Best Guitar/Half Stack Metal Combo

[zrockisaddictin]

I'm looking for a guitar and half-stack for some hard rock/metal type music but theres a drawback,

I'm only willing to spend 1800$ or below for all of this

For some suggestions i was thinking of the B-52 AT-100 or the Carvin Master tube series half stack, and an ESP Viper for 595.99 in a sunburst color with EMG 81's

But what do you guys think and what would you suggest

like i said only 1800 and below please , thx in advance

[WERNER 1]

Well depending on your meaning or description of "Metal", I'd have to say that the Carvin Legacy (VL100) half stack is about one of the bigest sleepers out there. I think people hear too many of these guys trying, and succeeding, at sounding like Vai or Joe S. while using this amp, and instantly get turned off by it. I was one of these guys.....almost giggling at these pathetic saps buying into someone elses sound with no effort what so ever to develope an incling of their own sound..............Then I heard a clip of the Legacy recorded by one of the guys over at the Carvin BB (Randy Van Sykes) I was like HOLY CRAP! That's the sound I've been trying to get all of these years! (25 to be exact )

Needless to say I snagged a Legacy head off of ebay, and I've not looked back since. I've got it coupled to a Marshall 1960 TV loaded with original Greenbacks, and it is just pure TONE! I personally feel that it has plenty of overdrive to do todays metal, but there are some out there that like the more fizzier sound of the Dual Recto's (I had one of these, but in my opinion the Legacy smokes it so it had to go! )

Here's a link to the half stack - http://www.carvin.com/products/singl...er=VL412&CID=G

Since you can't just go out to a store and test one out, I'd recomend trying everything else that you can get your hands on.....and then some!

Good luck!

[zrockisaddictin]

thanks muchly i was considering it too

didnt know the exact sound and no stores have it here would it differ much from the MTS halfstack?

[zrockisaddictin]

now my only question is how the overdrive/clean sounds,

i want an amp that can do it all, from lush crystal clear clean to down and dirty metalish distortion, is this the amp for me? the legacy?

and what effects does it come with?

[WERNER 1]

Here's some clips of a Legacy.......

http://apps.carvin.com/cgi-bin/ubbcg...=007081#000000

This is the clip that dropped my jaw, and swayed me into getting the Legacy: http://apps.carvin.com/cgi-bin/ubbcg...c;f=8;t=009382

Here's Steve's demo on the Carvin site: http://www.carvin.com/multimedia/

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by WERNER 1

Here's some clips of a Legacy.......

http://apps.carvin.com/cgi-bin/ubbcg...=007081#000000

This is the clip that dropped my jaw, and swayed me into getting the Legacy: http://apps.carvin.com/cgi-bin/ubbcg...c;f=8;t=009382

Here's Steve's demo on the Carvin site: http://www.carvin.com/multimedia/

Kind of sounds like my Dual Rectifier which is not at all "Fizzy". If yours was, there was something wrong with it.

[WERNER 1]

Maybe fizzy wasn't the correct word, but the Legacy and Dual recto are not very similar in their tones/sound. ( I was using an older 2 channel Dual recto ...you know, the "good one" )

Alot of guys say that the MTS is a better all around amp, as it does just about everything pretty well. I've never played through one or even listened to very many recordings of one.....so I can't really comment on them. I do know that it is a bit cheaper, and I think that is why there are more votes for this one as a lot more folks have this one due to the lower price.

One thing about the Legacy is that it has a LOT of clean channel headroom which I like. (The MTS does as well...from what I've read) The clean channel was an extra bonus in my book as I bought the amp for the lead channel and figured it'd have your typical midrangy clean channel with out much warmth...boy was I wrong! It's very "warm" and glassy compared again to the Boogie.....not quite Fenderish or Voxish, but in the middle some where.

Rick

[metalhead28]

There is way too broad of a range of what people would consider a good sound for hard rock or metal so it's kind of impossible to just say that one thing in particular would be good for you. Any of the better known amps (and plenty of the lesser known ones) will get you there but will sound totally different doing it. It is just a matter of what sound you like best. For instance I used to play Marshalls exclusively, I have never liked Boogies, and I have recently started loving Peaveys for heavy metal rhythm tones.....Some people think Boogies are where it's at for metal, and some people actually think that solid state amps are where it's at for metal
So my advice is that unless you want to sound specifically like somebody else, you just need to play whatever amps you can and decide for yourself. Personally I think the new Peavey JSX is a terrific sounding and versatile amp. I also agree that the Carvin legacy is a great amp. I have played on a Legacy 2x12 combo and was really impressed with the tone, however I would never consider it suitable for "Metal" due to it's somewhat dark and smooth nature. Just my opinions tho!

[HangDawg]

The guy I'm playing with now is using a Peavey Ultra XXX. It's sounds every bit as good as my boogie. A little different but damn nice.

[zrockisaddictin]

any more tips im leading towards the legacy, how abou tthe cabinet? should i use a different type with the head?

[WERNER 1]

Everyone seems to love the vintage 30's with the Legacy, or a combination of the V30's w/ greenbacks. My Marshall 4x12 has original Greenbacks in it and it sounds great.........I've been thinking of changing out a couple to V30's so blend both of the sounds.....to each his own though.

Rick

[David Katauskas]

Another one to consider is Krank. I have no experience with it, but have heard some good things.

[WERNER 1]

If you can wait a couple of months you should maybe hold out for this!!!! (I'm more than likely going to get one!

[zrockisaddictin]

what is that, and how much

IT LOOKS SEXY AND SHINY AND IM VERY TURNED ON AT THE MOMENT

[WERNER 1]

It's the new Carvin "V3" flagship head....all tube 3 channel capable of doing "anything".........It won't be out for a few months yet

Price is going to be around 900- 1000 bucks.

Rick

[zrockisaddictin]

Originally Posted by WERNER 1

It's the new Carvin "V3" flagship head....all tube 3 channel capable of doing "anything".........It won't be out for a few months yet

Price is going to be around 900- 1000 bucks.

Rick

heh i guess im stuck with my Crate XT15 for the next two years lol as I save up money to buy that baby, haha i really need a better amp haha, and an XT15 isn't enough for an ESP MH-400 lol

[WERNER 1]

I thought you had 1800 bucks to spend???

[zrockisaddictin]

heh take away from that an ESP MH-400 and a new gig amp XT120 and im down to 800$ now, not to mention a Carlo Robelli, and anyway i said two years cuz im a beginner technically now, so in two years ill be three and a half years into it when i get it, dont get me wrong im pretty good for where I stand

[nicolaad30]

Get the B-52 AT and you won't be disapointed... period... actually... don't get it 'couse it will raise price....

[punkin]

I've got the B-52 AT-100...I just couldn't turn it down for the price. HUGE gain for MAX metal with a clean channel that will cause your ears to bleed without a hint of break up. Get a 4x12 cab from Avatar speakers...you'll have money left over.

Avi at B-52 is great to work with too!

[gbondo9]

B52 stack: $550 on ebay buy it now!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=1288