1200-1300 for a new amp suggestions?

[irondeth21]

I really liked the Blackstar demos! Where are they made? Any idea the price? I might wait till some of those popped up used and check one out. That ISF knob is a trip, lots of tone options.

 

[droptrd]

In that price range.... +1 on the QuickRod

+2. I had the single channel version for a while (Competition) and the thing smoked! Having a switchable solo boost was a must have feature to me. Only reason I sold it was to fund an AxeFx rig.

I was just in th studio with a Competition and it made my jaw drop. Its the meanest and most colorful amp ive ever heard. and I was in 2nd gear. Deffinately a great rhythm tone but wierd sounding for leads - at least compared to my Mark III.

 

[Audioholic]

I really liked the Blackstar demos! Where are they made? Any idea the price? I might wait till some of those popped up used and check one out. That ISF knob is a trip, lots of tone options.

Not sure where Blackstar amps are made, most likely overseas. I loved my HT-5, and have an HT-20 on the way. Excellent tones for the price. These are brand new, so they are just coming out. I think the 100 watt HT Head is going new for $899
http://www.music123.com/Blackstar-Venue ... 2.Music123

or they have their series one for 1700.

I know I am personally a big fan of their work. And I really like the ISF control, really makes a difference and possible to go more marshally to more mesa-ish

 

[glpg80]

blackstar is cheap because it is made in third world countries, designed in the UK.

have you checked baron K2?

the mesa would probably be a smoother tone though.

 

[JTyson]

There was a JVM 210 in the classifieds last week for 1000 dollars like new

 

[irondeth21]

There was a JVM 210 in the classifieds last week for 1000 dollars like new

I had a killer deal on the 410.... could of got the same price, I just don't have the cash right now.

 

[Chris6870]

theres one new in a store by me for $999

 

[irondeth21]

You guys have opinions on the Randall MTS stuff? I see they are amazingly flexible, but is the tone quality? How close is the XTC and SLO models to the real thing? How about build quality? Would I be better going Stiletto, 5153 or JVM instead? I've never heard any of it in person before. I'm not really into getting stuff modded and seems like a lot of people that dig the MTS stuff mod the hell out of them.

 

[glpg80]

never really liked the module stuff - the RT2/50 power amplifier that is MIDI is pretty cool though - if you have a bad powertube go bad one one side, midi switch it over to the other and keep on keeping on

you can also have 6l6's for crunch/clean and midi switch to EL34's for lead if you want.

the modules themselves though.... not so much. id do a 5150 III before i dive into a modular amplifier.

 

[Superunknown]

JVM.....

 

[Strat+Marshall]

The demos on my bands site was actually done with a Silver Jubilee, I loved it! But it's way out of my price range. I'd love a 2203 as well, but I need a loop and I'd really prefer not to boost.

All the amps you seem to be looking at are 100w but if you are cool with a 50w the smallbox 50w jubilees can be had for 1300 or less with a little wear on them. Might even be able to find a fullsize 50w if it is beat up.

 

[jcj]

Might want to check out the VHT CL50 or 100.

One channel can be set up for clean, even though it's technically two gain channels. Pretty versatile, really.

Definitely available in your price range (with change)

 

[jasonP]

For smooth liquid type gain tones you should try the Mesa Mark IV. Awesome clean channel. I also liked the lighter gain stuff it did on R2. The rectiifers IMO are going to be pretty agressive and grinding, from the 2 triples I owned.

Splawn quick rod is the best bang for the buck amp.

 

[Engllover]

Engl Fireball

 

[glpg80]

Engl Fireball

that is the worst amplifier to fit the description he is wanting. learn to read the original post?

 

[glpg80]

check out a laney GH100TI - silky smoothe for days!

not sure on their price though, and i believe they are 1 channel. but you wont need to boost it at all. that amplifier sounds great though. will never forget that silky smoothe tone

check out any of paul gilberts mid-racerx days - especially the album with godzilla. laney tone sounds right up your alley

 

[irondeth21]

check out a laney GH100TI - silky smoothe for days!

not sure on their price though, and i believe they are 1 channel. but you wont need to boost it at all. that amplifier sounds great though. will never forget that silky smoothe tone

check out any of paul gilberts mid-racerx days - especially the album with godzilla. laney tone sounds right up your alley

Those Laney's are nice but I need at least 2 channels for what I'm doing.

