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

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

  • A single channel amp with a limited number of readily available tones

    Votes: 31 68.9%
  • A multi channel amp with a lot of tones, but inconsistency of quality from one channel to the next

    Votes: 14 31.1%

  • Total voters
    45
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I do have a single channel valve amp with a built in footswitchable drive, with an effects loop. The cost second hand was £950 ($2000) and this amp is a killer. It does have 2 master volumes too, so you can set one for lead breaks.. but all common eq. As stated by others, as long as I have good, full tone I can very the sound using the guitar pots. From my experience with high end valve amps, as stupid as this may sound the good thing is that guitars generally sound as they should i.e a Strat will sound like a Strat, L.P like an L.P and a Tele like a Tele.

So my choice is a good single channel valve amp with a couple of good (true bypass) pedals to give different textures and colours of my good basic tone.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Try and find the new version of the Bogner Shiva head on the used market, and get the large 2-12 or 4-12. As much as I also like single channel amps, dual channel or triple channel amps cover what I need for what I do, and I like it in one package rather than multi-amp setups.

With any good 2 channel amp, you can add one good clean boost type OD pedal, and have clean, pushed clean, heavy rhythm, heavy lead. Bogner cleans sound just as good as any single channel clean amp I've heard, but it's OD channel sounds like 2 Marshalls sitting side by side. For $2000, I'd go that route.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

For $2,000.00 you can probably still get an original Mesa Boogie MK IIC+, and own a legend! great cleans, fantastic dirty rhythm tone, incredible lead channel, effects loop, pre-amp out, slave out w/ m-volume. Plus, it will be worth $10,000.00 or more in time.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

I take the single-channel amp. I'd rather have fewer high-quality pieces than a variety of mediocre gear.

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

can i find a trainwreck for $2000? might have to throw in a couple g's more
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

you are an evil man keith
 
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

You have to search through an endless library of tones and amps to find that great foundation to build upon, though... no?

I constantly struggle with what I want out of my next amplifier. Part of me doesn't want to bother with it because I very seldom have an opportunity to play through my DSL, but another part of me knows that I've only ever got a tone that tickled my nether regions once, and I wasn't smart enough to leave well enough alone or write down the settings. :smack:

Given the versatility I want, if I had $2000 to spend I'd probably go digital... possibly an AD60VTH, could be a Vetta II. Certainly not my first choice if I had unlimited funds, but easily the wisest choice for want I can use. Sure can't beat the versatility at any price point.

No, where's this $2000? I'm looking in my wallet and I'm a couple zeros short.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

If I could buy pedals as well a single channel amp! Definately
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

For a long time I was a single channel guy, but I'm beginning to see the benefits of two channels.

I recently got a stock Carvin Bel-Air, which has a great clean channel and a very muddy unusable (IMO) distortion channel when stock. I traded my stock Bel-Air for one with some nice OD channel mods (Better tone stack values, "Attitude Knob" that dials in/out negative feedback) and I'm finally satisfied with my amp. I got to turn it up all the way a few times at my drummer's place and WOW.

The cleans break up great, and the distortion channel is good enough that if I want to roll back the volume and use those cleans too, I can. Using a footswitch becomes second nature.

ALSO: I didn't check if anyone pointed this out, but a Bogner amp can be had for $2000 or less used. Mulit-channel t-ownage.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

You should go for both,

but one spends $2K to get great tones. Else, you should just buy some kinda tube power amp and a modeler to get tons of sounds.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

IMO:

It is always better to do a great job on a few things

than

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

Judging from Lew's thread, your money might be best placed buying the latest Mission Aurora!!!
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

What ever choice you make it's compromise.
For what I do I need a certain on stage flexibility, but if I if was in a studio I'd want a better tone than my present amp gives me (although it's pretty good).
All in all I'd go for quality of tone over diverse functionality, apart from anything I get confused enough with two channels and a boost, I'm not sure how people with line 6 amps cope with all the options :)
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

ah... Mesa Mark IV and have it all!
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Both of these rigs are under $2,000. I'm going from a Twin with a Boss ME-50 to a Mesa Express 5:50 2X12 with TC Electronics nova delay and reverb.
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

since getting used to multi Channel amps a few years back i find it hard going back to the single channel amps.... but i still use lots of combos and some are single channels...

one thing i've latched onto is switching from one amp to another... but it means more hauling gear and stuff..
 
Re: You have $2000 to spend on a rig...(versatilty vs. quality)

Well, if it sounds marshally, I'll use it.

My favorite is the JCM2000, under 2000dollars and KILLER tone!
 
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