Help me find a high gain amp.

  • Thread starter Thread starter alashredder
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Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

Yeah, the good base tone is what to look for. Ever since I bought that Laney I came to this realization. The Peavey had a lot of gain and a pretty decent high gain tone, but once the gain was turned down there just wasnt much left. I hear a lot of this about the Powerball. The Mesa I have now has a pretty good base tone, but Im not convinced yet. I did it mainly for a different amp, and to save some cash.
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

the VHT Delieverance is one of those amps that has an extreamly solid tone-- and it can do everything (for extreme metal you'll want a boost though). The only thing with VHTs though, is they have a very "dry" distortion; and most young players can't see past that and think that they lack gain.
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

millsart said:
Don't know how long term of investment your looking to make this purchase, but I can say as someone who once spent a ton of hard earned cash going for similar tones, you will outgrow the brutal, more gain, more gain, more gain mindset.

Just like with women, its not all about looks you come to realize though in my early 20's you couldn't of convinced me lol.

I'm not saying you shouldn't enjoy whatever music you like to play, dont get me wrong, but don't make a buying decision based JUST on how much gain something has.

Look for something that has a good amount of gain on hand but that also has a good solid tone because thats an amp that you'll enjoy for a longtime to come regardless of how your taste change and grow.


Also I'll add that having been in a ton of bands, knowing a ton of musicians, working at a music store, and still working in the music industry as a journalist today, I have never come across any players who use more gain now than then did in the past, provided they still play similar styles.

The longer you play, the less gain you need and the better you sound.



For what its worth too, Engl is hard to beat for the tight modern stuff for the money in my opinion. Its what I'd be playing if I was still into that stuff
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You are very wise and I completely understand what you mean. I'm a very different guitar player, but I do see other guitar players go that route that you desribed. I'm in my late 20's now (been playing since 13) and I hate to say that I haven't slowed down when it comes to aggressive style playing. I do play other genre's of music as well, but when it comes to metal. The gain must be there. The reason why I sold the Peavey amp was the tone. I should've clarified it in my original post. The gain was there, but the tone wasn't. I am now in the market for another high gain amp that would give me not just the gain, but great tone as well. I think i described the tone I wanted in a few posts in this thread..and also in the original post as well.
 
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Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

I have it narrowed down to an Engl Blackmore with a Marshall 1960 Cab or should I go with their Engl cab with v60 speakers?
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

Stick with the ENGL cab, im pretty sure they are a few notches above those Marshall cabs.
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

Man the Laney is heavy... the Bogner is what many pros use, but they are pricey. Have you tried the JSX head? It is very heavy, an different than the 5150. The cleans are really good too. Randall has some good stuff too.
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

BFahz said:
Man the Laney is heavy... the Bogner is what many pros use, but they are pricey. Have you tried the JSX head? It is very heavy, an different than the 5150. The cleans are really good too. Randall has some good stuff too.
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How different is the JSX from the 5150 II or 6505 plus? Does it give just a good amount of gain, but with better tone?
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

alashredder said:
How different is the JSX from the 5150 II or 6505 plus? Does it give just a good amount of gain, but with better tone?
Click to expand...

I sold a 5150 for a JSX and then went back, so I'll chime in...

JSX has way more than enough gain, almost as much as the 5150.

The JSX struck me as a 5150II blended with a Recto, but with a good bit of Marshall twang in there. Definitely a cool head, and probably the least 'sterile'/onetrickpony of the Peavey high-gain amps. Has a really nice clean channel, as well!

The low end is tighter than the 5150. The whole amp is a bit tighter, actually. Still has a good amount of that Peavey 'give,' but it's tighter feeling than a 5150, for sure.

I'd take one over a Recto, VHT, Marshall, Krank, or even a Bogner Ecstasy, to be honest.
 
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Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

Virtual Kevorkian said:
I sold a 5150 for a JSX and then went back, so I'll chime in...

JSX has way more than enough gain, almost as much as the 5150.

The JSX struck me as a 5150II blended with a Recto, but with a good bit of Marshall twang in there. Definitely a cool head, and probably the least 'sterile'/onetrickpony of the Peavey high-gain amps. Has a really nice clean channel, as well!

The low end is tighter than the 5150. The whole amp is a bit tighter, actually. Still has a good amount of that Peavey 'give,' but it's tighter feeling than a 5150, for sure.

I'd take one over a Recto, VHT, Marshall, Krank, or even a Bogner Ecstasy, to be honest.
Click to expand...

What cabs would you recommend for the JSX and why did you go back to the 5150? Thanks!
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

alashredder said:
What cabs would you recommend for the JSX and why did you go back to the 5150? Thanks!
Click to expand...


My favorite cabs are Mesa oversized 4x12's or Orange 4x12's. Both sound huge and massive with great low end thump and clarity, but they have slightly different midranges. Hard to describe... both are amazing cabinets, just different styles. The Orange has a bit more tamed of a top end than the Mesa - that's the biggest difference, I'd say.

I originally sold the 5150 to get the JSX because I needed a clean channel for a band I was starting. The band ended up not going anywhere and I missed the 5150 so much that I had to get another.

I've made the mistake of selling that head (5150) far too many times, and that was part of it. I'm on number four now, and I'll (seriously) never sell this one. It just fits my playing style so well that I'd be retarded to get rid of it again, as I know I'd just get another down the line.

That said, If I was to get back into a band and needed a clean channel, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another JSX. Right now, all of my clean playing gets done via POD when recording; otherwise, I'd have a JSX ontop of my 5150.
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

I'm in the same situation and I've narrowed it to Engl Powerball vs Framus Cobra at the moment, without forgetting the VHTs as well.....hmmmmm:scratchch

Edit: But still I'm more close to the Engl side.
 
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Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

I know it's a little late but if you're looking for a high-gain amp with great tone, I'd recommend an H&K Triamp mk. I or a Soldano Hot Rod. I've owned both and they are entirely capable of the sounds you're looking for. The Triamp is similar to a Bogner, but not as smooth sounding. It unfortunately has rather finicky EQ. The upside is that it has six channels and is capable of midi switching. I think the Soldano is similar to a Dual Recto with two important differences. One it has actual clarity. Even with the gain at 11 (how cool is that?) you can still hear all the notes in your chords. Second, it doesn't have that buzzsaw harshness to the highs. Both of these amps can be found used for less than $1500.
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

Dystrust, you only live a few minutes away from me. Any chance that you still own any of these amps for me to try out? lol
 
Re: Help me find a high gain amp.

Unfortunately I sold the Soldano to pay rent a couple years ago, and the Triamp financed my move up here. Sorry.

If you want to try a Soldano, Encore music in uptown has one. You can also run up to Solidbody, but the atmosphere there can be a bit intimidating. The closest thing I still have to a Triamp is my Edition Tube 20 combo.
 
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