High End Guitar Amp

[jmhall]

hey everyone! first post...
im looking for a new amp to gig and record with. im in 2 bands at the moment one rock band and a top 40/cocktail hour jazz band. i need at least 2 great sounding channels, 1 clean and 1 dirty (as amp distortion is preferable). for cleans im looking for a blackface fender sound, for dirty i find myself using 2 different styles: one being a crunchy breakup sound suitable for a lightly distorted rock rhythm and funk sound, the other a heavier more saturated sound for grinding rhythm or leads (with boost pedal or eq), but it has to get heavy. im looking for either a head with 212 cab, or a combo weighing under 45 lbs, the other guitar player in the rock band is using a marshall triple super lead 100 watt combo, and id need volume to be able to cut through at rehearsal and enough clean headroom in an un-mic'd live setting with the top 40 band being the only guitar player. both drummers are very tasteful. id like to buy current production models, mostly because i dont trust my luck on ebay, and im looking at high end stuff in the $2500 to $3500 range, though less is always welcome, and i might consider spending more if its really that good.
2 amps really stick out in my mind at the moment, 1 being the mesa roadking and the other being the divided by 13 ftr 37. i know the mesa will be powerful and heavy enough but the clean channels dont blow me away. also with all of the switching and different modes i am worried about long term reliability. with the ftr 37, the clean channel i think is exactly what i want, but ive only played on it for about 5 minutes, so i didnt really try out the "click" channel. my concerns with this amp are that it wont have enough clean headroom, and that the click channel doesnt get quite the hard/heavy rock distortion flavor im looking for.
does anyone have any input on these two amps, or others for that i should consider, especially from divided by 13?
thanks

[alexkemp]

hmm.

I recently did a session recording a guy w/ a divided by 13 (not sure which model, a head w/ a 2x12 cab) and he had an awesome tone. Only heard it clean though, but it really caught my attention and made me want to check them out.

I just recently moved to a THD Flexi-50, and I couldn't be happier. I always loved the THD amps but they didn't quite have the power to gig with a louder band... but this one does! Clean, yup. Bluesy, oh yeah. Heavy metal? you need a pedal to take it over the top, but it likes to be driven. Its a team player. I use it with a Guytron 2x12 closed back cab and I'm really happy with how versatile this amp is.

[FFTT]

If you are in New England, it's probably worth your time to take a trip to Boston Guitar
since they carry just about everything.

Your needs are not so simple if you have to compete with another player with
a 100 watt amp and still need lounge volumes for the other band.

You may want to look at amps with an effective master volume or power scaling,
for the smaller venues.

I figure you're going to need something at least 50 watts to handle the clean headroom to crunch, especialy if you are not mic'd up on stage.

Take a look at the Bad Cats, Top Hat, 65 Amps, Reeves, Bruno, and Divided By Thirteen.
Also consider the Komet Concorde, and Two Rock.

I really like the specs on the Reeves Amps, old school military spec Hiwatt, built for the road.
The new Bad Cat A/B 50 is also worth a hard look.
The Top Hats cover small clubs to arena in their line up as well.

You're going to have a tough time finding a combo with enough power
that is light enough.

You're better off with a head-cab configuration for power, portability and versatility.

[softwareguy]

The Demeter amp is designed to do exactly what you are describing, is very well built and has been roaded by lots of pro players. Cleans are great, very Fendery. Drive channel gets plexi-ish with lots of rich low drive. Adjustable lead boost available. Used by players from Bonnie Raitt and Sonny Landreth to Stone Temple Pilots.

Just one to add to the list to check out.

[ewegogetemtiger]

Bogner Shiva would work well I think

The /13 would be good too

[muziekschuur]

The new fender Twin with a switch between 25 & 100 watts is your ticket. It isn't really that expensive. And good quality.


Muziekschuur

[octatonic]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record...

Fender Prosonic.

They do everything you want- they out boogie a mesa, they have lovely fender cleans- designed by Zinky for Fender in the 90's.

You can pick them up for $600 or so used.

[BLUElightCory]

PLEASE check out the Elmwood Modena M60.

Elmwood Amps - Professional Guitar Tube Amplifiers

Thank me later,

Cory Spotts

[TAVD]

Peters Amplification

[kissingonstilts]

You may wish to look at the Vero amps. One of their Chicago Zephyrs with a Pete Cornish pedal for the heavy tones would work quite well.

[darkwater]

http://www.carramps.com/

[ewegogetemtiger]

LMAO

Remember the days of "Marshall and/or Fender"?

[jmhall]

wow thanks for all the great info everyone!
i looked at most if not all of your recommendations today
they all look great, some more than others

alexkemp:
im definitely going to have to check out the THD flexi, i know theres at least one place in my area that keeps them in stock...

