suggest New High Gain Amp

W

WhoFan

Tommyologist
I will be looking at a new high gain tube combo amp this spring.... if i can't find what i want in a combo i'll still be looking at heads.... I have a 5150 stack as well as a JCM 800 head....

But i'm thinking a 1x12 or 2x12 high gain amp... i'll for sure be looking at the Peavey JSX and the new Traynor head... I think i'd prefer a combo as i hope to gig with it... 2-3 channels... i'd prefer 3 channels myself but if a 2 channel sounds great why mess with it...

oddly i prefer the High gain tones of Satch and Vai to most vintage stuff.... has to have a nice healthly bottom end...
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

Since your looking at Peavey already, I would say look at the Ultra Series which was forunner to the XXX series. Three channels and endless amounts of high gain, almost too much for my liking. Also some pretty descent cleans with the reverb.
 
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Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

The only thing you're missing is a mesa... Then you'd have every base covered.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

genz benz el diablo 100 combo. can cover every base with a single amp.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

Mesa. See my one-sided post nearby. The F series is now discontinued, and should be easier to find, for an all-time kick in the pants amp. I went with the F-30 head, for maximum adaptability, and a weight near 20 lbs.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

Time to get a VHT dude...................Sweet


Was at a freind of mines on the weekend. He has a Marshall 100 watt power amp with a Kitty Hawk pre amp, he also has a Soldano el84 plus a million other gadgets.

I went home and kissed my VHT after turning it on and hearing its sweet tone compared to all that.
Sometimes you have to listen to other stuff to see this. Made me fall in love with my amp again.
 
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Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

A Hughes and Kettner would be vastly different than what you have and sound incredible. Switchblade combo!
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

What you need is an Engl Sovereign 100 either in the 1x12 or 2x12 Version.
I nearly crapped my pants when i got mine since it sounded so great(and it got even better after changing the tubes).
Four channels, lot and lots of sound options, very natural sounding spring reverb and super flexible without getting confusing.
Sound ranges from super clear cleans that are very fenderish(best cleans i ever heard in a high gain amp, better than all mesas and peaveys i've tried so far), the soft lead channel is a lot like an a bit tighter marshall, and heavy lead is typical Engl, super-tight high gain distortion
There's a clip at rocksolidamps which is quite good, but it doesn't venture into the high gain territory the amp is cable of.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

I would suggest a Mesa as well, although I don't have much experience with other amps mentioned like VHT or H&K. Go out and play a bunch and see which one's for you.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

I'm interested in the H&K because of RUSH.... Alex Lifeson's huge tone...

Mesa i always have my eyes open for... The Mesa i wnat i'll never afford... i'd love a Road King but i'll check out used F Series if i can find any
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

right or wrong i'll be looking at Marshall tube amps as wel, but generally i prefer something with out the Marshall extreme highs cutting my head in half..
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

Mesa Boogie Mark III combo!

Sounds ike ore igh gin ark IIC+.

Mine as rapic EQ, reverb, EVM speaker, 100 watt/60 att, 1x12, clean, crunch anlead channels.

Sounds mazing, I'd even ell t to you o ike $600. Thats o uch ey go or sed.

Clean hannel sounds mazing oo!
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

bbking1021 said:
Since your looking at Peavey already, I would say look at the Ultra Series which was forunner to the XXX series. Three channels and endless amounts of high gain, almost too much for my liking. Also some pretty descent cleans with the reverb.
Click to expand...

Usually I'd jump at the chance to second an Ultra recommendation, but since it sounds like he wants a more modern sound I'd go JSX. Also the Ultra combos aren't that easy to find if you prefer a combo.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

Check out the Genz-Benz Black Pearl. GP thought very highly of it. You're not likely to find one used, because they haven't been around that long. But it sounds very versatile in terms of both tone and volume. If I wasn't a HomeGrownToneBrewologist, I'd be tempted.

Guitar Player Article Link
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

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:D

I'll throw in a +1 for VHT as well. I've always wanted one after messing around with an original Pitbull 100 head way back in the early 90s. Glorious sound. And the Deliverance sounds incredible too.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

Go try out some Cornfords if you can. Amazing amps.

the Hellcat or Mk50/MK50II are amazing high gain amps.. mmmm.
 
Re: suggest New High Gain Amp

oh i tried some some Cornfords at a guitar show a few years ago..... now those i love!!!!! Saddly they wanted about $5000 Canadian for a half stack and $3500 for a combo....

I'm looking in the $1000-$2000 range...
 
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