Looking for a new tube amplifier. Any suggestions?

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mitchmolson

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Im looking to buy a new tube amplifier. I play blues, rock, metal. I was looking at fenders super sonic, and mesa boogies mark v. But if anyone has any different suggestions, please feel free to give me your opinion. Thanks.
 
I'll take a large popcorn and a large drink, easy ice, please...
 
Is this going to be for studio use or live applications?





:cool:
 
I have a Mark V.
Best amp I've ever had both for gigging (my main thing) and for recording.
I have 14 amps right now and I've had probably over 100 of the things thru the years.
The V is bad-ass
 
Best is a relative term

Most tube amps have their own sound. Mesa's are no exception. I don't care for the "flangy" distortion they give out. I have a Peavey 5150. Those things are incredible. Of course some may disagree. They have their own tone.
Fenders don't typically fare well in the metal tone zone.
If you are playing live in a metal band, I would go for a head with 4-12's.
 
... just sittin' over here, enjoying the show... glad the real action started early.
 
... just sittin' over here, enjoying the show... glad the real action started early.
Nah, the best is yet to come, I'm sure. It would help if we knew more about the bands the OP wants to sound like, what kind of guitar he/she has, whether or not he/she needs an effects loop, what the price range is...

Having said that, the Mark V is a good recommendation because it pretty much covers all your bases. I like the recordings a lot of bands get with Mesa amps, but I haven't been able to get a very good distortion tone out of any of them except the Electra Dyne. They seem very mushy rather than the quick, responsive crunchiness I want.

If you don't need an effects loop and you don't need a whole lot of wattage, I'd check out the Mesa Transatlantic. We finally got one in at work and they are siiick. They get pretty loud and are, like most Mesa amps, very tweakable. I also like the Vox Night Train, but it is technically only a single-channel amp, so you can switch to the fat mode with a footswitch. I also like most of the Orange amps, but they tend to have as few controls as possible, so you won't get to tweak the sound as much.
 
... just sittin' over here, enjoying the show... glad the real action started early.

pass the popcorn, dude...

popcorn_4.gif
 
I would recommend a Peavey JSX
Excellent for ALL the styles you've mentioned..and has a direct out for recording. It's a monster of an amp. My guitarist owns one and a 5150 that he splits with an a/b box. We've used the direct out on the back for recording, and it sounds luscious!
You can probably pick one up for anywhere between $600 to $1100.
You can also change the tubes from 6L6's to EL34's or vice versa.
Other than that,..I'd go with a Boogie.:D
 

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