Heavy Riffing Amp

[Greg E.]

Hello TGP, long time lurker first time poster here.

I've been browsing around but haven't completely found much of an answer to what i'm looking for, so i just thought i'd bring it up. I'm looking for an amp that can help me hit those ever low thick growling and fuzzy guitar tones (think sleep, Electric Wizard, Acid King, early Queens of the Stoneage, Mondo Generator etc.). I'm currently playing through an Epiphone LP Standard from 2003, as well i'm hopefully picking up either a zvex fuzz factory or wooly mammoth here soon.

I need something that is loud enough to outdo a drum set without using microphones. But it does not need to be obscenely loud (as much as I love volume, i do need to practice at home). I'm also trying to stay under / around the $1000 range. Combo's and head/cabs are options.

I've demo'd a Tiny Terror from Orange in a shop, but have yet to bring in my own guitar to try one out in my regular tuning (C/F/A#/D#/G/C). I liked the overdrive, but im wondering if it'll handle the downtuning well, and take the fuzzbox in front of it to give me some of that heavy tone.

Can anyone offer any other suggestions?

[studiodunn]

Laney GH100L.......w/ money left over

[theBruce]

Originally Posted by studiodunn

Laney GH100L.......w/ money left over

+1

... and the Tiny Terror is not the kind of amp I would use for drop tuning and heavy riffing, heavy metal and stuff like that. The bottom end will just come all apart on you.

If you cannot find a Laney GH100L, grab a Mesa Rectoverb or Single Rec on ebay, or even an F30 or F50. Any of these amps will do what you want within your budget. (I just sold a single rec for $625.00.)

You could also try the clean Fender>stomp box scene too. Try a Subdecay Blackstar or Landmine. Kablooey.

[gtrplr71]

find a used duel rectifier should be heavy enough!

[Maction]

considering the bands you mentioned, I'd recommend using a clean amp w/ pedals in front into a closed back cab with 12" speakers. while the combo option is economical and compact, I doubt you're going to get the low-end stability and chunk you need low for your C5 chords with an open-backed rig.

for your budget I'd suggest a Fender Bassman head, you can still get the silverface ones pretty cheap (around $400-$500), and the midrange scoop they have works great with pedals and riff rock. my band mate has a '69 Bassman and it sounds great, especially all wound up.

you can an Avatar closed back 2x12 cab for $300 with Celestians. I've got one and I am awlays surprised at the quality for the low cost.

you could also pick up an attenuator like a Weber Mass or a THD Hotplate. these would solve your home practice volume dilemma, as well as letting you get some power tube distortion going without drowning out the rest of the band. these start around $200/250 new, but they often come up in the emporium used.

if you want most of the gain to come from the amp, not pedals, I’d suggest trying to find a used Sovtek Mig 60 or Sovtek Tube Midget. those both have master volumes, so you could skip the attenuator as well. they have some really ugly grind to them if you crank the pre-gain. I've found that high gain preamps and fuzz pedals rarely get along that well, but YMMV. I used to see these all the time on eBay for $400 - $500, but they're a little scarcer now.

I know you were looking for amp recommendations, but try a Rangemaster clone with a full range boost mode in front of a rig like this. you’ll get a huge fiery tone with a lot of low end that won’t sound like every other Fuzz Face or Muff style pedal that you’ve heard. I have a Keeley Java Boost, but there are other options like the AnalogMan Bean-o, etc.

good luck and happy hunting! :BEER

[Greg E.]

Thanks for the replies all. I think i'll look into the fender idea. Especially liking it as i'll get something that can do decent tele-rock/cleans when neccessary... like some of the new Earth material or even explosions in the sky for some other projects I'm involved in.

Plus of course, punishing heavy riffs which are always good


Thanks again for the advice


edit:

The thought just occured to me and thought i'd bring it up while I've got some attention.

How would the early traynor heads (YBA-1, etc) compare to the fender bassman heads? I think the Traynor might be easier to snag up in my local used market, so i figure i should ask.

Thanks.

[Stratosphere]

Originally Posted by Greg E.

Thanks for the replies all. I think i'll look into the fender idea. Especially liking it as i'll get something that can do decent tele-rock/cleans when neccessary... like some of the new Earth material or even explosions in the sky for some other projects I'm involved in.

Plus of course, punishing heavy riffs which are always good


Thanks again for the advice


edit:

The thought just occured to me and thought i'd bring it up while I've got some attention.

How would the early traynor heads (YBA-1, etc) compare to the fender bassman heads? I think the Traynor might be easier to snag up in my local used market, so i figure i should ask.

