Versatile amps.

[In Absentia]

I can never decide what style of music I play. This means that this causes a lot of gear problems. I have had a lot of amps, and always move them when I change musical styles, about once a season. I am totally looking for something that can bridge the gaps between pop, rock, progressive and indie. It doesn't have to be a master of all styles, just good.

Any ideas or am I just screwed?

[amphog]

Mesa has a few, and there are many more, this is the age of channel switching, Swiss Army amps.

[SteveO]

I'm the same way musically, my tastes change on a regular basis. I bought a Mark V a year ago, and have found it to be able to do just about anything I want with just a little tweaking.

[sharpshooter]

THD Flexi

[Red_Label]

I think that my Bogner Shiva could certainly cover all of that ground easily (and more!), with at most the addition of an OD pedal for the prog. XTC is even more versatile (and that's why I plan to get one).

[dleuen]

Seems like Egnater Tweaker is what you are looking for. Designed exactly for that reason.

[Red_Label]

Seems like Egnater Tweaker is what you are looking for. Designed exactly for that reason.


True, but if he has any gigging in-mind for it he'll want to wait for the newer Tweaker models coming-out (40 and 88 watt I believe), because they have more wattage and mostly because they have more than one channel.

I've got a Tweaker and really dig it, but it'd be hard for me to gig because I need to change tones on the fly. The tiny little bugger is certainly loud enough for most gigs.

[small axe]

another vote for a bogner shiva...with el34, 6l6, or kt 88s versions...with that you can cover a lot of ground

[The_Whale]

In my opinion, high powered 2x12 SS combos are the most versatile amps.

The problem with them, of course, is they aren't the best sounding in any particular category.

[In Absentia]

Great suggestions keep 'em coming!

[Red_Label]

Versatile tube amps on a budget... Traynor. I've owned two YCS100H heads (still have one of them) and a Custom Blue 50 1X12 combo. Specifically the head is VERY versatile, because it's got three channels (and an adjustable solo boost), so I can dial-up Fender, Marshall, and Mesa tones -- one on each channel. Only other amp I've had that was as versatile was the Hughes & Kettner Triamp. I miss that amp!

[LoFiCannibal]

I'm the same way with my playing styles man... I've got a dozen guitars in all sorts of tunings from E to B/dropA. I've been rocking a Carvin V3 for almost a year and it's been great. The thing has covered every task that I've wanted it to.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/manuals/V3.pdf

[re-animator]

Needing versatility does NOT mean you need an amp with tons of channels, controls, etc.

If you were to take a poll of 100 guitarists, i bet around half would tell you that a telecaster is the most versatile guitar, despite the fact that the "tele-ness" never goes away.

I'm of two minds on this. There are amps with a lot of range in sounds and there are amps that have basically one or two sounds but endless shades of their signature.

Take a vox ac30. There are really 2 main sounds to be had in that amp... the chimey, top boost thing, and the raging, pissed off normal channel. But within those two sounds you can play just about any style of music. Jeez, i miss my vox.

[Kardula]

if you don't care about tone any number of modelling amps can get you a plethora of different sounds.

But, most of us here do care about tone so I think your best bet is a channel switching tube amp. Rivera, Bogner, Mesa/Boogie and some people even say the Marshall JVM are all very versatile amps and you should be able to get many good tones. For Riveras I like the fandango for overall tone/versatility and bogners I prefer the shiva.

[In Absentia]

if you don't care about tone any number of modelling amps can get you a plethora of different sounds.

But, most of us here do care about tone so I think your best bet is a channel switching tube amp. Rivera, Bogner, Mesa/Boogie and some people even say the Marshall JVM are all very versatile amps and you should be able to get many good tones. For Riveras I like the fandango for overall tone/versatility and bogners I prefer the shiva.

Yeah, I am thinking the same thing. I am done with modelers. Probably gonna grab the Suhr PT100 or a good Mesa. Thanks guys.

[jaxonmills]

Needing versatility does NOT mean you need an amp with tons of channels, controls, etc.

If you were to take a poll of 100 guitarists, i bet around half would tell you that a telecaster is the most versatile guitar, despite the fact that the "tele-ness" never goes away.

I'm of two minds on this. There are amps with a lot of range in sounds and there are amps that have basically one or two sounds but endless shades of their signature.

Take a vox ac30. There are really 2 main sounds to be had in that amp... the chimey, top boost thing, and the raging, pissed off normal channel. But within those two sounds you can play just about any style of music. Jeez, i miss my vox.

Agreed.

[charley]

Eleven rack. Or maybe a very transparent ss amp like an acoustic image Clarus. Stick some of those Tech 21 amp impersonator pedals in front of that.

[somedude]

Mark V.

I get bored easily and with this amp there's enough variety to keep my interest.

It's more than simply turning knobs too... big difference between 90w cleans and 45w tube rectified cleans, despite not touching a single knobs. Repeat across each mode and channel and it's a constant exploration if you're interested in it.

