Dilemma...

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

thats cool that's its working out better with them.

see how you like the 5150 combo...one of my buddies has one, and it isn't bad at all.

"Isn't bad?" It better be damn good for me to spend a dime on, hahaha. :burnout:


P.S. I'm not looking for a metal amp, I'm looking for something to get in the later EVH ballpark. I know my vox has the perfect modeling for that tone, its just small sounding with a single 10inch speaker.

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Dilemma...

what i mean by "it isn't bad at all" is that there isn't a whole lot those amps can do, but they do metal very very well. the cleans aren't the best out there, but it sounds like the OD channel is what you're after, in which case you won't be let down. i find that the combo sounds best either run through an external 4x12, or at least with a speaker upgrade of some sort. but as long as you either have an attenuator or you can crank it up enough (as it goes with pretty much any class A/B tube amp), you can get some very good metal tones out of that amp.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

what i mean by "it isn't bad at all" is that there isn't a whole lot those amps can do, but they do metal very very well. the cleans aren't the best out there, but it sounds like the OD channel is what you're after, in which case you won't be let down. i find that the combo sounds best either run through an external 4x12, or at least with a speaker upgrade of some sort. but as long as you either have an attenuator or you can crank it up enough (as it goes with pretty much any class A/B tube amp), you can get some very good metal tones out of that amp.

Yea, I thought that they were a metal amp, well that marks them off my list.
I'm interested in anything that gets in the ballpark of late evh tones. Well, that's the best way I can describe bright, sweet, and high-gain tones.


The atomic reactor has me interested now, im a tweaking whore and the ability to switch different modelers and all kind of stuff interests me. It'd end up about the same $$$ by the time I had to get a cab for the vox.

And 18 tube watts would be very easy to crank the piss out of here. And because of its size, it'd be very easy to gig, when I get into all that.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Dilemma...

You seem to have the right idea, just go to every shop you can, round every mates house that has an amp, and try everything you can, maybe even keep a log of amps you liked/didn't like and why, take your time and find that perfect amp.

I'm glad you talked your parents round btw, sounds like after talking it through with them you have got pretty understanding folks after all, keep us updated on the new amp.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Dilemma...

You say you want a metal amp. What shade of metal are you after? Metallica, Lamb of God, or Judas Priest, or what?

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

You say you want a metal amp. What shade of metal are you after? Metallica, Lamb of God, or Judas Priest, or what?

*Sigh* I've said about 3 times in this thread that I do NOT want a metal amp. I want something voiced for later EVH style stuff.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Dilemma...

*Sigh* I've said about 3 times in this thread that I do NOT want a metal amp. I want something voiced for later EVH style stuff.

A little tip: To us 30 and 40 somethings...EVH *IS* Metal.........The cookie monster singin dropped to z sharp tuning flubby farty stuff they call metal today falls squarely into the category of "crap" However people still call it metal too.

You want a 5150 or Soldano like high gain amp..i.e. a modded Marshall sound. Get a modeler from Line 6 like a flextone...Soldano model is very good...the JCM 800 Marshall model they use is based on a bogner high gain modified version and has quite a bit more gain than a normal 800 and will get ya the tones you want too.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

A little tip: To us 30 and 40 somethings...EVH *IS* Metal.........The cookie monster singin dropped to z sharp tuning flubby farty stuff they call metal today falls squarely into the category of "crap" However people still call it metal too.

You want a 5150 or Soldano like high gain amp..i.e. a modded Marshall sound. Get a modeler from Line 6 like a flextone...Soldano model is very good...the JCM 800 Marshall model they use is based on a bogner high gain modified version and has quite a bit more gain than a normal 800 and will get ya the tones you want too.

Thats why I was considering the atomic reactor, because I'm not locked into anything, its just PA. And I don't want a fully solid state amp like a line 6.

And usualy when the word metal comes to mind, I instantly hear a mesa rect in my head.

The main reason I'm looking at the Atomic reactor is because of the massive versitility I'd have, and considering I'm only playing in a studio sized room I dont need a 400watt halfstack. Plus it uses 2x EL84's and a 12ax7 as a poweramp, so it'd warm up the podXT nicely.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Dilemma...

Thats why I was considering the atomic reactor, because I'm not locked into anything, its just PA. And I don't want a fully solid state amp like a line 6.

And usualy when the word metal comes to mind, I instantly hear a mesa rect in my head.

Well if ya know how to tweak a MESA and don't set them like most "metal dudes" do (scoop mids, turn gain up past 1 oclock or so), Rectifiers can actually sound very very nice..

but I digress...

I've considered the Atomic as I'm in the same boat as you. But don't rule out the FlexTone. It's not quite as warm as the XTL into my Rivera (and I would assume the Atomic), but it's still QUITE good when ya tweak it and get away from the junky pre-sets.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Dilemma...

