Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

Thurisaz

Thurisaz

New member
Well, I've been saving up lately and selling off stuff little by little, but I can't find an amp I'm completely happy with. Here's a list of my concerns/problems with the choices...

Engl Powerball - Supposedly sucks in a band situation, some of the reviews say the customer support sucks, and lastly, a few people said the pots or tube sockets aren't representative of "german engineering". For instance, they said the sockets aren't connected to the chassis [in addition to the circuit board], so it allows the board to overheat, and the sockets aren't the most sturdy...

Peavey 6505+ - Great if you want to do one thing, but other than that, cleans need a mod of some kind to be usable at all, and the crunch channel isn't usable at all. Also, Peavey is supposedly using cheaper parts, etc, and it results in a more "generic" tone. Basically, a one trick pony...

Kustom Double Cross - Few people have em, little info about reliability, etc, and the tones of the video and sound samples don't sound genuine. The tone has something odd about it, too...

Mesa Boogie Roadster - Pops when switching channels [so it makes the channels pointless in my view], and also some problems with the reverb according to people on HC...

VHT Sig:X, Egnater Tourmaster, etc. - I prefer 6L6's, and in the case of VHT, I don't get what "Dynamic Sensing Preamp Technology" and "Enhancing Mode" is, so dunno if I want to use something that goes over my head... [plus I haven't looked at reviews for either].

And here's a few I haven't really considered, but here's my concerns with them as well...

5150III - Made in Mexico, supposedly boomy with a Mahogany guitar, which I have two of.

Carvin V3, Legacy I and II - Um, just no.

Randall [doesn't matter the model] - Don't really care for hybrid amps, and I dunno about the MTS, mainly because I want the distortion to sound like amp distortion, and I'm skeptical of a module sounding like anything better than a good rack unit or stomp box. I haven't actually tried one though...

Rivera - I haven't really been able to find an online site that sells em, and doubt anyone local [in the state] sells them new in the box.

Diezel, Soldano - Probably out of my price range...





SOOOOOO.... For around $2300US, what is the most roadie proof, stage worthy head that has some versatility, but can do a convincing metal tone both on stage and in a studio if it comes to it? The main areas I am looking at are quality, stage presence, durability, and tone/volume.

I'm really running out of options, I think, and was hoping some people here could point me in the right direction; I don't want to drive all over Washington, Idaho and Oregon just to come up with nothing but a big gas bill.

Thanks for your help in advance.
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

How 'metal' does the amp need to be?

I have a BUDDA Superdrive 80 II that isn't necessarily 'metal' but it sounds absolutely huge. The amp has quite a bit of gain but the dynamics are so good that I only use the gain at 12 o'clock for the hard rock band I am in. This amp has some serious balls. Also they make a 45 watt version that has more gain (listen to Coheed and Cambria's no world for tomorrow for an idea of what the 45 sounds like). I would suggest trying these if you have the opportunity.

Also look into trying Splawn (if you have time to wait for it), orange rockerverb, and framus.

Sorry that I can't be of more help.
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

PVFan said:
you HAVE to try them out
Click to expand...

Yes, agreed. You need to try them out Thurisaz. You cannot take advise from others unless you can loan your ears out. Seeing how that isn't likely to happen, you need to go hear them with your own ears.

Thurisaz said:
according to people on HC...
Click to expand...

Where do I start with this?

You mean you actually got a decent response? Legible? :) j/k

I'd start with the Peavey's. ;) They should be fairly easy to find and you then have a baseline to start with.
 
Last edited:
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

I'm trying to pinpoint the amps down to a few [like 3-5], so I know where to drive to, etc. I know I have to try the amps out myself, but I want people who have more experience with amps to direct me to an amp I won't take home and be like "WTF? This sucks for live/band use, quality/durability, etc.!" I dont want a knob to be broken my first show because the amp is 2000 and great all over, but they cheesed out on the pots, ya know what I mean? Thanks for helping.
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

SPAM...go try some amps then come back.....

All the amps on that list are good amps, some are liked more than others.
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

One option you might consider, since they've been out a long time, and come up used for less......AND, a lot of metal bands love them for the fact they've got endless tones....

Mesa Triaxis preamp and just about any Mesa power amp.
Get a midi pedal, a 6 space rack, and maybe a multiFX unit, and it'll cover just about every sound imagineable.
It'll give you dozens of shades of gain, clean, solo boosts, FX...everything. Racks my not be in vogue with the retro crowd, but you'll see a Triaxis rig at almost any metal concert you go to.

For a bit less money, a Marshall JMP-1 preamp and Marshall or Mesa power amp.
 
Last edited:
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

If you can make it to the Guitar Center in downtown Seattle, there is a KILLER Soldano lucky 13. It is priced at $1,600 so you could probably get it for around 14. It's sparkley red and looks pretty gay, but sounds like GOD, killer cleans too.
I am actually considering buying it...
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

Thurisaz said:
I'm trying to pinpoint the amps down to a few [like 3-5], so I know where to drive to, etc. I know I have to try the amps out myself, but I want people who have more experience with amps to direct me to an amp I won't take home and be like "WTF? This sucks for live/band use, quality/durability, etc.!" I dont want a knob to be broken my first show because the amp is 2000 and great all over, but they cheesed out on the pots, ya know what I mean? Thanks for helping.
Click to expand...

