What is your dream amp?

[Texsunburst59]

can you run over the differences between those three? obviously combo vs head, and the eq, but the 60/100 vs simluclass for example.

Of the 3 that 60 watt no reverb or graphic EQ is the best sounding, and has the smoothest lead and crunch rhythm tones.

I’m guessing the 60 watt sounds the best because there’s less stuff in the way to take away from the tone.

 

[jeremy]

cool. similar speakers?

 

[Mikelamury]

Man I'm really wanting to get a Mesa triple crown 100 watt head. I think they sound fantastic, one of the best clean channels I've ever heard. Mesa hasn't made any of these since 2020 but I found a few on reverb for decent prices, I'm seriously thinking about saving up for one of the ones on reverb... I know I just got my Mark V and am enjoying it more every time I play it, I still want to get an EL34 amp from Mesa which is what the triple crown carries. This is really a awesome sounding amp. Has anyone else heard one of these?

 

[Mikelamury]

I'm not very punk these days. I'm old and :lame:

I feel you there man, I'm in the same boat. St least I can pay my rent now...

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Those Boogie combos are really cream of the crop... but I don't know if a combo would be a dream amp for me, personally. Not to say I'm not completely jealous, though!

 

[Joelski144]

Man I'm really wanting to get a Mesa triple crown 100 watt head. I think they sound fantastic, one of the best clean channels I've ever heard. Mesa hasn't made any of these since 2020 but I found a few on reverb for decent prices, I'm seriously thinking about saving up for one of the ones on reverb... I know I just got my Mark V and am enjoying it more every time I play it, I still want to get an EL34 amp from Mesa which is what the triple crown carries. This is really a awesome sounding amp. Has anyone else heard one of these?

You can swap EL34's for the 6L6's in the Mk V.

 

[EmiAba]

I have two:
1 PRS MT15 first release
2 Orange Rockerverb 50w

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I have two:
1 PRS MT15 first release
2 Orange Rockerverb 50w

Was the MT15 any different? I thought it was just the tubes.

 

[EmiAba]

Was the MT15 any different? I thought it was just the tubes.

Yes yes only the power stage tubes. The 6L6 of the first release have been replaced by JJs 5881

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yes yes only the power stage tubes. The 6L6 of the first release have been replaced by JJs 5881

I'm sure you can still get some other alternative to those short bottle Ruby Shuguangs.

I like Sovtek 5881's way better than JJ 5881's, personally. But if you want full-on 6L6's, I'm sure there's still nice ones being produced.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Yeah, Sovtek 5881's are just current production versions of Nos Russian/Saratov 6P3S-E tubes, which there are plenty still around and still reasonably priced too. They used to be dirt cheap when I first started using them (and I have a few matched quad's salted away) but now they're priced higher as more folks have caught on.

I use them in my Cicognani Brutus Live 30W head and have had them in my Bugera as well. I prefer them to any regular CP 6L6 I've tried. I saw somewhere that they're (6P3S-E) what they're putting in the new MT-15's. Don't see that having a detrimental effect on anything. They're awesome tubes.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, Sovtek 5881's are just current production versions of Nos Russian/Saratov 6P3S-E tubes, which there are plenty still around and still reasonably priced too. They used to be dirt cheap when I first started using them (and I have a few matched quad's salted away) but now they're priced higher as more folks have caught on.

I use them in my Cicognani Brutus Live 30W head and have had them in my Bugera as well. I prefer them to any regular CP 6L6 I've tried. I saw somewhere that they're (6P3S-E) what they're putting in the new MT-15's. Don't see that having a detrimental effect on anything. They're awesome tubes.

I'm not sure, but I don't think JJ's are actually 6P3S's, are they? At least, they're not based on a Russian design, AFAIK. But they're not true 5881's either. They handle more plate voltage than Tung Sol 5881's.

I really like the Sovtek 5881's, myself, even if they're not "true" 5881's. They've got an nice edge high mid rasp, they're leaner on the bass than most other 6L6's, but they're not as spongy/stuffy as EL34's, IMO. They're also pretty much indestructible being based on a military design.

But RI Tung Sol 5881's are also amazing. JJ's are kinda meh, IMO. They're not bad, but as with any JJ tube that I've tried, I usually find stuff that's better-sounding (IMO, of course), even without going NOS. I like the Chinese 12AX7's, but for power tubes, I prefer the New Sensor brands.

