New amp for metal

BigBazz

BigBazz

New member
Im thinking about getting a new amp, currently i use a peavey 5150, now dont get me wrong i love it but i have enough money and im thinking of getting something a bit more flexable, basecly i want a better clean channel (5150's clean lacks headroom) and more options available, i want to be able to hit in a volume boost for solo's and i want something with maybe 2 effects loops.

I play in a metal band, we gig a lot and i want something that is going to be able to give me all the distortion tones that i love about the 5150 but with more options to use live and a good clean channel, though it doesnt have to sound the same as the 5150 i need it to be able to handle all the same applications as good or better.

So far ive been thinking of these options


Cornford Hellcat
Cornford MK50II
Engl Powerball
Framus Cobra
Diezel VH4
Diezel Herbert
Krank Revolution One


Ofcourse i dont want to be limited to just those, but they are what i have my eye on. i have around £2000(UK) to spend.

Any thoughts/ideas/opinions would be appreciated :)


Thanks


Ryan
 
Re: New amp for metal

Dual Rectifier Solo Head.

Seriously, I used to have a 5150, and I raved about it. Remember?

I got so sick of the cleans and how every metalcore/scandinavian metal band used one, how trite the tone was...

I tried out a Single and Dual Recto, and once setup properly, it's like a cleaner, clearer, more defined, more powerful, more brutal 5150, with an awesome clean channel.
 
Re: New amp for metal

i would fancy more on the conford.
I think the hellcat is a combo right ?

The MkII is the head, but it cost more than a LP =P
 
Re: New amp for metal

Ive tried a Dual rectifier, i wasnt impressed, i had my 5150 properly biased (the tech had to install a bias pot) with JJ 6L6's and i find it puts out more mid frequencies, anyway ive never been much of a fan of the dual rect, id rather my amp.

The only way im going to buy a new amp is if they are more flexable, the only thing the Rectrumfrier rectifies is the clean channel problem, i still have other needs that it doesnt meet.

As for the cornford thing, their both heads, the Hellcat is a 2 channel 35w, Mk50II is a 2 channel 50w.


Ryan

Ryan
 
Re: New amp for metal

Why not run two amps? Get an amp that's better suited for cleans, and use an A/B switch to switch back over to the 5150 for distortion.
 
Re: New amp for metal

Lee_L said:
Why not run two amps? Get an amp that's better suited for cleans, and use an A/B switch to switch back over to the 5150 for distortion.
Click to expand...

Thats complicating things, i want strictly one amp, clean isnt all that important, the 5150 clean isnt bad to the point where id use a seperate amp just for clean, it just lacks headroom in that after 3 on the preamp gain its overdriving and i need to have it up at 7 poweramp volume at gigs.

Basecly this is a search for a new amp, something that will have a better clean channel (though its not the important part), id like 2 effects loops (but again i can get by with 1) and id like a solo boost feature, what im looking for isnt something that has either of one of my requirements, but something that has all of them, otherwise theres not much point.

Il probably be keeping the 5150 alongside whatever new amp i get (im not sure yet, but i love the lead channel of the 5150 so much.), but i want something to do its live job, the cornfords have the nicest lead tone ive ever heard so im looking towards that mainly, i just want to know what you guys think, maybe i can find something "perfect" for the job.

Thanks


Ryan
 
Re: New amp for metal

Don't get a Krank, that's my only comment. Maybe check out some of Laney's amplifiers.. You get alot for cheap out of those, I think they're hard to beat for the price here in europe.
 
Re: New amp for metal

BigBazz said:
Ive tried a Dual rectifier, i wasnt impressed, i had my 5150 properly biased (the tech had to install a bias pot) with JJ 6L6's and i find it puts out more mid frequencies, anyway ive never been much of a fan of the dual rect, id rather my amp.

The only way im going to buy a new amp is if they are more flexable, the only thing the Rectrumfrier rectifies is the clean channel problem, i still have other needs that it doesnt meet.
Click to expand...


How long did you spend with it, what cabinet, what axe, and did you try an OD infront? You need to set these up properly for them to even sound halfway decent, and I can garuntee you that you didn't have it setup properly. If you like the 5150 and don't like the Rectifier, you definately didn't have it setup right.
 
Re: New amp for metal

Sune said:
Don't get a Krank, that's my only comment.
Click to expand...

On what grounds? Have you ever played one? They actually sound quite nice for metal when setup properly.
 
Re: New amp for metal

No, I have never played one myself, there ain't any here in Denmark (what I know of, at least), but I didn't like all the clips I've heard with it, however, you might like it, so I guess I should have put it differently.
 
Re: New amp for metal

I loved the clips of the krank on their website, i also saw arch enemy play live and they used Krank Revolution one, lovely amps, cant say im fussed on laney, their good for the price but when you consider i already have a far better sounding amp for metal than any laney and i can spend £2000 on the next amp i want it to be amazing at the highest level of awesomeness, if you get what i mean :D.

At the arch enemy gig "Throwdown" and "Strapping Young Lad" were supporting and both using mesa boogie dual rectifiers through Marshall cabs, they sounded powerfull and chunky, but it really wasnt the sound im after, the kranks were way closer.

When i tried the dual rect it was plugged into a Marshall 1960AV (vintage 30's), i also tried a Peavey JSX and i wasnt all that impressed with the peavey either, i prefer my 5150.

I dont want to be using OD pedals, i want all the distortion sound from the amp, im not spending £2000 (or however much) on an amp to stick a distortion pedal infront of it.

