Amp Suggestions?, I like Metal (LOG, Megadeth, etc). Options

[Sircraigery]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for suggestions on small metal sounding amps.

I have a couple criteria:
- both a clean and a dirty channel (WITH A SOLO BOOST)
- 12" SPEAKER
- amp < 50W, or switchable
- 6L6 power tubes (for some reason, I like them better than the EL84's)

The absolute top of my budget is $1500, with lesser being better.

I have to admit, I'm sort of leaning towards a ENGL gigmaster & cab, OR a Mesa 5:50+. Any other ideas would be appreciated, since I don't want to miss any. For instance, does anyone in here play a Rivera and have a good recording of it?

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[Todd Simpson]

Congrats you have pretty much answered your own question. And it's a fine answer at that! A Rivera, Soldano, Splawn, or Marshall would be in the running but I would say don't buy any amp you can spend an hour or so with first. No matter how far you have to travel, go to a music shop, BRING YOUR OWN GUITAR and try out the amp your thinking of getting even if you end up buying it online.

Todd

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for suggestions on small metal sounding amps.

I have a couple criteria:
- both a clean and a dirty channel (WITH A SOLO BOOST)
- 12" SPEAKER
- amp < 50W, or switchable
- 6L6 power tubes (for some reason, I like them better than the EL84's)

The absolute top of my budget is $1500, with lesser being better.

I have to admit, I'm sort of leaning towards a ENGL gigmaster & cab, OR a Mesa 5:50+. Any other ideas would be appreciated, since I don't want to miss any. For instance, does anyone in here play a Rivera and have a good recording of it?

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[The Uncreator]

5150 - Any of them, the tone is magnificent. Lam Of God used it, with a 6505+ as well. Trivium has used it, Evergrey, so many bands have gone to Peavey amp heads.

5150's are my personal favorite, of course if you want to drop SERIOUS cash, you can always look at Diezel or Axe-Fx

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[thefireball]

I like the Peavey Valveking 112. I played on it last week. It's killer for metal!!!

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[jstcrsn]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for suggestions on small metal sounding amps.

I have a couple criteria:
- both a clean and a dirty channel (WITH A SOLO BOOST)
- 12" SPEAKER
- amp < 50W, or switchable
- 6L6 power tubes (for some reason, I like them better than the EL84's)

The absolute top of my budget is $1500, with lesser being better.

I have to admit, I'm sort of leaning towards a ENGL gigmaster & cab, OR a Mesa 5:50+. Any other ideas would be appreciated, since I don't want to miss any. For instance, does anyone in here play a Rivera and have a good recording of it?

I have a laney, sounds awesome, and it is easy on the pocketbook
if you go to GMC radio through the search , under jstcrsn , song name is never look away, that was recorded with the laney

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This post has been edited by jstcrsn: Aug 5 2012, 03:34 AM

[Alex Feather]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for suggestions on small metal sounding amps.

I have a couple criteria:
- both a clean and a dirty channel (WITH A SOLO BOOST)
- 12" SPEAKER
- amp < 50W, or switchable
- 6L6 power tubes (for some reason, I like them better than the EL84's)

The absolute top of my budget is $1500, with lesser being better.

I have to admit, I'm sort of leaning towards a ENGL gigmaster & cab, OR a Mesa 5:50+. Any other ideas would be appreciated, since I don't want to miss any. For instance, does anyone in here play a Rivera and have a good recording of it?

I would suggest Mesa Boogie Rectifier! It's a great amp and you will get your money worth! Also the value will stay and you won't loose a lot of money if you will sell it later!

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[Ben Higgins]

I would always recommend you to go with (or at least check out) the amp(s) that you are gravitating towards because your gut usually doesn't lie to you.

I was really leaning toward a Marshall JVM but I got swayed by some reviews and went instead with an ENGL Powerball. I was not impressed with it and sent it back only to get the Marshall and wish I had just done that first.

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[Mudbone]

You could check out one of the Blackstar combos. Those amps have great cleans and the gain channel has very clear note definition.

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[thefireball]

I would always recommend you to go with (or at least check out) the amp(s) that you are gravitating towards because your gut usually doesn't lie to you.

I was really leaning toward a Marshall JVM but I got swayed by some reviews and went instead with an ENGL Powerball. I was not impressed with it and sent it back only to get the Marshall and wish I had just done that first.

Well, I was leaning towards Marshall, but after playing on Peavey I changed my mind. I guess one would have to play on a variety of amps to see what they sound like.

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[Gabriel Leopardi]

I have not too much experience with small amps for metal, but I agree with the guys about going by yourself with your guitar to try all those amps. That's the only way to get what you are looking for.

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[Mudbone]

I like the Peavey Valveking 112. I played on it last week. It's killer for metal!!!

I have the Valveking head, and I can say, for the money, its a great amp. I wrote a review on it a while back. I must say though, it is a head, and I do play it through a Marshall 1960A cab, so there is a noticeable difference between that and the cab.

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[thefireball]

I have the Valveking head, and I can say, for the money, its a great amp. I wrote a review on it a while back. I must say though, it is a head, and I do play it through a Marshall 1960A cab, so there is a noticeable difference between that and the cab.

That's cool! The amp I played was combined - head and cab in one. There are so many combos in the world. Glad you found something that works for you. When I pick up my guitar from the shop I will plug it into the amp I played. But I sure would love that 7 string.

