Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

Rich_T

Rich_T

Kyuss_Rockologist
Hey everyone! Im looking to completely re-vamp my rig. Nothing but the guitars are safe from being sold.

Ok, i currently run either a Strat or a Les Paul into my pedals, then into a Marshall DSL 401 combo.

I would like a head/cab setup for a thicker bass and low mid, but a 2x12 would probably do fine. I find the DSL to be too fizzy in the highs, with not enough chunk. I find it loses definition at high volumes too.

I play a pretty wide range of music, but my current band it a kind of alt rock thing, kinda Jane's Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins I guess are my closest comparisions. So, I need decent cleans, decent semi dirty, good high gain sounds or the ability to take high gain pedals well. I do play some metal, doom and punk too.

Ive got a budget of about £500 for the whole thing, but i might be able to scrape together a bit more.

My ideas up to this point are: Laney AOR pro tube (i've missed out on about 4 of these already)
Marshall JMP 50 Mk II
Marshall JCM 800 (these are going for silly money now though)
Sound City L120 (great prices on ebay, loud and clean)
Fender Silverface Bassman + a Mesa V Twin
A power amp + a mesa V Twin
Peavey VTM60 (currently one very cheap on ebay)

So, what do you all think of these? They are all reasonably priced (save the JCM800 unless im very lucky) and seem to me to pretty suitable.
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

Pick up a used Marshall stereo 4x12, a Boss GT-8, and a nice power section. This will get you ANY tone you want or need.

I use a GT-8 through a Mesa 50:50 and a Marshall JCM C212/Vox 2x12 cab combo and it kicks major bootay. ;)
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

-Marshall JMP 50 Mk II-Smokin amps but im not sure it will cover all the ground you are talking about

-Marshall JCM 800 (these are going for silly money now though)-NIce amps as well but I'd rather have the JMP, and these amps are still "limited" like the JMP and cost too much IMO

-Sound City L120 (great prices on ebay, loud and clean)-I have a Mk IV 50+ and love it...there are lot of people on the WWW bashing these amps, some of them on this very forum but Im telling you...killer tone, PTP wired, high quality parts...whats not to like! I love them

-Fender Silverface Bassman + a Mesa V Twin-Nothing at all wrong with a Fender of anykind...the V-Twin is OK too

-A power amp + a mesa V Twin-I would much rather have a real amp head, but this could be cool...

-Peavey VTM60 (currently one very cheap on ebay)-I used to have a VTM120...loud as **** and had a massive bottom end...was cool but Im not sure I'd go there again

If I were you I'd get a SC 120 and wait for a Duncan SFX-03...you'll end up with a 3 channel Sound City 120...KILLER cleans, nice OD tone and a lead/more crunch channel thats killer...you might want to hang on to a nast fuzz box for texture and something real nasty for doom and gloom but the SC120/SFX-03 would be a killer rig thats very versitle!
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

do the bassman

use all electro harmonix tubes, and use a TS instead of the v-twin. Use eminence wizards in the 2x12

if you can't get enough gain from this setup, you're using too much gain

this is similar to what i run & the best way i can describe the tone is the best of both brit and american

if you're goin silverface i'd reccomend finding one with a mid knob & master volume, though
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

Ok I'll review a lil' secret here:

London City Bulldog

Amazing amp and the price is even more amazing. It's the cheapest good sounding tube amp out there IMHO. It only costs 450 - 550 Euro's new and is all tube.

Found a link:

http://www.jic.nl/LC_amps/LC_amps_tube.htm
 
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Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

My vote goes to the Sound City, no contest for what you want all you would need is a fuzz or a OD.
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

the guy who invented fire said:
-Marshall JMP 50 Mk II-Smokin amps but im not sure it will cover all the ground you are talking about
Click to expand...

not at all..i own one and it lacks serious balls for anything with the word gain in it LOL. it's needs a pedal in front of it for sure. with a pedal in front for distortion it may do what you need but i don't know if i would go route.

-Mike
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

If I had to do it all over again (meaning buying less stuff), I would get a Marshall DSL 50 and an Avatar 2-12 closed back cab running Eminence Governors. Add to this a THD HotPlate. The HotPlate alone would help to solve the issues you've mentioned on why you don't care for the DSL.

This rig would give you a great clean and dirty sound. Enough chug from the 2-12 cab. Great portability, could used it to practice in your room, as well as crank out with a band on stage.
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

LesPaulRules said:
If I had to do it all over again (meaning buying less stuff), I would get a Marshall DSL 50 and an Avatar 2-12 closed back cab running Eminence Governors. Add to this a THD HotPlate. The HotPlate alone would help to solve the issues you've mentioned on why you don't care for the DSL.

This rig would give you a great clean and dirty sound. Enough chug from the 2-12 cab. Great portability, could used it to practice in your room, as well as crank out with a band on stage.
Click to expand...
Even with the DSL dimed im not keen on the sound, it hasnt got the chunk, with the EL-84s.
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

I used the 401 very recently. It doesnt have the chunk because its a 1x12 combo with a trashy speaker. Get a good close backed cab and see what it does to the sound. I sold the 401 cause it wasnt loud enough for me.
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

I've known you for a few years, so I say, beg borrow and steal.......then buy an Orange Rocker 50 head and Orange 4-12 or 2-12. Yeah, I know it's expensive but this is the year 2006, and every F'in thing is expensive!
 
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Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

Gearjoneser said:
I've known you for a few years, so I say, beg borrow and steal.......then buy an Orange Rocker 50 head and Orange 4-12 or 2-12. Yeah, I know it's expensive but this is the year 2006, and every F'in thing is expensive!
Click to expand...

You're probably right GJ, I should really just save up and get what I really want, which is one of those Oranges, realistically, by the end of may I could probably have enough money together to pay for one. I'm just too impatient!

Yeah, I think I will just hold out for a bit, get all the money together and buy what I really want, and whats actually best for me.

Cheers everyone, advice much appreciated, but i'm gonna save up for something really special this time!

Peace, Rich
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

+1orangerockerverb50
or save up for one of these:

green6x12manalishi.jpg


the Rocker 30 is the amp of my dreeeeams.

-X
 
Re: Need to overhaul my rig, want to help?

Empty Pockets said:
+1orangerockerverb50
or save up for one of these:

green6x12manalishi.jpg


the Rocker 30 is the amp of my dreeeeams.

-X
Click to expand...

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Electric amps are godly. The rocker 30 doesn't even compare. But... The electric is a little :blackeye: more expensive.
 
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