Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

[Chickenwings]

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 necessary
2. depends on the amp and your preference
3. no
4. on a whole other level.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

oh yeah...id vote for a recto if you want huge chug, or a 5150 (or similar) for cutting leads.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

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.

I never suggested bugera...
I suggested the 5150 line...
If the buyer thinks that the 5150III is the best then he should take it...It's the best VH vibe amp I have ever heard...I just donnot like the sound of mesas...and I think they are way overpriced...(I am talking about rectos).I was happy with every amp I had and didn't need to push it with a 100$ overdrive...
I wish I had bought engl blackmore instead of fireball 60 back then...

As for the bugera,I haven't heard anybody complaining about bugeras for quite a while...
If I toured or if I had a larger budget(nowdays I cannot spend the money I used to spend as there is a fammily) I would choose 5150III anytime,anywhere...but 2000Euros is a lot...

PS:Not a bedroom player...:fing2::fing2:

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Well to throw my 2 cents in and not just echo what others have said. Theres many amps that can vie for this spot. Ill throw out a few I own as contenters. If you want single minded one trick nuclear destruction in an amp the Mako Dorado is one of my very favorite. Its only one channel no frills. If you need midi switching, multiple channel cloning, light up logos or an espresso maker it doesnt have it. The only feature is an effects loop. But its sound is killer. Its very tight and articulate its not for sloppy players. But it will grind and thrash with the best of them. Its vibe is very aggressive you can dial it back and it sounds good but it excels when pushed. The thing that always amazes me about it is its ability to have so much gain and not turn to mush.

Another amp is the Egnater TOL100. He hasnt made these for quite awhile but they will hold their own against any out there. Mine is one of the originals from Bruce not one of the Rocktron made ones ive never played a Rocktron but from what ive heard there were some quality control issues.

This amp is stuffed full of features. Most say its a 4 channel amp but its actually 2 channels with 4 footswitchable modes. Being they have their own gain and volume you can use them as channels but the modes will share the same EQ of that channel. This amp is a great for the contender to do it all. Has very nice cleans that are clear and articulate. They will get more than loud enough for stage volume. It will also do all the overdrive sounds you could want to your hearts content. But the high gain sounds are why I kept this amp around. Gain for days and all the chug you could want. The EQ works more like the Mesa mark series which isnt a down side it just means you cant dial it like a marshall and stuff everything on 10 but the controls are very responsive and you can shape anything you need.

I would put either of these amps against any that anyone has mentioned. I sold my VHT Pitbull Ultralead to buy the Egnater. Loved the VHT in every way but the Egnater does everything it does. I have a ENGL Powerball but it might be cause ive had some transformer issues and had to have it worked on a few times so maybe im a bit sour to it. Sounds great when its working odds are I just got a bad one.

thats my 2 copper

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

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

Please tell me what Mesa needs an overdrive? My Dual Rec doesnt need it neither does my MKIV so are you playing one of their tamer models? The only Mesa I own that I use a boost not even an overdive with is my MKIII and thats only for super saturated stuff.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Please tell me what Mesa needs an overdrive? My Dual Rec doesnt need it neither does my MKIV so are you playing one of their tamer models? The only Mesa I own that I use a boost not even an overdive with is my MKIII and thats only for super saturated stuff.

I was using a friends dual rectifier with a mesa 4x12 cab...
It could not get tight...ever with the mids pretty high...
It was nice with a ts in front...(tone 5 level 10 drive 0) but the amp all alone was not as tight as my 5150mk1...The PV had more bottom end(same cab)...
I liked the way the recto sounded for other types of music...(without od)
Anyway...let's stick to the original thread...
I made my sugggestion...5150III...

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Why has anyone even given serious answers in this thread? Jerry (MetalManiac) isn't going to buy any of the amps he or anyone else mentioned. If by chance he does, he'll send it back or try and re-sell it within a week of having it.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Why has anyone even given serious answers in this thread? Jerry (MetalManiac) isn't going to buy any of the amps he or anyone else mentioned. If by chance he does, he'll send it back or try and re-sell it within a week of having it.

I think he does it to stir up the occasional troll storm. Apparently it works.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

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.

I like the SE but it was a lot of amp. I couldnt see paying that when I had a Diezel and the Powerball sitting in the basement.

The Steve Morse is, basically, a stripped down and modded Invader. Channels 2 and 3 are Marshall, one is a hybrid Fender/Hiwatt (to my ears) I like it.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Why has anyone even given serious answers in this thread? Jerry (MetalManiac) isn't going to buy any of the amps he or anyone else mentioned. If by chance he does, he'll send it back or try and re-sell it within a week of having it.

I dont know the original poster but the information contained in this thread could be useful to others asking similar set of questions.


I dont feel like my reply was a waste of time at all.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

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.

