Anyone score a Zzounds 2203x blowout?

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Honestly I'm kind of jabbing but also more serious. I have had the ability to play the 2203x in store and its great, but would be curious for something new in the same price point. I like it more than the SB and BE 100 and have compared them in the same room.

If people say it sucks then list a 5k amp it doesn't really do anything for me. For THAT sound its the best I've played so far, (edging out a small box for example) .. but for $2900 (edit 2600 now at SW) what beats it at that price?

Most of the other options are either a used more expensive unobtainium or something boutique I'd have to get without being able to try it somewhere.
The snorkler is also in the running and I think the el34 stealth covers tons of bases. So new, at the price point, what else competes and edges it out?

Similar amps are mostly 50w.. looking at the small box, mgl 50, etc.. stuff under 3k I can go buy new now. I really like the TK Royalist and Plex but no loop

I absolutely love MGL and think you will love one, too. The 50 watt are insane and hang with most 100s. I spent three years trying to get an amp to beat it.

As far as cheap amps go, if i were looking for best bang for the buck metal amp, i would grab a mt100

 

[tjnx]

I absolutely love MGL and think you will love one, too. The 50 watt are insane and hang with most 100s. I spent three years trying to get an amp to beat it.

As far as cheap amps go, if i were looking for best bang for the buck metal amp, i would grab a mt100

Yes, agreed! I have played the mt100 and its great.

 

[Rackman]

What do all you guys that don't like 2203s like instead? Lots of "better amps out there" but no list of better amps

I've mostly played Bogner XTCs and various rack setups. X88s, CAEs etc. with a SM100R. I have a synergy rack. I have a JP2C a well.

If it doesn't have an independent clean channel and a loop or split pre/power I'm really not interested for a rock amp. Jazz and country I can do Fender.

I've used it enough now that I can say my 104BV is top dog sound wise and has good functionality.

 

[Greazygeo]

What do all you guys that don't like 2203s like instead? Lots of "better amps out there" but no list of better amps

Pretty much anything…considering I have had my Wizard MC1 for over 20 years and still gig with it, that is my pick, but that is a higher priced amp. Has been the perfect amp for me. For what they cost now, don’t know I would buy one. I take that back, yeah I would.

VHT /Fryette 50ST / Ultralead / CLX / Deliverence.

Any good plexi style amp if you have the hands for one to get the goods (and know how to mod them so they don’t suck).

5150’s any of them.

Engl Ritchie Blackmore / Artist

I have a 78 2203 I picked up recently for $500.00. That is the most I would (or have ever) paid for one. Thought I would revisit the amp. Have had plenty of them, still don’t like them. Grew up playing them or plexis modded to that circuit…The modded plexis were better, but back to the original circuit with my tweaks are better. Glad to have my Wizard though…

 

[PiggySmallz]

I have grown to appreciate the hotrodded plexi circuit more than the hotrodded 800 as well. That said, if I only had a stock 800, I could make it work easy.

As far as better amp, I would say for metal, the list is nearly endless.
Wizard mtl, mcii, hellrazor
Bogner twin, snorkler
Friedman naked
MGL RED
Mesa mark, dual or triplle rec
Diezel bigmax, vhii, vh4
Fryette Ultralead
Lenz Octane
Monomyth (anything)
Groundzero (anything)
I really could go on



For rock, that is very subjective. But i think if I were only playing rock, i would take an 800 all day if only for the iconic sound

Monomyth and Ground Zero changed everything for me about amps. Was always a rectifier guy and had a love for my PRS archon....I dont play anything but my hellion and unholy grail now. Really got me to love modded marshall tones

 

[DanTravis62]

Engl Ritchie Blackmore / Artist

ALRIGHT NOW WERE TALKIN

Now we can talk about the amp I like instead of the amp everyone else is talking about



I think the artist sounds really good! And that's neat.

 

[Greazygeo]

ALRIGHT NOW WERE TALKIN

Now we can talk about the amp I like instead of the amp everyone else is talking about



I think the artist sounds really good! And that's neat.

I really like the Blackmore (having played it a number of times). Reminds me alot of the 5150’s. The Artist I have only heard recordings, some vids etc. It sounds good as well. Much better attack, midrange and bigger soundstage than a 2203. Ive almost bought an Artist a few times. New guy in Deep Purple gets some good tones with them.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

ALRIGHT NOW WERE TALKIN

Now we can talk about the amp I like instead of the amp everyone else is talking about



I think the artist sounds really good! And that's neat.

Artist and Blackmore are 2 of the best sounding amps I've ever owned. Each a little different but both are so versatile and the cleans are great too.

 

[ewill52]

What do all you guys that don't like 2203s like instead? Lots of "better amps out there" but no list of better amps

my 101b, my '67 Bassman, my Shiva, the 1959slp, my Synergy rack and 20IR, my bandmate's 66 Bandmaster and Super.