[LSchefman]

I know they're pricey, but I have the same needs in my studio advertising music work, and find that my Two-Rocks have been AMAZING.

Good at all that stuff.

[C-4]

I believe that the guitarist has a lot to do with the sound versatility of any amp.
How one chooses to set up his gear for a song makes all the difference.
A versatile guitar with a good sounding amp can do quite a lot.

After trying a lot of amps, I like the Diezel Schmidt the best for lower wattage apps, and an Einstein 50 for louder work. Anything above that for my needs is a waste of wattage. Micing takes care of getting the sound out.

At really small venues or when a lack of stage space is preventing me from using my regular gear, I use a Vox AD30VT mic'd up. I still have no problem getting any tone I need.

[Aslan]

Trademark 60 with an upgrade to a Eminence Wizard speaker! I can go from jazz to country to rock to metal, all with the two channels, reverb, solo boost and switchable effects loop. Light weight & compact, I've had over 20+ amps and I keep coming back to the TM60!

[BostonRedSox]

Shiva's, while they cover a lot of ground, absolutely sound a lot different at lower levels. That is one thing that people should always remember. Personally, while I like the Shiva a lot, I think there are better "bang-for-your-buck" amps out there that sound fantastic at all levels of attenuation; all which are much more versatile than the Shiva. The Mesa Mark V, Roadster, Multi-watt Dual/Triple Rectifiers, and Electra Dynes all are very flexible amps. They can all get at least three distinct footswitchable sounds, footswitchable (lush) reverb, excellent customer service, five-year transferrable warranty, series effects loops, etc. Bogner's, while they are great amps, have customer service and warranty's that I will only say are "interesting," to say the least. Sure, the Shiva is a great amp -- cranked, even more so. Yet, is it truly worth spending that kind of coin to have a two-channel amp with reverb ($2400)?

Engl Powerball is another versatile amp that starts out at $2000 for the head model. Those are great amps, albeit weird amps as well -- what is up with that "focus" switch?

[salvatruco]

I'm the same way musically, my tastes change on a regular basis. I bought a Mark V a year ago, and have found it to be able to do just about anything I want with just a little tweaking.

+1000

[MSLBend]

Fender supersonics ... not very expensive, loud, great clean channel, good with pedals, flexible and good sounding overdrive, good reverb, easy to dial in quickly without a bazillion switches and knobs, easy to service, repair and the 22 sounds good at low volume.

[dunara]

Rivera - they all have basically the same preamp and uber-versatile switching. The variations in power amps, speakers and cabinets depend on your budget and what you're going to use it for. Lots of great sounds, and after 15 trouble-free years (and I bought it secondhand), I can vouch for their reliability.

[mwhy]

I don't like modeling amps. I think a clean tube amp that takes pedals well is the ticket. I've enjoyed my Frenzel amps and Jack Anderson amps.

[ronmail65]

If modeling amps are out of the picture...

Then for a player that's into very diverse musical styles, any single amp is going to be a compromise to some degree. The more particular you are about your sound, the greater the compromises will have to be.

I think you have to choose a predominant long-term style for yourself and choose a really nice amp based on that, with some moderate flexibility to cover other areas. And, be prepared to relax your expectations of the amp when you stretch it into those other areas. Otherwise, you will always be disapointed.

Of course the other alternative is to have a stable of amps to cover everything imaginable.

Completely different way of looking at this is to become an original.... don't follow other people's sounds / styles - create your own signature tone and work it into everything else!!

[kleydj13]

I've never heard one, but on paper the new line 6 DT50 jumps out to me as an amp that covers a ton of ground in a unique way. Bogner seems to have his imprint all over this thing and it seems to combine the wide versatility of typical Line 6 stuff with a quality analog circuit path. If I wanted a versatile tube amp I'd try this thing out.

[solitaire]

Egnater - say no more. Most of the Egnaters from the past and current models are designed to offer as much versatility as possible for a minor cost. Not only did they make channels with different gain levels and tweaks to the EQ, but the tonestacks and pre-amps are purposely made very different and sound that way too.

I myself am into their MOD series in a big way as these amps allow me to go from surfy Fender clean, via Vox grit to Marshall rock distortion and landing in ultra-highgain Mesa territory using one and the same amp and just pushing a button. Also the separate modules, Egnater's and Randall's, can be mod'ed to nail the tone you got in your head, so you don't have to settle with stock.

Think of it as having the flexibility of a Line 6 device, but with the tone and feel of a true valve amplifier - after all: that's just what it is. The fully compatible Randall MTS series are good too, but the modules are more modern/ metal sounding stock and the amps are of a more simple design.

[bassethound]

The Dr. Z Maz Jr. is a pretty darn versatile amp. The controls are very responsive and a few slight adjustments can drastically change the sound.

[beckerman]

Simple. Mesa Road King

/thread