Amp collection question

[ClintN667]

Just out of curiosity, what would you say would be your must have amps for a collection of amps. I would think something along the lines of a 5150 flavor, Marshall flavor, Mesa, and Orange(since I play mostly heavier music). After spending 6 months with a Kemper I come to the conclusion that I really dont need 1000 different profiles of a couple hundred amps. Just curious what others would go with just to have several amps to cover different tones.

 

[Marshall Freak]

For playing live? Recording? Just to own for fun? Honestly, for playing live you dont really need that many, but its fun to have a bunch and use at different times. Switch things up occassionally.

Im not really gassing for much right now for playing live. Would like to try the helios eclipse someday.

Bogner xtc 101b
Mesa jp-2c
Marshall jcm2000 dsl100
Marshall jcm2000 dsl50
Marshall jcm800 fortin cali mod w/switchable clean, gain and masters
Boss katana 100 combo for home playing, and occasional small show
Marshall jubilee 25 watt combo
Jet city jca50h

Bunch of 2x12, 1x12, and 4x12 cabs with different speakers depending on the size of the show.

 

[Bad.Seed]

I think you're basically asking, what are people's "Essential" amps. If you had to narrow things down to bare necessities?

If that's the case, I would definitely choose:

5150 III 50 Watt - I have not been without a 5150 flavor amp since I started playing in bands for the last 8 years. They work well in just about every heavy or aggressive style of music, and the III is the most versatile of all the 5150 offerings, IMO. It would be tough for me to live without one, even though EVERYONE uses the damn things

Splawn Quick Rod - This is my end all-be all Marshall style Amp. It fixes my 2 main issues I've had with Marshalls over the years. 1 - It is extremely tight, even with the bass dialed way up, and 2 - It retains extreme clarity and note definition under high gain. It also possesses that rawness of an old cranked 800 that I love so much. One of if not my favorite amp I've owned to date.

Diezel Herbert - Most people playing heavy music usually gravitate towards 5150's and rectifiers. The recitifier never fully did it for me, mainly due to the way the low end reacts. I love a big sounding amp, but I also like a quick reacting low end, and the Mesa just never punched and cut off quick enough for me to be satisfied, even though I dig the general tone, especially of the 2 channel models (still own a 2 channel triple) Enter the Diezel, with it's massive, yet clear wall of sound, massive yet tight and super punchy low end, and mid cut function to give it that modern feel. The Diezel is kind of what I always wanted my rectifier to be, but is really just a different animal.

With all that being said, I'm up to something like 14 tube amps, and most of the ones I own at the moment would be hard for me to let go if I ever needed to. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

 

[japetus]

I could do anything I needed to with a nice Fender Bassman and a Marshall JCM800 2203.

 

[Racerxrated]

If I could keep multiple amps of the number I've had, they would be:
Wizard MC
SLO
2C+
Jubilee
JCM 800
Cameron modded Marshall
Triple Rec

 

[ClintN667]

Yeah I guess essential amps is what I was getting at. I think if we are speaking reasonably I would keep my Quick Rod for Marshall flavor, 6505+ for 5150 and a Mark IV for Mesa and maybe an OR 15 or similar for an Orange.

If money was no object a Butterslax, JP-2C, and a Rockerverb would probably cover all my amp lusts.

 

[ClintN667]

Oh and I would like to get another Peavey VTM for nostalgic reasons.

 

[Racerxrated]

Yeah I guess essential amps is what I was getting at. I think if we are speaking reasonably I would keep my Quick Rod for Marshall flavor, 6505+ for 5150 and a Mark IV for Mesa and maybe an OR 15 or similar for an Orange.

If money was no object a Butterslax, JP-2C, and a Rockerverb would probably cover all my amp lusts.

Well, then a JCM 800 (82 preferrably) and a Mesa Mark series. Those 2 would cover all the bases IMO.

 

[nevusofota]

Every complete collection needs to have a JCM 800 (original vertical input) and an SLO.

 

[nevusofota]

Yeah I guess essential amps is what I was getting at. I think if we are speaking reasonably I would keep my Quick Rod for Marshall flavor, 6505+ for 5150 and a Mark IV for Mesa and maybe an OR 15 or similar for an Orange.

If money was no object a Butterslax, JP-2C, and a Rockerverb would probably cover all my amp lusts.

Well, then a JCM 800 (82 preferrably) and a Mesa Mark series. Those 2 would cover all the bases IMO.

I may have forgotten this but why is a 1982 model year JCM 800 special? I thought they were all the same between 1981 through early 1984 when they switched to horizontal inputs.

 

[thrashinbatman]

For heavy music, a JCM800, 5150, and Mesa Mark are the bare minimum to cover the bases I think. From there it's just personal taste. We all have our personal preferences that not everyone will agree with, but I think those three are uncontroversial choices.

 

[rottingcorpse]

A Marshall,a Mesa,a Peavey and some weird stuff to round out the tones.

