Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

[Despair]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

VHT (or a Fryette, for the designer's new company) amps are pretty amazing. Very tight, brutal high gain tones. Deceptively dry, but still sweet. If you want inorganic but still engaging, seems like a great choice, though that's not all it can do.

I've always loved the Pitbull's thrash tones, almost solid state tight power section, but with tubey goodness when pushed to it's limits rather than just bottoming out.

Soldanos aren't loose, but they aren't as tight as many Fryette designs or Engls. Really depends on the tone you are going for.

A fair chunk of the loose Recto sound is the oversize cabs. Tighter cabs/speakers make them much nastier.

Cab/speaker choice again a big factor for the 5150-style amps. Resonance control can make them into fat, barely controllable monsters, or help keep them tight. More flexible than most realize.

Somewhat bemused at Orange being mentioned for tight. I love them, but the older models I'm familiar with are more awesome barely controllable roar than tight... But I haven't heard much of the current big models, and what little I have they were used for sludgy tones pushed with fuzz, etc.

Can't comment usefully on Diezels, either. Most of the Diezel users I've heard tend to use them AND several other great amps, sometimes all at once. So I've got little idea what they sound like by themselves.

For less organic sounds, I wouldn't rule out solid state. J Yuenger of White Zombie and Dimebag both used various solid state amps (in J's case, a horde of them in the studio) to great effect.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

An opinion regarding Engls...
I think the worst amp they make is the powerball...
I think it lacks tone especially the 4th channel which is over-compressed...
I LOVE the tone of the BLACKMORE...
ITS A 5150 AS EDDIE HAD IMAGINED IT YEARS AGO!!!!!!
Very versatile also...
The Fireball is a nice amp for extremelly heavy thrash and stuff...
The Savage is also an amazing amp not as versatile as the blackmore though...
If I were you I would check the 5150 line,as I mentioned earlier, and the ENGL BLACKMORE.

PS.Engls work ONLY with Vintage 30...
If you use greenbacks or gt75's they tend to get fizzy...

 

[Maynardo]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

5150s and rectos are based on the SLO circuit, that's something to think about.

my 2 cents

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

5150s and rectos are based on the SLO circuit, that's something to think about.

my 2 cents

Actually 5150's are a combination of the SLO and eddie's Plexi...
According to James Brown....
He has also mentioned that eddie didn't like SLO that much...:smoker::smoker:

 

[Maynardo]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Actually 5150's are a combination of the SLO and eddie's Plexi...
According to James Brown....
He has also mentioned that eddie didn't like SLO that much...:smoker::smoker:

maybe the rhythm channel has some plexy in there, but lead channel its very SLO

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Bugera player + "Mesas suck" = Ignored opinion

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Bugera player + "Mesas suck" = Ignored opinion

Love that arguments!!!!!!! they 're so classy and full of nobility...
Learn how to hear with the ears and not your wallet...
I had 2 Engls(screamer,fireball 60) and a 5150 mk1 before the 6262...
And what I like about all these amps is that they don't need an od in front to play heavy metal...and they don't cost so much...and guess what...they sound amazing...

I hope you're happy with your Mesa...

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I'll take a SLO any day of the week over anything else. I love the tone I can get out of them.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Bugera player + "Mesas suck" = Ignored opinion

There's reason I tend to stay out of PUL, GR & AC rooms.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

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.

It's all good bro.

Wasn't specifically talking about the ones he had in VHT, but truthfully any Fryette amp is pure awesome. Older VHT ones rock so hard, new Fryette models rock just as hard.

Would recommend checking out the

DELIVERANCE
and
SIG X

as well. Whether under VHT or Fryette.


EDIT: The reason we put Fryette next to VHT is that some people still don't know the difference, hate on VHT's new stuff so Fryettes models are guilty by association.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Cool cool ... just dealing with some numbskulls outside of the forum and it's been driving me nuts, and it's lead to me posting some d!ckheaded comments on the forum.

Agreed Fryette/VHT amps rock hard.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I'll take a SLO any day of the week over anything else. I love the tone I can get out of them.

Hard to beat an SLO for pure awesomeness, BUT...

unless I am mistaken, this thread is about "HIGH GAIN" amps that aren't too organic.

Not that the SLO doesn't have plenty of gain, but when someone says "high gain" any more I tend to assume they are referring to amps more suited to modern metal, with a scooped, tight, at times almost solid state response. The SLO isn't that. It's pretty organic.


As far as the OP goes, I sure to love my VHT Pittbull Ultralead for just this sort of thing. It's a tube amp no doubt, but it stays tight and does the scooped metal thing awesomely. Lately I've been digging my XTC Classic a lot again, but for metal the VHT still rules over it. Anymore, when I think of the words "high gain", I tend to think a more flat EQ or scooped, and amps like the SLO are definitely more about the classic mid-rangy Marshall on steroids tone than they are modern metal.