Thanks.

Oh yeah, I'd check Traynor stuff out too. That might be the ticket.

[Maction]

Originally Posted by Greg E.

Thanks for the replies all. I think i'll look into the fender idea.

How would the early traynor heads (YBA-1, etc) compare to the fender bassman heads? I think the Traynor might be easier to snag up in my local used market, so i figure i should ask.

Thanks.

wow, someone might take my advice?

as far as the Traynor goes, there's some good info here: http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/...assmasteryba-1

there is a local guy who is (or was) using a 70's Traynor Bassmaster as a platform for high gain pedals with a down-tuned guitar. they're more of a an industrial/death metal/ hardcore thing, but he gets some really punishing tones. last time I saw him he was using a Boss HM-2 into it and it sounded great. here's a link: http://www.myspace.com/plaguebringer

it's strange. around here Bassman heads are everywhere, but I haven't seen a Bassmaster in years (?)

[somedude]

Originally Posted by Greg E.

Hello TGP, long time lurker first time poster here.

I've been browsing around but haven't completely found much of an answer to what i'm looking for, so i just thought i'd bring it up. I'm looking for an amp that can help me hit those ever low thick growling and fuzzy guitar tones (think sleep, Electric Wizard, Acid King, early Queens of the Stoneage, Mondo Generator etc.).

Here's some ideas. Not all are within your price range, but some do occasionally sell that cheaply on Ebay or Craigslist.

Sunn Model T
Orange OR series
Matamp GT-120
Ampeg VT-22 or VT-40
Hiwatt Custom 100
Marshall SLP (Plexi)
Marshall JCM800



Anyway;

Sleep - Matamp (GT-120 I believe)

Electric Wizard - Sunn Model T + Boss FZ-2

Acid King - Marshall + Big Muff (vintage 70s Little Big Muff specifically)

Queens of the Stoneage - 3 Ampeg VT-22 2x12 cabs and 2 Ampeg V-4's with white 4x12" cabs (When the band was still called Kyuss Josh used a Tubeworks head into a Marshall 4x12 and a Marshall head into an Ampeg 8x10.... has used various dirt/fuzz boxes over the years, but the guy changes pedals like other people change shirts so don't get too hung up on his exact rig)

Mondo Generator - Framus Cobra head and cab

[Johnnythunders]

I second the Traynor or Sovtek as a low cost Stoner Rock amp if you can't afford a Matamp, Orange or Electric. I have a YBA-1 with a couple of D*A*M pedals thru a 4/12 that is brutal.

[BIGGERSTAFF]

This pedal will get you the tones you seek.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WcsV7hQ1V4

[MBreinin]

Mesa MkIII. Run it through at least a pair of EVs and prepare to void your bowels once the volume exceeds 3. Brutal.

Mike

[Greg E.]

I've just gotta revive this oldish thread with one more question.

After browsing the traynor site, I came across the newest incarnation of the YBA series... the YBA-200 (http://www.traynoramps.com/products....&cat=40&id=399). I was wondering if anyone had experience trying to blast a guitar through this, and how she sounds? (I'm just looking at new amps versus vintage ones and trying to get an idea on just how different they may be).

[StaxSoul]

Love this thread. Don't know about the traynor amp in question. But as to early QOTSA amps (not sure about the Kyuss years), Josh used primarily (from what I've heard) old Ampegs vt-22 & vt-40. Fu Manchu has their rigs posted here: http://www.fu-manchu.com/fuequipment2.htm - JCM 2000 Triple Lead amps, Dan Armstrong guitars. I think Acid King uses Marshalls as well. I've seen a bunch of other stoner/riff rock bands play Sunn amps live as well as Green/Matamps and Orange amps. The one common thread between most of these players is the lack of effects pedals -- usually just a tuner and a fuzz pedal before hitting the amp.

Then again, I found this quote by Josh in guitar player:
"People always ask me about my rig, but that’s not what’s important. The real beauty of guitar playing is the act of finding things out for yourself. The best gear advice I can offer is to play through an amp with one volume knob and one tone knob and see if you can make that sound good. You’ll learn more from doing that than from knowing the details of my rig."

[Smoke Banshee]

Electric Wizard actually used (don't know if they still do or not) Sound City amps. I read an interview with Jus where he said they started using "prehistoric" amps because it was all they could afford, and they eventually started liking the sound.

Anyone have any experience with these? I know they go for pretty cheap, and I've heard they can be unreliable.