Frustration...so many amps, still can't find what I'm looking for

[entex]

So I've been amp shopping for the last couple months. I've tried Mesas, Marshalls, Fenders, Vox, Traynor. I've listened to tons of demos online: Hiwatt, Orange, you name it.

Basically, I'm looking for an amp that can produce a very organic overdrive with a little snarl and sizzle to it. I don't want the modern sound of a Mesa, or the brittle, smooth sound of a marshall. I want something that truly breathes between pick-strokes.

The closest thing I can show you to describe what I'm looking for is this video:

Virus - The Black Flux
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl3pRhHoYMI

This tone is very organic, responsive to the guitar, it has that sizzle and burn. It sounds nothing like any distortion pedal could reproduce. Any recommendations for me? I would really appreciate any input...I'm growing really frustrated having money to buy a new amp, but being constantly underwhelmed by amplifiers I try.

[mort]

Can't watch the vid here at work... tried a 5e3? or Tweed champ?

[Dave_C]

Sounds like you need a D-style. Fuchs, Glaswerks, Bludo, Quinn, Red Plate...check 'em out.

[gldtp99]

Interesting tone---- to me it sounds like it has has the "bigness/airyness" of a cleanish larger wattage amp, but cranked up to produce some natural OD--- amps like BF Fender Showman, BF/SF Twin Reverb, or Hiwatt DR103 come to mind.
Use of whatever time effect/delay they're using is important here, too.
A few months ago i was testing different delays with one of my Sound City L100 Mk3's (late 60's-early 70's amps quite similar to early Hiwatts)---i was running delays in the factory "Reverb In/Out loop" that these amps have---- i was pushing two 4x12 cabs split L/R and getting a very similar tone.
It's possible that two or more types of amps are being used at one time.
If you live in N. Texas (it seems that people don't want to reveal where on the globe they live anymore) contact me and arrange to visit my amp workshop---- we'll set up several types of amp combinations and see if this tone can be accomplished.
If you don't live in N. Texas then try as many combinations of quality, large wattage amps as you possibly can---use different delays with them---- run the amps singly and in combination(s)...................gldtp99
It's unlikely that online amp demos will be of much help trying to get the tone you're looking for

[tw6t6]

i dont know what amps these guys are using, but thanks for turning me onto the band. really cool original stuff. great song, but the riff at 2:00 killed me!
as someone else said, it sounds like a clean amp cranked up really loud. The guitars play a role in the tone too. It seems like a tele and a gretsch. i could be wrong, but there is some nice growl and twang going on at the same time. try looking up the bands gear on-line. good luck in the quest. thanks again for the cool song!

[hank57]

Trinity Amps in Canada have something called the Triwatt that runs 6V6 and KT66 tubes. Designed after David Gilmours amp it has a great overdrive built in. I live in Oakland CA, come on by and try mine.

[GuitarTone]

Originally Posted by entex

So I've been amp shopping for the last couple months. I've tried Mesas, Marshalls, Fenders, Vox, Traynor. I've listened to tons of demos online: Hiwatt, Orange, you name it.

Basically, I'm looking for an amp that can produce a very organic overdrive with a little snarl and sizzle to it. I don't want the modern sound of a Mesa, or the brittle, smooth sound of a marshall. I want something that truly breathes between pick-strokes.

The closest thing I can show you to describe what I'm looking for is this video:

Virus - The Black Flux
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl3pRhHoYMI

This tone is very organic, responsive to the guitar, it has that sizzle and burn. It sounds nothing like any distortion pedal could reproduce. Any recommendations for me? I would really appreciate any input...I'm growing really frustrated having money to buy a new amp, but being constantly underwhelmed by amplifiers I try.

IMO, the guitar tone in that video is created in the studio.
A good engineer would use any of the amps you've tried and get that tone...in fact a good engineer will get that tone out of a Pod, IMO.

The first thing guitarists seem to do when trying out an amp is setting the gain at 7 or 8 or cranked....instead of at 4...and then their first comment is, 'the overdrive/distortion channel was terrible'.

[TwoTubMan]

Originally Posted by GuitarTone

IMO, the guitar tone in that video is created in the studio.
A good engineer would use any of the amps you've tried and get that tone.

The first thing guitarists seem to do when trying out an amp is setting the gain at 7 or 8 or cranked....instead of at 4...and then their first comment is, 'the overdrive/distortion channel was terrible'.

Yep. A good Marshall on 4 is an INCREDIBLE amp.

Entex, you may be overthinking it too much.

After listening to the clip you provided, I think you need a speaker change rather than an amp change.

[diagrammatiks]

sounds like your describing some of the characteristics of a d-style amp and some of the characteristics of a trainwreck style amp.

In fact, my fuchs train 45 is responsive in the ways that you're talking about.

[slagg]

Originally Posted by GuitarTone

IMO, the guitar tone in that video is created in the studio.
A good engineer would use any of the amps you've tried and get that tone...in fact a good engineer will get that tone out of a Pod, IMO.

The first thing guitarists seem to do when trying out an amp is setting the gain at 7 or 8 or cranked....instead of at 4...and then their first comment is, 'the overdrive/distortion channel was terrible'.

THIS^^^or a Tungsten-cremewheat 5e3 and a tele.

[HoboMan]

Originally Posted by GuitarTone

IMO, the guitar tone in that video is created in the studio.
A good engineer would use any of the amps you've tried and get that tone...in fact a good engineer will get that tone out of a Pod, IMO.

The first thing guitarists seem to do when trying out an amp is setting the gain at 7 or 8 or cranked....instead of at 4...and then their first comment is, 'the overdrive/distortion channel was terrible'.

This again.

You're trying to recreate a sound that was created with $$$$ of studio equipment and a $$ engineer & producer.
Hard to duplicate with with $1500 amps.

[FFTT]

First 20 seconds- I'm hearing single coils for the rhythm track with reverb, trem, quite cool actually, very little gain, just letting the guitar sing.

Ampeg Gemini I or a Super Reverb, either could pull it off.

[WoodyTone com]

To my ears that track has at least 2 guitars/amps setups. Sounds cool though. entex, tell us more: what type of music you want to play (band examples), your #1 guitar, what cab if any.

[mountain blues]

I am no expert by any means, but I have gotten that kind of overdrive with JTM45 based amp circuits with a ringin' Tele on the bridge; I have gotten that as well as well as with the Matchless Hotbox - which is more of a pre-amp than a pedal that is kind of like Vox overdrive in a box - in front of a number of amps.

[suparsonic]

Originally Posted by entex

So I've been amp shopping for the last couple months. I've tried Mesas, Marshalls, Fenders, Vox, Traynor. I've listened to tons of demos online: Hiwatt, Orange, you name it.

Basically, I'm looking for an amp that can produce a very organic overdrive with a little snarl and sizzle to it. I don't want the modern sound of a Mesa, or the brittle, smooth sound of a marshall. I want something that truly breathes between pick-strokes.

The closest thing I can show you to describe what I'm looking for is this video:

Virus - The Black Flux
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl3pRhHoYMI

This tone is very organic, responsive to the guitar, it has that sizzle and burn. It sounds nothing like any distortion pedal could reproduce. Any recommendations for me? I would really appreciate any input...I'm growing really frustrated having money to buy a new amp, but being constantly underwhelmed by amplifiers I try.

So you can't find the perfect amp huh? Join the que of 99% of guitarists! Personally I'm happy with my amp. A lot of tone is in the fingers, guitar, pick technique, Fx, etc.