Looking for a New Amp

Agileguy_101

Agileguy_101

Master of his Domain
As much as I love my 68 Bassman, it doesn't djentdjentdjent or chuggachuggachoochoo like I want to be able to do (I'm also interested in buying a 7 string guitar soon.) But I want more than just teh br00tz, I'd love to be able to use it in my classic rock cover band should my Bassman crap out on me or be in the shop or something. My budget is about $1k, $1200 on the highest end. I'd prefer a head but I'd be open to combo suggestions. Don't suggest spending any more than $1200, you will be publicly made fun of for not reading the OP.

I'd prefer something over 50W, I have a 50W NMV amp that I regularly push past power tube breakup. I want more headroom out of this new amp. 2 channels are plenty, I don't need 3+ but I'm not opposed to it. FX loop is mandatory.

I'm looking at picking up an old Dual Rectifier, one of the ones with channel cloning. A friend of mine has one and I've always thought it was a killer amp. They can be had for even under $1k quite regularly. Is there anything that's a better deal? I want high quality, something built to LAST. I'm tough on my gear and the Behringer/Bugera/Crate crap that is passed off as an amp is not for me.
 
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Re: Looking for a New Amp

You can't go wrong with a Mesa, I use the 5:50 express with the contour knob up all the way and man its a 1x12 but chugs like a 4x12

I'd say get the Dual rec , it will last forever and if you get a new one its got the 5 year warranty

Also side note but Bugera and crate are not complete garbage I have heard some great tones out of them, they are reliable too....(if you get a good one ;) )
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

SongsForTheDeaf said:
Also side note but Bugera and crate are not complete garbage I have heard some great tones out of them, they are reliable too....(if you get a good one ;) )
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I don't trust an amp manufacturer that can't consistently put out a good product. Plus, I like that Mesa is literally an hour away from me so even if I pick up one of their 20+ year old amps, I can have them restore it to proper working condition.

I don't judge people who use musical equipment at the quality level of Bugera and the like, it's just not for me. I've got a taste for quality ever since I started acquiring nice pedals a few years ago, further exacerbated by the EBMM I got a little bit back. I can't go back to playing cheap ****, my first tube amp (Crate) was terrible and I want nothing to do with equipment of that quality level.
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

Mesa Boogie is definitely what we need to be talking about here.


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Re: Looking for a New Amp

Empty Pockets said:
I disagree with the entire premise of this thread.
Click to expand...

Be that as it may, you should at least know that the Bassman will be buried next to me. I can't control the projects that my friends want to pull me into but I can at least have an appropriate tone for the kind of music I'll play.

dominus said:
5150/6505

Anything else is just wrong.
Click to expand...

I've never got a clean or mid-gain tone out of one of those that I could get along with. Perhaps I need to spend more time with them at gigging volumes.
 
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Re: Looking for a New Amp

Agileguy_101 said:
I don't trust an amp manufacturer that can't consistently put out a good product. Plus, I like that Mesa is literally an hour away from me so even if I pick up one of their 20+ year old amps, I can have them restore it to proper working condition.

I don't judge people who use musical equipment at the quality level of Bugera and the like, it's just not for me. I've got a taste for quality ever since I started acquiring nice pedals a few years ago, further exacerbated by the EBMM I got a little bit back. I can't go back to playing cheap ****, my first tube amp (Crate) was terrible and I want nothing to do with equipment of that quality level.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, I too like a good quality instrument but sometimes you can find those instruments at a low price

My main guitar was 350 used and plays better than most Gibsons and even a Nash I had before it so goes to show

Good luck with the amp find, Mesa is always good and the range of the EQ section on Mesa's are crazy good!
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

Dude, a used EVH 5150 III 50w can be found for like $800. Loads of gain, fenderish cleans, and a nice crunch channel. You could even get a 100 watt for under $1200 if you waited a little while. Mind you I've never actually played one of these amps but their reputation is awesome, and they sound great recorded. (See newer Gojira, Testament, and the many youtube demos)
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

You can do that stuff with a bassman, use a tight (ie "metal") distortion pedal and an eq. Try it, you'll like it.

I'm gonna say 5150, just run a dual rig with your bassman for cleans. I wanna say a Mark III would work for you, but it might take some massaging and maybe a little compromise to get everything you're wanting to get from it. Maybe a used Mark IV? I'm just not super into the dual rec sound.
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

King IzzO))) said:
You can do that stuff with a bassman, use a tight (ie "metal") distortion pedal and an eq. Try it, you'll like it.

