What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
- Thread starter jerryjg
- Start date
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
"High-gain" is a relative term. When I think of high-gain amps, I think of Mesas, Bogners, Soldanos and modern Marshalls. Very few amps have the ability to stay clean all the way up to ten. Some powerful amps, such as a Hiwatt, have loads of headroom and stay very clean at high volumes. Other amps, such as Mesa's rectifier series, have multiple gain stages that exist with the intent of giving the player loads of potential gain.
I sense there is a follow-up question to this one. Am I right, Jerry?
- Keith
"High-gain" is a relative term. When I think of high-gain amps, I think of Mesas, Bogners, Soldanos and modern Marshalls. Very few amps have the ability to stay clean all the way up to ten. Some powerful amps, such as a Hiwatt, have loads of headroom and stay very clean at high volumes. Other amps, such as Mesa's rectifier series, have multiple gain stages that exist with the intent of giving the player loads of potential gain.
I sense there is a follow-up question to this one. Am I right, Jerry?
- Keith
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
I tend to agree w. the above statement . . .
. . . what YOU consider as "HIGH-GAIN", is, as the old proverb says, . . . "only in the eye of the beer-holder !"
To me, High-Gain is NOT Marshall, but anything beyound that, like Mesa Rec/RoadKings, VHT's, Diezel's, Framus, 5150's, KRANK :bigeyes: ,even some Laney's, Hughes & Kettner, Soldano, Bogner's and the like !
I do not think that Marshall ( and i grew up on Marshall's - love them for what they are) is a true 'hard-core' high gain amp - and to me that is a GOOD thing ! :smokin:
Even the Mesa F-series sound moore "brutal" than the Marshalls of today !
But let's wait and see how that new 4-channel Marshall from Tropical England will be - can not wait to hear one in real life !!!
My take on so-called high-gain (metal) monsters !
I tend to agree w. the above statement . . .
. . . what YOU consider as "HIGH-GAIN", is, as the old proverb says, . . . "only in the eye of the beer-holder !"
To me, High-Gain is NOT Marshall, but anything beyound that, like Mesa Rec/RoadKings, VHT's, Diezel's, Framus, 5150's, KRANK :bigeyes: ,even some Laney's, Hughes & Kettner, Soldano, Bogner's and the like !
I do not think that Marshall ( and i grew up on Marshall's - love them for what they are) is a true 'hard-core' high gain amp - and to me that is a GOOD thing ! :smokin:
Even the Mesa F-series sound moore "brutal" than the Marshalls of today !
But let's wait and see how that new 4-channel Marshall from Tropical England will be - can not wait to hear one in real life !!!
My take on so-called high-gain (metal) monsters !
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
I agree with this as well. When I mentioned Marshall, I was thinking more along the lines of the DSL and TSL, hence the qualification "modern."
- Keith
I agree with this as well. When I mentioned Marshall, I was thinking more along the lines of the DSL and TSL, hence the qualification "modern."
- Keith
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
To me it depends on the era.
Back in the mid-late 70's to the early 80's, the Marshall JMP/JCM800 2203/2204 were pretty high gain for the time. Then the split channel came out, yet more gain. The early Boogies were high gain for the time too. In to the 90's, the Dual Rectifier, Soldano SLO, 5150 were high gain and still are.
The only Marshall from the past that I consider high gain with some of today's stuff is the SL-X, but I much prefer the lower gain models like it's predecessor, the MkIII Master Volume (which was also considered high gain at the time).
To me it depends on the era.
Back in the mid-late 70's to the early 80's, the Marshall JMP/JCM800 2203/2204 were pretty high gain for the time. Then the split channel came out, yet more gain. The early Boogies were high gain for the time too. In to the 90's, the Dual Rectifier, Soldano SLO, 5150 were high gain and still are.
The only Marshall from the past that I consider high gain with some of today's stuff is the SL-X, but I much prefer the lower gain models like it's predecessor, the MkIII Master Volume (which was also considered high gain at the time).
Reckless Abandon
New member
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
The JCM 2000 is pretty high gain
The JCM 2000 is pretty high gain
SirJackdeFuzz
New member
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
Oh . . . and i was wonderring :
. . . what would the new Peavey ValveKings, both 50W & 100W, concidered to be ?
Would they have more gain than a DSL50 head ?
Are they a high gain, low budget package ???
. . . any thoughts ?
Oh . . . and i was wonderring :
. . . what would the new Peavey ValveKings, both 50W & 100W, concidered to be ?
Would they have more gain than a DSL50 head ?
Are they a high gain, low budget package ???
. . . any thoughts ?
Sludgenutz
New member
Re: What is a 'HIGH GAIN" amp?
Four preamp tubes or more (not including various reverb tank or effects loop tubes)?
Four preamp tubes or more (not including various reverb tank or effects loop tubes)?
