The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Ball&Chain

Ball&Chain

New member
500 bucks and under, used or new.

This will be a practice amp, so sounding good at low volume is a real plus.

Would prefer 1x12 though would probably go for a 1x10.

High Gain - Old school metal tones. Tight lows, warm highs. Dont care for fuzzy or ice picky treble tones.

Effects arent necessary, but an effects loop is a plus.

Cleans? Can have those too I guess.

Doesnt have to be channel switching.


Some Ive tried or are up for consideration.

VHT Special 6 Ultra (never seen one to try out, so no idea if it would fit the bill ot not)
Fender Mustang III
Vox Valvtronix+ 40 or 80
Marshall Valvestate
Blackstar HT-20
Peavey Bandit 112
Line6 Spider 30 or 75
Marshall DSL 401. (heh, no seriously)


A side question. Anyone try out the Acoustic amps at GC? I thought they seemed solidly built, but the distortion sounded like arse. Wondered if anyone else had an opinion.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Couple questions... Style?

Do you plan on getting your gain from the amp or pedals?

Is this strictly for personal use or do you plan on using it if a friend comes over to jam?

Do you prefer solid state or tube?

Do you plan on using it to record?
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

I've never seen one anywhere to try out. Just the tiny terror. The clips ive heard would suggest its right up my alley, though it would probably be out of my price range since I dont have a cab and would have to purchase that along with it.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

mwalluk said:
Couple questions... Style?

Do you plan on getting your gain from the amp or pedals?

Is this strictly for personal use or do you plan on using it if a friend comes over to jam?

Do you prefer solid state or tube?

Do you plan on using it to record?
Click to expand...


I think I mentioned metal as the style goal with cleans being optional.
The Jake E Lee tone in ozzy or badlands and the Gus G tone in Firewind would give you an idea. Different but I like them both.

Id rather the amp do all the work, though im open to the use of an overdrive pedal. I dont currently have one, so that adds to the expense.

Personal use almost exclusively.

Tube or sold state is OK. As long as it does what I need, im not picky how it gets there.

If it has the "it" tone, id most certainly use it in recordings.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

The Tiny Terror is cheaper used, and you can boost it with a tubescreamer or similar to get metal types of gain and tighten the low end. Or a $40 eq pedal could go a long way.

I really like the Tiny Terror. It sounds good at low and high volumes.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Blackstar 20, and 5 for that matter will do what you want for the most part.

But id probably go with a Jet City 20/22h, as it sounds more organic than the Blackstars, which are essentialy a tube distortion pedal into a tube power amp. They have a more processed sound/feel to them which rubs me the wrong way. Like a tube powered Rockman.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

I would go with either the tiny terror, marshall dsl, blackstar ht-20, jet city or maybe check out some older marshall's like the jtm60 could be had cheap. Also jcm 900 are decent cheap used market.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Jet City or Blackstar. I would have to guess that the Blackstar does firewind better than the Jet City though.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Ball&Chain said:
500 bucks and under, used or new.
This will be a practice amp, so sounding good at low volume is a real plus.
Would prefer 1x12 though would probably go for a 1x10.
High Gain - Old school metal tones. Tight lows, warm highs. Dont care for fuzzy or ice picky treble tones.
Effects arent necessary, but an effects loop is a plus.
Cleans? Can have those too I guess.
Doesnt have to be channel switching.
Click to expand...

Marshall DSL40 1x12 or a jcm 900 dual reverb 50w 1x12 both do all the things you are looking for on that list - or if you really can go without 2 channels, then look for a JCM900 MKIII 50w 1x12 combo - they are very sweet sounding amps.
 
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Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Another option, $299.00 and $199.00 for the smaller version.

 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

youngthrasher9 said:
Jet City or Blackstar. I would have to guess that the Blackstar does firewind better than the Jet City though.
Click to expand...

I think the Blackstar would do both of the tones he's chasing. And a lot more. Plus, it's a cool amp. Yes, it's a hybrid, but it really rocks. I think you might have some trouble getting the Firewind tones out of the Jet City, although I love it.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

misterwhizzy said:
I think the Blackstar would do both of the tones he's chasing. And a lot more. Plus, it's a cool amp. Yes, it's a hybrid, but it really rocks. I think you might have some trouble getting the Firewind tones out of the Jet City, although I love it.
Click to expand...

I love my Blackstar. It sounds awesome, and it does pretty much anything I want it to.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

You are using it just to play at home? Go the Blackstar HT-5. Replace the speaker with a Vintage 30 and you'll be laughing. Does everything you want and more! I actually use a HT-5 head with a 1x12" loaded with a Vintage 30 with my band. Gets freakin' loud, even through one 12" speaker, but still sounds amazing at low volumes. ;)
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Anyone ever compare the HT-5 to the VHT special 6 ultra?

I used to have an Ht-5 and have played a few others. I always thought they lacked a bit in that mid range growl Id associate with the marshall tone. Might just be me though.
 
Re: The obligatory recommend an amp thread

Replace the preamp with a Tung Sol 12AX7, and it sounds worlds better. Midrange bump, more clarity and complex tone. Better cleans and overdriven tones. I used a gold pin, but I'd be guessing the regular pin would be pretty much the same.
 
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