Opinions on high-end amps?
- Thread starter Seraphial
- Start date
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Does an ENGL qualify? I think so!
I own an ENGL Savage 120 and a komet 60 head, and an ENGL 4x12 vintage 30 box.
What would you like to know
Does an ENGL qualify? I think so!
I own an ENGL Savage 120 and a komet 60 head, and an ENGL 4x12 vintage 30 box.
What would you like to know
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
If you want to get into high end boutique amps, good luck. There are millions of them and one person's perception of tone may be perceived by someone else as garbage. There are millions of vintage amp clones out there. To be honest, the boutique market delivers awesome amps, but most don't have a unique tone that they carve out themselves (for instance, you'll find tons of plexi clones, vox clones etc.).
I recommend thegearpage.com to check out reviews and opinions on some of it.
Young Angus, I'm sure your Komet is incredible :bigok:
If you want to get into high end boutique amps, good luck. There are millions of them and one person's perception of tone may be perceived by someone else as garbage. There are millions of vintage amp clones out there. To be honest, the boutique market delivers awesome amps, but most don't have a unique tone that they carve out themselves (for instance, you'll find tons of plexi clones, vox clones etc.).
I recommend thegearpage.com to check out reviews and opinions on some of it.
Young Angus, I'm sure your Komet is incredible :bigok:
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Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Give me some examples of your favorite tones and what features you require, and I'll point you toward a bunch, all at different price points.
Give me some examples of your favorite tones and what features you require, and I'll point you toward a bunch, all at different price points.
Metalman_666
Well-known member
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
I hope someone talks about Bogners... I want to learn more about them
I hope someone talks about Bogners... I want to learn more about them
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Go check out the guitar ghetto...aka harmony central...they talk about bogners heaps and if you can get past the flamers then you'll learn a lot about them from there.
Metalman_666 said:
Go check out the guitar ghetto...aka harmony central...they talk about bogners heaps and if you can get past the flamers then you'll learn a lot about them from there.
Seraphial
New member
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Just general interest, but for example - I was considering a Super Reverb for my next purchase when I'm overseas, but a few guys got me thinking about boutique amps. Does a Victoria outfender a Fender? Does it sound better (I know that's subjective)? Built better? Worth the extra dough? Can a Framus do an AC30 clean and Marshall overdrive (read a review in a British mag)?
A lot of people say a strat is the standard for bolt-ons, until they play a Suhr or an Anderson. Is it the same for amps?
Just general interest, but for example - I was considering a Super Reverb for my next purchase when I'm overseas, but a few guys got me thinking about boutique amps. Does a Victoria outfender a Fender? Does it sound better (I know that's subjective)? Built better? Worth the extra dough? Can a Framus do an AC30 clean and Marshall overdrive (read a review in a British mag)?
A lot of people say a strat is the standard for bolt-ons, until they play a Suhr or an Anderson. Is it the same for amps?
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Put simply, Victoria is a modern day vintage Fender. Think classic vintage Fender tone, with some of the best PTP wiring you can think of. These people know their stuff and it shows.
TopHat also makes amazing vintage amp styled stuff.
As gearjoneser pointed out, there is a mindboggling assortment of different tones and flavors out there.
Put simply, Victoria is a modern day vintage Fender. Think classic vintage Fender tone, with some of the best PTP wiring you can think of. These people know their stuff and it shows.
TopHat also makes amazing vintage amp styled stuff.
As gearjoneser pointed out, there is a mindboggling assortment of different tones and flavors out there.
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Check out www.kometamps.com and listen to the soundclips for both the komet 60watt head and constellation 30watt head...they are boutique amps and can cover a very wide range of stuff. As previously mentioned i own a komet 60watt head, and as you will hear from the soundclips this thing can do amazing cleans and scorching leads!!!
Check it out, its a start :cool2:
Check out www.kometamps.com and listen to the soundclips for both the komet 60watt head and constellation 30watt head...they are boutique amps and can cover a very wide range of stuff. As previously mentioned i own a komet 60watt head, and as you will hear from the soundclips this thing can do amazing cleans and scorching leads!!!
