Amp Opinions Needed. Buying new amp, give me your thoughts..

[paulyc]

Mesa Mark IV

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Quick Rod.
Engl Artist has had my attention ever since it came out.
Fireball 100.

That first QR had gain for days, very liquid and saturated...the replacement was just stiff and near lifeless. No clue but night and day difference. But yeah, Splawn is always high on the list. Lots of amp at a good value. I've owned 4x12's and 2x12's...good stuff. I'd probably go Nitro if I went that way though.

I've read similar posts. Some say their experience with the QR mirrors your's 'stiff and lifeless' while my experience with 2 different QRs (a 2013 drop B+ and the current 2019 straight up QR with no options) matches that of your experience with your first QR. This 2019 has gobs of saturation, sustain, and a very liquid feel if set with higher gain (and that's with low gain preamp tubes in there) OR it can be set much more dry and unforgiving. Disclosure; I am boosting with a Duncan 805 as I don't play any amp straight in.

Why the 805, more gain, boost, tighten?

The 805 has sent 10-12 other boosts packing. Just sounds the best to me and has a 3 band eq. The bass knob is great to dial back in some low end after it's cut on the front end and the mids knob actually adds some cool saturation along with the added upper mid grind. My favorite boost.

I gotcha. I like going straight in, I've played around with hitting the front end but just haven't bonded with doing that. So even without the 805 the newer QR's...lots gain, liquid, chewy, feel?

I can get back to ya on that...I've never played it plugged straight in

 

[BeZo]

Rivera Knuckleheads? I have a first gen and I love it, and the K-Tre slays.

 

[jabps]

Quick Rod.
Engl Artist has had my attention ever since it came out.
Fireball 100.

That first QR had gain for days, very liquid and saturated...the replacement was just stiff and near lifeless. No clue but night and day difference. But yeah, Splawn is always high on the list. Lots of amp at a good value. I've owned 4x12's and 2x12's...good stuff. I'd probably go Nitro if I went that way though.

I've read similar posts. Some say their experience with the QR mirrors your's 'stiff and lifeless' while my experience with 2 different QRs (a 2013 drop B+ and the current 2019 straight up QR with no options) matches that of your experience with your first QR. This 2019 has gobs of saturation, sustain, and a very liquid feel if set with higher gain (and that's with low gain preamp tubes in there) OR it can be set much more dry and unforgiving. Disclosure; I am boosting with a Duncan 805 as I don't play any amp straight in.

Why the 805, more gain, boost, tighten?

The 805 has sent 10-12 other boosts packing. Just sounds the best to me and has a 3 band eq. The bass knob is great to dial back in some low end after it's cut on the front end and the mids knob actually adds some cool saturation along with the added upper mid grind. My favorite boost.

I gotcha. I like going straight in, I've played around with hitting the front end but just haven't bonded with doing that. So even without the 805 the newer QR's...lots gain, liquid, chewy, feel?

I can get back to ya on that...I've never played it plugged straight in

Thanks man, let me know. I wouldn't mind going the Splawn route again if I could get back to that first one I owned

 

[jabps]

Rivera Knuckleheads? I have a first gen and I love it, and the K-Tre slays.

Thanks Bezo.

 

[controlled_voltage]

ceriatone........so many choices
so much bang for the buck,
or
if has 2k to spend i would buy this and a pedal or two with the left over change

https://reverb.com/item/21177827-engl-s ... black-100w