I have used a Bluesbreaker pedal with my 5150 and its a nice bit of extra "tight" gain, but i dont need it, i only use 5 gain on the amp live anyway, the only pedals im currently using live is a Digitech Digital delay, this is why i dont "really" need or have a use for 2 effects loops but i want it for flexability for when may want to use more effects.

Sound wise i want all my distortion tone to come from the amp with no need for pedals.

Thanks


Ryan
 
Re: New amp for metal

BigBazz said:
I loved the clips of the krank on their website, i also saw arch enemy play live and they used Krank Revolution one, lovely amps, cant say im fussed on laney, their good for the price but when you consider i already have a far better sounding amp for metal than any laney and i can spend £2000 on the next amp i want it to be amazing at the highest level of awesomeness, if you get what i mean :D.
Click to expand...

Well, I don't think you give them the credit they diserve. I don't think Tony Iommi, Paul Gilbert, Mattias Eklundh etc. would be using Laney's exclusively if they were that bad. But then again, it is your opinion and you're entitled to it :beerchug:
 
Re: New amp for metal

Dont particularly like Paul gilberts tone, or tony iommi. i never said laney were bad, i just said that a 5150 is better for metal.

Then their tones arent really metal, its more rock and i find laney's to have a real thin tone.

I want an improvement on the Peavey 5150, endorsee's wont swing my ideas.

Past and current endorsees for peavey 5150

Arch Enemy (Probably my favourite band)
Eddie Van Halen (one of my favourite guitarists)
Steve Morse
In Flames
Machinehead
God Forbid

And a ****load of good metal bands and guitarists not endorsed by them use them.

Its not about endorsement, i love the tone of the peavey 5150, thats why i bought it, i played a LOT of amps before i decided on the peavey, including marshalls and mesa booogies and laney.

Now im after something that bit more special, i want something thats like the "absolute" best.

Which is why im sighting my interests in more boutique amp makers.
 
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Re: New amp for metal

Oh, well.. I guess we have a different definition of thin then :beerchug: But it's all fine.
 
Re: New amp for metal

My personal favourite out of your list is the Cornford Mk50II but I'm not sure if it's the right amp for metal. The Powerball is a good choice, but for just a little over 2k, you can get an Engl SE EL34 - now that is a serious piece of kit!!!

E670EL34_2.jpg

Technical specifications:

Preamp:
4 channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead 1, Lead 2, each one in modern or classic mode, mega low punch, noise gate,
3 fx loops (one serial, two parallel), Tube Driver Circuit
(extra channel plus EQ for switching directly to the power amp), 5 x ECC 83 preamp tubes.

Master Section:
Master Section: 100 watts (4 x EL 34 tubes), Half Drive Mode
(50 watts), Master A/B switch, Presence A/B switch, Deep Boost, Electronic Tube Protection Circuit, Speaker A/B switch.

Outputs:
Balanced recording out, cable test/impedance check, spaeker A/B out (4, 8, 16 Ohms), Z-9 Footswitch port,
MIDI In/THRU.

MIDI programmable functions at a glance, storable in any combination as needed:
Channel switches, preamp boosts, normal/ultra bright, modern/classic mode, preamp defeat, fx loops, Tube Driver Circuit, Mega Low Punch, Depth Boost, reverb, noise gate, Master A/B, Presence A/B, Speaker A/B,
Half Power Switch (100/50 watts).:banana:
 
Re: New amp for metal

Rocker35 said:
My personal favourite out of your list is the Cornford Mk50II but I'm not sure if it's the right amp for metal. The Powerball is a good choice, but for just a little over 2k, you can get an Engl SE EL34 - now that is a serious piece of kit!!!

E670EL34_2.jpg

Technical specifications:

Preamp:
4 channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead 1, Lead 2, each one in modern or classic mode, mega low punch, noise gate,
3 fx loops (one serial, two parallel), Tube Driver Circuit
(extra channel plus EQ for switching directly to the power amp), 5 x ECC 83 preamp tubes.

Master Section:
Master Section: 100 watts (4 x EL 34 tubes), Half Drive Mode
(50 watts), Master A/B switch, Presence A/B switch, Deep Boost, Electronic Tube Protection Circuit, Speaker A/B switch.

Outputs:
Balanced recording out, cable test/impedance check, spaeker A/B out (4, 8, 16 Ohms), Z-9 Footswitch port,
MIDI In/THRU.

MIDI programmable functions at a glance, storable in any combination as needed:
Channel switches, preamp boosts, normal/ultra bright, modern/classic mode, preamp defeat, fx loops, Tube Driver Circuit, Mega Low Punch, Depth Boost, reverb, noise gate, Master A/B, Presence A/B, Speaker A/B,
Half Power Switch (100/50 watts).:banana:
Click to expand...

Thanks :O, ive never seen one of them.

How much over 2k?

that amp looks amazing, just what im looking for, but how does it sound.

ooh and does it come with 6L6 in any form? i prefere 6L6 over EL34.
 
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Re: New amp for metal

Don't rule out using an OD pedal. I've never heard an amp NOT sound better with one in front.

Seriously, this logic pisses me off. Most people will say "I don't want to use active pickups and overdrive pedals, I don't like the way they sound." List some records that you really enjoy the guitar sound of. Surely you DO like the way they sound infront of an amp, I bet you anything the record's you'd list would include it at least once.

/rant
 
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