Also gotta second the Engl suggestions. Those are definitely all about high gain and metal. Nuther suggestion is the Bogner Uberschall in its various iterations. But being a Bogner, it does tend to be a bit more organic.

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Agreed. ENGL will deliver what you're looking for.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Hard to beat an SLO for pure awesomeness, BUT...

unless I am mistaken, this thread is about "HIGH GAIN" amps that aren't too organic.

Not that the SLO doesn't have plenty of gain, but when someone says "high gain" any more I tend to assume they are referring to amps more suited to modern metal, with a scooped, tight, at times almost solid state response. The SLO isn't that. It's pretty organic.

The bolded description is hardly modern. That sound was around more than 20 years ago with Mesa Boogies and Randalls. It's just gotten more and more saturated and sounding even heavier by detuning 2 steps from standard A440.

I agree, the SLO is pretty organic for a high gain amp. Amazing how they can go from really mild to totally wild. Love 'em. I even use the SLO model on my Valvetronix as my main sound and even the model in my RP500. It's the closest I'll get to the real thing without paying an arm and a leg.....unless I score a Jet City. They have the feel.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I hope you're happy with your Mesa...

I don't own, nor have I ever owned a Mesa. However, they have a reputation that runs the gamut from bedroom players to rock stars as far as reliability is concerned. I can't make that argument for Bugera.

Tone is subjective, but reliability is not. And I'm not bagging on Chinese-made amps. I like my Jet City a lot. I'm saying I disagree with you that Mesas suck. I think Mesas are among the best amps available at any price.

So when you say, "Listen with your ears," that has no bearing on what I'm talking about.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I have a few of the amps you listed:

Diezel. Mine is a VH4 and I love it. The cleans are like a Hiwatt, the crunch is very Marshall with a LITTLE bit more thump. The high gain stuff is...well it is Diezel. The midrange is in a vocal area and the amp speaks well. The highs and lows can go from extreme to understated but you will have a hard time making things fart or fizzle. Even with the gains are stupid high levels they dont really get fuzzy, rare for an amp with as much gain as the VH4. Diezels have VERY sensitive tone controls, turn it from 3 to 3.5 and you will hear a big difference.

Weakness: single coils, this amp prefers humbuckers. Likes to be loud, NOT a bedroom amp. The same can be said for the Herbert an Einstein. If you arent a home owner or dont have a well insulated room the Diezel may not be your thing.

strengths: Everything else.

ENGL Powerball.

Great low end and more gain than you can imagine. The midrange is bigger than most 6L6 amps out there, more growl than you would expect. The cleans are VERY clean, glassy and shimmering. The second channel is only OK, it is crunchy but is A bit sterile. The gain channels are similar but 3 has a nicer more vocal sound, 4 is for killing the guy with the ball. If you set the gain above 11 or so your guitar's volume doesnt really take out a lot of hair. I set my gain at about 9:00 and love it, they get squishy with the gain above 11 or so. You will get a lot of negatives about the powerball being overcompressed and fuzzy, not really the case when you get used to the amp.

A lot of people think this amp is just for metal, not the case. It can cover a lot of ground. I have used channel 1 with a HBE compressor for a country session and it came out incredibly well.

Weakness, second channel needs help. Doesn't seem to like Wah pedals much.

Strength: likes single coils, takes pedals well. Noise gate. Switchable mid settings. Works well at lower volumes

ENGL Steve Morse:

First channel is like a cross b/w a Fender and a Hiwatt, VERY loud very clear and very touch sensitive. The second channel sounds like Steve, gainy with a little bit of grit at all levels, cuts through a band like you wouldnt believe without grating one's nerves. Channel 3....best high gain channel eve, clear hot punchy responsive, you name it and you have it.

The Morse has an elaborate midrange control section that is worth the price of the amp.

Weaknesses: in my opinion, none. Channel two does have a grit but that is actually a good thing. The blue face plate is kind of ugly.

Strengths: loves humbuckers or singles. Great mids. Doesnt have to be loud to sound good.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I have a few of the amps you listed:

Diezel. Mine is a VH4 and I love it. The cleans are like a Hiwatt, the crunch is very Marshall with a LITTLE bit more thump. The high gain stuff is...well it is Diezel. The midrange is in a vocal area and the amp speaks well. The highs and lows can go from extreme to understated but you will have a hard time making things fart or fizzle. Even with the gains are stupid high levels they dont really get fuzzy, rare for an amp with as much gain as the VH4. Diezels have VERY sensitive tone controls, turn it from 3 to 3.5 and you will hear a big difference.