Check it out, its a start :cool2:
Nightburst
New member
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
I love my Bogner, there's so many options on this amp it isn't even funny.
I love my Bogner, there's so many options on this amp it isn't even funny.
mrfjones
New member
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
you can always find a high end amp that is used that is not such a high price. That's what i did with my soldano and while it may not be as big or flashy as some of the other amps i was looking at, it serves my needs well. Find out what you need from your amp and look for a used amp that will give you that.
you can always find a high end amp that is used that is not such a high price. That's what i did with my soldano and while it may not be as big or flashy as some of the other amps i was looking at, it serves my needs well. Find out what you need from your amp and look for a used amp that will give you that.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Keep an eye open on Ebay and such for boutique amps. They can often be found at decent prices as boutique stuff doesn't hold their price very well on the used market (lack of demand due to poor name-brand recognition).
That's for the uber-boutique stuff.
Easily recognized boutique stuff (Bogner, Soldano, Mesa, Roccaforte, ect) tends to hold their value better.
Keep an eye open on Ebay and such for boutique amps. They can often be found at decent prices as boutique stuff doesn't hold their price very well on the used market (lack of demand due to poor name-brand recognition).
That's for the uber-boutique stuff.
Easily recognized boutique stuff (Bogner, Soldano, Mesa, Roccaforte, ect) tends to hold their value better.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Mmmm. Bogner. When you're done with the rest, you come to the best.
Mmmm. Bogner. When you're done with the rest, you come to the best.
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Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
I've learned a lot on The Gear Page when it comes to Amps. It's basically an amp forum to me.
To answer one earlier question... when it comes to Victorias, it depends on what model you want. If you have any soldering skills at all, and a bit of common sense, you can hook up with Lew's brother, Bruce at Mission Amps. His kits are booteek quality transformers and other parts. His Tweed Deluxe kits are well-proven winners. I'll soon have one of his new 5F4 Tweed Super kits (2x10 for me). Top quality stuff and IMO, as good as Victoria if you do a good job, and at about less than 1/2 the price, way less. Bruce is also going to release a Double Deluxe, basically 2 5E3's in one amp. Very cool, I played a Victoria version a while back.
I currently own a Bad Cat T-cat 2x12, an old late 60's Fender Pro Reverb, and the Tweed Deluxe 5E3 that I built.
I put an ABY between the Bad Cat and the Fender. As cool as the old Fender is, it's not in the same ballpark, much less the same league as the Bad Cat. This Bad CAt can do Vox and a bit of Marshall, and some very unique tones of its own. Every time I plug into it, I'm amazed at the level of detail, layering and 3-D wrap-around sound that overwhelms me.
Just trust your ears and play a bunch of them. I briefly owned a Dr. Z Route 66 on reputation alone but it didn't float my boat. Broke even on it. I then played a bunch of Dr. Z's ina store and none of them spoke to me. I played the vox handwired AC30 and like it quite a bit. But... then I played the T-Cat and it could do soooo much more.
I really want to play a Bruno sometime. Next time I'm in Salt Lake, I'm going to play one. Bruno has a dealer there. Too bad he doesn't have one on the West Coast. But, after my dr. z experience, I'll not buy one until I play it first. 3 grand is a lot to spend on an unproven entity. Flying to NYC to test them would only cost a few hundred. That Cowtipper looks mighty sweet.
I've learned a lot on The Gear Page when it comes to Amps. It's basically an amp forum to me.
To answer one earlier question... when it comes to Victorias, it depends on what model you want. If you have any soldering skills at all, and a bit of common sense, you can hook up with Lew's brother, Bruce at Mission Amps. His kits are booteek quality transformers and other parts. His Tweed Deluxe kits are well-proven winners. I'll soon have one of his new 5F4 Tweed Super kits (2x10 for me). Top quality stuff and IMO, as good as Victoria if you do a good job, and at about less than 1/2 the price, way less. Bruce is also going to release a Double Deluxe, basically 2 5E3's in one amp. Very cool, I played a Victoria version a while back.
