If you were going to drop about $2k on an amp.....?

  • Thread starter Thread starter miroslav
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miroslav

miroslav

Cosmic Cowboy
I'm looking to add another amp to my stable...and I'm kinda focused on an EL34 based amp...something that has that classic Rock crunch, not necessarily a super high-gain Metal machine.
I've already looked at dozens of high-end amps...but I figure I would ask for some opinions as there may be some brand/model I've overlooked.

Anything in the $1500 to $2.5k range would be considered.
I'm leaning towards Point-to-Point amp...nothing against good PCB amps, but I’m in the mood for a P-t-P, just for the vintage vibe, :)

Oh...and just for reference....
I recently sold off my Bogner Shiva EL34 112...which I didn't much care for….go figure.
It's a well built amp, great clean channel (though too much bass), solid crunch/boost channel...but the sound was rather one-dimensional IMO....just didn't do anything for me at all. The dual Reverb sounded nice, however, it did suck some of the life out of the sound when engaged…so I ended up running an external reverb, and that’s what I do with all my other amps…none have built-in reverb.
So....that's something to keep in mind when suggesting an amp.

What I'm currently considering...
Dr. Z: SRZ-65
Reinhardt: Storm
Carr: Hammerhead
Swart: Super Space Tone (yeah, it has the built in reverb, but I love the tones on their website).

And there are a couple of others I just can't recall at the moment....
 
It's not that critical...1 or 2 channels.

I certainly don't need anything over 50/60 watts...though I also don't want any extream low-wattage amps either. I would think someting in the 30 watt range would be about right.


It will all depend on the amp. I don't have very specifc features in mind, and can live with or without some things...it's more about the overall vibe of the amp.

Maybe the only thing I wouldn't mind is a Master Volume....IF the amp on the higher wattage end and IF the amp needs to be cranked up higher beofre it give up the crunch.
But I would juts use an attenuator if needed...is even that isn't a deal breaker.
 
So, just a no-frills EL-34 powered amp?

Probably not what you're looking for (as it has WAY more gain than you're after) but a Mesa Stiletto might be worth a couple minutes of playtime - absolutely gorgeous clean, and as long as you never got past the "crunch" mode on the second channel you'd probably do fine. That said, that's hardly "no frills..."

A oldschool Marshall would be an obvious pick here, but I'll also say I absolutely loved the only Dr Z (a Carmen Ghia) I've ever played, so I can't see how you could possibly go wrong in that regard.
 
If Dr. Z is enough for Neil Zaza and Brad Paisley (not that I like country, but his guitar work is really good), he's good enough for me.

That said, I'll never be able to spend $2000 on an amp, especially another amp. :D
 
I'm getting ready to drop 2k on a Mesa Mark V.
Has some very interesting features.
I've decided it's the amp for me but that doesn't mean it's the amp for you. Check it out though ..... 3 channels ..... each with 3 modes .... each can be set for 10,45 or 90 watts.
Graphic can be channel assigned or footswitchable ..... SS or tube rectifier .... a bunch more.
Can't wait to get it.
 
I have a gear boner for the Mark V. I don't even think that I'd get much use out of most of its features. It's just so knobby and slidery and switchy and black and shiny...I just want it.
 
solaris1982 said:
If Dr. Z is enough for Neil Zaza and Brad Paisley (not that I like country, but his guitar work is really good), he's good enough for me.
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I already have a Dr. Z Route 66....so if I get the SRZ-65...they will make a nice pair. A 65 and a 66. :cool:

I'm actually leaning hard toward the SRZ-65.
I'll decide in the next few days.
 
Tadpui said:
I have a gear boner for the Mark V. I don't even think that I'd get much use out of most of its features. It's just so knobby and slidery and switchy and black and shiny...I just want it.
Click to expand...

That statement is so pathetic. And yet I completely get it. Therefore, I must be completely pathetic.

Logic 101. A+
 
IDK...I have just picked up a Seymore Duncan Convertable with all the sound modules...and swiped the tubes out of an old sunn so it could have all mullards...I got it for $150 but it used to cost arround 2K.

