Amp Ideas

Pacomc79 · December 2004

nailz100 wrote:

Hey Mig, how about that cabinet we we talking about with a bogner or matchless head on it? There are only two places in Canada that sell bogner, the closest one to me is 2 1/2 hours away, but I might go check it out....everyone I have talked to has told me to buy new instead of used.

Ouch, 2.5 hours. that sucks, mines just around the corner, I go there during lunch sometimes.

Used a bogner is affordable for you, New its more than you really want to shell out I think, but it's essentially modern marshall perfection. It's Marshall without cutting corners. Smooth, harmonically rich, sonic excellence.

So I'm a tone snob......STOP LOOKING AT ME SWAN!!

nailz100 · December 2004

I am a little worried buying used though....no warranty, plus those shipping guys aren't exactly easy on their cargo....and its a tube amp. There's a few combo's selling on e-bay for around $1500 US....but I'd definately want to play one before I bought one

Pacomc79 · December 2004

nailz100 wrote:

I am a little worried buying used though....no warranty, plus those shipping guys aren't exactly easy on their cargo....and its a tube amp. There's a few combo's selling on e-bay for around $1500 US....but I'd definately want to play one before I bought one

yeah, and it's tough to trust an Ebay packer and seller for that matter.

I'm with you there.

Definately no matter what you do, get a padded road case for that baby. You can set the amp on top of it on stage and it will save some costly expenses.

Did you find any Mesa shops?

nailz100 · December 2004

There are alot of Mesa dealers around here. I went into the store yesterday and tried out an Orange (not heavy enough), a Marshall (good dirty sound, poor clean sound), and 2 Mesa's (good clean sound, poor dirty sound)... I heard some of the soundclips on the Bogner website and the thing sounds pretty damn good! Maybe buying off e-bay is the way to go, as long as the seller does a damn good job of packing it...and stamping it fragile.

MissYouAllDay · December 2004

Yah,

I stressed over and over the extreme packing of my hiwatt to my seller. He ensured me it would be packed awesomely. It came in a box. Like just a box that barely fit it. No padding. Lucky for me the thing is built like a tank.

My hair would be falling out if I ever ordered another tube amp over ebay.

nailz100 · December 2004

Are you saying don't do it?

I guess I could buy a padded roadcase on E-bay....ship it to the seller and have him pack the amp in it and send it to me....hahaha

MissYouAllDay · December 2004

Well I am saying it's hard to trust a seller to pack an amp. If possible find one that has sold many many amps. If this is the case it is much more likely they will do a thourough packing job cause they know it's in their best interest too.

Pacomc79 · December 2004

MissYouAllDay wrote:

Yah,

I stressed over and over the extreme packing of my hiwatt to my seller. He ensured me it would be packed awesomely. It came in a box. Like just a box that barely fit it. No padding. Lucky for me the thing is built like a tank.

My hair would be falling out if I ever ordered another tube amp over ebay.

Ya. Hiwatt.....built to survive Pete Townsend. The actual reason he switched from Marshalls. He kept busting them.

nailz100 · December 2004

Paco, would you say its better to get a 1 X 12" bogner or a 2 X 12" bogner...I checked on their website and they're almost exactly the same price...give or take a couple hun.

MissYouAllDay · December 2004

"they're almost exactly the same price...give or take a couple hun"

You know your spending a ton when...

solsurfr · December 2004

You can't go wrong with a good tube amp like mesa or peavey but FWIW, I'm a fan of Line6. For $600, you could have a Line6 Flextone III Plus that is loaded with effects and pretty decent amp models that will keep you interested for a long time. If you wanted something with more juice, the HD 147 is a great amp that gives 300watts of power and has much heavier amp models. I guess it all depends on what you are going to use the amp for. For gigging, I love my Line6 amps. For recording, tube amps are the way to go but the Flex and HD are good for recording as well but just not as good. Just my 2 cents...

Pacomc79 · December 2004

nailz100 wrote:

There are alot of Mesa dealers around here. I went into the store yesterday and tried out an Orange (not heavy enough), a Marshall (good dirty sound, poor clean sound), and 2 Mesa's (good clean sound, poor dirty sound)... I heard some of the soundclips on the Bogner website and the thing sounds pretty damn good! Maybe buying off e-bay is the way to go, as long as the seller does a damn good job of packing it...and stamping it fragile.

Which mesa was it? Mesa probably has a bit to much compression for you, too scouped. You sound like you want a more wooley fat crunchy middle, than scouped out high gain madness.

Orange, as expected is too niche for you, that's why I say modern marshall tone, you're not much of a plexi man though you'd probably enjoy the cleans of a JMP even though that's not what they are known for.

Your character is definately wooley mid to high gain british sound.

The Bogner Shiva should be perfect for what you are looking for.

That amp the insanely ugly and expensive Diezel VH4 and the Matchless Lightning 2x12 gave me goosebumps the first time I heard them.....

