Amp shopping

[jagged]

I know I mentioned before about how I was going to get a Mesa/Boogie Roadster... but that isn't happening. So I'm looking for alternatives to that...

I'm a fan of many different styles of music, from classic to progressive rock. Even maybe a little of blues. Clapton to Johnson to Vai/Satch to Petrucci... It's hard to find an amp that is decently priced for what I need... I figure there must be some owners to some of the amps I'm thinking about so if you could please let me know what you guys think... I trust this forum more than any review site because they're usually full of kids who are honey-mooning with their toys.

I'm looking mainly for combo's with vintage 30's in them... so here's what I've got so far...

Mesa Express 5:50
Peavey JSX
Carvin Legacy


EDIT: I have the following pedals in my setup... TS 808, DS 1, MT 2

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Look at the Traynor YCS100 (I believe that's what it's called)

If it costed more, I bet it'd be more popular...

 

[mesadualrec]

Well Im a mesa boogie fan soo
I would say a MKIV!!!!


it will do anything you want besides cut your grass(in fact it depends how loud it is,it could do thats too)

If your a gigging guitarist then a mesa is your best friend if your a bedroom guitarist stay clear of mesa's...they are way to loud!!!! (unless attenutated,but this losses tone!!)

The Bogner's are good as well as the Peavey 6505+ (A little more versatile)

ultimately a MKIV is your amp!!!

ENGL's are great too and very versatile

and the Two channel Cornford MK50II....great amp

the Bob Bradshaw head is pretty good too

I use a Dual Rectifier and a keeley modded TS9 'baked' and this is very versatile too,I play a wide range of songs in my functions band Stevie Wonder,Beyonce,Toto,Marvin Gaye and I use the same setup with my Originals band who play music more in the style of Dream Theater,Soundgarden,Alice in Chains,audioslave etc

I say go and try a bunch of amps out and see which one speaks to you

 

[John Czajkowski]

I am a huge Egnater devotee. I could use any amp I want, and they are what I like best for a variety of tones that slay. Their modular system is a stoke of genius. If you are not familiar with it, yoy may want to check out their new site. I've been using EB guitars into Egnater amps for over 12 years now and they just seem to go together in my mind. Their preamp modules don't just nail classic tones, they improve on them. If the price seems a little high, just keep in mind what you are getting and that it is modular. They have a four module preamp (soon to be augmented by a 2 module one) MOD 50 heads and combos.

 

[Sweat]

Well for me it is the 5:50 express, mine is new so I am still learning the ins and outs but very versatile.

 

[JMB27]

maybe a Dr Z Maz Senior combo with single 12 speaker or the Maz Junior in 2x12 combo form - both are very versatile with or without pedals

that said, I do find the Mesa 5:50 to be an interesting idea

happy shopping

Joel

 

[fogman]

are you looking for 100 watts?
how much do you want to spend?

 

[mesadualrec]

The Mesa Express5:50 has had a few teething problems over recent a few have been sent back and some owners have had to have refunds as thier amps have had a few problems

If a mesa is what your after then head along to the boogieboard its a great place to learn all about mesa amps and there are some great reviews too

 

[Larry]

Orange Tiny Terror. Followed by Frenzel Amps

I'm really taking a shining to my Frenzel (Sweet Little 15 AC30+Matchless clone)
FRENZEL Tube Amps

Its all tube and point to point wired for under $500.

Frenzel has won my new amp award Tiny Terror is still up there though

 

[jagged]

are you looking for 100 watts?
how much do you want to spend?

Preferably less than $1700... the JSX comes in at 1650, and the Legacy comes in at $1100... the Express 5:50 comes in at $1600

I'd like 100 watts, but it doesn't really matter to me... something preferably over 50 but its not that big of a difference anyway

 

[dannymusic]

a millions amps.... a million opinions.

