can you help me pick my next amplifier???

papersoul

papersoul

New member
Hi all, I really have a lot of respect for people on this forum so I am asking away. :)
Current amps are 20th Bogner Shiva and PWE Event Horizon. We play classic hard rock to 90s grunge and rock. The heaviest we get is Tool, Alice in Chains or Creed with the once in a while a Metallica song. Right now I am in a 90s hard rock and grunge cover band.

Also doing an original band sort of like a cross between Matthew Sweet and Goyte!

Since I have the thick, modded Marshall thing down.
I was thinking of looking at the following:
Mesa Electradyne with OD pedal boost
Randall modular rig or if Egnater produces the modular amps again.
Splawn
Others?

My tastes have really changed and I am using less and less gain all the time and no metal any longer.....mostly rock, hard rock and clean/light crunch. Looking at some single channel amps now like the Fargen Classic and Olde 800!!! Maybe just the Mesa Electradyne.
Must work very well at lower volumes though. Don't need an amp that needs to be cranked to hit the sweet spot.

Looking for something perfect for tones like Matthew Sweet meets Counting Crows.

I would like to try to stay under $1000 used price.

Thanks!
 
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Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

I thought of a Dual Rec as well, but I have owned two and always ended up selling. They suck at low home volumes for practice and I struggle to solo on them. Not chewy enough.
Just like strats, I always end up moving them. Might have to cross it off my list.
To be honest I am leaning toward a used Sig:X. I borrowed a friend's and while I had it at home it was a blast to play! Easy to dual in anything from clean to blues to thick to thin to classic VH to modern Metal. A true swiss army knife of an amp.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

You might want to try a Tech 21 Trademark 60.

I had one and it was absolutely amazing for metal and 90's rock. Really tight low end and cleans up awesome. Also awesomely inexpensive. Only reason I got rid of it was because of my shltty neighbors. The thing can crank.

It's also extremely versatile. I also love the bands you mentioned and this amp does it all.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

If money were no object, I'd get the Sig:X and be done with it. Otherwise, I have to put in for Randall's modular amps. Killer feel from those.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

Went to my friend's house and tried some amps again. I think the SigX is too tight for sludgy 90s rock. I am getting the Electradyne and loading Eminence Cannibis Rex speakers into my Port City 212.
My stone Age 212 has WGS Vet30/ET65 and my Bogner 212 has V30s.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

Can you possibly be more specific on what you are looking for? What is it about your current amps you don't like for the music you are playing?

Are you looking for a better clean tone and what type?
Are you looking for another flavor of dirt?
Are you trying to find an amp that delivers better at lower volumes?
etc.

I think the Randall MTS series is fantastic, considering you can literally get all the amps you'd ever want/need with one of those. I'd rather spend a few hundred bucks on a module than a thousand or more on a new amp.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

Looking for something different than what I have. Something dark and not to tight. I love my amps but I want to add some variety.
I tried the modular stuff and it lacked the punch and feel of a real tube amp.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

I would recommend anything from Fryette...

SIG-X
PITBUL
or
Deliverance


Then I would recommend some single and dual rectos ala TREMOVERB or RECTOVERB
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

I would stay away from Splawn (even though the are great amps) you already have that modded Marshall thing going on with you're Bogner. That's why I would lean towards Fryette (which has it's own thing going on) or Mesa.

Running a Mesa and a Bogner in stereo would cover every aspect of your style.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

papersoul said:
Looking for something different than what I have. Something dark and not to tight. I love my amps but I want to add some variety.
I tried the modular stuff and it lacked the punch and feel of a real tube amp.
Click to expand...

the MTS is a real tube amp.....completely tube preamp and poweramp......not liking it may be one thing but saying it's not a tube amp just doesn't even make sense?

as with any amp tube swaps and the cab/speaker you run through could also make a difference in your opinion. and in the case of the MTS which modules were you trying there are over a dozen to choose from, maybe you picked the wrong tool for the job at hand?

I have a friend that has the dual module 20 watt combo for home practice and a full blown rackmount module system running two 4x12 cabs and he owns 13 modules, his rig is easily one of the best sounding and most versatile of any professional/semi-professional guitarist I know. Neither of his amps would be labelled by me as lacking punch or feel. He also owns a handwired AC30 that I compared his top boost module to, a blackface twin to compare that module to, and he has an old plexi that I compared that module to I honestly couldn't tell much difference between them.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

PRSfan nym 1985 said:
the MTS is a real tube amp.....completely tube preamp and poweramp......not liking it may be one thing but saying it's not a tube amp just doesn't even make sense?

as with any amp tube swaps and the cab/speaker you run through could also make a difference in your opinion. and in the case of the MTS which modules were you trying there are over a dozen to choose from, maybe you picked the wrong tool for the job at hand?

I have a friend that has the dual module 20 watt combo for home practice and a full blown rackmount module system running two 4x12 cabs and he owns 13 modules, his rig is easily one of the best sounding and most versatile of any professional/semi-professional guitarist I know. Neither of his amps would be labelled by me as lacking punch or feel. He also owns a handwired AC30 that I compared his top boost module to, a blackface twin to compare that module to, and he has an old plexi that I compared that module to I honestly couldn't tell much difference between them.
Click to expand...

Totally understand, not fair of me to say that! I meant that when I had my Randall MTS and Egnater Mod 50, it always felt like something was missing. When I went back to "normal" tube amps or standard tube amps, the punch and feel came back! With the modular power section, it tries to wear too many hats and ends up being a jack of all trades, master of none. That was my experience.

One thing I don't like are rigs that are over complicated. I could never see bringing multiple amps to a show or going back to modular. I like to plug into a clean and gain channel and vary things with my volume or maybe an OD pedal, that's it. I just like having different amps so I have the option to switch things up some nights, ya know?

I might even consider another new Reborn Mesa Dual Rec but that drove me insane with all the options. :(
 
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Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

My Tweaker is about as complex as I like to go.....I prefer combos to stacks so AC15, AC30, Twin, Vibro King, Vibrolux, Artisan 15, Artisan 30, etc. are usually more my cup of tea if the clean/dirty sounds on the amp aren't enough variety or I just want more hair I rely on pedals.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

Papersoul and "all set" don't belong in the same sentence. LOL

Seriously, I'd continue using the Bogner, but find something like a Wampler Triple Wreck to add a Mesa Rec tone to the mix.
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

papersoul said:
Totally understand, not fair of me to say that! I meant that when I had my Randall MTS and Egnater Mod 50, it always felt like something was missing. When I went back to "normal" tube amps or standard tube amps, the punch and feel came back! With the modular power section, it tries to wear too many hats and ends up being a jack of all trades, master of none. That was my experience.
Click to expand...

I agree with you on this.

I used to own the RM50 and RM100 models. The MTS line is an awesome concept, but couldn't jive with it.

How many modules did you try out? I must of tried close to 20 and all sounded very similar to my ears. I heard the modded modules gave off a better representation, better fell, however they cost $300-$400.

I didn't like that when all said and done, one could essentially drop $3k on a Randall MTS head stocked with good modules or SPEND THAT 3K on a BOGner....
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

How about this one??

images
 
Re: can you help me pick my next amplifier???

You said you were using a Shiva. What is it not doing that you need it to do? That would be my first approach. Find an amp that is going to give you what you want. I would have considered the Bogner Xtacy but not knowing exactly the Shiva is NOT doing for you makes it hard.
 
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