 

[rstites]

There are a number of replies now about more modern, more feature laden amps than the venerable 2203. That's fair and reasonable. However, it's worth noting that all of those - or nearly all of them - are both direct responses to the 2203 and it's lack of features and also heavily influenced by it. The big issue is I have played very few amps that manage to capture the fierocity of an openced up 2203 (or 1959) even if many get "close enough" and also have a bunch of bells-n-whistles......like more gain, clean channels, separate lead channels, effects loops, etc. I get the shortcomings of the 2203 but still suspect some of their charm is that they don't try to do anything beyond being a simple, straightforward powerhouse.

Hey, I have a pile'o'Boogies now, a SLO, a few Fenders for cleans, a rack full of preamps, etc. so it's not like I don't chase after all kinds of other options/tones too! No amp rules others in all circumstances.

 

[tjnx]

There are a number of replies now about more modern, more feature laden amps than the venerable 2203. That's fair and reasonable. However, it's worth noting that all of those - or nearly all of them - are both direct responses to the 2203 and it's lack of features and also heavily influenced by it. The big issue is I have played very few amps that manage to capture the fierocity of an openced up 2203 (or 1959) even if many get "close enough" and also have a bunch of bells-n-whistles......like more gain, clean channels, separate lead channels, effects loops, etc. I get the shortcomings of the 2203 but still suspect some of their charm is that they don't try to do anything beyond being a simple, straightforward powerhouse.

Hey, I have a pile'o'Boogies now, a SLO, a few Fenders for cleans, a rack full of preamps, etc. so it's not like I don't chase after all kinds of other options/tones too! No amp rules others in all circumstances.

Yep it seems most want more gain or channels but I like it for the thing it does and because it does it well they can charge for it. If you'd rather pay more for your use case that's fine but it doesn't mean it sucks.

 

[DanTravis62]

Yep it seems most want more gain or channels but I like it for the thing it does and because it does it well they can charge for it. If you'd rather pay more for your use case that's fine but it doesn't mean it sucks.

It's almost like a "have you played in a loud, live rock band" proxy question or rorschach blotter

Because invariably if you've had that experience, you generally see that the 800 is really good at it

 

[DanTravis62]

Monomyth and Ground Zero changed everything for me about amps. Was always a rectifier guy and had a love for my PRS archon....I dont play anything but my hellion and unholy grail now. Really got me to love modded marshall tones

Jeremy makes excellent amps. I absolutely loved the MOAB, and I'm sure I'd love a Hellion, too, if I ever got a chance to put one through it's paces

I have played a couple of Monomyths and they are rad too. The Skeleton Key was probably less "my thing" than Jeremy's stuff, but excellent nonetheless and I see the appeal.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Jeremy makes excellent amps. I absolutely loved the MOAB, and I'm sure I'd love a Hellion, too, if I ever got a chance to put one through it's paces

I have played a couple of Monomyths and they are rad too. The Skeleton Key was probably less "my thing" than Jeremy's stuff, but excellent nonetheless and I see the appeal.

I feel like the hellion and skeleton key are very similar. The hellion has a lot more tone shaping options, but they are both awesome high gain amps with wizard-like punch.

The moab has that punch, but is very musical. It is a very special amp

 

[MadAsAHatter]

Jeremy makes excellent amps. I absolutely loved the MOAB, and I'm sure I'd love a Hellion, too, if I ever got a chance to put one through it's paces

I have played a couple of Monomyths and they are rad too. The Skeleton Key was probably less "my thing" than Jeremy's stuff, but excellent nonetheless and I see the appeal.

I feel like the hellion and skeleton key are very similar. The hellion has a lot more tone shaping options, but they are both awesome high gain amps with wizard-like punch.

The moab has that punch, but is very musical. It is a very special amp

I have both a Hellion and Skeleton Key. They're in the ballpark of each other but I woulndn't call them similar; at least not any more. Hellion V1 was more similar to the Skeleton Key, both focusing on upper mid grind. I'd be able to dial them in to sound pretty close to each other.

After Jeremy did the Version 2 update and switched to KT66 tubes it shifted some focus to the lower mids and diverged more from the Skeleton Key. While there is still some ovelap, I'm not really able to get them to sound as similar anymore. The Skeleton Key's is high gain upper mid grind and has a lot of cut. The Hellion V2 with KT66's keeps the same overall character as V1, but smooths out the upper mids and adds more dynamic lower mid beef and punch.

Just to throw it out there, If you haven't played Jason's/Headfirst Alta you should add that to the list as well. I consider it the best multichannel do it all M-style amp out there. I don't think I'd trade mine for anything.