Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Hughes & Kettner TriAmp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_WOPnhxYwM#t=40s

edit: nevermind, just figured out that they're $3,500. :laughing:

I've owned a Duotone and a Triamp before; I've gotten them for less than $1500 used. They aren't the br00talz, though. They get a pretty nice and unique crunch and get some good all around high gain stuff, but it just doesn't have the focus and tightness of some other amps.

 

[BloodRose]

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.

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

Im soo interested in these but am concerned about the reliability.. My MTS 3212 didnt hold up so well. Sounded GREAT before it failed tho...

 

[BloodRose]

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

Im loving my Hotrodded JCM800! took me awhile to warm up to it as my PV ultra plus had a bigger low end roar, but Im really digging the JCM now.. Afraid it may need maintenance tho.. making some pops and stuff. : (

What I think is cool is that alot of guys are rediscovering them.. Marshall has reissued and Ive noticed alot of guys interviewed in guitar mags are recording with them again..

If I was buying new, Id buy the Kerry king one.. More gain and less than the reissue.

 

[BloodRose]

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.

Ditto! I cant play anything around here but PV and an occasional marshall. I did play a stilletto once and it wasnt bad..
GC here gets some interesting used pieces once in awhile, but they never have the power cords near them or easy access to try them.. Otherwise its wait 20 min for the drone to hook it up, tell you its the coolest amp on the planet and then babysit while I try it.. ( yeah dude, that gorilla is the sweetest tone box on the planet) Im so self conscious about my playing, I hate to have someone sit and watch me..

 

[SFW]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Hughes & Kettner TriAmp Mk. I . Six channels from clean to over the top mean. They are MIDI switchable with the MD1 module and have reverb. I love mine.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Splawn Nitro retails for $50 under your budget @ $1950.

You will not find a better-sounding, more reliable high-gain metal-voiced amp in your price range.

Youtubage:

 

[cakire82]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

How much do these go for. MK IIs go for 3500K

Hughes & Kettner TriAmp Mk. I . Six channels from clean to over the top mean. They are MIDI switchable with the MD1 module and have reverb. I love mine.

 

[cakire82]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I have been checking out Carvin V3 for the last couple day. it is sitting on top my my list, thanks to you guys. This is really a very versatile amp with not only brutal but and versatile gain levels. Price is unbeatable too.

Are you guys using the Carvin 4x12 cabs for these? Carvin says they are loaded with GT12s. Are they same as Celestion G12T-75s? or different. Do you recommend these matching cabs for this amp?

It is also great that it supports MIDI. Do you know if I can control it with my Line6 POD X3 live and use some of the effects in this pedal as well?

Thank you all again for this great recommendation.

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.

New, they are $899 usa.

I found mine used for $535 on Ebay.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Im soo interested in these but am concerned about the reliability.. My MTS 3212 didnt hold up so well. Sounded GREAT before it failed tho...

I know a guy with one of these V3's that crapped out and he's having a little trouble getting it fixed.

 

[cakire82]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Now, you ruined my day Do you know what the problem was?

I know a guy with one of these V3's that crapped out and he's having a little trouble getting it fixed.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I'm not sure what's wrong with it but the guy can't get the schematic for it.
http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=10130 - - I hang out there. I'll ask him if he ever got it fixed.

 

[Curt]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

well... Diamond Nitrox, or Spec Op...

those are 2k flat for the head, new. and if you can find a used one, they shouldn't be much more than 1300-1500...

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I've owned a Duotone and a Triamp before; I've gotten them for less than $1500 used. They aren't the br00talz, though. They get a pretty nice and unique crunch and get some good all around high gain stuff, but it just doesn't have the focus and tightness of some other amps.

I have to defer to you, since you had one, but this video shows a pretty badass brutal tone. Start at 0:40 to bypass the guy talking about it.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I'd ask B2D or Gearjoneser about their Carvin amps...

I think Brendon's Legacy blew up three times... there's threads here if you dig around.

If I had $2k to spend I personally wouldn't even consider Carvin.

Not bad sounding amps, but certainly built to a price point.

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I have been checking out Carvin V3 for the last couple day. it is sitting on top my my list, thanks to you guys. This is really a very versatile amp with not only brutal but and versatile gain levels. Price is unbeatable too.

Are you guys using the Carvin 4x12 cabs for these? Carvin says they are loaded with GT12s. Are they same as Celestion G12T-75s? or different. Do you recommend these matching cabs for this amp?

It is also great that it supports MIDI. Do you know if I can control it with my Line6 POD X3 live and use some of the effects in this pedal as well?