AFAIK, J sed the SS Marshall MG100 head into a matching 4X12 cab.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I think he does it to stir up the occasional troll storm. Apparently it works.

take that d*** out of your ear and listen to what people are saying. This is a worthwhile post to me and many others.
Will I buy a high gain amp? Not right away, but I plan to eventually.
Its the one glaring whole in my stable of vintage amps.
( Sunn 100s, Fender 66 Bassman/2x12, 77 marshall JMPw/ 3 different vintage marshall cabinets, Traynor YBA Bassmaster and , Carslbro 4xel84 Class A ,Teisco 4x6l6 Tube Amp, Valco made Wards 2x6l6 Amp, Crate Stealth Combo, and a few others. About 12 amps all total at least, and all very well regarded).
My point is, with all these amps, I think its reasonable to assume I'm serious about this inquiry and not pussyfooting around or trying to stir up trouble like you are here.
Ive never really liked you, but I can take you or leave you, and I think you are calling me a troll cause your are jealous that my post is so informative and interesting, and you want some attention ?

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I take it someone by now has mantioned the Mesa Mark 5 ?

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

I love Diezels and have enough experience with them.
VH4, or it's successor Hagen are great amps. The Einstein is an amazing amp for the price, Herbert is a powerplant with lovely cleans and cool controls. I also love Schmidt, but Jerry wanted something more saturated.
Engl Fireball 60 is awesome, and does the job well.

Orange Rockerverb is an amazing amp too, but not as tight as any Diezel, VHT/Fryette or Splawn.

You can also check Fortin Natas, DAR Forzaor Mesa Mark V. All good Hi-gain amps.
Another option would be pre-poweramp combinatio. It opens a lot of new doors.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

take that d*** out of your ear and listen to what people are saying. This is a worthwhile post to me and many others.
Will I buy a high gain amp? Not right away, but I plan to eventually.
Its the one glaring whole in my stable of vintage amps.
( Sunn 100s, Fender 66 Bassman/2x12, 77 marshall JMPw/ 3 different vintage marshall cabinets, Traynor YBA Bassmaster and , Carslbro 4xel84 Class A ,Teisco 4x6l6 Tube Amp, Valco made Wards 2x6l6 Amp, Crate Stealth Combo, and a few others. About 12 amps all total at least, and all very well regarded).
My point is, with all these amps, I think its reasonable to assume I'm serious about this inquiry and not pussyfooting around or trying to stir up trouble like you are here.
Ive never really liked you, but I can take you or leave you, and I think you are calling me a troll cause your are jealous that my post is so informative and interesting, and you want some attention ?

Hole?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

AFAIK, J sed the SS Marshall MG100 head into a matching 4X12 cab.

On Astro Creep the set up was 2 Randall Century 200's and 1 Marshall VS100 Valvestate. A much better amp than the MG100 and dont forget some of the tracks were done running the line out through Seans SVT bass rigs also he did this particularly on Electric Head part 1

This is one of those cases dont buy a Randall and automatically think your gonna be able to cop that tone with it. He even said in interviews that listening to one of the 3 amps alone they didnt sound great that one was way too bassy and one was way thin but using them all together and mixing it was magic

The sound on La Sexorcisto was a Marshall JMP and a Rat Pedal

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

take that d*** out of your ear and listen to what people are saying. This is a worthwhile post to me and many others.
Will I buy a high gain amp? Not right away, but I plan to eventually.
Its the one glaring whole in my stable of vintage amps.
( Sunn 100s, Fender 66 Bassman/2x12, 77 marshall JMPw/ 3 different vintage marshall cabinets, Traynor YBA Bassmaster and , Carslbro 4xel84 Class A ,Teisco 4x6l6 Tube Amp, Valco made Wards 2x6l6 Amp, Crate Stealth Combo, and a few others. About 12 amps all total at least, and all very well regarded).
My point is, with all these amps, I think its reasonable to assume I'm serious about this inquiry and not pussyfooting around or trying to stir up trouble like you are here.
Ive never really liked you, but I can take you or leave you, and I think you are calling me a troll cause your are jealous that my post is so informative and interesting, and you want some attention ?

Take your meds Jerry, everything will be OK. Your post has been asked at least hundreds of times before - and that is just this board.

I will admit, I got a chuckle or two from the responses.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

Another option would be pre-poweramp combinatio. It opens a lot of new doors.

The Engl E530 is a ood place to start.

http://imageshack.us/f/411/hpim1101.jpg/

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

On Astro Creep the set up was 2 Randall Century 200's and 1 Marshall VS100 Valvestate. A much better amp than the MG100 and dont forget some of the tracks were done running the line out through Seans SVT bass rigs also he did this particularly on Electric Head part 1

This is one of those cases dont buy a Randall and automatically think your gonna be able to cop that tone with it. He even said in interviews that listening to one of the 3 amps alone they didnt sound great that one was way too bassy and one was way thin but using them all together and mixing it was magic

The sound on La Sexorcisto was a Marshall JMP and a Rat Pedal

Bugger . . . wrong guy i am thinking of.

I am thinking of Riggs, not J.
AFAIK, he used a Marshall MG100.

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/m/mqToFi3upE4g9eXvCO1ecRA/140.jpg

Can't find a bigger image right now.

 

[Despair]

Re: Which High Gain Amp for you and Why?

AFAIK, J sed the SS Marshall MG100 head into a matching 4X12 cab.

In interviews about recording Astro Creep: 2000 he said he had a pile of different solid state amps all going at once on some of the songs (not just Randalls and Marshalls, but Crates and I forget the other brand mentioned).

Edgecrusher, were you talking live rig or studio? The setup you mention sounds familiar, too...