i need a different amp...

[Homebake]

i'm convinced i need a different amp. i just can't get the right lead tone from my mesa 5:25. i can get good rhythm/cleans from it but no matter what i do, i can't get "that" tone from it. i also need something LOUDER for gigs coming up.

basically, i'm playing an rg2550z (soon to be rg570 with TZ in bridge and prob PAF pro in neck). but the main point is, on the "burn" channel (there's clean, crunch, blues and burn), even at high volumes, i can't get good sustain or that nice thick, humbucker-y, metal-y type tone. the amp, in general is too...vintage. doing fast picking or legato just utterly fails on the mesa. there's not enough power.

ironically, my fender 15 watt practice amp has a better lead tone. i run that thing with the gain on 8 or 9 and it sounds passable. it's the right type of tone for like...metal and "shred". i mean, obviously it's not going to produce as high quality tone as say, john petrucci's rig for example, but it's the right TYPE of tone. you get what i'm saying?

i'm looking for something between steve vai and paul gilbert. leaning more to gilbert. i love vai's tone on passion and warfare and eat em and smile especially on songs like "big trouble" and "the riddle" and "for the love of god". i also love gilbert's tone on "viking kong" (racer x) and stuff like "let the computer decide" and most of his other stuff. notice what mean by "thick"?

both those tones i just described are real "distortion-heavy" and have huge amounts of sustain and smoothness. i can get that out of my practice amp but i need a real amp. i've tried pedals and millions of different combos of EQ settings on the amp and i'm convinced i need a different one.

i don't have much clue when it comes to amps. back when i bought the 5:25 it sounded amazing and right for the job, but it barely handles live situations.

so i need some recommendations. i'm not looking at solid-state amps, i've been there and i'm a tube man. the mesa is 25 watts and i'm looking for something at least 50 (???) i'd say. i need a more METAL amp!

edit: silly me, i read through the "jemsite guide to amps". looks as if i'll be leaning towards the mesa side of things again?

soz for the long post...

[YaYoGakk]

Mark IV
It's metal... it has gobs of creamy sustianing gain. Awesome amp for chugging out riffage.
Should be able to pick one up at a decent price.
Also, I know guys using DC's and F series amps and getting sweet metal tones from them.

[hall]

Originally Posted by Homebake

i've tried pedals and millions of different combos of EQ settings on the amp and i'm convinced i need a different one.

Dumb question, but when you tried different amps, pedals, etc, were you using your guitar or one off the shelf at the store ?

[Homebake]

Originally Posted by hall

Dumb question, but when you tried different amps, pedals, etc, were you using your guitar or one off the shelf at the store ?

yep, my guitar. but the tone i get from my 5:25 is far removed from what i want no matter what guitar you play into it, humbucker or not.

in terms of pedals, the DS-1 sounds ridiculous. it sounds like...a badly clipped and "plastic" type of sound.

[SimpleMind]

Get a Diezel Einstein. I have both an Einstein and the Peavey JSX. Have played almost everything out there and the Einstein is just magic no matter what you play

[LonePhantom]

25 watts in a tube amp should be plenty in a live environment. Especially from a Mesa!

Are you after a combo or half stack? Head down to Better Music dude and plug in to everything in your budget range and see what you like.

[Synesthesia]

Mesa/Boogie TriAxis thru a Boogie 2:20 power amp. If it don't sound deep enough, get Jerry at FJA Mods to mod it for $75.

[TheMusicBucket]

Before you go out and buy a new amp, my recommendation would be to try an extension cab. You just might find that it gives you the open, fuller sound that you're looking for! 25 watts of mesa boogie is -plenty-. Especially if you're plugged into a bigger cab, or the amp alone miked through a PA.

I highly recommend port city music, they make awesome cabs.

http://www.portcityamps.com/product_main.html


You should be able to get a real thick rhythm tone with that kind of setup. If you're still unsatisfied sustainy/gainy wise. Grab an OD pedal and boost it a bit. You'll be good to go.


On the other hand-
The rectifier models are great too. Lots of gain for lead, and plenty of bottom end chunk for rhythm.

[shogun]

find a used mesa stilletto combo.. those things excel at a paul gilbert tone.. check one out!

[Andy43]

Originally Posted by shogun

find a used mesa stilletto combo.. those things excel at a paul gilbert tone.. check one out!

+1 The Stiletto sounds like what you are looking for. Both of those Vai albums were mostly modded JCM800's, which is basically what the Stiletto is. Gilbert uses Laney's which are already pretty Marshall sounding. The Stiletto is a little thicker sounding and less raw than a Laney. Either would probably work well for you. I own a Laney because I couldn't afford the Stiletto, but the Stiletto sounds like it would be the better option for you.