Most underrated metal amp

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ianson36

New member
I've seen the most underrated metal album thread and now I'm curious to see what does everyone think the most underrated metal amp is. All you ever hear is "just get a 5150/6505" but what do you think doesn't get enough credit for metal? H&k triamp? Orange or15? Randall warhead? It doesn't have to be a 100watt amp but simply make a mean sound

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Re: Most underrated metal amp

The more contemporary Peavey Ultra series (XXX, JSX, 3120) always stood in the shadow of the 6505, but I think they're great as well. They're not perfect. I have a XXX, and it has way too much gain on tap on both gain channels, but it can definitely be tweaked to sound great.

Everybody talked **** about Krank back in the day, but to this day, I reach for my Krank Rev Jr. a lot more than I do for my Peavey XXX, honestly. It's more of a love it or hate it kinda tone, but it's cool as well, IMO. I'll say, though, Kranks have super mega narrow sweet spots for useable tone in their controls.

The old Randall G2 and G3 solid states were great as well, and the T2 hybrid was killer.
 
Re: Most underrated metal amp

AMT Stonehead

After owning a bunch of bigger name big gain tube amps to compare to, this little solid state 50 watt 4 channel amp is a monster. Not just for high gain though. Squeaky cleans to slight breakups to vintage rock all the way to rip your balls off, stomp on em, and shove them in your face, and melt ballsy face Metal.

:D
 
Re: Most underrated metal amp

I thought the JSX was pretty awesome but few mention it. I think the faceplate was too goofy looking and was just screaming like "I'm a fanboi and I got the signature amp!" kinda thing.

The OR15 was mentioned above. I think it is a great one for early black sabbath, but maybe not modern metal, it's pretty loose feeling and fuzzy. I dunno like it doesn't sound bad to me for modern hard rock and metal tones but it's different for sure. Enough gain to handle most things though. It has a touch of that rockerverb thing going on, in fact I always thought it sounded more like that than anything originally called "OR" or "OD" by orange.
 
Re: Most underrated metal amp

I have said it a thousand times around here. The most underrated metal amp is the Fender 100 watt

 
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Re: Most underrated metal amp

Crate Stealth( classic metal). Would be cool to use the Stealth in a 2 amp configuration with an amp that brings more low end grunt- and best of all its only $250 'ish.

Also I'd say you could make a case for the Genz Benz 'Diablo' amps for modern metal. New they were around fifteen hundred dollar IIRC, and now you can snag them every so often for about a thousand dollars less...a deal!
 
Re: Most underrated metal amp

Little Pigbacon said:
Rivera
Click to expand...

I picked up a KR7 a couple months ago, I actually went to the shop to demo a Herbert they had and the salesman kept pestering me to try the Rivera. (which i was semi consciously passing over due to past rivera experiences and it being associated with mick thompson) and that thing kicked my ass. The knucklehead 100 i had years ago had a tough time doing metal but this amp just stupid good in the high gain department.
 
Re: Most underrated metal amp

Edgecrusher said:
I picked up a KR7 a couple months ago, I actually went to the shop to demo a Herbert they had and the salesman kept pestering me to try the Rivera. (which i was semi consciously passing over due to past rivera experiences and it being associated with mick thompson) and that thing kicked my ass. The knucklehead 100 i had years ago had a tough time doing metal but this amp just stupid good in the high gain department.
Click to expand...

I didn't know Mick Thompson had an endorsement or even played a Rivera. Maybe not so underrated then?
 
Re: Most underrated metal amp

The best metal amp I've ever played or owned that is hardly known is the short lived Bad Cat Cougar series, which Musicians Friend blew out the door a year ago for dealer cost. Bad Cat killed off the line when it changed ownership, and the amps were designed by James Brown who did the highgain Peaveys, Peavey Classics, and now works for Kustom. I think the Bad Cat Cougar 50 head was the best highgain amp he ever came up with. The EQ section has a 4 way rotary mid shift for the base tone, and then a regular B/M/T/P to dial it perfectly. It's something every amp should have.

bad-cat-cougar-50h-50w-valvulado-cabecote-tube-fender-vox-608201-MLB20296728247_052015-F.jpg
 
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Re: Most underrated metal amp

I'd agree with Joe regarding the Bad Cat Cougar 50h. That was my first thought when I read the OP. The other amp I have that surprisingly does really good metal is the Ampeg GVT5212. Both not on anyone's radar for metal tone, but they deliver in spades. We should have done this thread with a requirement to upload videos to prove your recommendation.
 
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