Otherwise you wind up wanting to try everything out there,and not selling anything because it's too much trouble. Then you get involved with Mailman and gsxrbusa(the main culprits,there are others) and suddenly amps start getting traded,your postage bills go up,you cant remember what amps you have anymore,and pictures you thought were supposed to be private wind up being used as leverage,your meeting up to trade amps at truck stops,your meeting their wives who are being used as go-betweens on the side of the interstate to swap amps,amps are being loaned out across state lines like a bastardized version of human trafficking,and it's all supposed to be ok...but your shrink tells you that if you just stayed off rigtalk and ignored their texts and taunts and just stayed with a Marshall kerry king head and single 4x12 you coulda bought a house.

Wait...what was the original question?

 

[bgh]

I have a trio which pretty much handles what I need:
(1) Mesa Mark IV: Pristine cleans and heavy as all get out.
(2) Mesa TA-30: Handles Vox, Tweed, and Marshall for me. When I play out, this is the one I normally choose.
(3) Mesa Nomad: I use this one at home mostly - for recording. Channel 2 has the thickest, sweetest OD I have heard in a while.

 

[Exo-metal]

A Marshall,a Mesa,a Peavey and some weird stuff to round out the tones.

Otherwise you wind up wanting to try everything out there,and not selling anything because it's too much trouble. Then you get involved with Mailman and gsxrbusa(the main culprits,there are others) and suddenly amps start getting traded,your postage bills go up,you cant remember what amps you have anymore,and pictures you thought were supposed to be private wind up being used as leverage,your meeting up to trade amps at truck stops,your meeting their wives who are being used as go-betweens on the side of the interstate to swap amps,amps are being loaned out across state lines like a bastardized version of human trafficking,and it's all supposed to be ok...but your shrink tells you that if you just stayed off rigtalk and ignored their texts and taunts and just stayed with a Marshall kerry king head and single 4x12 you coulda bought a house.

Wait...what was the original question?

hahaha, exactly Martin
Hilarious bro!
Oh yeah, for me Cameron modded Marshalls and Mesa modded old Mark's.

 

[Bad.Seed]

A Marshall,a Mesa,a Peavey and some weird stuff to round out the tones.

Otherwise you wind up wanting to try everything out there,and not selling anything because it's too much trouble. Then you get involved with Mailman and gsxrbusa(the main culprits,there are others) and suddenly amps start getting traded,your postage bills go up,you cant remember what amps you have anymore,and pictures you thought were supposed to be private wind up being used as leverage,your meeting up to trade amps at truck stops,your meeting their wives who are being used as go-betweens on the side of the interstate to swap amps,amps are being loaned out across state lines like a bastardized version of human trafficking,and it's all supposed to be ok...but your shrink tells you that if you just stayed off rigtalk and ignored their texts and taunts and just stayed with a Marshall kerry king head and single 4x12 you coulda bought a house.

Wait...what was the original question?

Who needs a house when you can't fill it with amps?

 

[Mailman1971]

For those that think Rottencorpse is fibbing......
Me and GRXBUSA can confirm.
But I deny anything with the pictures you damn liar!!
Mine was all shot on video.

 

[Exo-metal]

A Marshall,a Mesa,a Peavey and some weird stuff to round out the tones.

Otherwise you wind up wanting to try everything out there,and not selling anything because it's too much trouble. Then you get involved with Mailman and gsxrbusa(the main culprits,there are others) and suddenly amps start getting traded,your postage bills go up,you cant remember what amps you have anymore,and pictures you thought were supposed to be private wind up being used as leverage,your meeting up to trade amps at truck stops,your meeting their wives who are being used as go-betweens on the side of the interstate to swap amps,amps are being loaned out across state lines like a bastardized version of human trafficking,and it's all supposed to be ok...but your shrink tells you that if you just stayed off rigtalk and ignored their texts and taunts and just stayed with a Marshall kerry king head and single 4x12 you coulda bought a house.

Wait...what was the original question?

Who needs a house when you can't fill it with amps?

That doesn't make sense, that's EXACTLY what a house is for

 

[Mailman1971]

Rottingcorpse has so many amps he builds little forts out of them and has sleepovers in them.

 

[ClintN667]

A Marshall,a Mesa,a Peavey and some weird stuff to round out the tones.

Otherwise you wind up wanting to try everything out there,and not selling anything because it's too much trouble. Then you get involved with Mailman and gsxrbusa(the main culprits,there are others) and suddenly amps start getting traded,your postage bills go up,you cant remember what amps you have anymore,and pictures you thought were supposed to be private wind up being used as leverage,your meeting up to trade amps at truck stops,your meeting their wives who are being used as go-betweens on the side of the interstate to swap amps,amps are being loaned out across state lines like a bastardized version of human trafficking,and it's all supposed to be ok...but your shrink tells you that if you just stayed off rigtalk and ignored their texts and taunts and just stayed with a Marshall kerry king head and single 4x12 you coulda bought a house.

Wait...what was the original question?

It's a slippery slope man...

 

[ClintN667]

For heavy music, a JCM800, 5150, and Mesa Mark are the bare minimum to cover the bases I think. From there it's just personal taste. We all have our personal preferences that not everyone will agree with, but I think those three are uncontroversial choices.

That's kinda my way of thinking. I'm hoping to grab a Mesa Mark IV in the new year and maybe an Orange lunch box head for when I want to play something sludgey