Recommendations For Next Amp

[cooljuk]

• Under $2500 (just the head)
• Full-on Marshall dirty channel (big mean dark distortion with balls type of Marshall)
• Sparkling clean (NOT crunchy/dirty) channel
• PTP and simple would be ideal as I would prefer to service my own gear
• 50W or similar power option

The band I'm in now calls for everything from palm muted tremolo picking rhythms, to finger-picking clean arpeggios and open chords. I play almost everything in D, some stuff in drop C, mostly on a Les Paul. Our sound reminds me of:

Jerry Cantrell
Baroness
Pelican

Think dirty big mean dark rock/metal sounds with lots of hints of dark woody tones, NOT shredding trebbly scooped metal or brittle "JCM800 & TS pedal" hair metal.

 

[cooljuk]

Probably worth mentioning that I'm currently using a Marshall 2205 and very much like the dirty channel, but find the clean channel about worthless. I just roll back the guitar volume for actual cleans now.

 

[Braciola]

Landry

 

[cooljuk]

Landry

I've been drooling over Landrys online recently. I need to check one out in person. I was also considering a Bogner Ecstasy of some sort.

 

[DICKIE C]

You're in Rockville? Try Viking Amps here in Warrenton, VA.

 

[Bstring]

I've been drooling over Landrys online recently. I need to check one out in person. I was also considering a Bogner Ecstasy of some sort.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of those choices.

 

[cooljuk]

You're in Rockville? Try Viking Amps here in Warrenton, VA.

Oh cool, I hadn't heard of Viking. I'll look into getting a demo. Thanks for the tip!

 

[t-rey]

Sounds like a Titan amp to me. They are all hand made in Georgia and have insane amounts of gain as well as very nice cleans. Google titan amps and go to the builders myspace (I don't think he has a website yet). Listen to the sound clips and then shoot him an email and see if any of his models fit what you are looking for.

 

[Lost_Cause]

There have been some used Titans @ HC. Not sure if there are any now.

 

[Bikedude]

How about a Mesa, MarkV or Electradyne?

 

[Amp360]

I have this old timey Marshall called the JTM-50. It's a combo amp, but it sounds great cranked all the way up and at lower settings (it's always pretty loud) it has a fantastic clean sound.

Down side is the trem is not too hot and there is no reverb. I think I paid about $400 about 20 years ago. There is no built in distortion.

I have not found too much information on it, even now. It uses strange tubes (not EL-34 or 6L6) but it sounds great. If you can find one check it out.

 

[guitarded_1]

Well with the Jerry Cantrell reference, the suggested amp is pretty much a given - though it doesn't fall within 50 watts.

 

[cooljuk]

How about a Mesa, MarkV or Electradyne?

I looked into both of those, but the design is so complicated. I'm not really interested in modding or constant tweaking of my amp's internals, but I'd like to do basic service myself, as needed. All those tightly packed PCBs and ribbon cables make me nervous - even the much simpler Electradyne is like that.

 

[cooljuk]

Well with the Jerry Cantrell reference, the suggested amp is pretty much a given - though it doesn't fall within 50 watts.

You mean the Ecstasy, I assume? I know he plays Bogners, but haven't looked into it beyond that. Ya, Jerry's got a tone I really love. It's pretty brutal, but still natural sounding and defined.

 

[guitarded_1]

You mean the Ecstasy, I assume? I know he plays Bogners, but haven't looked into it beyond that. Ya, Jerry's got a tone I really love. It's pretty brutal, but still natural sounding and defined.

Negative. Shiva.

 

[cooljuk]

Negative. Shiva.

oh reeeeeaaaly... Those are all over eBay right now! That's one to consider.

 

[Clifford-D]

Fender Super Sonic

Has everything you're looking for, Vibrolux and Bassman clean channels and cascading gain stages in the second channel, so much more.
My favorite modern Fender amp.
1+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqWvw9QmxsQ&feature=related

 

[cooljuk]

Negative. Shiva.

Looks like he's using the 20th Anniversary version Shiva with the KT88s on his current tour. Makes sense considering the tone of the new album.

I requested a quote on one. Probably over my budget, but so was the Ecstasy and Landry that I was considering so maybe I just need to raise my budget

 

[cooljuk]

I was offered a Diezel Einstein for $1800. I'm not too familiar with these amps, other than that Tool used the higher end ones at the last show I saw. The online clips sound good and it looks like they can take a variety of power tube types, even mixed.

I'll get a chance to play before I buy, but I won't be able to compare to any other amps at the time, and I can't return it later. Cash deal type situation.

Do you guys think this amp will cover my needs?
Can it do the cranked Marshall thing?
Is the price fair? (No completed listings on eBay for Einsteins)


EDIT: it's a 50W Einstein head, btw

 

[OK matt]

Why not a Morgan 3.8k. Marshall/AC30 hybrid? I've seen a few for 1300-1400 in the emporium recently.