What amps do you use?

yngzaklynch · #1 02-24-2006, 09:16 AM

I figure a lot of you guys here are shredders which after 20 some years of playing is what I strive to do well. Not sure I'm there yet but I'm having a blast trying anyways. I have a Mk IV which is pretty cool but I'm thinking of trying another set up.

What do you guys play through?

adamcbest · #2 02-24-2006, 09:25 AM

a Mark IV

and i love it... also thinking of adding others, but defeinitly not replacing

Gex · #3 02-24-2006, 09:41 AM

My 2 monsters.

The Carvin is a 1987 Carvin X100B, same model used by Steve Vai during his Zappa Days and used for the entire "Flex-Able" album. Blue Powder (off Passion and Warfare) was recorded with this amp FOR Carvin, since he had an endorsement deal, and you could mail in back in the day for a 45 rpm single (I think it was) of "Blue Powder"

Its got a classic rock style tone. Mine takes 6L6's, which are cool. It has one of the finest clean channels i've ever run across. Steve used this amp some in Alkatrazz, and on the Crossroads duel clip. (for the crossroads tone, just get a MXR Distortion+ and stick it in front of a Carvin X100B and BAM! You got the tone!. No guarentee on the licks, however

) This amp is cool, and its best with an overdrive pedal in front for solos. I love it.

Second up, is a 1985 Laney Pro Tube Lead 100 head. "AOR" series, which stands for "Advanced Overdrive Response" Its basically a JCM 800 with an extra gain stage. Paul Gilbert tone galore! and basically any Marshall tone goes along with this, since its a very simple EL34 amp. The cool thing about this amp, is instead of a compressed tone, its a very open sounding high gain monster. The gain is extremely clear, when you back down on the volume, you can make it sound dead clean, then bring back the volume knob on the guitar, flip to a humbucker, and start the heavy metal right up again. Thats my favorite feature.

(both amps can be had for like $350 off the e-bay)

Im running both though old Carvin V412C 4x12 cabinets, with Celestion G12M-70 speakers. Sounds GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

Covers my bases. Is there any famous tones you would like to get?

yngzaklynch · #4 02-24-2006, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gex

Covers my bases. Is there any famous tones you would like to get?

I like Lynch and Zakk. Also like Nevermore to old Van Halen. Lots of stuff.

**elcid** · #5 02-24-2006, 10:06 AM

I don't have a man's amp anymore, I just have a 1963 or 64 Fender Princeton with a mesa mod (the orignial mesa amps were modified Princetons), so it has a really nice high gain sound, and at only 15 watts, I can crank it up without going deaf. Eventually I will either be getting a JCM 800 or an Orange AD30.

Earthrug · #6 02-24-2006, 12:13 PM

I am a Rock N' Roller. These days, I am running my RG770 into a Sovtek MIG-60 head (EL34's). These amps are cool and worth a try if you run into one.

Drew · #7 02-24-2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yngzaklynch

I like Lynch and Zakk. Also like Nevermore to old Van Halen. Lots of stuff.

Zakk, Lynch, and VH are really more plexi tones than Mesa tones.. Nevermore's a little different though, lol.

I play a Nomad-45 2x12. Basically, it offers up mark-like lead tones while still doing a fair nod towards Recto-flavored crunch, with a bit more articulation than the Rectifiers. Pound for pound it's the most versatile Mesa I've played - I swear by the thing.

Gex · #8 02-24-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yngzaklynch

I like Lynch and Zakk. Also like Nevermore to old Van Halen. Lots of stuff.

Then it sounds to me like your gonna want a Plexi or Laney. Something with EL34s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthrug

I am a Rock N' Roller. These days, I am running my RG770 into a Sovtek MIG-60 head (EL34's). These amps are cool and worth a try if you run into one.

Those sovtek amps are awesome too. Sound is somewhere in between plexi and Bassman. Cheap plastic knobs, but replace them with metal ones, and youve got a rockin amp, and theyre SMALL and easy to carry about from practice to practice. With a boost pedal, and if you allow them to be run wide open, then you'll get great tone. Attenuator is a must, but. . . with the money you saved, no sweat.

Earthrug · #9 02-24-2006, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gex

Then it sounds to me like your gonna want a Plexi or Laney. Something with EL34s.

Those sovtek amps are awesome too. Sound is somewhere in between plexi and Bassman. Cheap plastic knobs, but replace them with metal ones, and youve got a rockin amp, and theyre SMALL and easy to carry about from practice to practice. With a boost pedal, and if you allow them to be run wide open, then you'll get great tone. Attenuator is a must, but. . . with the money you saved, no sweat.

Ya, the thing I didnt like about the knobs was that they are tough to see what level they are actually at for adjusting on the fly. Switching them out for "chickenhead" style knobs took care of that issue. A boost works great when I am in the low gain input. I use a Boss HyperFuzz in Boost/gain mod at the moment for that job. Does the trick. Ya, you can def' save some cash buying these amps. I recently paid only $200 for my mig60. No issues/Bone stock, 9/10 cosmetics. A steal in my book!

Xavier 7 · #10 02-25-2006, 02:12 PM

Mesa/Boogie Nomad 45

You'll come to find out that on this board the Nomad series has an almost cult-like following.

Only thing I don't like is the parallel FX loop.

megadeth · #11 02-25-2006, 03:42 PM

Marshall JCM800 - This amp told me.."you suck".

Mesa Boogie Triaxis - This amp told me.."tone making can get nasty, bitch."

Tom Gilroy · #12 02-25-2006, 03:53 PM

Well, currently my amp is a piece of ****e that no longer works properly, and sounds great half the time and like a microwave filled with tinfoil the other half.

This summer I'm gonna work, scrounge and save my ass off for a Cornford Hellcat Combo. Best tone ever.

JJEMMER777 · #13 02-25-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

Cornford Hellcat Combo. Best tone ever.

I can atone to that

Gresh · #14 02-25-2006, 04:46 PM

Rivera TBR1SL with a bogner 4x12. hard to really describe this amp, sort of like a modded marshall, with just a really ballsy crunch to it, more girth than a recto mesa and much more gain than a JCM 800. All that with a beautiful clean channel, very very fender-ish with tons of headroom. This amp loves good effects too, which is more than I can say for the other marshalls and boogies I've owned.

Cool thing with the TBR series amps is that they have an extra power amp that can drive another preamp or you can pop in different power amp tubes for when you're in a 6l6 sort of mood. Can't say enough about bogner cabs, simply amazing....amazingly heavy and amazingly expensive but also amazingly awesome.

I second the hellcat comment above, quite honestly the only amp I just covet beyond belief...it is glorious, simply glorious.

Chud · #15 02-25-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadeth

Marshall JCM800 - This amp told me.."you suck".

Mesa Boogie Triaxis - This amp told me.."tone making can get nasty, bitch."

That's slightly confusing

I'm actually looking to buy a Triaxis in the future... and then a JCM800 head haha

I own a TSL100 Marshall head now which is very good for the whole 7-string Nevermore sound and could probably get a decent enough Van Halen tone out of it on the Crunch channel. It could probably do Lynch and Wylde aswell so i'd look into it.

Lots of people bad mouth the amp but i guess it's personal preferance. I love it