mess. Didn't even come close in quality of tone or definition to the Engls or to the Bogner Uberschall Twin Jet that was down there at the same time. My son kept walking over to the Armageddon and drooling over it (because of its looks) and I kept steering him back over to the Engls... LOL.
Btw... I own an Egnater Rebel 20 head and 1X12 cab (and used to own a Tweaker 15 head), so my lack of zeal for the Armageddon isn't a snobbery deal. Just thought it didn't measure up to other amps in its price range. For what they want for the Armageddon... a guy would be better off going for a Triple Rec or a nice used piece of great gear. I sold my VHT Ultra Lead for $1500 with a road case. It spanked the Armageddon pretty soundly for metal or anything else.
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