high gain tube head?

[Rowan]

Can anyone reccomend a high gain (not insanity high gain) tube head? Right now I've got a line 6 spyder II and the metal channel on it is pretty damn sweet. I've tried ds-1 and metal zones and none of those tones ever really did it for me.

I'm not sure but I think the 'metal' channel was modeled after a mesa boogie but I'm not made of sack-a-gahhhhhhhweeeah dollars :soapbox:

 

[SonofaMitch]

Re: high gain tube head?

CRATE are Well known for their METAL sound

check them out I've got the BV-120HR( Limited edition)

but the Blue Voodoo's are SICK as well for Metal

~Mitch~

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: high gain tube head?

i don't like crate. they sound muddy and cheap. they won't give you really good tone. i'm sure that will offend some people, but that's my experience. be careful not to spend a whole lot on their overpriced tube amps either. their equipment is problematic too, in my opinion.

 

[Rowan]

Re: high gain tube head?

Yeah I've got a small crate practice amp and I used to think the distortion was awful. I left it with a friend for a good long while, came back to it and the distortion wasn't as bad as I remembered. But it wasn't by any means great.

 

[Inferno]

Re: high gain tube head?

What distorted tones do you like and how much money do you have to spend? I'd suggest you look into the Marshall DSL if you have the money. Look for one of the combos. It can do metal well, although it's no MESA. Also look for the Peavey 5150 combos. Those will definitely dish out some metal!

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: high gain tube head?

Choice 1 - Laney AORs there are no better price/quality ratio for tube metal amp.
Choic 2, Peavey Valve King.
5150 is a good choice too but will cost more than the above two.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: high gain tube head?

Yeah Laney AORs are cool, you can get them second had for not much still.

Or I know one of our forum bros has been getting some awesome tones out of a Peavey JSX recently.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: high gain tube head?

5150, JSX, Peavey Ultra Plus, etc...

 

[WhoFan]

Re: high gain tube head?

5150, JSX, Peavey Ultra Plus, etc...

I like all those.... I have a love for more vintage style amps as well... and modern scooped high gain amps.... i love them all really.. the Peavey's are well made.... my 5150 is my go to amp when i want high gain

 

[brit84]

Re: high gain tube head?

Genz Benz El Diablo 60 or 100, both are incredibly versatile

 

[Axl H]

Re: high gain tube head?

ENGL Screamer.

Good clean channels.

Great drive sounds for blues, rock or flat out death metal.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: high gain tube head?

As far as JSX you guys forgot about this part of original thread:
"but I'm not made of sack-a-gahhhhhhhweeeah dollars"
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...triani-Signature-Head?sku=480114&src=3SOSWXXA
That's why I say Laney AOR Pro-Tube Lead you can find for 500 mint condition, four stage gain, effects loop, push-pull boosts,(eight knobers have channel switchig via foot switch) great cleans, and classic british EL34 sound, how can you beat that???

 

[brit84]

Re: high gain tube head?

ill +1 to the laneys also, but add that a used gh100 or VC combo can go for around the same price these days

 

[alex1fly]

Re: high gain tube head?

What's your dollar limit? You can get a Mesa single rec/rectoverb or f-series head for around a grand, less if you buy used. I'm not sure about the new Express amps, but they're replacing the F-series so I bet they're around the same price.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: high gain tube head?

I got my JSX for 750 shipped - hardly what I'd call expensive.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: high gain tube head?

As far as JSX you guys forgot about this part of original thread:
"but I'm not made of sack-a-gahhhhhhhweeeah dollars"
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...triani-Signature-Head?sku=480114&src=3SOSWXXA
That's why I say Laney AOR Pro-Tube Lead you can find for 500 mint condition, four stage gain, effects loop, push-pull boosts,(eight knobers have channel switchig via foot switch) great cleans, and classic british EL34 sound, how can you beat that???

i got lucky and bought my 5150 half stack for $650.... used deals are out there if you are a hunter...

 

[El Dorado]

Re: high gain tube head?

Can anyone reccomend a high gain (not insanity high gain) tube head? Right now I've got a line 6 spyder II and the metal channel on it is pretty damn sweet. I've tried ds-1 and metal zones and none of those tones ever really did it for me.

I'm not sure but I think the 'metal' channel was modeled after a mesa boogie but I'm not made of sack-a-gahhhhhhhweeeah dollars :soapbox:

If you like the metal channel on the spyder II, have you considered a flextone? The flextone is in a whole another league as the spyder. I own a Vetta now, but I used to own a flextone 2 head that I played through a mesa 2x12 and it sounded really good. The metal channel is modeled after a Soldano SLO and there is a mesa recto and marshall model also. The clean sounds based on the Roland Jazz Chorus and Matchless Chieftan sound pretty damn good too. You can get a flextone II off of ebay of well under $400.

For affordable tube heads, the 5150 is always a good bet.

 

[arbiter]

Re: high gain tube head?

try the peavey XXL. it's not tube, but it can come close, and for the price it's vell worth it. if you have the money, get the 5150, JSX or XXX. but don't buy anything before you try it out with YOUR guitar. i think everyone will agree to this.

 

[Danglin' Fury]

Re: high gain tube head?

J_S_X!!!! and put a parametric EQ in the loop. That way, you can have a mountain of mid thunder AND dial in a nice scooped metal tone! :firedevil :headbang:

 

[SizzleSale.com]

Re: high gain tube head?

Mesa Boogie F-50. That amp is a beast and does it ALL!