You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

[spacecaptain21]

This is completely hypothetical, not a situation I'm in or anything.

You have $2000 to spend on a rig. Do you...

a.) Buy a single-channel amp

b.) Buy a multi-channel amp

I'm curious...this question as not as simplistic as it seems. With most single channel amps, if you wanna get a variety of tones you have to use some tricks, an example being using the volume knob for cleans. With multi-channel amps, you can have a lot of your sounds more or less at your fingertips...flick a switch and you're where you need to be. However, we know in this case that most multi-channel amps sacrifice some tones for others and aren't good at EVERYTHING they do. This is why I set a price point so you can't say "well I'll just spend $10000 and get the greatest amp ever made!!"

The point is: as a player...as YOU...what suits you better? Having a ton of tones to do lots of different things and having them all readily available to you, despite some being mediocre and some not? Or having a few tones that you can work with to do what you need, but losing the versatility and ease of use of a more elaborate set up?

This may be totally weird, but I was thinking about what suits me better, and I was wondering what all of you think about your own selves. Feel free to share experiences, etc.

 

[cream123]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

single channel amp. Much better tone possible.

 

[Corbic]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I'd have to go with single-channel as well. I'm very selective about the tones I want, and I'd make sure to get a single-channel amp that definetly gets me the basic tone I want. If I wanted more versatility, I'd get it using some effects pedals, but then to me, versatile is being able to go from a bluesy almost-driven clean to a late 70s hard rock tone, which is easy to do with a single-channel amp.

 

[aleclee]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I sometimes want more gain than I can clean up on a single channel amp. Actually, my Two Rock can get wonderful cleans with the volume rolled off on the drive channel but that's the only amp I've ever played where I could get my lead tone and roll off to a clean tone that didn't sound castrated.

IMO, the quality of channel switchers' tone is underrated as a result of operator misuse. I think that a lot of people make the mistake of trying to let their multi-channel amp do all the work as far as varying the tone. IMO, the ideal is having a responsive multi-channel amp and working picking dynamics and the guitar's volume control to vary the timbre around the channel's sweet spot. If you're willing to actively manage your guitar's dynamics, a channel switcher will reward you with a broader tonal palette.

 

[Loserchief]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I'm a mutli channel guy and would never get a single channel because of the small range of tones.
As aleclee said multi-channels can have killer tone but to get the max out of every channel you'll need to also work the guitar. That's why all my guitar have coilsplits and lots of switching options to get the best guitar signal for the particular channel i'm playing on. Alöso there are amps where all the channels are great and my Engl Sovereign turned out to be one of that rare breed. All the channels on it are killer and i got complimented on the sounds of all four.
Singles are way to limited for me and there imo isn't any single that's even worth 2K

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Why are you limiting us to those two things if we have 2 grand to spend on a rig? I could get a halfstack with awesome cleans/crunch/lead for that price.

 

[tubeman87]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Single channel amp. Why search through an unendless library of OK tones when you can get one fantastic tone and build on it. JMO

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Why are you limiting us to those two things if we have 2 grand to spend on a rig? I could get a halfstack with awesome cleans/crunch/lead for that price.

Exactly. On the other hand. There's alot of really good sounding single channel amps that can be had in the $5 to $700 range. You could buy 2 heads, a cab, and some pedals for that much dough.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

1 channel, crank the mofo to a good medium gain range, use the volume knob on the guitar for cleans, MAYBE use a pedal (tube screamer or EQ esque type thinggy) for leads.

 

[suislidE03]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I guess bottom line is, are you a pedal guy or not. I dont see why asking single channel or multi channel amp will fulfill that underlying question. Its your choice, you make it. I tend to favor multi channel amps because I would rather not fiddle with more than an OD pedal, and I know several multi channel amps that have excellent tone on every channel. Im planning on going back to Laney once I get back home this summer, VH100R. I find all of its channels to kick some serious butt tone wise.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Single channel amp. Why search through an unendless library of OK tones when you can get one fantastic tone and build on it. JMO

+1 excatly... but on the other hand with 2grand.. I would have loads of options

 

[Kac]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

$2000 is a lot more than I've ever spent on a rig (minus guitars) so I would get a multi channel amp, namely Mesa Boogie Mark IV Combo and I would rock the house.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I would go buy the mark 4 short head and 1x12 cabinet thats for sale at sam ash

 

[spacecaptain21]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Perhaps $2000 is a bit too high of a cap.....oh well...

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Single channel. I'd take my $2000, buy myself another old Gibson amp for like $300, and then take the rest for a spin at the bunny ranch in Las Vegas. Screw guitars!

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Single channel. I'd take my $2000, buy myself another old Gibson amp for like $300, and then take the rest for a spin at the bunny ranch in Las Vegas. Screw guitars!

Now your talkin:naughty:

I'd honestly go with the the single ch amp if it had killer tone. I was actually in a situation like this about a month ago when I got my orange. I picked the orange b/c it sounded killer even if it's kinda a one trick pony. Who needs versatility when you've got tone?

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Single channel amp. In fact, 2k US should get you two very nice single channel amps if you shopped the s/h market well. I'd probably go for a single channel 2x12 combo and a head with two discreet (non-switchable) channels, and then patch it into the combo speakers via a switcher. Three different sounds, two different power sections, minimal extra circuitry.

I simply don't buy the idea that multi channel amps sound as good as single channel amps. That's not to say there aren't heaps of nice channel switching amps out there, but more that even a very nice channel switcher would sound better if you yanked out as much junk from the circuit as possible.

It's also fair to say that channel switchers do modern tones better than vintage tones, which is much to do with phase inverter choice, among other factors.

I like the 65 amps idea: two separate channels, and use an ABY to change them. Keep the amp clean and switch remotely...

 

[drpietrzak]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

In the 2 k range you should be able to get both actually. You can go with a single channel and pedalboard, or a multichannel. I like my El Diablo. It is very versatile to me.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

As long as I had a switchable FX loop and reverb, a single channel KT66 powered amp would do, thank you very much!!!

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

IMO, the quality of channel switchers' tone is underrated as a result of operator misuse. I think that a lot of people make the mistake of trying to let their multi-channel amp do all the work as far as varying the tone. IMO, the ideal is having a responsive multi-channel amp and working picking dynamics and the guitar's volume control to vary the timbre around the channel's sweet spot. If you're willing to actively manage your guitar's dynamics, a channel switcher will reward you with a broader tonal palette.

As usual its not possible to argue with Sir Label. But also a major +1 to El Dialblo. I am just back from a gig my bro and former bandmate played. He had to use club's gear as there was 8 bands on the bill, so he plugged his pedal board into El Diablo ... I must say, I was really impressed. Now, I am single channel dogmatic as I will never sell my AOR, and planning Edana and VH100. But I must say, this El Diablo had a great pallet and my friend dialed in very good cleans and crunch in a 15 minute sound check. And was able to get most of his usual tone with out much tweaking of his pedal knobs.