65 Amps Empire, should I get it?

luap11 · 8th December 2011

Hi there, I am in need of advice in choosing a guitar amp. I have recently made the move from playing bass to guitar in my band and I am really confused about which amp I should be getting as the choice is almost overwhelming.

I play in a rock band and we are on the heavier side of things but by no means extreme at all (think somewhere between foo fighters, the vines, and grundge bands from the 90s). I am the rhythm guitarist. I play a 65 Fender Strat Reissue and will shortly be getting a Gibson LP either custom or standard. Ideally I need to have 3 chanels a clean, heavy crunch and distorted channel to enable me to play our material . I have no pedals as yet.

I am looking at the Empire, like its sound and has the 3 chaneels am after, however am concerned whether the 22 watts will be loud enough for gigging in a 5 piece band? Also does it have enough headroom for cleans? And given this head is relatively new, is it likely to be reliable? Has anyone out there had 65 Amps, can they be counted on?

Has anyone had experience, own and/or play with the Empire any comments or feedback would be most welcomed. Positives, negatives, good and bad points, anything really. I need the amp to gig and record with. We are doing a very important recording in about 6 months time.

Thanks a lot.

cortisol · 9th December 2011

65 Amps are a boutique, high-range amp company. They seem to have a really high standard of testing their amps before sending them out and they're designed for pro guitarists out on the road.

The only person who can say if 22 watts are enough is you! Does your band know how to balance it's sound in a room. In other words do you make adjustments so that your back lines balances against the drums and monitors? And how loud is the drummer?

Those 22 watts will be clean up until maybe 2 thirds of the way up on the powers section. The only way to know for sure is to try it out.

I'm a fan of 65 Amps and think they're brilliant for a band that doesn't have the on stage volume at ear melting levels. Great tones from those amps. I want!

8th December 2011	#1
luap11 Gear interested Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 3 Thread Starter	65 Amps Empire, should I get it? Hi there, I am in need of advice in choosing a guitar amp. I have recently made the move from playing bass to guitar in my band and I am really confused about which amp I should be getting as the choice is almost overwhelming. I play in a rock band and we are on the heavier side of things but by no means extreme at all (think somewhere between foo fighters, the vines, and grundge bands from the 90s). I am the rhythm guitarist. I play a 65 Fender Strat Reissue and will shortly be getting a Gibson LP either custom or standard. Ideally I need to have 3 chanels a clean, heavy crunch and distorted channel to enable me to play our material . I have no pedals as yet. I am looking at the Empire, like its sound and has the 3 chaneels am after, however am concerned whether the 22 watts will be loud enough for gigging in a 5 piece band? Also does it have enough headroom for cleans? And given this head is relatively new, is it likely to be reliable? Has anyone out there had 65 Amps, can they be counted on? Has anyone had experience, own and/or play with the Empire any comments or feedback would be most welcomed. Positives, negatives, good and bad points, anything really. I need the amp to gig and record with. We are doing a very important recording in about 6 months time. Thanks a lot.

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9th December 2011	#2
cortisol Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 601	65 Amps are a boutique, high-range amp company. They seem to have a really high standard of testing their amps before sending them out and they're designed for pro guitarists out on the road. The only person who can say if 22 watts are enough is you! Does your band know how to balance it's sound in a room. In other words do you make adjustments so that your back lines balances against the drums and monitors? And how loud is the drummer? Those 22 watts will be clean up until maybe 2 thirds of the way up on the powers section. The only way to know for sure is to try it out. I'm a fan of 65 Amps and think they're brilliant for a band that doesn't have the on stage volume at ear melting levels. Great tones from those amps. I want!