FFTT:
the bad cat lynx interests me as do brunos and like i said before D13.
komet looks great, but i dont know about spending that much on a single channel amp, at this point, even if it is the best sounding amp ever. 2 rocks...just way more than i was looking to spend. ive been to BGW before and they do have a lot of stuff there, im sure ill be back there for the top hats, and 65. you also mentioned power scaling...what about the mesa boogie mk 4, an old guitar teacher of mine recommended one of those.

softwareguy:
i see a few demeter dealers within driving distance, ill definitely make an effort to get to one for a demo.

ewegogetemtiger:
ive tried the shiva, and i love it for cleans and heavy distortion, but was unable to get the light to mid drive i was looking for. i do remember the days of fender/marshall...there are too many choices thse days

muziekchuur:
love the twin sound, hate the weight haha, but in all seriousness they do not like to fit in my back seat (2 door subcompact)

octatonic:
couldnt find a pro sonic on ebay, but will keep looking, it was also recommended by the same guy who told me about the mesa mk4. how about the super sonic?

BLUElightcory, TAVD, kissingonstilts
these all seem great but would any of you happen to know of any dealers or used pieces in the MA/RI/CT area?

darkwater:
ill have to find a carr dealer in my area...the slant 6v looks really cool.

for now i think ive put together a longish list of models to look at for serious consideration mainly due to availability in my area, and possibility of financing:
divided by 13 - ftr 37 (or possibly another model)
mesa - mark 4 (compact or widebody combo?)
bad cat - lynx
demeter - tga 2.1
thd - flexi 50
fender - pro sonic (super sonic?)
vero - chicago zephyr
carr - slant 6v

does anyone have any objections to any of these, mainly related to the reliability of them.

thanks a million for all your replies
-jeff

[FFTT]

Oh I think you'll like the Lynx

The A/B 50 is new so check that out too just for kicks.

The /13's are great, but you'll have to decide if it will do against
your other guitarist.

Top Hat and 65, just gonna have to try them.

So many guys are going 30 watts, that taking things up a notch
it's a different ball game.

Personally, don't care for the newer Mesa's
I'd go Bogner or VHT before Mesa.

[ewegogetemtiger]

Actually, the trick to light or mid crunch in a Shiva is to crank the volume of channel one and not the lead channel. roll back on the guitar's volume for the clean, turn it up for the crunch, switch to lead for blazing solos (w/ or w/o additional boost).

And keep in mind that the Shiva comes in both 6L6 and EL34 flavors....the latter sounding the best to me

Oh, and I'd eliminate the Mesa Mark IV from your list unless you want to go to night school for a degree on how to tweak that thing.

[George Necola]

Laboga alligator combo (or head). you can pay it and it's superb for rythm/clean sounds for blues, jazz and rock.

try it!

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by jmhall

octatonic:
couldnt find a pro sonic on ebay, but will keep looking, it was also recommended by the same guy who told me about the mesa mk4. how about the super sonic?

snip

fender - pro sonic (super sonic?)

I haven't spent loads of time with the Supersonic but I remember it having a distinctly different personality to the Prosonic.
It would be the solid state recitifier I reckon.
I always use class A recitifer with the prosonic - it has the classic tube sag.
The Supersonic is more 'in your face' which might be more or less desirable depending on what you are going for.
I prefer tube rectifier in the Prosonic.

The clean channel sounds nothing like a Bassman either.

[FFTT]

There's a few dual tubers coming out from /13
that sound interesting.
Based on the idea of the 9/15

I still think you're gonna like the Bad Cats

The Reeves Custom Lead would do it too, but it's direct order.
Don't know if any stores carry them.

[theGeek]

I'm a big fan of the Line 6 Spider Valve...

and if you're an anti-modelling take a look at Dr. Z. those amps will melt your face.

[FFTT]

The Catagory 5 Amps are very VERY cool too!

