The triple XXX sounds OK stock, but throw some EL34's in there and some JJecc83 pre amp tubes and you rocking, I love the tone of my XXX with the EL34's, its the only way to go on that head, also run it through a v30 loaded cab, that might be the ticket for you, I have a boss GE7 in the loop as well and it sounds amazing on the clean and dirty channels -
High-gain amps:
- Thread starter Jommi
- Start date
slukather
Well-known member
OrangeChannel said:
Fantastic Amps, l'm saving up for one.
I'm not a big fan of the Mesa Boogie tone, l found it very sharp, it actually gave me a headache. Where is my 5150ii sounds like a freight train coming out you. I was impressed with the steletto, but l still prefered my 5150ii though, and my 5150ii was like 1/2 the price, even more.
Scott.
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
Just my 2c, dont buy an Engl! They sound fabulous, but have serious reliabilty problems, and their after sales is completely non existant.
I am now a Line 6 user. My Duoverb and MXR Zakk Wylde sound 'awesome' !
I am now a Line 6 user. My Duoverb and MXR Zakk Wylde sound 'awesome' !
Pundix
Well-known member
Amps
Guess I have to throw in my $0.02 on the amps.
Mesa Boogies do have a very good clean and crunch sound, but you're really going to have to tweak them to get the sound you want. Also, the EQ section on a Mesa is very different from most amps and also very touchy. You can't just half-dial or three-quarter everything like a Fender and get a decent sound. Reading the manual with these amps actually helps a lot...
Soldano amps are great, none better. I don't know what they run now, but the amp I liked most out of all that I've had (lots) was a Soldano HR 50+. The clean channel was so full and lush that it took you a while to realize the amp didn't even have reverb. The crunch channel had more string definition than any amp I've heard before.
Marshalls are pretty much a one trick pony, but it's a hell of a trick. If you're after that Marshall crunch nothing else will do. If you want clean look elsewhere.
I had a 5150 when they first came out. I didn't like the amp, but my son loved it. I could get a decent crunch, but the clean was disappointing.
VHT amps get overlooked a lot. The pitbull series are really nice amps. They get a good full crunch sound and a very respectable clean.
Just my .02...
Guess I have to throw in my $0.02 on the amps.
Mesa Boogies do have a very good clean and crunch sound, but you're really going to have to tweak them to get the sound you want. Also, the EQ section on a Mesa is very different from most amps and also very touchy. You can't just half-dial or three-quarter everything like a Fender and get a decent sound. Reading the manual with these amps actually helps a lot...
Soldano amps are great, none better. I don't know what they run now, but the amp I liked most out of all that I've had (lots) was a Soldano HR 50+. The clean channel was so full and lush that it took you a while to realize the amp didn't even have reverb. The crunch channel had more string definition than any amp I've heard before.
Marshalls are pretty much a one trick pony, but it's a hell of a trick. If you're after that Marshall crunch nothing else will do. If you want clean look elsewhere.
I had a 5150 when they first came out. I didn't like the amp, but my son loved it. I could get a decent crunch, but the clean was disappointing.
VHT amps get overlooked a lot. The pitbull series are really nice amps. They get a good full crunch sound and a very respectable clean.
Just my .02...
Actually tried out a 'Genz-Benz' at one of the shops near hear not too long ago a Diablo I think it was called. It was 100 watt head/2x12 cab ... sounded awesome actually. I was just plugged straight in to the amp. Was very much in high-gain territory. Sounded similar to the Soldano amps, obviously not that good, but good. Defintely on par with other amps of that type though.
OrangeChannel
Well-known member
CudBucket said:
Amen dude!
fsmith
Well-known member
I've been mildly interested in all the promo I've seen lately about Alex Lifeson's new line from Hughes & Kettner. I love his tone. Has anyone had any experience with anything from H&K?
fred
fred
PeteDuBaldo
Well-known member
I saw 3 Days Grace play in Hartford CT a few months ago, one guy used an H&K and it sounded pretty good live. I don't know what magic (if any) the soundguy did, but I was impressed with his tone.fsmith said:
Eddie Van Halen
Well-known member
H&K are killer amps, but are also very expensive
I think Im goin with the 6505+ half stack myself (better clean tone then the 6505)
I think Im goin with the 6505+ half stack myself (better clean tone then the 6505)
Antoine
Well-known member
Definitely my Mesa Boogie MarkIV head, with my 2x12 Recto or 4x12 Marshall Vintage cabinets, the tone is awesome, and i find the association Mesa MarkIV + EBMM guitars to be very impressive, especially the Axis (or Axis SS), and the Luke !
H&K and ENGL
I won't be of much help I suppose, but anyway.
I have both an ENGL Rackhead 850 and a H&K Triamp MK I. I admit that I got both of these used for cheap, as I live in Germany, and that besides those I have not really that much experience with amps.
