Question What’s the Best Head for Distortion Out of the Box (Using an Axis)?

[dwells]

JSX Peavey head crunch tone is absolutely wicked or mesa Mark 4 heads a great too.

 

[buckethead777]

The most flexible heads are Bad Cat 30 , and my current amp Egnater Mod 50.

 

[phatduckk]

I have my buddies VHT Pitbull 50 at my house actually. It's a great head. not too different from my Marshall JVM tho.

 

[Hendog]

I didn't want a Marshall or Mesa because they sound too much like many others and I couldn't afford a VHT, Diezel, or Bogner.

I was going to get a 6505 + but I couldn't get the thing EQ'ed like I wanted so I took a leap and ordered a Carvin V3. It is the absolute best high gain amp I have ever plugged into. I would not do an even swap for a new, in the box Bogner Ecstacy.

 

[colinboy]

Checkout the new series one amps from 'Blackstar' in the uk.

They look and sound absolutely amazing.I think there one or two videos on youtube,i will post a link for you if i can find it.

 

[nobozos]

The Axis will sound great through any of the amps previously mentioned, but I'm going to have to say that the 5150 Combo is the best match for that guitar.

The 5150 Combo is voiced specifically with that guitar. I've played many different guitars through my 5150 Combo, but none of them light that amp up like the Axis/EVH. They were made for each other.

As stated before, you have to use the Combo. The head just doesn't sound as good. You really only need a 2x12 extension cabinet to hook up to the combo, as the extension cabinet does not defeat the internal speakers.

Of the other amps I've played, a Budda Superdrive 18, or a Mesa F-30 sound great with that guitar.

 

[Larry]

If your considering any vintage type amp check out

FRENZEL Tube Amps

I ended up with a 25 watt Twin Plexi Reverb which I absolutely love!

All PTP wired clones/hybrids of vintage Fender Marshall and Vox amplifiers.

Jim is a great guy to deal with too.

 

[DTJPPR]

My Votes are on these amps(coming from a guy playing technical Metal on a SIlo Special tuned to Drop B):

ENGL Savage
ENGL Ritchie Blackmore(Which I use)
Diezel(any model)
Bogner Ecstasy
Bogner Uberschall
Orange Rockerverb


These are just my personal favorites.

 

[megaroel]

come on guys end it all buy a 5150 III. i played a new wolfgang thru it, it sounded good i played my axis thru it and wow talk about distortion it has all you need with out all that feed back. right out of the box.

 

[noise5150]

Thats an extremely subjective question. I play through a Marshall DSL 50 watt head going into a 4x12 Vintage Modern cab. It sounds great. I think the Dimarzios in the Axis are great rock pickups but are also good for clean sounds especially with a little chorus.

 

[HCB]

Have a tech wire in a line out on a fender champ or other single ended amp. Run it into you large 100 watter and voila, overdrive for any venue. Volume not an issue and great single ended sound.

 

[roburado]

Personally, I think the Egnater modular series amps are the most versatile amps out there, and they sound fantastic. My next amp will involve either the M4 preamp, or it will be the Mod50. The distortion is amazing.

 

[headcrash]

Go and try an ENGL Blackmore. Very simple layout, but very versatile. It also blends more into Marshall territory, than most of the other modern ENGLs.

 

[Smellybum]

I you can find one a Russian Sovtek Mig 50 - (Marshall Clone, killer tone)

 

[John Price]

I would suggest checking out the Mesa Stiletto! This amp is one of my favorite amps to get that el34 vibe plus It wont break the bank either.

 

[marduke]

surprisingly the Orange Tiny Terror sounds fantastic!! only downside is its not very versatile (ie different channels) but for a great gain sound i loved it!

 

[Spudmurphy]

 

[OLPlayer]

I've recently treated myself to a Blackstar HT5 combo, and they also do a head... The sound is awesome. I've only run it at bedroom volumes so far, but the cleans and dirties sound incredible. I'm sure it would cope with gigging small halls mic'd up.. NO NEED FOR ANY PEDALS

 

[Mowbrayster]

Within the last month I got a Mesa Mark V. And despite all the negative reviews out there this is one awesome amp. Once you dial it in correctly you'll never fall out of love with this amp.

 

[bkrumme]

Within the last month I got a Mesa Mark V. And despite all the negative reviews out there this is one awesome amp. Once you dial it in correctly you'll never fall out of love with this amp.

I don't get why people are giving the Mark V negative reviews. If you know anything about the Mark series of amplifiers, you'd know you have to tweak the hell out of them.

Mine will be on the way soon...