Amp Talk

[elduave]

OK, so after a year of having to try and sell amps at the Rock, this is what I've learned about what I've dealt with. Disclaimer-I'm a Marshall guy.

Genz Benz does it for a some but doesn't knock me off my feet enough (at it's price point) to stock, BUT, bass stuff above M Line is just dandy and the more you spend the mo better they get. I'd like to try that little Neo Pack thing.

Orange tube amps sound fugging awesome. Got 2 UK's, sold one, we all know about the Tiny Terror but I tell you what. I plugged it into a GBenz 1x12 bass cab (tweeter off) and it rruuummmbblless. Tone approved by Hidden Hand/Probot's Wino (the only Olney rock star). Don't mess with the Crush stuff unless it's the bass combos (nice built in compression tone) or the 30 WATT guitar combo. Really can't say enough about the TT/GB combo.

Hiwatt Bulldog (cheapy) stuff sounds probably the best out of the "imports" of the big names. I finally ordered a Hiwatt UK (Custom 7) and lets just say I either a) need to spend more time with it or need to pass it on...

Behringer. For money/tone/ease I gotta go with the VTone stuff. Yeah, Behringer's not the most reliable product but I've only come across one that's gone south (owned alot of Behringer studio stuff back in the day-worked fine). How about this Bugera stuff. Heard of it? Behringer distributed "boutique" amps.

Tech 21. Never a bad tone, reliable, easy to operate. Wish they made a "student" line.

Sounds like I'll have a line on Fuchs. Pricey and I don't know what it sounds like but I think some demos will be coming by.

Really just want Marshall though.

[sirDaniel]

theres a LOT of friggin amps out there. a LOT.

I think everyone should own at least...10

Really just want Vox though.

[Disturber]

Thanks for the tone report. I love stuff like this. And from someone who works with the stuff on a daily basis. Priceless advice.

You do need a Marshall though. ´cause as the ad's said in the 80's. "Real men play real Marshall's". I love my Marshall amps, all I need.

[Guest Meshuggah]

Duave.

You plugged into an acoustic amp while I was there that sounded very fine indeed. That was a Shenedoah or something. Great tone, like what I hear in my head.

Jeem

[sirDaniel]

Thanks for the tone report. I love stuff like this. And from someone who works with the stuff on a daily basis. Priceless advice.

You do need a Marshall though. ´cause as the ad's said in the 80's. "Real men play real Marshall's". I love my Marshall amps, all I need.

Real men smoke Marlboro, drink Jim Beam and use Aqua Velva too

[Scooter]

I'd like to add that I recently (within the last couple years) discovered Randall, and am thoroughly impressed. I currently have an MTS 50 watter and a solid state V2 that kills! Their cabs are top notch as well. Unfortunately, their customer service is hot/cold.

[Brooks]

Tone approved by Hidden Hand/Probot's Wino (the only Olney rock star).

cool, did wino blast thru some amps at your shop? i dig his tone (most of the time). last pics i saw of him live was around the spirit caravan era, he was playing thru a sunn model T head & marshall cab.

[Guest pirateflynn]

Maybe you should consider Germino Amps?

http://www.germinoamps.com/default.htm

[seeker]

Or get yerself one of these: Dabeck 50 Watt Custom

Mine is my desert island amp.

[Guest Meshuggah]

Many Germino sound samples in video format can be found here.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthrea...ermino+headroom

I like the sound of the Headroom 100.

I really like the sound of the Reinhart 18 (6V6).

[shredmeister]

There are so many I would like to try.

Especially Wizard Amps and a Nayler Superdrive 60.

I have a Framus Cobra that just kills. Known as a high gain amp but I dont use a lot of the gain. You dont need to with a Framus because they are so articulate once you get it set up right and dialed in.

I had it next to several amps at a jam - a 5150 and about 6 others and you could just hear how much more definition and power the Framus had.

Wish they have one of those amp fests here in MPLS one of these days so I can go try some more out. No one amp does it all therefore you need several !

[DavidE]

There are so many I would like to try.

Especially Wizard Amps and a Nayler Superdrive 60.

I have a Framus Cobra that just kills. Known as a high gain amp but I dont use a lot of the gain. You dont need to with a Framus because they are so articulate once you get it set up right and dialed in.

I had it next to several amps at a jam - a 5150 and about 6 others and you could just hear how much more definition and power the Framus had.

Wish they have one of those amp fests here in MPLS one of these days so I can go try some more out. No one amp does it all therefore you need several !

I have two Naylors; an Eastpointe SC38 combo and a new SD60. Both are fantastic amps. For a little while, I ran both of them into a single cabinet with a Radial Headbone VT. I ran one clean and one gainy and it freaking rocked! Unfortunately, it was a lot of gear to carry around. I then used the SD60 (that I put into a head shell from a 2x12 combo) and a 4x12 cab, ran the amp clean and used pedals. What I need is a SD60 duel.

[MCChris]

There are so many I would like to try.

Especially Wizard Amps and a Nayler Superdrive 60.

I have a Framus Cobra that just kills. Known as a high gain amp but I dont use a lot of the gain. You dont need to with a Framus because they are so articulate once you get it set up right and dialed in.