I currently own a Bad Cat T-cat 2x12, an old late 60's Fender Pro Reverb, and the Tweed Deluxe 5E3 that I built.
I put an ABY between the Bad Cat and the Fender. As cool as the old Fender is, it's not in the same ballpark, much less the same league as the Bad Cat. This Bad CAt can do Vox and a bit of Marshall, and some very unique tones of its own. Every time I plug into it, I'm amazed at the level of detail, layering and 3-D wrap-around sound that overwhelms me.
Just trust your ears and play a bunch of them. I briefly owned a Dr. Z Route 66 on reputation alone but it didn't float my boat. Broke even on it. I then played a bunch of Dr. Z's ina store and none of them spoke to me. I played the vox handwired AC30 and like it quite a bit. But... then I played the T-Cat and it could do soooo much more.
I really want to play a Bruno sometime. Next time I'm in Salt Lake, I'm going to play one. Bruno has a dealer there. Too bad he doesn't have one on the West Coast. But, after my dr. z experience, I'll not buy one until I play it first. 3 grand is a lot to spend on an unproven entity. Flying to NYC to test them would only cost a few hundred. That Cowtipper looks mighty sweet.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Opinions on high-end amps?
Yep, there's a handful of amp makers, who's amps just BLOW you away....to the point of having dreams about them. Bogner, Matchless, Badcat, Bruno, Tophat, Naylor, and Blues Pearl are companies that make amps that put tears in my eyes. The others are hit or miss. And I've honestly tried them all, so it's not parroted info.
Yep, there's a handful of amp makers, who's amps just BLOW you away....to the point of having dreams about them. Bogner, Matchless, Badcat, Bruno, Tophat, Naylor, and Blues Pearl are companies that make amps that put tears in my eyes. The others are hit or miss. And I've honestly tried them all, so it's not parroted info.
tiefightertk069
New member
Re: Opinions on high-end amps? Framus...
Re: Opinions on high-end amps? Framus...
Well, I was a long time Marshall guy, and moved to Vox AC30s about 7 or 8 years ago.
Then, one day while playing around in LA I came across a Framus Ruby Riot.
I fell in love with it. Completely blew me away... at the time I owned a Chieftain and a '63 AC30TB, and the Ruby Riot was like both of those rolled into one with a little Marshall Super Lead thrown in for good measure.
Anyway, I think for the money it's one of the best amps on the market today if you're into EL84 based amps. It really transcends the sum of it's parts, and of course with German build quality it's pretty damn tough as well. I'm on my second one, as the first one I bought in 2000 was stolen, and they've both been incredible. The only caveat I'd say is the fact that they come loaded with Sovteks, and well for me at least they're not the best tubes for this particular amp's layout. I do still use a Sovtek in one position though...
Everyone else kinda nailed it: while vintage amps from the big three have great tone, a modern "boutique" amp will give you the same incredible tone, and then some, with the assurance of modern construction, and none of the BS that comes along with using vintage gear.
Re: Opinions on high-end amps? Framus...
Well, I was a long time Marshall guy, and moved to Vox AC30s about 7 or 8 years ago.
Then, one day while playing around in LA I came across a Framus Ruby Riot.
I fell in love with it. Completely blew me away... at the time I owned a Chieftain and a '63 AC30TB, and the Ruby Riot was like both of those rolled into one with a little Marshall Super Lead thrown in for good measure.
Anyway, I think for the money it's one of the best amps on the market today if you're into EL84 based amps. It really transcends the sum of it's parts, and of course with German build quality it's pretty damn tough as well. I'm on my second one, as the first one I bought in 2000 was stolen, and they've both been incredible. The only caveat I'd say is the fact that they come loaded with Sovteks, and well for me at least they're not the best tubes for this particular amp's layout. I do still use a Sovtek in one position though...
Everyone else kinda nailed it: while vintage amps from the big three have great tone, a modern "boutique" amp will give you the same incredible tone, and then some, with the assurance of modern construction, and none of the BS that comes along with using vintage gear.
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