Amp that does early VH to Sykes?

[changeofaseason]

I have a desire for a head that does hot rodded plexi sounds in the vicinity of early VH (fair warning era) through to John Sykes (think Bad Boy Live). I don't need lower gain plexi cleans or JTM sounds with it.

I don't need multiple channels (figure a toggle to add a gain stage between VH and Sykes tones is needed, though). Probably will be just a play at home amp and never be gigged out--if I needed these tones live I'd probably be using the AxeFX or Boogie.

I think I'm interested in a 50W amp, and if it doesn't have a good master I am okay attenuating but ideally something with a master would be more ideal.

* Friedman BE - Thinking a bit too modern voiced for these needs.
* Splawn - One of the EL34 50W ones. Not sure Supersport or Competition. Loved what I heard live from someone 10 years ago, but hear these are very stiff amps and feel VH plexi tones need sag.
* Ceriatone Yeti - Thinking this could be a good option, being Jose inspired. Sure it can cover the Sykes style stuff, but wondering if it can this do early VH.
* Considering maybe some of the 6v6 plexis, such as Fargen miniplex. Worried that I may regret not going EL34 50W though, given volume difference isn't much.

Ideally, retro plexi aesthetics for the head shell are preferred. Ability for custom tolex in purple also a plus.

I own a Boogie Mark V, Soldano SLO, and AxeFX. So this is really to get square in the authentic VH/Sykes amp in the room sounds with that VH sag and Sykes sizzle. So far leaning the Ceriatone Yeti direction...

 

[SoooRad]

Don't put too much stock into the Splawns being stiff thing. As someone who owned and quite enjoyed a Quick Rod for awhile. That being said, I believe the 50 watts are already in "Drop B+" mode, so it would have some give to it.

That being said, out of those 3, I would probably go for the Ceriatone. Yeti or Chupacabra. (I would probably go for a Chup personally).


Hell, you could get a Splawn and a Ceriatone for the cost of a Friedman BE if you are looking new.

 

[Racerxrated]

If you go Friedman I’d go BE Deluxe. You can have bright/open as well as dark/polished. Beyond that the Ceriatone would be a good choice..great value for the money. Dial in a nice VH thing then hit it with a boost for more saturated Sykes stuff

 

[fek]

Having owned both the Yeti and Quick Rod over the past 6 months, either will get you there. I still have the QR so a 50W Splawn with EL34's would be my first vote. The Yeti was awesome but I couldn't stop playing with the switches, gain 1 & 2 levels, and the P trimmer. So many options on that amp and my attention span just couldn't handle it.

I had a JJ Jr and Bogner 3534 this year as well. I would not recommend those for the tones that you are looking for. I am sure that someone could make those work but the sizzle you seek was not there for me.

 

[PDC]

50 QR with the new(er) Mid cut/boost and old/new voicing switches. ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of 80s tone.

 

[harddriver]

Landry G3 would cover all that ground and then some, plus it has one of the best cleans out there and it's as Marshall as the boutiques come.


If budget is an issue a Splawn can be picked up used for a song, same goes for the Ceriatone Chupa or Yeti.

 

[SFW]

I love my 2005 Spawn Quickrod. It will do both of those tones with ease. (Now if I could only play like either one of those guys...lol!) I will tell you that I got to play a 2018 or 2019 fully loaded Quickrod about a year ago. At my house. Through my cab. With my guitar. I was not impressed. Even in the "old mode" it did not have the aggression and immediacy that my amp has. I've also had guys hear me play and then went and bought their own Quickrod, and tell me that their amps didn't sounds like mine. I'm not sure what Scott has change in the amp, but they just don't sound the same anymore. All be it that the new version clean channel is a complete leap in the right direction from mine.

I would go with the Friedman of the three that you listed. Although I'm wondering why you couldn't dial in those tones on your Axe FX...? Though I do get wanting a new amp. I'm currently trying to decided between the Friedman SS100, REVV Generator 120 Mk III and the Kemper powered rack unit...lol!

 

[Beyond Black]

Chupa will have more aggression, sag and sizzle than the Yeti. It’ll do those tones and then some.

 

[PBGas]

Friedman BE-50. Fantastic amp and will do that in spades. Loved mine when I had it, kind of miss it but at the same time I don't have a need for it with my current setups.

 

[thenine]

I vote Quickrod

 

[Zachman]

I have a desire for a head that does hot rodded plexi sounds in the vicinity of early VH (fair warning era) through to John Sykes (think Bad Boy Live). I don't need lower gain plexi cleans or JTM sounds with it.

I don't need multiple channels (figure a toggle to add a gain stage between VH and Sykes tones is needed, though). Probably will be just a play at home amp and never be gigged out--if I needed these tones live I'd probably be using the AxeFX or Boogie.

I think I'm interested in a 50W amp, and if it doesn't have a good master I am okay attenuating but ideally something with a master would be more ideal.

* Friedman BE - Thinking a bit too modern voiced for these needs.
* Splawn - One of the EL34 50W ones. Not sure Supersport or Competition. Loved what I heard live from someone 10 years ago, but hear these are very stiff amps and feel VH plexi tones need sag.
* Ceriatone Yeti - Thinking this could be a good option, being Jose inspired. Sure it can cover the Sykes style stuff, but wondering if it can this do early VH.
* Considering maybe some of the 6v6 plexis, such as Fargen miniplex. Worried that I may regret not going EL34 50W though, given volume difference isn't much.

Ideally, retro plexi aesthetics for the head shell are preferred. Ability for custom tolex in purple also a plus.

I own a Boogie Mark V, Soldano SLO, and AxeFX. So this is really to get square in the authentic VH/Sykes amp in the room sounds with that VH sag and Sykes sizzle. So far leaning the Ceriatone Yeti direction...

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

ceriatone molecular or an 800 with a bunch of pedals.

 

[kmanick]

Hmmm I've got a brand new fully loaded Super sport El-34(more loaded than any other out there that I know of) and it easily nails everything from VH1 To Satch Boogie to Sykes to megadeth, just about every Marshall type tone I want. the new old/mid cut together really give the amp another dimension. the clean is way better than I expected, but I don't really use it , if I could've gotten a Competition in the mini head that's what I would've gotten, but the size and weight were 2 of the driving factors in picking out a new head. regardless I went to this from a Modd-ed JVM that I had for years and loved but I don't miss it one bit. Before I settled on the Splawn I tried a Freidman Runt 50,a Landry LS30, a Bogner 3534 and a Suhr PT-15. For me the Splawn killed them all.