Weakness: single coils, this amp prefers humbuckers. Likes to be loud, NOT a bedroom amp. The same can be said for the Herbert an Einstein. If you arent a home owner or dont have a well insulated room the Diezel may not be your thing.

strengths: Everything else.

ENGL Powerball.

Great low end and more gain than you can imagine. The midrange is bigger than most 6L6 amps out there, more growl than you would expect. The cleans are VERY clean, glassy and shimmering. The second channel is only OK, it is crunchy but is A bit sterile. The gain channels are similar but 3 has a nicer more vocal sound, 4 is for killing the guy with the ball. If you set the gain above 11 or so your guitar's volume doesnt really take out a lot of hair. I set my gain at about 9:00 and love it, they get squishy with the gain above 11 or so. You will get a lot of negatives about the powerball being overcompressed and fuzzy, not really the case when you get used to the amp.

A lot of people think this amp is just for metal, not the case. It can cover a lot of ground. I have used channel 1 with a HBE compressor for a country session and it came out incredibly well.

Weakness, second channel needs help. Doesn't seem to like Wah pedals much.

Strength: likes single coils, takes pedals well. Noise gate. Switchable mid settings. Works well at lower volumes

ENGL Steve Morse:

First channel is like a cross b/w a Fender and a Hiwatt, VERY loud very clear and very touch sensitive. The second channel sounds like Steve, gainy with a little bit of grit at all levels, cuts through a band like you wouldnt believe without grating one's nerves. Channel 3....best high gain channel eve, clear hot punchy responsive, you name it and you have it.

The Morse has an elaborate midrange control section that is worth the price of the amp.

Weaknesses: in my opinion, none. Channel two does have a grit but that is actually a good thing. The blue face plate is kind of ugly.

Strengths: loves humbuckers or singles. Great mids. Doesnt have to be loud to sound good.

Interesting. I was recently considering selling my Bogner and maybe picking up a Herbert or a VH4. But after fixing a tube/bias issue I fell back in love with the XTC and haven't looked back. Still curious about them though.

Wow... heard good things about the Morse, but didn't know it was THAT good. How 'bout the SE, you had a chance to play one of those yet?

Only Engls I've ever played was a Ritchie Blackmore and a Fireball (or was it Powerball?) 60 watter. The Blackmore killed for plexi ACDC type stuff. The 60 watter was a buzzy amp and I hated it. So did its owners, as it went through several guys locally and is long gone.

 

[JOEBACCA]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Only Engls I've ever played was a Ritchie Blackmore and a Fireball (or was it Powerball?) 60 watter. The Blackmore killed for plexi ACDC type stuff. The 60 watter was a buzzy amp and I hated it. So did its owners, as it went through several guys locally and is long gone.

You're thinking of the old Fireball 60 Watter which was replaced with the Fireball 100.....I never played the 60 myself but the 100 is a High Gain Goliath !!!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

If I was in the market for a high gain amp I'd buy an original VHT Pitbull UL no questions asked

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Hard to beat an SLO for pure awesomeness, BUT...

unless I am mistaken, this thread is about "HIGH GAIN" amps that aren't too organic.

Not that the SLO doesn't have plenty of gain, but when someone says "high gain" any more I tend to assume they are referring to amps more suited to modern metal, with a scooped, tight, at times almost solid state response. The SLO isn't that. It's pretty organic.


As far as the OP goes, I sure to love my VHT Pittbull Ultralead for just this sort of thing. It's a tube amp no doubt, but it stays tight and does the scooped metal thing awesomely. Lately I've been digging my XTC Classic a lot again, but for metal the VHT still rules over it. Anymore, when I think of the words "high gain", I tend to think a more flat EQ or scooped, and amps like the SLO are definitely more about the classic mid-rangy Marshall on steroids tone than they are modern metal.

Also gotta second the Engl suggestions. Those are definitely all about high gain and metal. Nuther suggestion is the Bogner Uberschall in its various iterations. But being a Bogner, it does tend to be a bit more organic.

The bolded description is hardly modern. That sound was around more than 20 years ago with Mesa Boogies and Randalls. It's just gotten more and more saturated and sounding even heavier by detuning 2 steps from standard A440.

I agree, the SLO is pretty organic for a high gain amp. Amazing how they can go from really mild to totally wild. Love 'em. I even use the SLO model on my Valvetronix as my main sound and even the model in my RP500. It's the closest I'll get to the real thing without paying an arm and a leg.....unless I score a Jet City. They have the feel.

This, what Erik said.
I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT for the life of me understand where people are pulling the idea that today's metal productions are about thin, scooped out guitars.
That was the 80's sound. Funnily enough, we aren't actually in the 80s anymore and audio engineers came to realize the importance of actually having some beef in the core mids.
The SLO is absolutely fine for modern metal. In fact, they basically have the perfect tonality that many heavy rock/metal records require