Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

[MetalManiac]

Looking into a High Gain Amp. What are your thoughts?
I will say I'm going for somthing heavier, Tighter, Less Organic than what Ive heard about a Splawn Nitro(?).

Some of the ones I am looking at;

Deizel Herbert, Einstein

VHT Pitbull 100, other ?

Soldano SLO ( maybe also more tube sag in sound?)

Mesa Dual Recto, Stillleto

Orange Rockerverb 100

Engl Fireball, Powerball, other?

Others?

 

[sosomething]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Of those, I've owned or spent considerable time with the Orange, VHT, and Dual Rec.

I recommend:

Splawn

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Out of those I've only played the SLO, Mesa Rec. and Stiletto, and Rockerverb

Each one of those amps has a different sound. Is there a particular type of high gain that you are looking for, or someone else's tone that you are looking for?

My preference is the Mesa Rectifiers. That's because they produce sounds that I like. FTR I am also mulling buying a 3 channel dual that's just popped up.

But seriously all of those are good, well built amps.

 

[CountFunkula]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I would take a look at Engl, depending on how much gain you need.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Of those, I've owned or spent considerable time with the Orange, VHT, and Dual Rec.

I recommend:

Splawn

Awesome. Thanks.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

If you're looking for more ungodly gain options then

Deizel VH4

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

ENGLS are badass amps.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Awesome. Thanks.

You are welcome.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Get a 5150 kind of amp...(5150,5150II,6505,6505+,6260,6262,5150III)
Monster and not very pricey...(not for the 5150III but anyway...)
I use a modded bugera 6262(tube swap-bias adjustment) and the tone is greater than the engl that I used to have...

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I will say I'm going for somthing heavier, Tighter, Less Organic than what Ive heard about a Splawn Nitro(?).

I'd stay away from the SLO, Mesa's and the Rockerverb then.

Actually the 5150/5150+ is a pretty decent recommendation.

 

[JOEBACCA]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

ENGLS are badass amps.

I concur.



I have the 15 Watt ENGL Gigmaster for home use. It is Power Scalable from 15

Watts, to 5 Watts, and down to 1 Watt via switch on the back of the amp. 1

12AX7 and 2 EL84's and granted a lil help from SS Rectification..... it has

more Gain than you'll ever need and does it from whisper volumes to being

heard over a Death Metal Drummer.

However if your looking for more Power I'd look into the ENGL Fireball 100

...for 1600 Brand New. It truly is a flamethrower listen to some clips on

UTube. Its got a nice Low Mid Growl, Tight, Palm Mutes sound like a Sledge

Hammer to the chest. Check it out.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

VHT?FRyette

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Looking into a High Gain Amp. What are your thoughts?
I will say I'm going for somthing heavier, Tighter, Less Organic than what Ive heard about a Splawn Nitro(?).

Some of the ones I am looking at;

Deizel Herbert, Einstein

VHT Pitbull 100, other ?

Soldano SLO ( maybe also more tube sag in sound?)

Mesa Dual Recto, Stillleto

Orange Rockerverb 100

Engl Fireball, Powerball, other?

Others?

Of the ones you mentioned : deff the Soldano SLO !

Another great alternative, is the 1st generation 100W Krank Krankenstein - not the newer 120W model.
The very first generation (early 90's) single channel Recto's is also pretty impressive, if that is your type of sound.

If you want the least organic hi gain sound, look into the Line 6 Spider Valve 100W head.
The "Insane channel" is pretty hi gain in a very organic'less, artificial way.

 

[RudeKelly]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I would buy the Dual Rectifier, but I think this one is rather organic...

What about this one:
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade: http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php5?id=135

 

[Warheart]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

More than one!

 

[cakire82]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I will say I'm going for somthing heavier, Tighter, Less Organic than what Ive heard about a Splawn Nitro(?)

ENGL fits the bill here. You can add Savege, Special Edition, Invader and Limited Edition to your list as well depending on your budget and features you are willing to get.

 

[crguti]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

try out the Engl Powerball II... pure evilness :firedevil

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

- Do you have to use a noise gate on a high gain tube amp?

- Do you have to use an overdrive pedal on a high gain tube amp?

- Is a high gain tube amp noisier than a solidstate amp when diming the gain?

- Can a tube amp be as tight and crushing as a solidstate Metal sound?

Just some serious and honest questions from a solidstate guy. :reporter:

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

VHT?FRyette

Sigh ... considering he said Pitbull everyone knows he was talking about Fryette/Fryette era VHT's.

Considering all VHT's I run across are from the Fryette era I'm sick of all the fryette fanboys insisting on adding Fryette everytime someone talks about an old VHT.

*EDIT* ... My apologies if I'm coming across cranky lately. I haven't had much to eat over the last 48 hours and it's been a bit of an FML period lately.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

- Do you have to use a noise gate on a high gain tube amp?

- Do you have to use an overdrive pedal on a high gain tube amp?

- Is a high gain tube amp noisier than a solidstate amp when diming the gain?

- Can a tube amp be as tight and crushing as a solidstate Metal sound?

Just some serious and honest questions from a solidstate guy. :reporter:

1. Not always but I 'll say YES...some amps (5150III) don't need anything...

2.NO!!! If the high gain amp needs overdrive,the amp is ****... (yeah I mean Mesas)

3.Yes.But With these amps you never put the gain on 10...(If you do i don't know what kind of music you're playing,I keep my amp to 5...)

4.Thank God yes...

Honest answers from an ex solid-state(rack) guy...