I'm gonna say 5150, just run a dual rig with your bassman for cleans. I wanna say a Mark III would work for you, but it might take some massaging and maybe a little compromise to get everything you're wanting to get from it. Maybe a used Mark IV? I'm just not super into the dual rec sound.
Click to expand...

True and it is the cheaper option.

Try the Hardwire TL-2 it has 2 modes tight and loose and all kinds of EQ options available with the Mid and mid frequency knobs
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

youngthrasher9 said:
Dude, a used EVH 5150 III 50w can be found for like $800. Loads of gain, fenderish cleans, and a nice crunch channel. You could even get a 100 watt for under $1200 if you waited a little while. Mind you I've never actually played one of these amps but their reputation is awesome, and they sound great recorded. (See newer Gojira, Testament, and the many youtube demos)
Click to expand...

+9999999999999999 play a 5150 III. The amp speaks for itself
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

Agileguy_101 said:
As much as I love my 68 Bassman, it doesn't djentdjentdjent or chuggachuggachoochoo like I want to be able to do (I'm also interested in buying a 7 string guitar soon.) But I want more than just teh br00tz, .
Click to expand...

there is alot of br99tz, maybe expand on that?


I dig orange but I would not recommend it to play teh periphery meshuggah musicz

otherwise ya your own suggestion for yourself is teh bestestz!! duel recofriers 4evah
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

I think you are on the right track looking into a 2 ch dual rec; you will find it's the exact opposite of your Bassman ... it has TONS of options! My Tremoverb is seriously OTT for my use, but when I want a certain tone (one which I characterize as being 'dry', 'tight', and 'dynamic' with LOTS of headroom and LF response) it's the only amp for the job. Each channel has 2 voicings, plus channel cloning, plenty of footswitching options, and enough patching to use the amp as a preamp, power amp, head, combo, slave amp ... multiple routing for the effects loop ... TWO valve rectifiers ... the ability to use multiple power valves or SS rectifier if I wish ... plus bulletproof construction ...

You really cannot go wrong!
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

Agileguy_101 said:
As much as I love my 68 Bassman, it doesn't djentdjentdjent or chuggachuggachoochoo like I want to be able to do (I'm also interested in buying a 7 string guitar soon.) But I want more than just teh br00tz, I'd love to be able to use it in my classic rock cover band should my Bassman crap out on me or be in the shop or something. My budget is about $1k, $1200 on the highest end. I'd prefer a head but I'd be open to combo suggestions. Don't suggest spending any more than $1200, you will be publicly made fun of for not reading the OP.

I'd prefer something over 50W, I have a 50W NMV amp that I regularly push past power tube breakup. I want more headroom out of this new amp. 2 channels are plenty, I don't need 3+ but I'm not opposed to it. FX loop is mandatory.

I'm looking at picking up an old Dual Rectifier, one of the ones with channel cloning. A friend of mine has one and I've always thought it was a killer amp. They can be had for even under $1k quite regularly. Is there anything that's a better deal? I want high quality, something built to LAST. I'm tough on my gear and the Behringer/Bugera/Crate crap that is passed off as an amp is not for me.
Click to expand...

5150/5152/6505/6505+/6534/6262/6260/5153 - whichever strikes your fancy and/or has the best deal going at the moment in your area
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

Agileguy_101 said:
Be that as it may, you should at least know that the Bassman will be buried next to me. I can't control the projects that my friends want to pull me into but I can at least have an appropriate tone for the kind of music I'll play.



I've never got a clean or mid-gain tone out of one of those that I could get along with. Perhaps I need to spend more time with them at gigging volumes.
Click to expand...

Crunch channel, variable PRE (0.5-4), maxxed POST (8-10), low PRESENCE (0-3), low reverb (1-2).... Eq adjusted to guitar & speakers, for a midrange hump and cutting some highs

For logain tones, use PRE as your volume and POST for your gain
 
Re: Looking for a New Amp

Have you tried one of the new(er) Marshall's.?
I was thinking maybe JCM 800, JCM 900, JCM 2000, or maybe one of the DSL 50 watt heads.
Not sure if those have as much clean headroom as you want or not.
Probably hard to beat a Mesa for what you describe.
good luck
 
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