Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

StratFreak

StratFreak

New member
Holy, its been a while since I posted here. Got really busy with work, school, my band, recording, etc

Anyways,
We've recently started playing a lot more shows and it doesn't make sense for me to keep renting a head and a cab (too expen$ive !!).

I'm trying to find:
- Half stack that doesn't have to have both parts (head and cab) being from the same company (ex. Peavey head, Orange Cab)
- Around $2000 together hopefully
- Sounds good for metal (metalcore, deathcore, modern metal sound)

Open to any suggestions, I'll take any ideas !! :)

Thanks for your time :)
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

Peavey 5150/6505 head, and find a cab that sounds good with it.

Should cost you about $800-$900 total.

Done.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

You could go with your own suggestion, Orange cab, Peavey 5150/6505 head.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

6505 is under $1,000 new and even less used.

Get a Marshall 1960AV or something else that doesn't have G12T-75s.

boom, metal glory awaits.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

JCM-2000 TSL122 + 2x12 extension. These are killer amps, and they take a HUGE hit (as in about 60 percent) on the used market, which can really benefit the buyer. Having the 2x12 combo plus a 2x12 extension is the most sensible way to arrive at a half stack IMO...because you've also got a one-trip "1/4 stack" as an option.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

ItsaBass said:
JCM-2000 TSL122 + 2x12 extension. These are killer amps, and they take a HUGE hit (as in about 60 percent) on the used market, which can really benefit the buyer. Having the 2x12 combo plus a 2x12 extension is the most sensible way to arrive at a half stack IMO...because you've also got a one-trip "1/4 stack" as an option.
Click to expand...

I've played through the JCM-2000 and im not the biggest fan. It sounds good, but its not for me.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

Sure, a lot of us are tube nuts. But there's some great metal amps that are digital/SS.

Blackstar just came out with their ID series. 60W head is $500 new, and 100W head is $600. I tried out the 100W halfstack at Sam Ash a few days ago, and was really impressed with it's range of tones. There's a knob that allows you to choose the sound of every major tube type, so you can shape the gain to your liking. It's also got digital FX. You can do a Twin with 6L6, Deluxe Reverb w/6V6, through some Marshalls of every tube type, all the way to a Diezel Herbert type tone. It's pretty cool!

It's cheap, sounds really good, and look at all the awards it's racking up. I've got a lot of high end tube amps, but still like these kinds of amps. I'm probably going to sell my blue grill Valvetronix head to get the 60W head.
These are amps that sound great at whisper volumes, all the way up to crushing volume.

If you insist on tube, Blackstar has plenty of those too, but they're more expensive and/or less versatile than the ID Series.

http://www.blackstaramps.com/products/idseries/

 
Last edited:
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

You could always buy a VS100. It's a SS head.... but :) They go for $150-$200 I believe.

This is that head.

 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

CTN said:
6505 is under $1,000 new and even less used.

Get a Marshall 1960AV or something else that doesn't have G12T-75s.

boom, metal glory awaits.
Click to expand...

Older G12T75's are great for metal. Right now if you can find a 90's Marshall 1960 they are a great buy especially since internet snobbery but them on the undesirable list.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

StratFreak said:
I've played through the JCM-2000 and im not the biggest fan. It sounds good, but its not for me.
Click to expand...

I owned a JCM2000 TSL 100 and a 5150 at the same time. Sold the JCM2000 first. The 5150/6505 is definitely what you want, and you should be able to find a used head for $600-$700 if you shop around. Then take it with you when you go cab shopping.
 
Last edited:
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

I'd also look into the EVH 5150 III 50 watt. It's $1000 new for the head, but you can find em used for $800.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

Edgecrusher said:
Older G12T75's are great for metal. Right now if you can find a 90's Marshall 1960 they are a great buy especially since internet snobbery but them on the undesirable list.
Click to expand...

I don't like T75s. Old, or new, they sound like undefined, boomy and assy.

The 1960 cabs though, nothing wrong with them.
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

If Mesa is your thing I'm pretty sure you can find a 4X12 rectifier cabinet and Dual Recto for under $2k. (I see the cabinets go for $500 or so here in Chicago)
 
Re: Need help with Half Stack for Metal !

The Blackstar ID series seems pretty cool,lots of tonal options.
But a true tube 5150 is what I recommend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top