New amp time... help me pick!

  • Thread starter Thread starter thebigcheese
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thebigcheese

thebigcheese

"Hi, I'm in Delaware."
I've had my Blues Jr. for a little over a year now. Some of you might recall my various threads trying to figure out how to fix my guitar's tone, but what I discovered today is that there's nothing wrong with the guitar (it's a "The Paul"). The problem is that the amp is not giving me the tone I want... I played it at GC before I bought it and thought it was so awesome, and continued to think so for a while, but now I think it was never quite what I was looking for. In the interest of avoiding that mistake this time around, I want to do a lot more research and playing around before I buy an amp. So... here I am for advice.

What I want is an amp that gives me a really sparkly, crisp, defined clean tone, but I can also flip to a second channel and get some heavy distortion, preferably that can fit either rock or metal, since I want to be able to do both. An FX loop would also be nice, and I would like it if it had a low wattage mode (or was just low wattage to begin with) so that I can practice (and record) without killing my ears or pissing off neighbors. Tube amp.

I think the Mesa Express 550 is a pretty nice amp and pretty much what I'm looking for (not sure how good it'll be for rock, though), but I want some other opinions and to give myself some time to mull it over so I don't make the same mistake I made before. It doesn't have to be a combo. Marshall isn't bad, either, but I haven't spent enough time with them to really form an opinion. Haven't tried any Vox amps yet. I tried the Orange Dual Terror and it sounds pretty good, but I'd really like more flexible tone controls and an FX loop. There's a Ceriatone 18w amp that's supposed to be pretty much a Marshall and a lot cheaper than the Mesa, so I might go for that (kits are fine, I can build things that aren't tooooo complicated).

Guitar tones I am looking for:
  • Lamb of God's album Wrath
  • Stone Temple Pilots
  • A Perfect Circle's Thirteenth Step
  • Tool
  • Alice in Chains
  • Killswitch Engage's song My Curse
  • Children of Bodom
  • Deftones
  • Dimmu Borgir
  • Dredg's album Catch Without Arms
  • Faith No More... well, any of their albums, though I realize they are different guitarists
  • Glassjaw
  • New Found Glory's Sticks and Stones (what can I say? it's rockin')
  • Queens of the Stone Age
  • Rage Against the Machine
As far as I can tell, a good number of those guys use Mesa, so it might make sense to go with the Mesa (wish I could find it cheaper, though...). Anyway, opinions are welcome. Thanks guys :)
 
I played a Mesa f-100 for a long time. I don't know if they make them anymore, but they can be reasonably purchased on ebay and I think you would like it very much for this purpose.
 
A Line6 Mark 3 amp might just make the best argument for the most tones...I also like the Tech21.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
A Line6 Mark 3 amp might just make the best argument for the most tones
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Those amps are very versatile. They can recreate the tone of pretty much any flying insect that you can think of. The mosquito and bumble bee amp models are especially realistic. They even have parameters to adjust the size and shape of the glass jars as well as how many holes are punched in the lid.
 
ocnor said:
Those amps are very versatile. They can recreate the tone of pretty much any flying insect that you can think of. The mosquito and bumble bee amp models are especially realistic. They even have parameters to adjust the size and shape of the glass jars as well as how many holes are punched in the lid.
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Thank you for clarifying.
 
From what you describe it seems like a MESA would be a very good place to start. A Vox AC30 might surprise you. I wish you well in your search. Don't ignore the seventies vintage Ampegs. Some of those can double the size of your privates. Stellar cleans.

In the meantime you might consider a tube upgrade for the BJ if you haven't already done so. A speaker upgrade can also make a world of difference. If you're handy there's a ton of info out there on modifying the BJ. Making your existing amp the best it can be would buy some time to save for the amp of your dreams, or, if you go the DIY route, You'll need the speaker anyway.
 