FWIW, the Triamp is the MK I Combo with 2 G12H-100 speakers and 6L6s in the poweramp. Amp 1A has a really shimmerimg beautiful clean, 1B can get you in bluesy territory. Amp 2 has a marshally vibe going on, 2A being quite bright, 2B a little bassy, almost too bassy for my ears. Many have stated that they have no use for 2B, but I think it's still usable. Amp 3A is not a really high gain channel, I miss a little sustain with it, but it's a good heavier rhythm channel. 3B is really the lead channel, but it has its own thing going on soundwise. I am hesitant to compare it to any other amp because of my lack of amp knowledge. The amp is of quite good quality, altough the one I bought used had a problem with the clean amp (Amp1), it was really quiet in comparison to the other 2 amps, but that was easily fixed with some soldering at the input stage (a cable was a little loose). The schematics are available online and the support from H&K in Germany was fast. Maybe that is already bad news for you, but I have not heared of many problems with H&K's tube amps.
The ENGL is a early 90s rackhead, EL84 based with 2x35 watts. It's my "main" amp (out of 2, haha!). 3 channels, shared EQ. No brilliant cleans, not really high gain. Built very well. A great amp for rock, not metal. Most modern ENGLs seem to be made for metal, although the Blackmore Sig and the Special Edition are very versatile as far as I've heard. But I didn't play either of them.
I played an ENGL Screamer 50 combo once and was impressed with the sound and the gain that thing had. I don't remember if the EQ was shared. It was built well as far as I could see.
Maybe anyone can use something I wrote.
Regards,
Jochen
I won't be of much help I suppose, but anyway.
I have both an ENGL Rackhead 850 and a H&K Triamp MK I. I admit that I got both of these used for cheap, as I live in Germany, and that besides those I have not really that much experience with amps.
FWIW, the Triamp is the MK I Combo with 2 G12H-100 speakers and 6L6s in the poweramp. Amp 1A has a really shimmerimg beautiful clean, 1B can get you in bluesy territory. Amp 2 has a marshally vibe going on, 2A being quite bright, 2B a little bassy, almost too bassy for my ears. Many have stated that they have no use for 2B, but I think it's still usable. Amp 3A is not a really high gain channel, I miss a little sustain with it, but it's a good heavier rhythm channel. 3B is really the lead channel, but it has its own thing going on soundwise. I am hesitant to compare it to any other amp because of my lack of amp knowledge. The amp is of quite good quality, altough the one I bought used had a problem with the clean amp (Amp1), it was really quiet in comparison to the other 2 amps, but that was easily fixed with some soldering at the input stage (a cable was a little loose). The schematics are available online and the support from H&K in Germany was fast. Maybe that is already bad news for you, but I have not heared of many problems with H&K's tube amps.
The ENGL is a early 90s rackhead, EL84 based with 2x35 watts. It's my "main" amp (out of 2, haha!). 3 channels, shared EQ. No brilliant cleans, not really high gain. Built very well. A great amp for rock, not metal. Most modern ENGLs seem to be made for metal, although the Blackmore Sig and the Special Edition are very versatile as far as I've heard. But I didn't play either of them.
I played an ENGL Screamer 50 combo once and was impressed with the sound and the gain that thing had. I don't remember if the EQ was shared. It was built well as far as I could see.
Maybe anyone can use something I wrote.
Regards,
Jochen
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
I refer to my earlier post...
Just my 2c, dont buy an Engl! They sound fabulous, but have serious reliabilty problems, and their after sales is completely non existant.
I am now a Line 6 user. My Duoverb and MXR Zakk Wylde sound 'awesome' !
Just my 2c, dont buy an Engl! They sound fabulous, but have serious reliabilty problems, and their after sales is completely non existant.
I am now a Line 6 user. My Duoverb and MXR Zakk Wylde sound 'awesome' !
edensdad
Well-known member
mhorse said:
Me Too!
I have a Nomad, which is by no means an expensive amp ($1400 new for my 55 Watt 4x10 combo) but it's incredible. It has the best clean sound I've ever had in a guitar amp, which works great for my Piezo. It is also Class A/B power, which if I understand correctly switches the tubes between full on and full off depending on demand, unlike class A which is full on all the time. This give the amp a breathy almost wind instrument quality which sounds incredible in solos. It sings. I get the perfect tone for me. Since they don't make them anymore, I would either get a Mesa Mark IV, or consider a Rivera, I played one of those and it sounded great on every setting from super clean to scare your neighbors.
Eddie Van Halen
Well-known member
I've heard good things about the Peavey XXX
Hi guys, in my opinion there really is no call for these "huge" valve amps anymore, I work in a music store and have tried alot of high gain gear. Im a huge JP fan and have my own fully loaded JP six. With Line 6 amps such as the POD XT or the Vetta you can get tremendous high gain tones, easily as good as a soldano or mesa at a fraction of the cost, they are digital and very reliable, wont be long before valves are a thing of the past!!!!! I used to own a 5150II, a real monster for gain but I went to a guitar show and heard line 6 demonstrating the Vetta, it blew me away so i sold the Peavey and bought a Vetta, Awesome!!!
