getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

[Xeromus]

I'm looking for a good versatile amp. One that can rock hard, crunch and do metal but clean up well also. I have a Carvin Legacy head and I'd like to get something to compliment/offset that. It's either going to be a Mesa F-50 or Peavey 5150 (6505). I know the clean on the 5150 isn't the greatest but it has monster crunch. And I know the F-50 has suberb clean but can it get real nasty high gain crunch too?

Which would you choose?

 

[rraawwrr]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

A Mesa Rectoverb! The clean is fantastic, and you can switch to EL34's if you prefer them. The distortion is definately brutal, plenty of crunch, and high gain galour (obviously). However, Mesa's are a far cry from the 5150, Mesa's being relatively scooped sounding while the 5150 is more mid-heavy.

Despite many harsh reviews of the Rectifier's clean channel, don't overlook the cleans on the Rectoverb! They are absolutley superb. I don't know about the Solo 50's cleans, but for a couple extra hundred, the reverb is worth it.

EDIT:

I guess if I had to choose, I'd go with the F-50. I would rather have a good clean channel and an OK crunch than a not-so-hot clean with heavy crunch.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

Ooh...that's a hard choice. In this case, I'd have to say the Peavey. It sounds more open and natural to me than the F's, and I think it would go superbly with the Legacy.

If I had a 5150, I personally wouldn't use the clean channel for cleans at all. The crunch switch engaged with the gain at about half way on that thing is the coolest clean/crunch tone I've played on in a while.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

b/t the two you named that's a hard call for me, they both have faults to me...the f-50 just doesn't live up to the animal gain of the rectos. yet, it's not made to do that. granted i only played through one for a short time (10min max) but i wasn't impressed enough to keep using it. as for the 5150 i've played through them tons of times in the studio at rehersals...the other guitarist in my band loves it and i'm a bit so-so on it, it does have a monster amount of gain for any type of metal but i also find it gets a bit thin as the gain goes up, it seems to have a very sharp edge to it when using it for high gain...not all bad, it cuts though like mad but it just doesn't have a thick enough low end for me. but when i play through my (or the studios) peavey ultra plus and the other guitarist is using the 5150 we get a killer combo since the 5150 has that edge to it and i set my ultra plus for a bit of a thicker sound so it rounds out very well in the mix with the two guitars. but alone i'm not sold on the 5150, in a band with two guitars it seems to work ok though. i'm also on an amp head hunt and having a hard time finding something i like that fits my needs and wants. just make sure to play through both for as long as you can and as loud as you can. i guess if you said you have to buy one of the two i'd take the 5150 over the f-50...but i also say, don't limit yourself to those two only, shop around and try as many amps as you can!

-Mike

 

[Xeromus]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

The only reason I choose these two is they are reasonably priced and are two I was considering before I got my legacy. The legacy does superb cleans and everything for low, mid gain blues to all out balls to the wall gain. I just wanted to get a good 2nd amp for a backup and a different tone color.

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

5150 for metal apps.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

How about the Nomad? I played a 100 watt head through an old Marshall 4x10" cab (Celestion V10's) and it sounded great pushing everything from Fender style cleans to pretty heavy gain.

It's not a bad amp off the shelf. For the $800 that the seller is asking for it, I'm seriously tempted to pull the trigger. :burnout:

 

[Xeromus]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

bump

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

You've already got a Legacy....are you looking for something that does clean & dirty BOTH or just something clean to go with the Legacy's dirt?

OOOps...helps when you read the while thread!

I tried the Nomad too & liked it...I'd go with the F-50 of the 2; I don't like the 5150.

I love Captain Geech And The Shrimp Shack Shooters!!

"That Thing You Do"...GREAT movie & soundtrack!!!

 

[Xeromus]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

You've already got a Legacy....are you looking for something that does clean & dirty BOTH or just something clean to go with the Legacy's dirt?



"That Thing You Do"...GREAT movie & soundtrack!!!

The Legacy probably has one of the best clean channels of any modern amp without a doubt. The Gain channel to say the least is "interesting". It's very different but I really like it. I guess what I'm looking for is a 6L6 amp that can do bumpin' jazz cleans have a raging gain channel to and also have a nice mid-gain bluesy tone. From the time I tried this amp out, I think it can do that.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

That's nice to know....for some reason, I figured the Legacy was a gainiac.

The Mesa Blue Angel is no high gain monster, but for blues/rock/country/jazz it's FANTASTIC. Throw a pedal in there for your gain, & you might like that option. That's a discontinued amp though, so if you find one, it might be on the pricey side.

Good luck though....

 

[Xeromus]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

That's nice to know....for some reason, I figured the Legacy was a gainiac.

The Mesa Blue Angel is no high gain monster, but for blues/rock/country/jazz it's FANTASTIC. Throw a pedal in there for your gain, & you might like that option. That's a discontinued amp though, so if you find one, it might be on the pricey side.

Good luck though....

The Legacy is high gain but not in the way you'd expect, not thump or chunk gain but smooth buttery mids gain. A lot of people who try them don't like them off the bat because they don't know how to use the tone controls. There are 1 meg pots for all them too. It's definately one of the best amps out there for the money. You do have to work a little more to get the tone you want out of it though.

 

[stratovarius]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

Hughes and Kettner Attax 100 or 200 head, perfect cleans especially on the 200 with stereo chorus. Bone crushing distortion, I would know. At every show I play there are two on stage with me.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

Hughes and Kettner Attax 100 or 200 head, perfect cleans especially on the 200 with stereo chorus. Bone crushing distortion, I would know. At every show I play there are two on stage with me.

Not at all what I'm looking for. That's pretty much the opposite of the sound I'd need. I appreciate the suggestion though.

 

[stratovarius]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

Shure? It gives me the tone exactly what your asking for. It can rock hard, and sounds like the in between sound of a marshall and a mesa and cleans up VERY nicely. I must be missing something lol.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

Shure? It gives me the tone exactly what your asking for. It can rock hard, and sounds like the in between sound of a marshall and a mesa and cleans up VERY nicely. I must be missing something lol.

They crunch, but those give the buzzsaw solid state tone. I usually like my amps to have a fluid lead tone but still be able to get crunchy rhythm. That's why I went with the Legacy. I haven't been able to play on a solid state amp since I switched over to tube. The response and sound just isn't there.

 

[stratovarius]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

It doesn't have that buzzsaw solid state sound unless you get the newer one's, I'm talking about the blue fuzzy cloth one's. Nobody that has ever heard my amp thought it was solid state but if you think those hybrid attax amps do then oh well lol Glad I could help though, may I suggest a Vox?

 

[sosomething]

Re: getting a 2nd amp head, which of these are more versatile?

If you're looking for a 5150, email me. I'm selling mine.