WhiteStrat said:
Thank you for clarifying.
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Heres a fresh idea for the board...try one out before you dump on something online...maybe this will start a revolution...and maybe someday people will read these threads and say...those guys had integrity and they wasnt just full of hot air.:rolleyes:
 
Yeah, so you too can have the integrity of modeling.

:laughings:
 
i didn't read your whole post... (sorry!)... but i just want the opportunity to pipe up and say the mesa boogie lonestar is the best sounding new amp. (IMHO of course)

i figure if you start with a full/rich tone, you can crunch/fuzz it up with anything you want after that.

s
 
haymedic said:
i didn't read your whole post... (sorry!)... but i just want the opportunity to pipe up and say the mesa boogie lonestar is the best sounding new amp. (IMHO of course)
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I tried the Lonestar, but it wasn't quite what I was going for. Not a bad amp, but it seemed more... country influenced than what I wanted.

@Milnoque: Actually, I recently put some JJ tubes in the amp, swapped the speaker for a Cannabis Rex, AND did the basic Billm mods, so at this point, I think I've gotten just about everything out of the amp that it'll give me. Luckily, I kept the old tubes and speaker, so I can just put all the stock stuff back in and sell the new parts separate so it wasn't all as big a waste of money... (so if anyone needs a full set of two-week-old JJs or a two-month-old speaker, let me know!) It's not a bad amp, and I think it would be just fine for a Fender guitar in search of rock tones, but I think it's just not quite what my guitar wants.

I've looked at Line6 amps before, but they're kind of lackluster for me. I've used some modeling stuff before, but I'm still not sold on the idea that they can be anywhere near as good as the real thing, especially if they don't have tubes.
 
thebigcheese said:
I tried the Lonestar, but it wasn't quite what I was going for. Not a bad amp, but it seemed more... country influenced than what I wanted.

@Milnoque: Actually, I recently put some JJ tubes in the amp, swapped the speaker for a Cannabis Rex, AND did the basic Billm mods, so at this point, I think I've gotten just about everything out of the amp that it'll give me. Luckily, I kept the old tubes and speaker, so I can just put all the stock stuff back in and sell the new parts separate so it wasn't all as big a waste of money... (so if anyone needs a full set of two-week-old JJs or a two-month-old speaker, let me know!) It's not a bad amp, and I think it would be just fine for a Fender guitar in search of rock tones, but I think it's just not quite what my guitar wants.

I've looked at Line6 amps before, but they're kind of lackluster for me. I've used some modeling stuff before, but I'm still not sold on the idea that they can be anywhere near as good as the real thing, especially if they don't have tubes.
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for sure... i just found it really clean, warm and big. really liked it... i just wanted an excuse to say how much i dig that amp. :)

s
 
What's a good tune to play for testing amps and guitars? I always find my self hitting random notes on the guitar rather than playing anything useful. And not Stairway to Heaven :p

Has anyone else noticed that their guitar always sounds a lot better when someone else is playing it?
 
Here's the first amps I ever owned. I remember being so psyched when I got it. :laughings:

p1_uinmeer1u_so.jpg
 
Oooh, I'd best think of the heritage value & legacy any comment I make will create...hmmm:
Get a nice Airfix F111 kit and a tube marshall with a quad box.
The F111 kit is Vietnam Conflict vintage (though still currently in service in Australia) & should satisfy your modelling urges (beware of glue on your fingertips though) and the all valve marshall can & will do anything with the right pedal in front of it.
 
hi bigcheese have you tried the peavey viper? i was looking into it online and it didn't seem too bad, i would definitly check it out in real life. i think this thread https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=280766&highlight=tube+amp+vs+solid+amp about the difference between (or if there even is one) between solid & tube is really helpful also. and talks alot about what could be some decent amps you might like to try? good luck

(also when i've wanted to know the equipment my favorite bands use i've found some info on the net for some of them. maybe some of your bands have it listed)
 
Ugh... I almost finished a long post and hit the backspace button and it sent my browser back a page instead of just deleting. Well, anyway, here goes. I've been trying out some amps, so I wanted to post some thoughts and see what people think.

Mesa: I tried the Express amps first. The 225 is not as nice as the 550. The 550 seems brighter, probably because of the 6L6s. The first time I tried it out, I went home thinking that was the amp I wanted, but having gone back again, I'm not so sure. It doesn't seem as bright as a lot of the other amps out there and the tone controls don't seem to do very much, which is kind of a bother. I also played the Mark V, which is a pretty nice amp and could probably get me most of the tones I'd want, but it's just so complicated, not to mention expensive. One thing I liked about both the Mesa amps is that they have a lower wattage mode for recording.

Vox AC30: I tried the newer, "upgraded" version that has effects in it or something. It sounds good, but it's not the tone I'm looking for and it really doesn't have much gain, even with the preamp cranked. Maybe if I boosted it with my OD pedal, but I still don't think it would be metal enough. That's the only amp of the bunch that I will say that about.

Orange Dual Terror: Sounds pretty good and could potentially be a keeper, but it only has one tone knob per channel and no FX loop. I'd really like to be able to adjust the different parts of the tone--adding more bass without losing treble, for instance.

Marshall: I tried their smaller combo for a little while, but wasn't that impressed, and I also tried the big JCM800. That one sounds pretty could and could also be a keeper, but I don't need anywhere near that wattage. If the Ceriatone I was looking at can get me a similar tone, that could be what I want, though I would want one with two channels and an FX loop.

Peavey: I tried the 6505+. I think I'll have to play with it some more, as I just sort of glazed over it, but I wasn't particularly impressed with it.

Egnator: I tried these out a bit and I think I liked them, but I couldn't figure out some of the features, like the knob that has "1W" on one side. I played them right before an amp that I really liked, so I think I sort of forgot about them. I'll need to go check them out again.

Bogner: I tried out the Alchemist. I love the sound, but it has a parallel FX loop (with blend knob), which seems pretty useless to me. Aren't FX loops normally in series? I thought the whole idea was that they come between the preamp and power stages so I would stick a tremolo, noise gate, and delay there. I guess if I could mod it to be a normal FX loop, then it would be great, but in the meantime I'm going to keep looking for something that sounds pretty much like the Bogner, but with a useful FX loop.

Overall, I've noticed that I really like the sparkly clean tones and crunchy (but still smooth), heavy distortion. I don't mind if the cleans are a little "dry"--I actually kind of like that.
 
cantthinkofname said:
hi bigcheese have you tried the peavey viper? i was looking into it online and it didn't seem too bad, i would definitly check it out in real life. i think this thread https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=280766&highlight=tube+amp+vs+solid+amp about the difference between (or if there even is one) between solid & tube is really helpful also. and talks alot about what could be some decent amps you might like to try? good luck

(also when i've wanted to know the equipment my favorite bands use i've found some info on the net for some of them. maybe some of your bands have it listed)
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Also, I think I'm pretty set on the difference between solid state and tube. I want tube. There is no comparison in my book. I've also looked into the gear most of the bands I've listed use. It's generally either Mesa or Marshall, though there's a couple Vox AC30s in there and I think I saw some Bogner and one other brand.
 
What kind of budget do you have?
That pretty much narrows things down! ;)

Also...get a few amps (eventually)...one or two is never enough!

And...be prepared to hate amps that others love and vice versa!
You really just have try 'em out, either in a store or just buy some online and take a chance.
Then if you don't like it, sell it. I've already done that about a 8-10 times just in the last 2-3 years.
I figure...if I lose $100 bucks on the resale...that's the cost of having it delivered to my door and me trying it out for a couple of months! :D
But there’s nothing like having an amp in your space/studio and being able to play it for a few weeks before deciding. Trying them out in music stores for 15-20 minutes is rarely a guarantee of anything but at least you can weed out the ones you really hate! :) Though music stores rarely have a huge brand/model selection...so you end up picking from what they have.
Of every amp I currently still have, all were purchased online (the ones I didn't like, I resold.)
 
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