CAA PT-100 vs. Elmwood M90 need opinions

[drjenkins]

So, I've narrowed my potential purchase down to these two heads. I'd actually be buying a used OD-100 and having it modded to the PT-100 specs if I go that route. I've never played an Elmwood, but from what I've gathered from testimonials and sound clips/videos it seems right up my alley. I'm looking for a mostly uncompressed high gainer that can do heavy palm mute stuff and not fart out. Nothing overly bright, or if it is, easy to tame the highs. I've got a CLX now that I'll more than likely be running a two head setup with when I decide what I'm getting. I'll be running them through VHT FB and Deliverance 4x12's. Mean but articulate, with more saturation than the CLX is it in a nutshell. Thoughts, opinions, etc...

 

[billm408]

I've never owned the Elmwood so I can't really comment on the M90- I've played the M60 before and thought it was a great amp along the lines of the SLO with better cleans. And if I was looking, it'd be on my short list.

I've had the PT100 since late last year and it's far and away the best channel switcher I've played. It's got two channels with three modes and offers tons of tonal options. You can get pristine cleans to dirty Marshall-like crunch on the clean channel, everything from Plexi/JMP light overdrive to souped up JCM800 sounds on Ch. two and and Ch. three gives you a separate gain/master settings for leads. Very open uncompressed sound for a high gain amp. And with the negative feedback control on the back, the amp can be set up for either vintage or modern gain type tones as well. Awesome amp with so much flexibility. To date it has given me any sound I've wanted from an amp.

 

[ttosh]

I have the PT100 and our other guitarists have the M60 both super amps and you cannot go wrong with either one. Good luck in your decision!

 

[Rayneman]

Mmmm, I've owned an M90 and a OD100 SE+ (I know, not the PT100).

I did like the Elmwood, but among my other amps (e.g. CAA, XTC, SLO) it didn't really do anything above and beyond my other amps, and it was pretty pricy. Had it been my only amp, maybe I would have loved it and kept it.

I also ultimately got rid of my OD100 SE+. It was a frustrating amp for me, since I bought it as the OD100 SE (5881 tubes) and then sent it to have it modded to the current (at the time) SE+ specs with the new tranny, EL34s, and whatever else. It was MUCH better, but IMO the "real" SE+ amps sounded different and I decided that with so fucking many different versions of those amps, that I'd always be feeling like I had the "wrong" one. Also, it failed on its FIRST gig when I got it back from Suhr. It ended up being an internal fuse, and John Suhr and his guys were awesome it get it back up and running, but it was a shitty and embarassing experience.

Despite that, I feel that the CAA is a stronger amp, and to me it felt like it was built better, more solidly...hard to describe. It clearly has the better clean channel, and those PT100 sound clips are pretty mean.

If I were to make the decision, I'd go with the PT100, but I'd get a new one rather than a "modded to spec" one because I am not 100% satisfied that these upgraded amps are EXACTLY what you'd get with a new one. I could be wrong.