Amp help

  • Thread starter Thread starter SFW
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SFW

SFW

Well-known member
Ok. So my 5153 simply isn't cutting it for me anymore. I spend most of my time on the red channel, because I can't get a tone I really like on the blue channel. I've heard some great clips and I constantly hear guys saying that it's their favorite channel. I wish I could say the same. I've changed tubes, I've biased the amp (30mA) and done all sorts of shit to get it there but I just don't like it. It's got enough gain, but it's just missing that "something" to make it sing. And while I have absolutely no problem using an OD pedal to boost for solos, I will not use one just to achieve my base tone. Turning down the gain on the red channel doesn't seem to give me what I'm after either. It does great high gain metalish tones, but I'm really after more of a smoking rock tone.

So here I come to ask for suggestions. I need a two channel amp. Cleans are a must. While I don't spend a ton of time on the clean channel, I do need to have one. After three different three channel amps, I can't really say that I'm impressed by any of them. So I really would just like to stick to two really good channels in an amp. I can always hit the lead channel with my TS9 for solos. I would also like to keep this venture under the $2k mark. Not really interested in going the boutique route. These days I play out for fun, and I can't justify boutique prices with the wife...lol. I'm looking for a tone similar to what Lynch is getting in the video below. Just a good Marshallesq grind. I could see hitting that with a boost to take it to soaring leads. So hit me with some ideas. Thanks in advance!!!


 
JCM 800 2203 and a boost pedal, I know its not two channels but you really don't need that if you use your guitar volume and do not need a fender crystal clean-clean.
 
Peters Halo/Gryphon, used since your figure is $2000, that amp covers a lot of ground.

Chris
 
Mesa Royal Atlantic? Mesa for sure has the cleans dialed in good anymore.
 
I'll say Bogner Shiva 20th as well.

Another option is a used Carol-Ann Triptik, which will give you a beautiful clean channel and a lead channel with two sets of Gains and Level controls, plus separate boosts on all three tones. There's a guy selling a 50 watter on TGP right now with a matching 1x12" cab for $2,800 I think, and he's "accepting offers". Maybe you could convince him to sell the head alone for around $2,100?........ BTW, I am NOT affiliated with the seller in any way. Just thought I'd mention it.

Good luck.

EDIT: In the spirit of staying away from 'boutique', how about a nice used Marshall DSL for under $800? :confused:
 
I have a Mesa RA-100 head that sounds just like that. I love that sound too. The clean channel is FANTASTIC, especially for an EL34 amp, which can be thin. It's two channels, clean and OD. The OD side has two modes, blue & red. All 'three' have their own masters. The two OD modes share EQ, but the pots are stacked to be optimized to work together. Also cool is the built in power soaks for each channel. I think it compares favorably to the Bogner Shiva 20th, but you should be able to find one for less. It definitely sounds like a Mesa but with a Bogner Shiva/Orange kinda vibe. I had Stiletto Deuce before, and this amp was what I was hoping that one would be, the Deuce was wayyy too bright for me, and not as versatile. The RA100 has a great loop, and takes pedals great as well.

Good luck whichever you choose.
 
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