Is Budda my answer?

[MontyW]

Hi,

In a previous thread I explained that I need to move away from my ENGL 100W head and 4 x 12 cab... I need something for smaller venues, smaller wattage that I can 'drive' etc...

I like great cleans with good headroom to down right dirty for a bit of heavy metal. A member on here (thanks Carl) suggested I look into a suitable amp that will give the great cleans on one channel and if I 'really' need thrash/heavy metal then do it through a pedal on the effects loop.

So would a Budda 30W Superdrive be my answer?

Any advice?

Cheers,

Monty

 

[Brian Maestro]

Hi,

In a previous thread I explained that I need to move away from my ENGL 100W head and 4 x 12 cab... I need something for smaller venues, smaller wattage that I can 'drive' etc...

I like great cleans with good headroom to down right dirty for a bit of heavy metal. A member on here (thanks Carl) suggested I look into a suitable amp that will give the great cleans on one channel and if I 'really' need thrash/heavy metal then do it through a pedal on the effects loop.

So would a Budda 30W Superdrive be my answer?

Any advice?

Cheers,

Monty

Yes!

 

[dazed1]

YUP!

 

[Jason_86_951]

I would not pick the 30 for that, the 45 would be a better choice. The 30 just doesn't have the headroom for big cleans, nor the grunt for metal in the power amp. IMO

 

[spyeman]

Keep in mind too that the Budda's are SUPER LOUD, my 18 watter can blow the house down, in fact I just purchased an attenuator so I can use it cranked a bit in smaller bars. If you can, absolutely try one out somewhere, I agree with the clean headroom comment, if you have your master cranked pretty well on the 18, the clean headroom.....well.......there isn't any! lol

 

[gdomeier]

I got rid of my sd30 because it didn't do the heavier end enough for me. The clean channel was great, although it won't do squeaky clean at higher levels.

The drive channel was great as well and did 70's and some 80's gain well. It just didn't do the heavier, modern tones I sometimes like.

 

[prsnstrat]

The drive channel was great as well and did 70's and some 80's gain well. It just didn't do the heavier, modern tones I sometimes like.

Did you have a series I or II?

 

[guitkrazy]

No Doubt! I think the 30 will do everything you need and more- I will say that I originally wanted 2 channels, but I use only one and run it clean and run a couple of different dirt pedals to get what I want live. BTW- The Budda takes pedals very very well!

 

[NateFreezy]

Is it the size of the ENGL rig that is the problem? I had heard they do lower volumes relatively well.

I've been looking at Budda as well for something similar - have heard drive channel is also supposed to be excellent but not necessarily a modern voicing. Am keeping my eyes open for lower wattage amp with more modern drive channel as well...

 

[StompBoxBlues]

Budda amps are just absolutely my dream amps. I bought a SD-18 and though it doesn't have much headroom on the clean channel (specially with my Les Paul) and I usually want clean headroom, I don't care, it sounds so amazing that it is the sound I want.

But, after doing research because I was thinking of buying another SD amp, I understood that the SD-30 doesn't have a lot more headroom than the SD-18, that if I wanted clean headroom I should go for the SD-45, so I did. IT does have headroom, so if that is what you want I think you should skip the SD-30 and go to a SD-45.

That said, and keep in mind, I typically want clean headroom, I could live with either amp. Actually, I think I still favor the SD-18 just for its' overall sound with any guitar (strat or LP), but the SD-45 is pretty amazing too. IT has more headroom, but I also can get it when I turn down the guitar volume, and they both are amazing amps. Seriously, I have had a number of amps, I still love my Soldano SLO-100, and my Fuchs TDS-100, but honestly the SD series seems easiest to dial in, and most rewarding.
I also have a Classic 30, Germino Classic 45, Fender Concert, Fender Hot Rod DeVille, and other amps I liked very much, but NOTHING touches the SD series. I tend to like a little reverb, and the SD doesn't have it, but the loop works fine, and I also find even though I can add it, I tend not to, because it sounds perfect as is. I tend not to use OD anymore, with these amps.

 

[MontyW]

Is it the size of the ENGL rig that is the problem? I had heard they do lower volumes relatively well.

I've been looking at Budda as well for something similar - have heard drive channel is also supposed to be excellent but not necessarily a modern voicing. Am keeping my eyes open for lower wattage amp with more modern drive channel as well...

The Engl does not play well at low volumes - well not as far as I'm concerned. I'm at the stage where I want something that gives me amazing tones at moderate levels.

I've done the 100w head a 4x12 cab now for a change

I think I'm heading towards the 45 to help with the clean head room.

So New Year approaching and hopefully a new amp

 

[gdomeier]

Did you have a series I or II?

Series II. I usually used the pull modern mode.

 

[prsnstrat]

Series II. I usually used the pull modern mode.

Yep that's where I stay on mine as well. I found it works amazingly with an EQ in the loop, to get pretty heavy into the modern rock/metal zone. A keeley BD2 to push it over the top.

 

[Andre357]

Owning a Budda SDII in 18 and 30 watt formats ( both 1x12's ) I will tell you the 18 watter seems to have a bit more low end breadth to it and sounds a tad thicker...

IMHO - The 18 watter excels with single coils because of this and it has become my primary giging amp..



It is just as loud as the 30 watter but the 30 watter has more headroom ( not a lot more, but some more )..... I put a clean boost in the effects loop of my 18 watt budda and use it as an overall master volume. I get very loud cleans this way if wanted ( I mean very loud and clean until your really digging in to the guitar ). I think the power sections of these amps can take quite a hit before significant distortion kicks in.

If your playing mostly high output, darker, humbucker equipped guitars perhaps the 30 would be a better choice ( it's brighter with a bit more headroom )...