http://www.category5amps.com/

Andrew Features
- All tube circuitry
- Made by hand in the USA
- Point to point wiring
- Oversized transformers
- 2x12, 2x10, 4x10, and head configurations
- Two discrete channels
- Onboard Variac circuit
- Hi sensitivity input jacks (each channel)
- Channel jumping supported
- Supports most octal power tubes
- Self-biasing power amplifier
- Channel one: Volume, Tone controls
- Channel two: Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass controls
- Global: Reverb, Voltage controls
- Reverb footswitch jack
- Detachable power cord
- External fuse holder
- Impedance selector (2, 4, 8 Ohms)
- Internal & external speaker jacks
- Recording line out jack
- Line level control
- Power and Standby switch
- Neon indicator lamp
Andrew - Size Matters
Designed to be Ivan's bigger, brawnier brother, Andrew takes Ivan's killer design to a much louder level. Andrew features the same basic deisgn as Ivan, but differs in a couple of key areas.
Andrew's power platform is a pair of Tung-Sol 5881s, which we find to have much better balance than the more common 6L6GC. Our unique new bias circuit allows Andrew to run a variety of octal power tubes (6V6, 6L6, EL34, KT66, KT77) without rebiasing for those who have an affinity for different tubes. We also bumped the plate voltage to extract more clean headroom from the power amp for players who need more stage volume. Conservatively rated at 40 Watts, Andrew easily keeps up with our excellent 1965 Twin Reverb® sample, which puts out 85 Watts from a quad of 6L6GCs. Andrew actually cuts through better than the Twin. Yeah. We're shaking our heads too.
Like Ivan, Andrew has must-have features including global, tube-driven, spring reverb; a variable recording line out; and an on-board Variac circuit. Guitarists looking for exquisite tone for midsize to large venues should find everything they need in this amplifier named Andrew.

[jmhall]

man those category 5 amps look delicious....but is there anywhere to check them out? also any word on long term reliability? they seem to be one of the newer amp companies...cant wait to see more about the new dual tube /13

reeves and laboga look really neat but i havent seen anywhere i could try one near me.

Bad Cat and /13 are looking the best to me because there are nearby dealers for trying and buying... also financing options. not to mention the sounds ive heard from them and the reputation.
if those fall through, my backup plan would be some fender, im thinking super sonic, twin reverb, 2x deluxe reverb...with a marshall, probably a vintage modern 50 watt head, or a vox ac30/50 head w/ an ear candy 2x12

[FFTT]

Try the Bad Cats and the /13's and if they still leave you wanting, go to the
private builders like Catagory 5 and Reeves.

Custom build means just that, custom built for you!

[jamsmith]

The best amps I play in the last year:

Savage Macht 12. This is a killer little cranking amp. Sort of leans toward a Marshall tone, but still fits in the Fender combo-type crowd. Vicious little bastard. $1600

EVH 5150 III. First off, it does NOT make you sound like Eddie Van Halen. Second, this not a versatile amp to go play fusion or country - or even modern Heavy Metal. But if you want a punchy, in your face, even toned high gain amp for playing hard rock or old school metal, this the shit $2000 for the head

Peavy JSX - I know why Joe likes this amp! Don't know remember the price, but it not cheap.

I can't remember the name, but someone has put out an amp that for all means and purposes is Howard Dumble Overdrive Special clone.

[jmhall]

UPDATE:
first off, thankyou very much for all your suggestions, i appreciate your time and thoughts.

second...ive decided which amp to go with. that amp is the divided by 13 ftr 37. after sitting down with one of these for a while i was totally blown away. it does everything i need it to and with the addition of my favorite distortion pedal, even more! its got quite a punch...but its not just loud, its a huge sound, larger than the marshall 25th anniversary jubilee at my band's rehearsal space, plenty of clean headroom!!

thanks again

[chrispick]

Originally Posted by jmhall

UPDATE:
first off, thankyou very much for all your suggestions, i appreciate your time and thoughts.

second...ive decided which amp to go with. that amp is the divided by 13 ftr 37. after sitting down with one of these for a while i was totally blown away. it does everything i need it to and with the addition of my favorite distortion pedal, even more! its got quite a punch...but its not just loud, its a huge sound, larger than the marshall 25th anniversary jubilee at my band's rehearsal space, plenty of clean headroom!!

Did you check out 65 amps? Also great. Similar price range.

65AMPS // the unmistakable sound of a generation

Nice demo:

YouTube - 65 Amps 18 Watt London Combo

[peeder]

Originally Posted by ewegogetemtiger

LMAO

Remember the days of "Marshall and/or Fender"?

...I'm still in those days.

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by jmhall

UPDATE:
first off, thankyou very much for all your suggestions, i appreciate your time and thoughts.

second...ive decided which amp to go with. that amp is the divided by 13 ftr 37. after sitting down with one of these for a while i was totally blown away. it does everything i need it to and with the addition of my favorite distortion pedal, even more! its got quite a punch...but its not just loud, its a huge sound, larger than the marshall 25th anniversary jubilee at my band's rehearsal space, plenty of clean headroom!!

thanks again

You done good mate!

[chetatkinsdiet]

Originally Posted by peeder

...I'm still in those days.

Me too. Branching out for me is maybe an Ampeg, Sunn or Vox.

m

[Jamingguitarist]

Would you use an attenuator to switch between tones for lounge volumes to big gig volumes?