I'm really leaning towards the Stiletto at this point. The build quality of the 5150 III just has me to sketched out which is a shame because I think it's a solid amp. The JVM is cool and is way better for a lot of tones live, but I kind of dig how the Stiletto has it's own thing going on, it's not just like a Marshall. More like boogies take on a Marshall.

 

[jkdsteve]

You guys have opinions on the Randall MTS stuff? I see they are amazingly flexible, but is the tone quality? How close is the XTC and SLO models to the real thing? How about build quality? Would I be better going Stiletto, 5153 or JVM instead? I've never heard any of it in person before. I'm not really into getting stuff modded and seems like a lot of people that dig the MTS stuff mod the hell out of them.

I'm always PIMP'ing this..but you can take my opinion with a grain of salt 'coz I've no intention of anyone else hearing my playing...there are plenty on here who've been through the MTS series and quite a few who still have it (or EGnater)

Stock modules that sound fantastic (almost all are sig modules...so they're pre-tweaked as it were)

Brahma - this is Plexi tone, takes a boost like a champ

SuperV - not sure what to call this but it chimes like a Vox..makes great pseudo-clean to light gain dirty

KH3- kinda like a VHT..equally at home with rhythm and leads..can sound a tad congested if you're not careful on the EQ.

Grail - the Mesa Recto tone...most people say it has surprising nice mids...what's surprising, a real Recto does to

Mr Scary - definitely SLOish....this has 80s Hair Metal written all over it...

I tried a stock XTC several times as well as a couple of Pete's mods....couldn't gel with it...the keeper on the XTC was when MR Hilligan @ Egnater modded it for me...to the aeroic AIC mod...was inexpensive too...glorious tone.

Best of all...you can haz an RM50 plus two modules and shipping..well inside your budget...heck I've seen loaded RM100s go for under $1k recently.

I got my current loaded RM50 half stack for under $1200 (inc. shipping)..and the Randall cabs are the bomb!

 

[irondeth21]

You guys have opinions on the Randall MTS stuff? I see they are amazingly flexible, but is the tone quality? How close is the XTC and SLO models to the real thing? How about build quality? Would I be better going Stiletto, 5153 or JVM instead? I've never heard any of it in person before. I'm not really into getting stuff modded and seems like a lot of people that dig the MTS stuff mod the hell out of them.

I'm always PIMP'ing this..but you can take my opinion with a grain of salt 'coz I've no intention of anyone else hearing my playing...there are plenty on here who've been through the MTS series and quite a few who still have it (or EGnater)

Stock modules that sound fantastic (almost all are sig modules...so they're pre-tweaked as it were)

Brahma - this is Plexi tone, takes a boost like a champ

SuperV - not sure what to call this but it chimes like a Vox..makes great pseudo-clean to light gain dirty

KH3- kinda like a VHT..equally at home with rhythm and leads..can sound a tad congested if you're not careful on the EQ.

Grail - the Mesa Recto tone...most people say it has surprising nice mids...what's surprising, a real Recto does to

Mr Scary - definitely SLOish....this has 80s Hair Metal written all over it...

I tried a stock XTC several times as well as a couple of Pete's mods....couldn't gel with it...the keeper on the XTC was when MR Hilligan @ Egnater modded it for me...to the aeroic AIC mod...was inexpensive too...glorious tone.

Best of all...you can haz an RM50 plus two modules and shipping..well inside your budget...heck I've seen loaded RM100s go for under $1k recently.

I got my current loaded RM50 half stack for under $1200 (inc. shipping)..and the Randall cabs are the bomb!

I love the price point for these, I saw they are pretty cheap. Even the mods aren't bad. I also love the idea of just swapping modules when I get bored with a tone. I like the idea of an AIC mod too, big Jerry fan here. His tone on facelift might be my all time favorite.

 

[irondeth21]

For smooth liquid type gain tones you should try the Mesa Mark IV. Awesome clean channel. I also liked the lighter gain stuff it did on R2. The rectiifers IMO are going to be pretty agressive and grinding, from the 2 triples I owned.

Splawn quick rod is the best bang for the buck amp.

I'm thinking about a Mark series. I had a no stripe III in the past. I'm not into tweaking knobs a lot though and I seemed to be spending more time tweaking my old III then practicing with it some nights!