My bad on the metal amps comment. Sorry. But, perhaps JeffB is right. You may be able to tweak the Classic 50's tone by changing the pre and power tubes. That can have a huge effect and get it to sound like you want. Maybe you have an amp tech that could help you with that.

I have a Reverend HellHound which I really liked but I would more radical overdrive out of. I changed out the EH 6L6 tubes for some NOS 6L6WGB and whoa babby! This thing really gets wild and crazy. A tube change can be the Jeklyl and Hyde potion or the octane booster that the Classic 50 needs.

There FWIW. I'll be curious to see what you end up doing.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

My bad on the metal amps comment. Sorry. But, perhaps JeffB is right. You may be able to tweak the Classic 50's tone by changing the pre and power tubes. That can have a huge effect and get it to sound like you want. Maybe you have an amp tech that could help you with that.

I have a Reverend HellHound which I really liked but I would more radical overdrive out of. I changed out the EH 6L6 tubes for some NOS 6L6WGB and whoa babby! This thing really gets wild and crazy. A tube change can be the Jeklyl and Hyde potion or the octane booster that the Classic 50 needs.

There FWIW. I'll be curious to see what you end up doing.

\

Well, theres a lot about the classic 50 that I'd need to change for a high-gain tone, and in the end it'd be far less hassle I think to just get some really nice modeler. Because in my suitation, the classic 50 is overkill anyway.

Its a good amp if you want vintage tones, but I don't think anything you could do to this thing beside having a new preamp circut put in, would get the tone I want.

And I'm sorry, I'm just leary as hell about having a solid state amp. Hybrids(Done correctly) still maintain the tube character. While a full solid state isn't going to naturaly distort from cranking it.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Dilemma...

\

And I'm sorry, I'm just leary as hell about having a solid state amp. Hybrids(Done correctly) still maintain the tube character. While a full solid state isn't going to naturaly distort from cranking it.

Yeah I was too...that said..tube or ss, you need headroom. Flex have decent headroom, especially the 2x12 version (150 watts). I don't have enough headroom on my Rivera for the XTL...even on the low gain input. the POD XTL sounds like @$$ when the Rivera starts to break up.

I'm not sure which hybrids you are speaking of, but I've yet to find one that sounds as good as the FLex/Vetta. The key to EVHs tone or anyone who gets those great cranked amp sounds is POWER tube distortion..not preamp gain. Hybrids like the AVT and mode4 (despite claims to the contrary) can't really mimic that. The Modellers model it quite well, and then just amplify the entire relationship between speaker, power amp and preamp distortion.

If you are speking of the Vox modeler as your hybrid...ehh...The Soldano model is pretty good, but the the Marshall models are just not voiced right (coming from a Marshall junkie who has owned and played most of the amps it models). Line 6s 800 series is much more authentic. Though like GJ has said, if ya fiddle enough you can get a good Marshall like sound out the VT combining the peds and stuff with the Soldano or Bassman mods (in fact the Bassman model sounds more like a Plexi than the Plexi model the valvetronix has, same with the Line 6..plexis are tough to model I guess).

And don't underestimate Trace at Voodo. He custom mods the things to what you want. If there is room inside the amp I guarantee he could another gain stage and a global mod and get that Classic 50 to scream or purr or whatever else ya want. Shoot him an email. He's very friendly and quite helpful.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

And don't underestimate Trace at Voodo. He custom mods the things to what you want. If there is room inside the amp I guarantee he could another gain stage and a global mod and get that Classic 50 to scream or purr or whatever else ya want. Shoot him an email. He's very friendly and quite helpful.

Yea, I agree about the marshall models on the vox, but hell, the soldano model makes me not care lol.


And the only problem with modding is... My classic 50 cost $40 to ship, thats $80 in shipping expenses already, and then I'd only have $20 left over for modding.

If I sell my classic for $450, I'd have $550. I'd get an atomic reactor than just save up till I could afford a pod XT used or something, theres bound to be a slew of em used. I could just use the korg modeler I have now in the atomic. (Its the EXACT SAME THING as in the vox modelers, but standalone, and with cab modeling.)

And on the reactor, I'm pretty sure it has an ext cab out, I could just get an avatar 1x12 with a celestion greenback later on if I wanted a 2x12.

Geting a reactor sounds like the most sound and safe solution to the problem for me, what do you think?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Dilemma...

hmmm..OK...funds are limited...

Atomic comes highly recommended, butI'd hate to recommend it since I haven't tried it myself...not saying it's bad..just hate to recco something I have not used in general

You may look into the Tech21 stuff . It will do exactly what you want. I haven't played the TM60 (in your budget range..$520), but I know what the SansAmp can do (had one for almost 15 years) and the TM 10...and they give a GREAT modded Marshall sound...or classic Marshall sound...or MK MESA sound, or Fender...Or Hiwatt or...etc etc.

