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Originally Posted by chetatkinsdiet Agree with just about everything here. I was just having this discussion with a bandmember. We both HATE Mesa sounds. They're just too scooped in the mids and have zero tone. Even with great players, they still sound like ass. Just about any older 50w tube head will work for you.
JCM800 series from Marshall
Sunn Spectrum/Solarius and all the other late 60s Sunn heads.
Ampeg V series....V4, VT40, VT22, etc. Basically, these are mini-SVT amps. Monsters.
Even old Fender Silverface or Blackface amps will work. Take a bassman head with a nice Marshall cab and you're getting a better tone.
ALL of these amps take pedals very nicely and can give you some flavor. If you're looking for the versatility of a rack mount effects unit, forget it. But, give me pure tone anyday. In my opinion, that's why I can't listen to guys like Vai, Satch, Sheehan, Eric Johnson, etc. It's all too processed and sounds terrible. Give me someone with great tone and less flash anyday.
Seriously, you say you're in a punk band....what would you rather hear....Vai wank around for hours or Johnny Thunders with his LP Jr plugged directly into a marshall?
Also, am I the only one here that doesn't even like the Mesa cabs? Give me a Marshall with Greenbacks or V30s anyday. The breakup is much nicer.
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I completely agree about the Marshall cabs but completely disagree about the Mesa amps comment. It's tough to say you don't like the tones of an amp company when they put out amps with such a varied sound. I think every good amp company has amps that'll fit the needs of any specific kind of player. It's just with most people they pick the popular amp and then claim to hate the company, like Rectifiers with Mesa, or TSL's with Marshall. Since they think the rectifier sucks they claim all the amps by that company does, same with the TSL. I personally detest the TSL's and think they're pure shit, but I love jcm800's and even most of the old reissue amps. With Mesa, I don't really care for the rectumfriers, but I love their lower wattage el84 driven amps.