I might just stick with this one alone...chances are Ill be able to make a decent profit off the line6 head I was using before.
 
I just played a Dr Z for the first time a few days ago, it was absolutely beautiful sound.

But I've also been watching a bunch of clips listening to interviews with Peter Stroud and watching him play, so my most recent infatuation is for test driving some 65 amps some day. If all the pitch hype is true, they must have some fantastic ampage on the market!
 
I just sold a Shiva head a few months ago. Didn't care for it either so you're not the only one. The loop was the big let-down for me. I ended up with an Axe-FX.... something to think about. I have no regrets at all. It is awesome!
 
Nobody has probably heard of it but you should check out a Samamp, he's a guy that builds amazing amps where I'm from(not just some dude in the garage, he sells nationwide just kinda starting up). www.samamp.com

The coolest thing about the amp, it is point to point hand wired, is it has a variable wattage selector and instead of a hotplate to soak up the power and run the tubes hot he has lightbulbs that soak up the power at lower wattage and lets the tubes run cooler. They really do sound amazing and he has a couple different push/pull pots to get a real versitile sound.

I personally have the V.A.C. 45, but you'd probably like the V.A.C. 25 it's more of a british amp. The only downside is no reverb.
 
Maybe Bad Cat? London 65? Bruno Underground or the "Cowtipper".
 
physicaljerk said:
Nobody has probably heard of it but you should check out a Samamp, he's a guy that builds amazing amps where I'm from(not just some dude in the garage, he sells nationwide just kinda starting up). www.samamp.com

The coolest thing about the amp, it is point to point hand wired, is it has a variable wattage selector and instead of a hotplate to soak up the power and run the tubes hot he has lightbulbs that soak up the power at lower wattage and lets the tubes run cooler. They really do sound amazing and he has a couple different push/pull pots to get a real versitile sound.

I personally have the V.A.C. 45, but you'd probably like the V.A.C. 25 it's more of a british amp. The only downside is no reverb.
Click to expand...


Those look yummy. Light bulbs huh?

If he made his Logo light up, he could sell millions of 'em.
 
DrewPeterson7 said:
You're an asshole. Nothing personal of course, I'm just jealous. :)
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Just to rub it in...I picked up a Savage Macht 12X today...and I'm STILL going to get the EL34 amp (or something else).

:p

I sold off a bunch of gear I wasn't using...so now I have some cash for new toys.
Ain't recycling a wonderful thing! ;)


Anyway...some of the guys on the Dr. Z forums think the 65 and 66 have a lot of overlap...so, I'm still thinking about what else to get, but I really dig that SRZ-65.
I may go for something totally different in the end...but I should decide on my second amp purchase in the next couple of days.
The Savage just came along unexpectedly...it's a brand new 112 combo Macht 12X with the Studio/Stage option...for $1075 shipped!!!!
 
physicaljerk said:
Nobody has probably heard of it but you should check out a Samamp....
Click to expand...

I have heard of Samamp....some sweet looking amps, and I love that on his combos, he turns the damn top faceplates FORWARD!
I could never figure out why anyone (vintage or current) thinks that a top faceplate should be viewed from the back??? I mean...who stands behind their amps when they play?
Where did that stupid idea start?

I have a 5E3 amp and a Top Hat Club Royale with the faceplates upside down...DUMB!

:D

Anyway...I wish SampAmp would do some EL34 amps instead of just 6L6 for his big bottle offerings, though I do like his 6V6 combo!
I always preferred an EL34 over the 6L6...I just think they are creamier when driven into crunch territory, but the 6L6 has that bold clean tone that can't be beat.

To each his own.
 
miroslav said:
Anyway...some of the guys on the Dr. Z forums think the 65 and 66 have a lot of overlap...so, I'm still thinking about what else to get, but I really dig that SRZ-65.
Click to expand...

I have an easy solution: just send the 66 to me and go ahead and get the 65 for yourself. Problem solved.
 
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