Need help finding an EL84 amp Head!

[mattsmith]

I'm looking for an EL84 power section amp head and I can't find one that has what I want! The must-haves:

2 footswitchable channels
Effects Loop
Not too saturated on the gain channel
Ideally, separate EQ per channel
Ideally, have a mid control on the EQ

I currently have a Mesa Lonestar Classic V2, so I'm not opposed to the TransAtlantic, though I'd like a non-Mesa sound as well.

Any and all recommendations welcome!

Cheers,


Matt

 

[GCDEF]

Egnater Rebel 30

 

[BoogieManSC]

The new Mesa Express 5:25 Plus model....has all the above criteria. It kicks ass. I've owned MB's: Road King II 212 combo, 5:50 Express 212 combo, MarkV combo. The Express Plus is a head that I run through a 212 Recto and it's an amazingly versatile amp...pure EL84. It has amazing sustain if you choose to dial it up....I would give it a test drive if possible. It's such a purer gain sound than the Recto-based MB's I've owned/tried. It's also LOUD, but also has switchable power options for 5,15,25 watts....per channel. Also has a gorgeous clean channel....chimey and crystal clear.

 

[TVa]

A Lonestar Special.

 

[8len8]

Guytron.

 

[jbt7764]

Badcat Black Cat 30 or 15.

 

[sixesandsevens]

The Buddha SD18 and 30 are close. They have a semi-shared EQ (knobs shared, switches not) and you'd have to keep the gain down because they do saturate and compress past 1:00 or so, but I think they've got everything else.

 

[midnightlaundry]

Why particularly does it need to be EL84's? Just curious.

*edit*

 

[Stratobuc]

The OP doesn't say "2-EL84's".

 

[8len8]

Why particularly does it need to be EL84's? Just curious.

*edit*

Probably the tone the OP is looking for.

 

[midnightlaundry]

It's the tone, man!

 

[Guitarchaeologist]

Try a Carvin Belair with Vintage 30s, you may be pleasantly surprised for less dollars.

 

[JackD]

Guytron.

I second that. Check out the Guytron GT100 FV. These are fantastic amps. Check out Jon Herington from Steely Dan. They are not too expensive -- check with Graydon Stuckey at GDS/Guytron I love mine!

 

[Kelly]

Fuchs Blackjack 21

 

[AceBSpankin]

A Lonestar Special.

This!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mudder]

VHT/Fryette Pittbull 45.

 

[Dinosaur Sr.]

I'm looking for an EL84 power section amp head and I can't find one that has what I want! The must-haves:

2 footswitchable channels
Effects Loop
Not too saturated on the gain channel
Ideally, separate EQ per channel
Ideally, have a mid control on the EQ

I currently have a Mesa Lonestar Classic V2, so I'm not opposed to the TransAtlantic, though I'd like a non-Mesa sound as well.

Any and all recommendations welcome!

Cheers,


Matt

In my opinion a Transatlantic doesn't sounds much like a usual Mesa. Doesn't mean you'll like the Transatlantic, but just pointing out it's not the usual mesa sound. Also just FYI the "channel switching" on the Transatlantic is a little unusual--one side is a "vox" side (with a regular and a top boost) and the other channel is either "tweed" (clean) or High 1 (Marshally) or High 2 (sort of a slightly gainer version of High 1). So it's not like one side has all the cleans and one has all the dirtys. It's more like one side has the vox sounds and the other has the non-vox sounds.

 

[Whiskeyrebel]

A friend of mine had a Crate VC5310 that sounded good. Independent EQ, but I think only the gain channel had a mid knob. It also came in a head version.

 

[Sweetwood]

Brunetti Maranello. East Studio (or whatever it is called). Lots of good ones.

 

[sixesandsevens]

VHT/Fryette Pittbull 45.

Good call. The Memphis meets the requirements too.