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[Mudbone]

That's cool! The amp I played was combined - head and cab in one. There are so many combos in the world. Glad you found something that works for you. When I pick up my guitar from the shop I will plug it into the amp I played. But I sure would love that 7 string.

You'll like that Valveking even more once you play it through a decent cab. Its possible to find a Valveking head for $300 used and Peavey 5150/6505 cab for about $100. Thats a killer halfstack for $400. Thats even less than what many solid state halfstacks cost. Right now I mainly use a Peavey Ultra Plus, which is the predecessor to the 5150/6505. It sounds somewhat similar to the 5150. The Valveking is still a great amp. I like it because its tone cuts through a mix. It also has a great clean channel, better than the Ultra Plus.

This actually leads back to the original post. If you want the best bang for your buck, go with the Ultra Plus. You will not find a better amp for the money. In fact, for high gain tones, it can run with the big boys. The tone on it is simply beastly. The amp isn't that popular because the 5150/6505 overshadows it. Plus it comes from the era when Marshall and Mesa ruled the roost, Peaveys were considered the poor mans Marshall. For many years they actually sold for little money. I got mine for $300 on craigslist about two years ago. They're not easy to find, and the price is going up on them, especially on eBay, but if you keep checking craigslist, I'm sure you can find for roughly the same price I got mine

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[Todd Simpson]

I suggested the same exat thing in my previous post. Great minds think alike! Ben and I are in full agreement on this bud. You really should try before you buy.

Also, ALEX has great suggestion with the MESA! Hard to go wrong with a Mesa

But of course, to be honest, I (personally) wouldn't blow $1500 on a practice amp. I have a Half stack with a Line 6 Vetta HD head (does great emulations of all the amps mentioned in these posts), it's 200 watts and I have a RANDALL 4 x12. Sounds great even at low volume since the head is solid state. The entire rig cost

$450


Leaving enough to buy a couple of nice used guitars. Which I did All for under $1500.

But that's just me. Everyone is different. Some folks wouldn't give you a nickel for my setup. And would pay 2k for practice amp because of it's badge and pedigree. Just goes to show there is not "best" as I'm always saying, there's just what's best for you. But seriously GO PLAY ANYTHING YOU MIGHT BUY!

Todd

I would always recommend you to go with (or at least check out) the amp(s) that you are gravitating towards because your gut usually doesn't lie to you.

I was really leaning toward a Marshall JVM but I got swayed by some reviews and went instead with an ENGL Powerball. I was not impressed with it and sent it back only to get the Marshall and wish I had just done that first.

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[Ben Higgins]

Right now I mainly use a Peavey Ultra Plus, which is the predecessor to the 5150/6505.

I still got my Peavey Ultra. I loved being able to switch being crunch for rhythm and ultra for lead. I felt though, that what I needed was a rhythm channel more like the ultra channel and then something extra for lead which is why I got something else but I guess you could always add a pedal onto it for extra juice. In terms of tone it's a great amp

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[Mudbone]

I still got my Peavey Ultra. I loved being able to switch being crunch for rhythm and ultra for lead. I felt though, that what I needed was a rhythm channel more like the ultra channel and then something extra for lead which is why I got something else but I guess you could always add a pedal onto it for extra juice. In terms of tone it's a great amp

The JVM is definitely a more versatile amp. Plus its got that classic Marshall tone, whats not to like? By the way, did you ever get around to changing the tubes in the Ultra?

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[Cosmin Lupu]

I'd also go for the Peavy/ Blackstar/ Mesa - great amps for metal! You can go and check'em out with your guitar in hand in the shops and if you think you can get lucky, try getting the one you have tested and you like, on ebay.

I have a friend who tried the Road King from Mesa Boogie, he liked it and bought one on ebay for 2000 dollars. It was almost new - as in it had all its labels and all, but it was bought for studio sessions and the studio that had it, had to be closed. So the owner sold it before even getting to use it... tough chance on the poor studio owner and what a big chunk of luck for my friend (my band mate in Aria)

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[Yash]

I'd also go for the Peavy/ Blackstar/ Mesa - great amps for metal! You can go and check'em out with your guitar in hand in the shops and if you think you can get lucky, try getting the one you have tested and you like, on ebay.

I have a friend who tried the Road King from Mesa Boogie, he liked it and bought one on ebay for 2000 dollars. It was almost new - as in it had all its labels and all, but it was bought for studio sessions and the studio that had it, had to be closed. So the owner sold it before even getting to use it... tough chance on the poor studio owner and what a big chunk of luck for my friend (my band mate in Aria)

Ooh man, that was bad Ouch ! Poor band mate ! Wish he gets back his investment, the Mesa I am in love with the Road King. After getting a nice guitar and AXE FX, thats what I am aiming for

But we still have at least 6 years till I get my first salary So, I keep waiting

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[Ben Higgins]

By the way, did you ever get around to changing the tubes in the Ultra?

Man, we're going back now.. I can't remember talking about changing them !! I didn't change any valves though

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Ooh man, that was bad Ouch ! Poor band mate ! Wish he gets back his investment, the Mesa I am in love with the Road King. After getting a nice guitar and AXE FX, thats what I am aiming for

But we still have at least 6 years till I get my first salary So, I keep waiting

No no, my band mate was the one getting lucky! The studio owner was the unlucky dude, because he had to sell the Mesa which my band mate bought for such a good price

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