For shits and giggles you might see if you can try a Soldano Super Lead Overdrive somewhere, but the price on those is just insane.

nailz100 · December 2004

I believe it was the Nomad 45 or 55...as well as the F-100. The soldano doesn't make most of their amps footswitchable....their are a few, but they are pricy. After hearing some of those sample tracks on the bogner site and talking to a soundguy I know, I think that is the way to go to....I'd like to try the Matchless as well though. I still can't decide to get a 1 X 12" or a 2 X 12" or a bogner head with a cab....like the one on e-bay?

Pacomc79 · December 2004

nailz100 wrote:

I believe it was the Nomad 45 or 55...as well as the F-100. The soldano doesn't make most of their amps footswitchable....their are a few, but they are pricy. After hearing some of those sample tracks on the bogner site and talking to a soundguy I know, I think that is the way to go to....I'd like to try the Matchless as well though. I still can't decide to get a 1 X 12" or a 2 X 12" or a bogner head with a cab....like the one on e-bay?

I'll let Mig the engineer handle this one.

Personally it's not much of an issue for me, either or. Just decide on the open or closed back deal.

Logistically speaking, I'd go with the 2x12 combo.

JofZ · December 2004

nailz100 wrote:

Thanks Pac, yeah I guess I should narrow it down for you. Right now I have a marshall 2-12 combo (older valvestate). The thing has been like a tank since i've bought it. I've took it in for repair only once since I bought it...probably back in 96 or so. I've played numerous gigs with it....hauling gear does a number on your equipment and yet it just keeps tickin. Since I bought my PRS tremonti I have been looking to "beef", improve my sound a bit, from the advice of some musicians and also members of the band....not because of the guitar, just because its time to upgrade. Don't get me wrong, I think my sound is good....but I know I can get better. I have friends that have full size road kings and cabs and are still trying to get a sound they are happy with.

What I am looking for is this: A GOOD solid 2 X 12 combo amp...I do not want to get a full cab. Plus I am a singer/ guitar player...If I have to get a head with a small cab to get the sound I want, then so be it. I play anywhere from 30-50 shows a year, so its got to be tough and durable.

THIS GOES FOR ANYONE ON THIS BOARD.

If you can list me your choices for the top 3 combo amps with a thick, full, rich alternative sound. I don't care what make, model, anything is....just your picks for the best amp...price range 0-$1500....I don't care if it is used. I am going to take my time picking out the right amp....any suggestions are appreciated.

You can grab a Mesa and be very happy. I am with mine, thanks again Pac!

You should also check out the Fuchs amps, probably a little out of your budget, but dead on Dumble. The SLX 30 is worth looking at.

A lot of guys love Tone King as well, I love the sound and would consider them. It can do tweeds, blackface and marshalls no problem, but budget might be an issue.

Dr.Z is also a good option.

mccreadyisgod · December 2004

nailz100 wrote:

Hey Mig, how about that cabinet we we talking about with a bogner or matchless head on it? There are only two places in Canada that sell bogner, the closest one to me is 2 1/2 hours away, but I might go check it out....everyone I have talked to has told me to buy new instead of used.

That Groove Tubes cabinet would sound good with pretty much ANY tube amp plugged into it.

Have you thought about Cesar Diaz yet?

http://www.diazmusicalproducts.com/

(he already hates us, you know... too many toys, he's gonna hit overload...)

mccreadyisgod · December 2004

Pacomc79 wrote:

I'll let Mig the engineer handle this one.

Personally it's not much of an issue for me, either or. Just decide on the open or closed back deal.

Logistically speaking, I'd go with the 2x12 combo.

The only real problem with a combo amp is that issue of the closed-back cabinet... most combos are open-backed. And I really believe here that you need a closed-back cab.

However... you could always get an extension cab with 1x12" or 2x12" and try it that way.

Pacomc79 · December 2004

mccreadyisgod wrote:

The only real problem with a combo amp is that issue of the closed-back cabinet... most combos are open-backed. And I really believe here that you need a closed-back cab.

However... you could always get an extension cab with 1x12" or 2x12" and try it that way.

I guess there's the issue of tube rattle noise and vibration too, as well as the ease and flexibility of a head, ie you aren't really stuck with a particular cabinet.

amps of that quality have multiple outs on the back as it is so you don't have to use the internal speakers.

Pete Townsend is using Fender Tone King combos with open backed 3x10 cabs and then closed back 2x12 cabs on the bottom.

mccreadyisgod · December 2004

Pacomc79 wrote:

Pete Townsend is using Fender Tone King combos with open backed 3x10 cabs and then closed back 2x12 cabs on the bottom.

I always liked combining the presence of an open-backed speaker with the punch of a closed-back. But if I only had one cab, it'd be closed.

All Those Yesterdays · December 2004

Traynor has some great priced great sounding all tube amps out, that are pretty slick. Musicians Friend carries them too

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