 

[El Dunco]

It really depends on the music I’m making. The rigs for my favourite tones that end up in the final product are usually a blend of two or more. My JVM is modded to be a very open, tight metal amp with focused lows and exceptional pick-attack definition.

My Recto is a 2 channel with a few mods that give the red channel a little more in common with rev D/C but has the signature hugeness of a recto. Then there’s my solid state hot-rodded RG100 style (sounds kind of like an RG100 mated with a 5150) for super brutal, immediate and infinite crunch and every sound you hear from me or any of my bands past about 2014 is always a combination of at least two of those, if not 3 because I can blend in the characteristics I like for each song, even have them change mid song with automation (have the treblier “pick attack amp” up a couple db in thrashier parts, the Recto’s big bottom jump forward a touch for slower, more crushing grooves)

Then I have some other neat “secret sauces” in the form of small tube combos, rack tube preamps, floor preamps. The riffs and the songs are the priority and the setup that brings out the best in them is the winner.

I’m not so above it all I won’t pick that just lately, my semi-Fortin specc’d JVM through G12Ks and the pre 2005 V30s is a gorgeous, smooth yet very aggressive vibe. As well as that, I’m enjoying 18v EMG81 straight into the dual rec and coming out of Eminence legends. Rammstein Reise Reise right out the box.

I will say that trying to profile or model sounds that came from amp and cab blending in studio to make a fly rig is tricky, so I tend to just go for a more basic sound with lots of definition, clarity in the mids and the low end in just enough for body (not worrying to much about the hugeness as that’d get a bit messy with the bass and kick), then it’s audible to me, the band, the audience, even through smartphone mics.

My Blackstar Blackfire tube floor pre in the amp loop of my RP1000 with an AmpTweaker DepthFinder into my Crate Powerblock is a formidable fly-rig that takes up little space. Basically a deconstructed PowerStage assuming the EQ on a Powerstage cover the presence and resonance ranges.

 

[Mikelamury]

You can swap EL34's for the 6L6's in the Mk V.

Yes I'm aware of that, I like the way the Mark V sounds with the 6L6's. The triple crown circuit is more tailored to the EL34's where as the Mark V circuit was built around 6L6's. I haven't tried swapping out the 6L6's myself but from what I've heard from other Mark owners is that its more to my liking with the 6L6's.

 

[idsnowdog]

I would like a bassman/JTM45 circuit that I could turn into a metal beast. Something like a Traynor YBA1 or Sovtek MIG.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I found my dream amp in the Mesa Triaxis 30 years ago. Everything I could want from crystalline cleans up to huge Rectifier chunk (my Triaxis is an early one from when they still had the extra piggyback Recto circuit board). Lots of flavors in between: Fendery clean-to-grit, various classic Boogie eras including the Mk IIC+ and the liquid singing Mk IV lead channel, plus Marshall-ish flavors both vintage and modern.

Triaxis ended my ultimate-amp quest for good. But it's a rackmount, and I don't always use my rack rig.

When not bringing the rack I run pedalboards, normally with my Friedman through a V30-loaded cab
Or sometimes pedals with one of my blackface Fenders instead, depending on the occasion.
Have bunch of other amps too but they're either retired warhorses or specialty flavors.


Would love to have a brownface Bassman. But I've got a '64 Bassman rebuilt to blonde 6G6-B specs years ago by Billy Zoom.
Sure, I wouldn't mind having a tweed Bassman too, or a tweed Twin.
But it's not as if I'm actively searching.


A guy I play with recently scored his dream amp, a brownface Deluxe in great condition. He put an Amperex 12ax7 in V1 and it sounds absolutely great.
One issue though - the original speaker (Jensen I think) has a narrow sweet spot. Also, he worries about wearing the speaker out by pushing it hard.
He's thinking swapping in a Weber and storing the original.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I'm not sure, but I don't think JJ's are actually 6P3S's, are they? At least, they're not based on a Russian design, AFAIK. But they're not true 5881's either. They handle more plate voltage than Tung Sol 5881's.

I really like the Sovtek 5881's, myself, even if they're not "true" 5881's. They've got an nice edge high mid rasp, they're leaner on the bass than most other 6L6's, but they're not as spongy/stuffy as EL34's, IMO. They're also pretty much indestructible being based on a military design.

But RI Tung Sol 5881's are also amazing. JJ's are kinda meh, IMO. They're not bad, but as with any JJ tube that I've tried, I usually find stuff that's better-sounding (IMO, of course), even without going NOS. I like the Chinese 12AX7's, but for power tubes, I prefer the New Sensor brands.

