High Gain Amps - Hmm....

Two hands31 · #1 03-26-2002, 11:11 PM

Well, I've finally hit the realization that I'm gonna need a REALLY BIG AMP eventually. *:biggrin: *I've been looking around, and hearing some examples, and here's the ideas I've come up with (price regardless):

1) *Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (or "RectumFryer" as I've heard it referred to): *Heard one recently run through a Marshall 4x12 up close, and the guitarist had a tone that was very un-"RectumFryer" in my experience. *Are these amps more versatile than they're usually assumed to be?

2) *Hughs & Kettner: *I tried one (with a few Ibanezs, low and high-end (7620

) and was rather impressed. *It was a half stack, very nice tone, and I liked the knob that adjusted between hard and smooth distortion. *Very cool. *

3) *Rivera: *How could I not put this here. *:biggrin:

4) *Other (Suggestions?)

Any comments on any of these would be appreciated!

texshred777 · #2 03-27-2002, 01:46 AM

Man, I know what you mean by rectum-fryerish! *I really dont like the rectifier sound. *I like the smooth high gain tone much more. *rectifiers in my experience can get the bacon frying sound when you turn the gain up too high. *I think the rectifiers sound great for rythm, but for lead it just sounds too compressed or thin or just not full or thick enough for me. *I suppose you're talking about the vortex hughes and kettner with the character nob? *Ive heard decent stuff about them, but I dont know. *I much prefer a good all tube amp, though whatever floats your boat dude, rock on. *I heard a lot about the rivera knucklehead amp today...its basically designed for the rectifier type crowd, but with more tone. *It has a marshally type tone to go with the really high gain. *I haven't tried on myself mind you but I saw one today and I'll be trying one out soon, at which time Ill post a separate review. *I guess it really depends on how much you want to spend, My ultimate choice later on will probably be a Bogner Ecstacy. *Though 3 grand for a head's a bit much now. *I say try out the vht pitbull line as well as other riveras. *definately go beyond mesa and marshall. *I dont like either of them.

littlegreenman · #3 03-27-2002, 02:53 AM

you are such a line 6 fan, why not consider the Vetta, or even the Flextone 2? *Just curious.

30yroldpig · #4 03-27-2002, 03:19 AM

To be perfectly honest I don't find the rectifier very versatile. All the amps you mentioned are sweet...but very pricey. In fact too pricey (IMHO).

satch · #5 03-27-2002, 09:45 AM

Quote:

4) *Other (Suggestions?)

Yeah! Try an Egnater TOL etc...!

**jono** · #6 03-27-2002, 10:11 AM

Irrespective of budget, some fun large amps that you haven't mentioned include...

The Boogie Nomad 100. 3 channels each with 2 modes, for creamy boogie lead to recto crunch, to marshall raunch, to fender jangle. They also have variable output valves to go from EL 34s to 6L6s *

The Peavey 5150 and 5150II gain on a budget.

Soldano SLO100, for those witout a budget

Not incredibly versatile, but does "that" sound as good as if not better than anything else out there. works best at HIGH volumes. For that sort of tone, but more versatility check out the Lucky 13 and the Decatone.

The Marshall TSL100. A great little amp and not too expensive. 3 channels with lots of versatility. Maybe not enough gain for some, but a decent revalve can add some more gain here

goldboy · #7 03-27-2002, 11:29 AM

Since you sound like you're thinking of crunch and lead as far as versatility. Try a used JCM800. *Those are pretty easy to find on Harmony Central, Evil Bay , and most good used music stores.

It's not as gainy as the Mesa, but much more harmonically rich. *It kills for lead sounds, but has plenty of attitude for bluesy stuff as well.

In my humble little opinion, it's one of those amps that everyone should try out at least once...it was the sound of the '80s for the longest time and still has a tone thats useful and versatile for todays music as well.

JCM800 2204 or 2205 (dual channel). *A lot of folks here will tell you it's similar to the newer DSL and TSl line from Marshall, and I'll agree to an extent, but try those models out too.

Good Luck.

rgr · #8 03-27-2002, 12:03 PM

The Soldano HR50 is also a good choice and you can pick them up for around $600 on ebay. *If you are a dynamic player who can use his volume knob or a volume pedal and an od pedal you can get clean and in-between sounds with it, although they will all be Soldano, which ain't bad. *

R

Gresh · #9 03-27-2002, 03:05 PM

If money is no object, I would have to say check out a Mesa Road King. *The features are just amazing, 4 channels, selectable effects loops per channel, selectable speaker outputs per channel, yada yada yada. *They are very expensive $2500 plus I would suspect.

Casey120 · #10 03-27-2002, 04:56 PM

Go listen to a Engl Savage or Koch Powertone .
They are cheaper than a Mesa or Rivera and sound better i.m.o.
These German and Dutch made amps are still a rarety in the USA but time will change that , i'm sure.
http://www.engl-amps.com/
http://www.koch-amps.com
If you have the chance , test one of these and be amazed .
They sell like hot cakes here in Europe .

Two hands31 · #11 03-27-2002, 06:42 PM

Well, I should have been clearer in my first post, but I had very little time to post. *Here's stuff that should be added:

-The Mesa's at the top of the list cuz I actually like the Mesa tone (I play mostly rhythm and some lead).
-I'm not a tube-head. *:biggrin:
-I own a Line6 Flextone II (combo, 60-watt, 1x12) and this is pretty cool for practise, etc, I'm just wondering how the head version stands up. *I know my Flextone gets super muddy when I turn it up too loud. *What cabs would you recommend with it?

Guitarlos2 · #12 03-27-2002, 10:44 PM

I like the Rectifiers a lot myself, but they sound a little woofy and unfocused to me. *If you like the idea of a more focused, smooth high gain, you should seriously check into a used Dual Caliber amp. *They last made them 97 I believe (dont quote me on that), and those are some of the best sounding high gain Mesa's Ive heard to date! *I have the DC-5 head myself, but if you need a 100 watt kick, check into the DC-10. *You may be impressed *

Sevenstringer · #13 03-27-2002, 11:16 PM

VHT Pittbull
Mesa Mark IV
Ampeg VH-140C
Modded Marshall JCM 800's

Gresh · #14 03-28-2002, 10:54 AM

Well if you're not a tube-head, then you had better forget the Road King...it's got more tubes than an intensive care unit (how's that one Kev??) *At any rate, if you like your line 6 tone-wise you can certainly fix the muddiness issue with a better cab but I have heard that the power amp sections of the line 6 stuff are a bit brittle sounding. *I have my POD Pro running through a mesa tube power amp into a mesa 2x12. *No mud in there. *Check the thread in "other seven string guitars" titled "amplifying a seven string" *I give a more thorough run down of my rig in there. *It is less costly and more flexible than most boutique tube heads.

Other than that, Rivera stuff is fairly reasonable used, if you can find any. *Those amps simple rock. *There's another thread praising their gear somewhere.

Two hands31 · #15 03-28-2002, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Gresh on 9:54 am on Mar. 28, 2002
Other than that, Rivera stuff is fairly reasonable used, if you can find any. *Those amps simple rock. *There's another thread praising their gear somewhere.

Lol, *actually, there's a few. *:biggrin: