30w-50w gainy heads?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jouni
  • Start date Start date
J

Jouni

New member
Hi!!

I've been playing guitar in a band that's kinda picking up a little lately, gigs coming warming up some "bigger" metal bands. Usual shit.

The thing is, I've fooled around with my russian amps, and like them, but can't trust'em to tour. :o

-Sovtek mig-30 with a Koch pedaltone in front. Best tone imho.
-Sovtek mig-50H which just sounds like shit.
-100w Spetel head, sounds barely bearable, too much watts.
-Novik mk120, 120w. way too loud, never played above 5. Decent sound.

What I need is a RELIABLE, good sounding (with more gain than jcm800) single channel, no frills amp. Somewhere in 50watt region.

Might have to tour in neighboring countries soon, half a dozen or more gigs. I thought I'd take the Novik mk120, in case I really need Power, But to any smaller venues I really don't have a good option at hand. I've been looking at:

-Orange Rocker 30.. a tad underpowered...
-Orange rockerverb 50, expensive, don't need reverb or separate clean.
-JCM 800 50w.. not enough gain, i think, swollen prices around here.

Any other significant amps (with a lot of gain) I should be watching??:confused:

-I don't want to use pedals, too much hassle.
-Available in EU region, others too much hassle.
-All tube.
 
Im looking for a similer amp to you. Is budget an issue? Thought about mesa? Engl? What band you in?
 
chamelious said:
Im looking for a similer amp to you. Is budget an issue? Thought about mesa? Engl? What band you in?
Click to expand...

The band is called Cavus, I'm playing a baritone as the single guitarist..
(http://www.myspace.com/cavusmusic)

ENGL is just too dry for my taste, others may say "tight".. But I like my dist/crunch have some loose/juice in it.
From Mesa, well, haven't actually played one, It could be right from what I've heard.
Lots of harmonics, gain, and touch sensitivity are some characters I'm looking for. And mostly for rhythm playing.

Please keep on mind, there is no GC around here, the local musicshop has one Randall and a small Blackheart. :D I have difficulties of trying gear beforehand..:(

The Ampeg would be cool, if I'd get to test one, ordering from U.S. would be a hassle with customs and taxes though..

Oh, the budget, yes, an issue... but within a couple of months could raise some 600-800 euros...
 
Jouni said:
From Mesa, well, haven't actually played one, It could be right from what I've heard.
Lots of harmonics, gain, and touch sensitivity are some characters I'm looking for. And mostly for rhythm playing.
Click to expand...

A Mesa Single Rectifier should do the trick for you, but they're evidently stupidly expensive in the EU... You might be able to score a head for 800 euros, converted, in the US, but then shipping it out would cost you an arm and a leg, and it'd still have to be modified to be on the right voltage (and would then be difficult to replace in a hurry).

It has more channels than you're after, but a Marshall DSL50 might fit the bill too, and be way more affordable in Europe.

Is renting a head an option?
 
Yep, cheapest used single rectifier I could find here was 1200 euros. 1740 dollars.:eek:

Yep, no Mesa for me. Just had a kid month ago and all... Could get a used Framus Dragon cheaper, but that's too much wattage. :D


Looking at reviews for the Marshall. No, I don't think renting would be a viable option.....
 
Jouni said:
Yep, cheapest used single rectifier I could find here was 1200 euros. 1740 dollars.:eek:

Yep, no Mesa for me. Just had a kid month ago and all... Could get a used Framus Dragon cheaper, but that's too much wattage. :D


Looking at reviews for the Marshall. No, I don't think renting would be a viable option.....
Click to expand...

Are you sure it's too much wattage? If you're going on a major tour, then unless power amp distortion is a major part of your gain sound and you like to run a pretty clean preamp, erring on the side of headroom is probably not such a bad idea.
 
...Major Tour.. Is a bit Oblique. I'm not playing stadiums, these are all indoor gigs. Maybe 300 to 400 people or so...

I don't need clean headroom, just the opposite, but I've noticed that the characters of a tube amp are nowhere to be found before the power tubes are distressed a bit, all my amps just start to get Funky after the mastervolume is beyond halfway.

Actually, a friend just pointed I'd be cheap off to get an attenuator and use the Novik. But an Attenuator is one more thing to look after then..
That's why I kinda figured that a good and reliable 50watter would fit the bill.

YET, on significant gigs, more wattage would increase reliability, as only the preamp is pushed...

I want simplicity/reliability too. If someone built a single-channel, 50watt, reverbless, TMB-prevolume-mastervolume Framus Dragon under 900 euros I'd be on it like herpes. :cool::D
 
I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but running an ADA MP1 into the effects return of a JCM900 is thrashy as hell. Instant Scott Ian for cheap. Take the chassis out of the headshell, build a plywood box for the head and preamp, and it's just as portable as a head alone.
 
I have a Mesa Dual Rec, and it sounded pretty decent. I was playing through a 1960A Marshall Cab, ehhhhh it was ok, couldn't handle the lows though......then a Marshall Mode Four (Vintage 30's) and it sounded better. I just got a Mesa cab, and OMG........it's THE sound!!!! Manufacturers really voice their amps based on their own speaker cabs. Ya duh, I know.....but it really hit home when I finally stepped up to the Mesa Cab. Hell, if Mesa cabs are good enough for Tool's guitarist, they are good enough for me.

If you can't get a Mesa Single or Dual Rec, and looking for lots of gain: try a Carvin V3 (5 ax7's) or a Peavey 5150 (also 5 ax7's) those have gain for days. The Carvin sounds amazing. The Peavey is ok for the dirty channel. I personally don't like the clean channel on it.

The Rockerverb sounds great.....but $$$$.

Crate Blue Voodoo is also a good choice. A very underrated GREAT sounding amp. Sounds like a souped up Marshall on dist channel, but has a brilliant clean channel.
 
That Carvin seems GREAT... Nice tone and NOT overpriced to the maximum! (Carvin website quotes under 600 euros!.. Local seller 1050euros. :D)
..even switchable to 50watts. But Why the hell does it look like an aeroplane cockpit with zillion knobs!!..
That's why I like Orange stuff, But I'm definetly keeping an eye for that Carvin.. What's the general consensus on Carvin?.. Quality stuff or cheapo this and random that??.. :)
 
Jouni said:
What's the general consensus on Carvin?.. Quality stuff or cheapo this and random that??.. :)
Click to expand...

Carvin amps are great. I have a Legacy and it sounds fantastic through my 4x12 Marshall cab.
 
Jouni said:
What's the general consensus on Carvin?.. Quality stuff or cheapo this and random that??.. :)
Click to expand...

Carvin has a very good reputation for producing high-quality guitars and amps. They seem to enjoy an especially good reputation around these forums.
 
As soon as I saw this topic, before I read the thread I thought immediately, "ok, reply and tell him to get the rocker 30"

...For what its worth
 
Bguzaldo said:
As soon as I saw this topic, before I read the thread I thought immediately, "ok, reply and tell him to get the rocker 30"

...For what its worth
Click to expand...

It's been on my list haunting allalong, infact, for a while now. Just not sure... Will i have enough power to gig on a bit bigger stage??
 
OK... now this thing took a turn to the left, bigtime..:eek:

For some months, I've been wieving amps in Ebay from a guy labeled "Ontariomaximus" that manufactures "Phaez" named amps, tube, p2p, quite gainy and simple. There are plenty of clips of Phaez amps in youtube and googling results in quite good reviews and satisfied customers. Dude is from Canada, and keeps prices quite humane.
So I threw him an e-mail, and he replied that he had something very much like my desires allready planned, thing called a daisycutter with 6l6 powersection resulting to some 40watts.

Hell, what can I say, I'm a wreckless bastard and I think I'm gonna take that offer. Keep yer fingers crossed for me?..please? :D

As this thing is over I'm going to let you now how things went.:D
 
You might look into a Mesa Nomad 45. They sound pretty rocking when pushed hard (similar to the oranges). The Engl fireball is a no frills amp like you are describing with lots of gain. Really great sounding amp. You could probably also score a Peavey 5150 for pretty cheap used. I only like their tone in certain context but they come up a lot at metal shows.
 
Yeah, definitely check out a Peavey 5150, 5150 II, 6505 or 6505+ if you can. Lots of gain, more power than a normal human being needs, good tone, and good prices.
 
Wireneck said:
You might look into a Mesa Nomad 45. They sound pretty rocking when pushed hard (similar to the oranges). The Engl fireball is a no frills amp like you are describing with lots of gain. Really great sounding amp. You could probably also score a Peavey 5150 for pretty cheap used. I only like their tone in certain context but they come up a lot at metal shows.
Click to expand...

Oh, Jeez. I used to own a Nomad. Great amp - the 3rd channel was a thing of beauty, "Vintage" was a wonderful, soaring, Mark-like lead tone, and "Modern" was like a slightly more refined Rectifier. If I could only have had each of those tones on seperate channels, I'd probably never have sold thing thing (well, that and the cleans weren't as exciting as some other Mesas I've played).

It's one of the most versatile Mesas (and accordingly, tube amps) I've ever played, sounds great, and can be had for quite cheap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top