Don't really know what the JJ's are. But I was watching an Interview w/ Mark Tremonti on YT (not a fan or into/familliar with his stuff but I am interested to know about the new MT100 amp that's due out sometime soon) and he said that the 5881's in the new MT-15's were "Russian 6l6 style Military grade tubes" ( I'm guessing 6P3S-E) in the video below @ about 4;20 mins..

All I know is I'm a big fan of 63PS-E's..they're my favourite 6L6-style tubes...

For EL34's I like the Shuggy's best..

And I like the regular short plate JJ 12Ax7's best for preamp tubes. I've got them in most of my amp's. (Also have Shuguang's in a couple of them, though I often find them to be too bright/thin/harsh for my tastes)

My Brutus amp came stock with Sovtek's & the preamp tubes were perfect for that amp, nothing I swapped them out for sounded better , so they're still in there. I swapped out the stock Sovtek 5881's (sounded ok, but not great) for 6P3S-E's and that was a huge improvement to my amp in every way. The instant they went in everything just sounded "perfect"....like the whole amp was functioning in it's sweet spot.

Anyway..here @ 4:20 mins.

 

[Ascension]

basically a really sick marshall, one of those ones that has all the mojo

Got ya on that. Had a shot at Damon Johnsons old Lee Jackson Modded Plexie as it belonged to a friend of mine. In the end it was heavy on the $ and I would only very rairly get a chance to really get it out and play it so passed. Was a wonderful thing to stand in front of that monster at volume!! Was one of these and I think it was the head he recorded this with. Was one bad bad mofo!

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Don't really know what the JJ's are. But I was watching an Interview w/ Mark Tremonti on YT (not a fan or into/familliar with his stuff but I am interested to know about the new MT100 amp that's due out sometime soon) and he said that the 5881's in the new MT-15's were "Russian 6l6 style Military grade tubes" ( I'm guessing 6P3S-E) in the video below @ about 4;20 mins..

All I know is I'm a big fan of 63PS-E's..they're my favourite 6L6-style tubes...

For EL34's I like the Shuggy's best..

And I like the regular short plate JJ 12Ax7's best for preamp tubes. I've got them in most of my amp's. (Also have Shuguang's in a couple of them, though I often find them to be too bright/thin/harsh for my tastes)

My Brutus amp came stock with Sovtek's & the preamp tubes were perfect for that amp, nothing I swapped them out for sounded better , so they're still in there. I swapped out the stock Sovtek 5881's (sounded ok, but not great) for 6P3S-E's and that was a huge improvement to my amp in every way. The instant they went in everything just sounded "perfect"....like the whole amp was functioning in it's sweet spot.

Anyway..here @ 4:20 mins.

I saw that interview as well. Maybe I'm prejudiced against Mark because of the Radio Rock he plays, but he's always come across as a guy who's tried A LOT of stuff, and some of his stuff happens to work for the heavier styles. So I'm not sure I really *respect* his opinions... or rather, "take as gospel" his opinions as much as some other people who get tones I'm more into. Or Paul Reed Smith's, for that matter.

But I've heard the JJ 5881's in person compared to the Sovteks, and I wasn't really into them. I mean, I wouldn't say no to them. I I don't despise them. But I prefer the Sovteks becuase they sound rattier. Grindier. More aggressive. And in my experience, New Sensor *power* tubes have always been more reliable than JJ's.

Don't take me wrong. I'm not prejudiced agains JJ. I love their 6V6S's. And I do like their ECC83S's in some amps. I've just had bad luck with JJ power tubes, and 90% of the time, I've not felt their tone has justified the risk.

JMO, of course.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Tbh I'd never even heard of the guy until the MT-15 amp came out and I googled him :lmao: I still have'nt heard a thing he's done. But, the Mt15 is a sweet sounding amp and based on that I'm curious about the MT100. We do seem to be getting the new PRS amp's in stores here (and at US prices, no BS mark-up's) . The Archon 50 is available everywhere as is some PRS Hendrix's amp so I'm expecting the MT100 to be out in stores here as well when it's finally out. I would'nt mind giving it a whirl to see if it's anywhere near as great as he says..:bigthumb:

Not even sure if JJ's are actually re-badged NOS 6P3S-E's (?) ...or some newer take on them?. I've only tried the Sovtek 5881's which I thought sounded fine but the old Saratov 6P3S-E's off ebay blew them away for my kind of tone (and feel) preference..