They are solid state but I'm actually kinda kicking myself for selling my Sansamp to PedalGuru. Cos it would solve my dilemma. It sounds great even through my ADT 30..the POD does not.

check out Tech21

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

hmmm..OK...funds are limited...

Atomic comes highly recommended, butI'd hate to recommend it since I haven't tried it myself...not saying it's bad..just hate to recco something I have not used in general

You may look into the Tech21 stuff . It will do exactly what you want. I haven't played the TM60 (in your budget range..$520), but I know what the SansAmp can do (had one for almost 15 years) and the TM 10...and they give a GREAT modded Marshall sound...or classic Marshall sound...or MK MESA sound, or Fender...Or Hiwatt or...etc etc.

They are solid state but I'm actually kinda kicking myself for selling my Sansamp to PedalGuru. Cos it would solve my dilemma. It sounds great even through my ADT 30..the POD does not.

check out Tech21

AhahahAHAH, yea, funds are always limited. I'm a broke 18 year old still in school, living in his parents house. No bogners for me! hahahahaha

And I've heard tech 21's stuff (It sounds great, but I wasn't playing it either), But I'm scared as hell at looking into something I'm not sure about. I've heard the podXT (Thanks to DSS666) and I have to say it kicks ass as far as what I'm looking for.

Gotta remember, I'm someone who hunts out a different tone weekly, and the prospect of all the tweaking options on the podxt makes me foam at the mouth. Oh and when I heard the tech 21, someone had a pod running into it also, sounded very buttery and warm.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Dilemma...

It sounds like you need to be patient. And breathe for a few moments.

It sounds like you need a lot more money to reach your end goal. In the meantime, you have an amp, find a distortion/OD pedal that will get you closer to the sound that you want. And play with that set-up until you can get the Amp and modeler that you want.

How's that old Stones song go,
"...You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, that you get what you need."

Experiment with tubes and pedals in the meantime.
My 2cents, FWIW.

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

It sounds like you need to be patient. And breathe for a few moments.

It sounds like you need a lot more money to reach your end goal. In the meantime, you have an amp, find a distortion/OD pedal that will get you closer to the sound that you want. And play with that set-up until you can get the Amp and modeler that you want.

How's that old Stones song go,
"...You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, that you get what you need."

Experiment with tubes and pedals in the meantime.
My 2cents, FWIW.

Well see, thats the deal. I've been expermenting with things and all its done is waste my money. My classic is an open back amp voiced for vintage cleans, and it does not want to get away from that without becoming un-ruley. (I can't afford to have it modded)

I just think I'm sitting on $500 worth of amp that could be better used on something that I'd actually plugin to. (As it stands now, It gets maybe 10mins of playtime a week, and my vox gets played for about 3 hours a day)

And I'm not going about it hastily really, I've had my eyes on a atomic reactor since they came out, but stupid me thought any tube amp would be the "end all" at the time, so i got this peavey and learned alot.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Dilemma...

Ya, you're probably right. You should sell it and save the money until you can get what you want. It sounds like you might want an EL84 or EL34 amp over a 6L6 amp.

Good luck with your quest!

 

[Mephis]

Re: Dilemma...

Ya, you're probably right. You should sell it and save the money until you can get what you want. It sounds like you might want an EL84 or EL34 amp over a 6L6 amp.

Good luck with your quest!

Actually TBH, I want to stay away from a true tube amp until I can afford (or see a reason why I'd ever need something like it) something crazy like a mesa road king or bogner ecstasy. Reason being, I change my tonal taste quite often and I can't be satisifyed without thousands of tweaking options.

I just need a cool studio amp that can do damn near anything, but not be so quite it can't be heard. And when I think about an amp like that, I instantly think of an atomic reactor.

For instance, look at my guitar!

60/89, I can cover just about any tone from just about any era with that guitar, depending on tunings and string gauges. And It gets a workout!

I can go from Joe Walsh to death metal without even touching the amp.

And my classic is an EL84 amp, hehehehe.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Dilemma...

Actually TBH, I want to stay away from a true tube amp until I can afford (or see a reason why I'd ever need something like it) something crazy like a mesa road king or bogner ecstasy. Reason being, I change my tonal taste quite often and I can't be satisifyed without thousands of tweaking options.

I just need a cool studio amp that can do damn near anything, but not be so quite it can't be heard. And when I think about an amp like that, I instantly think of an atomic reactor.

For instance, look at my guitar!

60/89, I can cover just about any tone from just about any era with that guitar, depending on tunings and string gauges. And It gets a workout!

I can go from Joe Walsh to death metal without even touching the amp.

And my classic is an EL84 amp, hehehehe.

I guess that shows how little I know! :laugh2::laugh2:
I'll step out now so the pros can talk to you