I had it next to several amps at a jam - a 5150 and about 6 others and you could just hear how much more definition and power the Framus had.

Wish they have one of those amp fests here in MPLS one of these days so I can go try some more out. No one amp does it all therefore you need several !

Amp Fests are great. Last summer we organized one here in Chicago for members of the Harmony Central Amp Forum. Sounds scary, but everyone who showed up was very cool, including the HFC's own Beergoblin. It's much harder to be an immature asshole in a situation where you have to interact face-to-face with others and play guitar in front of them (although I always give it my best shot LOL!).

What struck me most was how versatile Mesa Rectifiers and Bogner Uberschalls could be. I wanted to take a crack at Beergoblin's Engl Blackmore but there were so many amps that time ran out before I could get to it.

[JohnnyThunders]

I'vegone thru a number of amps or so over the past 3 years and have settled on 2 with maybe athird one

Matamp LX 60watts 4el34 in a 4x12

Aikne Invader 18 watts 2 el84 in a 1x12 nice attenuator

Scolz speakers

Maybe HighwattLead 30 mid 80's 4/el84s

The Rest in order of preference

Peters 50 watt el34,grea master killer tone

Tin Terror was killer for the price but the Aiken was more versatile as a low watt amp

Rockerverb 50 killer agreesivetone, easy to play, great master but Matamp sounded bigger.

RockerVerb 30 less gain than the 50 more classic rock nice amp.

Roccforte High Gain 30 - wow loud, veryhigh gain, most bass of any amo I've had huge sounding too big for the basement, so-so master

SavageMacht 6 nicebut too vintage sounding for mr, nice quality build, excellent service.

Aiken Tomcat little to raggityagressive, nice attenuator 18 watt Invaderwas better

Valtech 22 nice but not as good as the others I had a head and a combo

FargenMini-plexi - not my cup of tea

Tried lots of other amps, fender, marshall, bogner, Diezel, VHT, Randall and everything they sell at GC.

I'm done for the ampquest, Aiken for low volume noodling. Matamp/Hiwatt when I want to crank it up and have the police pay me a visist.

The end of amp gas...until that new whatevercomes out.......

[HSB0531]

I heard the Randall amp with several of the plug-in preamp modules.

It sounded great.

The idea is great.

Vox, Bogner, Marshall, Fender etc....all from one amp.

Simply, unplug one module & plug in another one.

Then there's the univalve amp from THD.

I think these are the best times.

There is such a great selection of amps & gear for

guitar & bass.

[jerseydrew]

what about Mesa?

[JohnnyB]

...´cause as the ad's said in the 80's. "Real men play real Marshall's".

Slogan accompanied by a picture of Yngwie in all his androgynous glory--poofy hair, frilly shirt, spandex pants, red fairy boots, and pouty lips.

I don't know how nobody at Marshall or the ad agency caught the irony of that.

[ac15]

I'd like to put in a good word for the (discontinued) Mesa Blue Angel. Awesome amp for classic (not high gain) tones.

[bobbymack]

If I were in your shoes I would definitely carry the Vox line.

That AC30CC I have is ridiculous for the money. Sounds fantastic.

And their modeling stuff is good too, again reasonably priced...

[elduave]

Duave.

You plugged into an acoustic amp while I was there that sounded very fine indeed. That was a Shenedoah or something. Great tone, like what I hear in my head.

Jeem

Ya! Forgot about the Genz Benz Shen's. Sound great, but be sure to get the most powerful one for gigs...

Tone approved by Hidden Hand/Probot's Wino (the only Olney rock star).

cool, did wino blast thru some amps at your shop? i dig his tone (most of the time). last pics i saw of him live was around the spirit caravan era, he was playing thru a sunn model T head & marshall cab.

He spotted the Tiny Terror and went straight for it. He's a super nice guy. Although it was never my type of music/scene, The Obsessed where very much on my radar in my (much) younger playing days.

Maybe you should consider Germino Amps?

http://www.germinoamps.com/default.htm

They certainly look cool!

[BLuesBuster]

...´cause as the ad's said in the 80's. "Real men play real Marshall's".

Slogan accompanied by a picture of Yngwie in all his androgynous glory--poofy hair, frilly shirt, spandex pants, red fairy boots, and pouty lips.

I don't know how nobody at Marshall or the ad agency caught the irony of that.

[elduave]

Thanks for all the great input. I've put in another call to Korg (Marshall/Vox) and Randall also sounds like something that would sell at our "parent/student" price points...

[seeker]

For a pretty full range, I'd also look at the Hughes and Kettner Product Line.

Vox/Marshall is cool, but you'd also be going up against the Big Box of music stores.

[BLuesBuster]

For a pretty full range, I'd also look at the Hughes and Kettner Product Line.

Vox/Marshall is cool, but you'd also be going up against the Big Box of music stores.

That is correct, why would you want to be in direct competition with the Music Mart across town?

[elduave]

For a pretty full range, I'd also look at the Hughes and Kettner Product Line.

Vox/Marshall is cool, but you'd also be going up against the Big Box of music stores.

That is correct, why would you want to be in direct competition with the Music Mart across town?

Somethings are easier to sell than others, even if everyone has 'em. Hughes & Kettner is another good idea though...