Thank you all again for this great recommendation.

+1 for the V3.
But if your budget is 2k, I'd look for something else.
If your budget was under 1k, I'd say you were done, but I'm thinking you can do *waaaay* better for twice the money.

No idea about the speakers... I got a V3 top version with 4 Vintage 30's... similar to the Vai Legacy cabs.

And it has Midi In/Thru.
The data sheet.

You could certainly set up your Podx3 to play thru it... just remove the cab sims and watch your levels. I *think* you can channel switch with it, but I use the pedal that comes with it, so I'm not certain.

According to the V3L(the newest lighted version) manual with Midi you can:

"Set the Channel (1-3), Loops 1&2 (ON/OFF) and Boost (ON/OFF). Put the V3 in "learn" mode and it will assign your settings to the MIDI patch number you choose from your controller."

Is it "brütäl" enough?

Yea, I think so. Certainly enough gain on tap to satisfy my craving.
Cleans aren't amazing, but are usable.
Eurotubes sells replacement sets that should make it sound a whole lot better than it already does.
Also, Eurotubes recommends you bias it hotter than Carvin does stock.

Good luck
MM

 

[cakire82]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I don't know... Carvin V3 really impressed me with it's sound and feature. Every manufacturer have flaws these days. They are all using cheaper parts and moving towards mass production. I found 66 reviews in HC they are all above good.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/product/Carvin/V3+Head/10/7

Of course there will be a few cases where a tube amp can malfunction, but which one does not?

I was seriously considering ENGL powerball but this has the same features (1 channel less) and maybe even more. I can buy 2 of these instead of a powerball.

So any one has any ideas about the speakers that these carvin cabs are loaded with. IT only says GT12. Are they same as Celestion G12T-75s?

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

here's my exchange with the guy with the V3:

Quote from: GoDrex on 2010-02-03, 11:21:19

Do you know what's wrong with it? And did you ever get it fixed?

A guy on another board is looking at getting one, and I mentioned that you had some trouble with yours. If you can give me any details about it that would be cool. Thanks.

----------------

Hey dude, that Carvin is still not working. It fries whatever power tubes I put in it. Right now it's just gathering dust... I will take another crack at repairing it sometime, maybe when they release a schematic. Because without a schematic I don't stand a chance... it's complicated as hell in there!

It is an awesome sounding amp though. I really wish I could get it working, but I'm done pouring money into it for now.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

I don't know... Carvin V3 really impressed me with it's sound and feature. Every manufacturer have flaws these days. They are all using cheaper parts and moving towards mass production.

Not everyone. Rivera stuff is damn near bulletproof... old VHT/Fryette is the same way... even Boogies... Bogner... Orange... H&K...

If you buy a Carvin & plan on gigging with it, like several times a month or more you should buy a backup amp with all that money you "save" on the main one.

 

[MojoMonster]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

Not everyone. Rivera stuff is damn near bulletproof... old VHT/Fryette is the same way... even Boogies... Bogner... Orange... H&K...

If you buy a Carvin & plan on gigging with it, like several times a month or more you should buy a backup amp with all that money you "save" on the main one.

Heh, or just buy two V3s!


MM

 

[kherman]

Re: Most Brutal Amp in the Market under $2000

So far the Carvin v3 has been working good.
No issues with it. Yes, I've only had it a short time.
But, I believe it's a couple years old already.
Previous owner had two V3s. This was his backup one.
Said he had no issues with it.
He's still gigging his other one.

As for Carvin CS. I've had nothing but a good experience with them with any of my Carvin products.

as for the V3 repair service for anyone that needs it (if out of warranty).
Repair price is $264.
A Chassis exchange is $400.
ITEM REPAIR EXCHANGE EXCHANGE $
GUITAR AMPS
V3 $264 V3 chassis $400
V3212 N/A V3 chassis $400
VL100 N/A VL100 chassis $375
VL212 N/A VL100 chassis $375
NOMAD N/A Nomad chassis $300
BEL AIR N/A belair chassis $300
VINTAGE16 N/A vintage 16 chassis $250
MTS3200 N/A X100B chassis $350
X100B prior to 2008 N/A N/A
X100B N/A X100B chassis $350
AG100D N/A AG100D chassis $250
SX50 N/A
SX100 N/A SX100 chassis $200
SX200 N/A SX200 chassis $200
SX300 N/A SX300 chassis $225
SX300R N/A N/A
TN100 N/A N/A
TS100 N/A TS100 $350

http://www.carvinservice.com/crg/service.php