Tube Heads

Anthony · #1 04-20-2007, 12:49 AM

I have recently made the decision to make the jump from solid state to tube amps and could use some advice. My two main guitars are an Ibanez Jem with DiMarzios and A Steven Carpenter 7 string with active EMGs. I have done alot of listening and just can't find any one amp that I like the clean channel and the distortion channel as well as tolerating my 6 string and my 7 string tuned to A. I have decided though that it needs to be at least 2 channels and be user friendly when it comes to changing the tubes out. The only one I am seriously considering now is the Randall RM100. Any other ideas?

KyleChx · #2 04-20-2007, 02:04 AM

check out the B-52 AT100... its a tri rectifier so u have 3 diff amps (in a way) to choose from... lots of power 3 channel and effects loop and a nice reverb... really really versatile and reasonably priced... i was sceptical at first but i love mine now... i use it with an rg550 and a LP... the amp has a lot of play on it and wont let you down

David McCarroll · #3 04-20-2007, 04:23 AM

Who you callin' Tube Head there buddy?

The B52 got great reviews in Guitar Player BTW.

If you are on a fairly limitless budget you can't go past the Boogie Rectifiers for what you are looking for. Not cheap, but very good indeed!

Cheeers

David

Anthony · #4 04-20-2007, 10:11 AM

Honestly I would have never thought B 52. I will have to check them out. 3 channels is even better. As far as some of the really expensive amps go, are they really worth the extra skins? I would like to stay under 2K but I don't have to. I will just have to wait longer.

thadood · #5 04-20-2007, 11:01 AM

Too much 'Boogie love here, IMO.

Check into Genz Benz' El Diablo. I use it with the accompanying Gflex 2x12 cab and it outperforms his 6505+ with the matching 4x12 slant in both volume and bass response.

edit: Not to mention I play in A, as well.

Anthony · #6 04-20-2007, 11:52 AM

My problem now is when I go below C on the seven string I loose the response of the guitar and the tone drys up. I have heard good things about the genz benz but no one around here sells them. Thanks though, I will add them to my list.

racerevlon · #7 04-20-2007, 03:22 PM

Hughes & Kettner Triamp MK II. 6 different channels ranging from pure Class A on channel 1A to death metal on channel 3B. If price is a consideration, bump down to the Trilogy.

Andy43 · #8 04-20-2007, 09:05 PM

Well, it depends on what kind of tone you are going for, but you have several options. You will need an amp that can tolerate all the bass that the 7-strings give out. Some amps that are awesome with low tunings are:

-VHT
-Mesa/Boogie
-Diezel

All the amps above are relatively different sounding, but all go well with 7-strings. There are probably more, but those are all the ones I've tried. Do some listening to artists that use some of the above amps and see which one you like best. I don't recommend Marshall-y sounding amps for de-tuning.

Darin · #9 04-20-2007, 10:35 PM

Wow, you got ALOT of choices. Everyone here is going to point you in a different direction too. Best advice, demo the head you're considering with YOUR guitar, AND your cab. Take them to the music store, and plug all your stuff in. The only way you would not do that is if they let you take it home. But spend some time with it. They ain't cheap.

Oh, and demo the JSX.

Anthony · #10 04-21-2007, 12:07 AM

Well thanks everyone for the advice so far. So many choices and yet still so hard to sound original. But I guess thats the trick isnt it. Well I would have never considered some of the recommendations here so I guess I will keep trying them out.

Gurj · #11 04-21-2007, 03:03 AM

I'm with Darin

Try a JSX or even a XXX.

Alternatively, maybe an Engl. There's lots of sound clips of their amps (and a few Framus) here http://rocksolidamps.com/index.php?c...aylist&mid=155

MadRyan · #12 04-21-2007, 12:45 PM

The JSX is pretty tough to beat. Much "rounder" sounding than the XXX IMO. The JSX seems to be voiced to cut through the mess better.

supermau · #13 04-21-2007, 01:30 PM

Check out the Orange Thunderverb. It'll cost ya though.

shogun · #14 04-21-2007, 04:50 PM

if your looking for a balls to the wall tone for heavy **** and DM get a Genz Benz el diablo 100c ( 212 combo) or head n 212 cab..

guitarman13 · #15 04-21-2007, 05:01 PM

Don't forget to try a Carvin Legacy. I tried a JSX, some marshalls, a mesa, and then I tried the Legacy. And to me it sounded much better than all of them. I thought it would be "dark" sounding like most people have said, but it's not if you have the settings right. I absolutely love my Legacy.