Don't go SPLAWN, go MOURADIAN 12000 Series VH amp, it's modeled after Eddy Van Halen's Marshall head at $1995.00. Jack McCallister builds them. Take a look at this web link: http://www.mouradian-amps.com/
Mouradian Amplification Phone: 352-556-4234 AND 352-556-1633
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

I am not able to help with the actual amp models, but think about what you are using for your data source here. Opinions. Opinions are like .... well I expect you have heard. No one piece of equipment will be something that is found to be 100% satisfactory to everyone. It is just a ROUGH guide. No 2 cabs are the same, even of the same maker, speakers and heads also differ across the same model. So the mix of the 2 you have may be fine or it may not be good for you. You have to know you, much more than you know them.

What is it you play like, and what responds well to you. What is is you are able to make work for you the way you want it to when you need it to do so? What speaker tends to work for your ears and your style? What amp and cab fit it? I am a tweed style player. Most folks who use these use the bright high input channel. I rarely use that as my base. I start with the low gain normal channel. It works for me. If I went with opinions a tweed would not be as much fun to play ... and respond to when I do (as best I can!). So now that you have some rough ideas you have to start with you. Use a place with a return policy and a few of the models you named and start hooking into them. be ready, and plan, to send them back until you hit what works. Now, if you are like many of us here it will be years and $$$ later that you actually arrive at some basic understanding of all this for you (if you have not done so already).
 
Last edited:
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

drpietrzak said:
I am not able to help with the actual amp models, but think about what you are using for your data source here. Opinions. Opinions are like .... well I expect you have heard. No one piece of equipment will be something that is found to be 100% satisfactory to everyone. It is just a ROUGH guide. No 2 cabs are the same, even of the same maker, speakers and heads also differ across the same model. So the mix of the 2 you have may be fine or it may not be good for you. You have to know you, much more than you know them.

What is it you play like, and what responds well to you. What is is you are able to make work for you the way you want it to when you need it to do so? What speaker tends to work for your ears and your style? What amp and cab fit it? I am a tweed style player. Most folks who use these use the bright high input channel. I rarely use that as my base. I start with the low gain normal channel. It works for me. If I went with opinions a tweed would not be as much fun to play ... and respond to when I do (as best I can!). So now that you have some rough ideas you have to start with you. Use a place with a return policy and a few of the models you named and start hooking into them. be ready, and plan, to send them back until you hit what works. Now, if you are like many of us here it will be years and $$$ later that you actually arrive at some basic understanding of all this for you (if you have not done so already).
Click to expand...

I wholly agree about opinions, but that is what the poster is asking for here right? He did mention Hi-gain amps so any "Hi Gain" amp maker/designer is fair game to be listed as reference at least in the "Hi Gain" scheme of things. I really do agree with you, the worst thing a guy can do is buy "immediately" because the money is burning a hole in his pocket, or at least w/o some kind of "concrete" ideas already in place. I'll use a good example, I was in a local GC store in the glass booth were guys can crank up the typical Marshall and Mesa amps. In walks a 16 year old kid that idolizes Brent Mason, you know that blazin' chicken picken, train whistle, double/triple stop, and other really cool tele technique type Nashville player. I just bought a THD Bivalve 30 watt Class A head with a pair of Saratov KT66 tubes and a pair of Mullard NOS 12AX7's. This kid is set on buying/playing a Mesa Boogie because that's what he came in for. I had the THD Bivalve head hooked into a Marshall 1960 AV 4x12 cab w/Vintage 30 Celestions. I remembered an Aspen Pittman of Groove Tubes commentary where he stated that some "jazz and blues players lean towards Class A tube amps", I also remembered Brad Paisley uses Dr. Z and Top Hat Class A amps, so I asked him to check out my hookup (THD Bivalve through Marshall 1960AV cab). This kid was so good at the Nashville Tele style of playing he could even embarrass Brad Paisley (the kid was an extremely exceptional player). He ended up playing the THD Bivalve head through the Marshall 1960AV cab for quite some time, and never once played through a Mesa amp or any other amp at GC for that matter. You could tell from the expression on his face it was all over and done with (at least considering buying/using a Mesa Boogie), especially after I mentioned the fact that the guys playing his tele style in Nashville were typically using Class A amps. I think he left the GC store in a real quandary and felt very confused at that point.
 
Last edited:
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

If none of those amps make you happy then maybe you should consider another hobby... like cliff diving or whatever.

I haven't tried everything on that list but Soldano, VHT & Rivera are built as amazingly well or better then anything else out there. And a used Rivera is FAR less then $2300...
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

You can try out a framus cobra. Very nice hi gain amp and can play lots of styles (has a pretty **** good clean channel) but metal is what it does best. Pretty expensive but you might be able to get one for about $1500-$2000 used.

Thurisaz said:
head that has some versatility, but can do a convincing metal tone both on stage and in a studio if it comes to it.
Click to expand...

why don't you just get a nice marshall amp and use a pedal to get your metal tone?
 
Re: Unhappy with high gain amp choices...

J Moose -- I've been looking into Rivera, particularly the K-Tre. Wish I could find a new KR-100 somewhere, as the KR-7 is a little too expensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Confused with this SD old pup...
Replies
8
Views
163
Djuango
D
ehdwuld
NSD EMINENCE AND LASE CONTENT
Replies
5
Views
74
jeremy
jeremy
misterwhizzy
Cool amp story, bro
Replies
12
Views
151
soulforger
soulforger
ehdwuld
Eminence Hempdog speaker
2
Replies
27
Views
211
ehdwuld
ehdwuld
GuitarStv
Are two greenbacks OK to handle a 50 watt amp?
Replies
10
Views
119
ehdwuld
ehdwuld
Back
Top