Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Also check out the Carvin V3 head.
All tube.
5-12ax7
4-EL34 or 6l6 (comes stock with EL34)


3 channels.
1 clean ch. (3 modes- bright ,normal, soak)
2 identical gain channels.( 3 modes- intense, normal, thick)
Master section has master volume, boost, bright, deep, mid cut.
2 effects loops. series and parallel.
4, 8, and 16 ohm switch.
El34 or 6L6 switch, 50w or 100w switch.
Midi switchable.
Direct line out with cab voicing switch.
V31.jpg

New, they are $899 usa.

I found mine used for $535 on Ebay

v3 is awsome. even more so when you turn up the bias

Yep I agree. IMO it stomps the fire out of all the Boogies tone wise at 1/2 the price!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ccTXR7BQo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9YSZZZTGUY
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Dude, I hear great things about the Laney VH100R amps, which are very well know for bruuuuuutal tones ! I own the TT50H and it's high gain, but not death metal territory like the VH100R ! Also, the ENGL Powerball I played was ****ing sweet !
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Used Bogner Shiva can be had for less than 1500, they last forever, and are as brutal or clean as you need it to be.

Shiva? Brutal? Nahhhhh. It's way too refined to be a brutal metal amp. The bottom end is too loose and unless you get the 20th Anniversary model, it won't have near enough gain for your average metalhead. If you're patient enough, you may be able to score a used Bogner Uberschall which would be much more up your alley, but you have to want that compressed kinda Bogner feel.


My vote goes to an Engl or a VHT Pitbull CL-100 used. They're tight as all hell, have plenty of gain on tap and they're clear, so your chops will shine through.
 
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Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

The Dual Rec is still the standard by which others are measured, and for good reason.
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

No love for the Mesa Stilettos or a good old fashioned JCM 800 with a gain mod?? :eek13:

You guys scare me sometimes..... though admittedly the 800 doesn´t have the best cleans in the world, a good one will stomp all over everything else like a 500 ton Battlemech :D
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

My recommendation is to stay away from the Randall RH300. I had a RG100 combo, and it was not good. I couldn't dial in a decent sound at all. The preamp just really didn't do it for me. I used the green overdrive channel in general, but it was always very noisy, and I just couldn't get along with it.

while by no means do I think it's in the same league as other amps listed, I'm surprised you didn't like the RG for metal. I use an RG75 G3, and it slays - super tight chunks, no noise (once I replaced the stock tube, which was going bad at the time I bought the amp), loud, versatile. Once again, not the top of the food chain compared to tha Big Boyz, but for stuff like old school Death (the band), it's pretty much dead on the old marshall valvestate sound, if not a step further. I'm partial to hybrids though.

to the OP:
If you check out Krank's 200-watt hybrid, report back!
 
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Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

while by no means do I think it's in the same league as other amps listed, I'm surprised you didn't like the RG for metal.

I wasn't really using it for brutal metal. I was going for more of a Megadeth tone. The problem (in my opinion) was the lack of organic crunch. There were also no dynamics whatsoever. There was just a barely-perceptible thinning of the tone with my volume knob.

I use an RG75 G3, and it slays - super tight chunks, no noise, loud, versatile. Once again, not the top of the food chain compared to tha Big Boyz, but for stuff like old school Death (the band), it's pretty much dead on the old marshall valvestate sound, if not a step further. I'm partial to hybrids though.

The T2 is a different beast altogether. THAT is a metal amp. It just oozes power until it eats away your shoes.
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I gonna have to say a Mesa for sure on this one. Clean cleans and insane gain all in one box.

And I've played and owned a Randall, Peavey, Marshall and Crate. My Rectoverb head can do all of what those amps could and a bag of cookies.
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I do have a fixed bias, but I'm going to go with Mesa as well. A used Mark IV is up your alley with great cleans and an awesome lead voice. R2 is underrated too I think, it covers quite a lot of territory from alternate clean to crunch to a good classic rock and old school metal sound.

The Recto is also undeniably a very versatile beast and you will NOT need to roll back your volume to keep the clean channel clean. The Rectos have one of the best clean channels on any high gain head I've tried, especially when you give it some volume and room to breathe.

Another vote for Rivera Knucklehead Tre too, great amp and if you can snag one used you wouldn't regret it. I think the flavour of gain you want really determines which of these three you would go for. The Recto is, well, a Recto, and I would describe the Rivera's distortion as being more raw while the Mark IV is smoother but still aggressive. That's just my take though.
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Looks like I have a lot of trying out to do. It sucks that you can not test all these amps in one place. Some of them are really hard to find in stores due to their high prices.
 
Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I like Line 6 products but the Spider valve didn't work for me. It was too complicated. I can use my POD X3 live with a power amp if I like to.

I didn't consider 5150s or 6505 due to the fact that Bugera 6262 clone is better (IMHO) and cheaper than them.

I will check out the Fryette also.

What do you think about the Jet Cities. Are they as good as their soldano brothers?


Bugera is Better than a 6505??? Why do you say that?? Are the tones similar?? I LOVE the 6505+ for the gain, but wont buy one as I want more versatility, but if I can get that gain for less, Id be interested.

The Jet city JAH20 is the only one Ive had the chance to play and I really like it! I actually bought the head. Ended up taking it back cuz I needed the money. But love the head. wish it have reverb tho.. Never played a Soldano so I cant compare first hand, but Ive heard they are similar..
According to an email I got from someone a JC, they are looking at putting an slo circuit into a future model... Pennies are being saved for that!
 
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