Last summer, I did a show with my GNX4/digitech and my JP6 w/piezo. I went into a EV powered PA cab. I had Marshalls and Fenders at home. In a band context, where volume was an issue (Theatre; We did Rocky Horror PS), This setup shined in a live setting. It has inputs for the piezo and other assorted goodies that was a perfect fit for the JP6 and piezo system AND not alot to carry. Powered wedge, GNX4 floorboard, guitar. The sound was actually huge.

That all aside, I'm a tube snob. I'm first and foremost a VOX guy, but have recently acquired a 1x12 Lonestar and am VERY happy with it with my JP6. I certainly won't rest until I have a ROADKING though.

I do have a Vox AC15TV combo on order. My ultimate dream amp is a '62 Vox AC15 twin. THis should be DANG close. (to play with my '59LPjr).

 

[mesadualrec]

if you really wanted to go ALL out and get a Roadking series 2 v2 then yeah you wouldnt need another amp...ever

these have the now legendary Lonestar clean amp circuit as well as all the progressive linkage and goodies you get with an RK

Dont get an RK series 2 v1 these have since been revised over the past couple of months to the v2's

 

[fogman]

The amps you mentioned are amps I was also considering.

Hughes + Kettner Switchblade is currently what I'm looking at.

I also like the Mesa Lonestar, Traynor YCS100. The Mesa Roadking would be a dream though.

 

[mesadualrec]

I also see you use Jp's

I have a friend who uses a fully loaded JP 6 in mytic dream(not that it matters) and he uses a Mesa Lonestar

his tone is great

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78699738

Im sure he used it here

if not his amp here is a THD univalve

but You probably want something a little more versatile

Diezel????VH4

Also have a look at elmwood amps

 

[JoeDogInKC]

I wish I'd had enough to get even a small Mesa, but I didn't. I knew I had to finally get a tube amp though so I did some research on the kinds of sounds I could get out of certain amps, listened to alot of samples, and tried out many amps in my price range at the stores near me.

I heard many good and bad things about what I ended up getting, but it sounds great to my ears, it has a decent warranty, and I got the extended anyway for another $60. I haven't mentioned it yet because I'm sure there will be some boos and hisses, but it's as close to a mesa in tone that I could afford. So, without further adieu, I got a B-52 AT-212.

It's a great amp for the price, is certainly upgradeable to sound even better when I can afford it, and I walked out the store with it for $680 (tax included).

 

[mesadualrec]

hey man if its the tone you have been searching for then that is it

dont be embarrassed

Mesa's aint everybodys thing my friend (two of them actually)
have sold their mesa's for a Peavey 6505+

that amp you have it a serious piece of kit anyways

 

[fogman]

hey man if its the tone you have been searching for then that is it

dont be embarrassed

Mesa's aint everybodys thing my friend (two of them actually)
have sold their mesa's for a Peavey 6505+

that amp you have it a serious piece of kit anyways

+1

If you like it, that's great!
Following the masses is sometimes a terrible thing.

 

[jagged]

i happen to like mesa's....just not their price tag...

 

[JoeDogInKC]

Thanks for the support. I really do love this amp so far. There is still some tweaking to be done and I've played around with a few FX boxes and got good results as well for different sounds that I'd want. Old Boston sounds, 80's Hair Metal, etc. They sound really good through the amp, even out of an old POD 2.0 that I had laying around. I'm kind of hoping that when the new POD X3 comes out that I can grab one and then have most of the tones I want/need in addition to the great crunch/lead tones of the amp.

Man is it nice to have a multi-channel amp with footswitch!!!

 

[roburado]

I am a huge Egnater devotee. I could use any amp I want, and they are what I like best for a variety of tones that slay. Their modular system is a stoke of genius. If you are not familiar with it, yoy may want to check out their new site. I've been using EB guitars into Egnater amps for over 12 years now and they just seem to go together in my mind. Their preamp modules don't just nail classic tones, they improve on them. If the price seems a little high, just keep in mind what you are getting and that it is modular. They have a four module preamp (soon to be augmented by a 2 module one) MOD 50 heads and combos.

I want the Mod 50. Incredible amp.