Chupa/Yeti v. Quickrod v. JVM 210 v. 5153 v. ENGL Blackmore

[Junk Yard Dog]

These are the amps I'm looking at. I've owned a Voodoo Deluxe Mod DSL, Budda SD30, JCM800.

I love to play AIC, GNR, COC, Black Crowes, Zep, SRV, Metallica, Pantera, Tool, Sponge, Pearl Jam, Big Head Todd, ZZ Top. Mostly live, I play hard rock, but not much metal.

These are the amps I'm looking at. I just want something fairly versatile, doesn't have to have the best clean, b/c I use my volume knob a lot for that, and I probably want to do around 50 watts, but would be happy with 100 as long as it has a good master volume. Really want to cut through the mix. I've been leaning toward the 5153, but hearing wonderful things about the Chupa/Yeti.

THoughts? Experiences?

 

[scottcrud]

The Blackmore is a pretty awesome amp

 

[rupe]

I think any of those fits the bill pretty well so its really going to come down to your personal preference for tone and feel. That said, the Quickrod is probably the most versatile of that bunch.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I have no experience with the Engl or the Yeti but I would say the JVM, Quickrod or Chupa will all work. The JVM is more versatile.

 

[romanianreaper]

I haven't owned the EXACT amps in your title, but have owned a Splawn Competition (50 watt version of Quick Rod), a JVM 410, ENGL Fireball, and 5153.

I didn't gel with the 5153 at all. Maybe I had a bad one but just didn't impress me much. With that said, I just saw Sevendust live a few weeks ago and one guitarist was using a 5153 and his tone was just awesome.

ENGL amps have a "dry" tone to them in my opinion but supposedly the Blackmore is a great hard rock amp. I really liked the JVM when I had it as it was a very versatile amp. The Splawns cut thru the mix great and have a great crunch.

It is so hard because a JVM is great but depending on how much you spend on it, you could get a Chupa or Splawn for the same money and it is not a "factory" amp. I'd make a list of each amp and the pros and cons.

 

[Axe-Man]

Most of the amps listed are way more versitile as they are multi channel amps but tonally...the Yeti is hard to beat IMHO if you like an amp that can span (in a Marshally way) all way from classic rock stuff to Marshall toned metal.

I have found the Yeti an absolutely killer amp. Not just for tone but for feel. I freakin love how it plays.

It's actually a bit tricky at first to get tones as it's got alot of options for a basic single ch amp...Era, Bright 1, Bright 2 (these switches are all 3 way and add high end, low end AND gain) plus a master, two gain knobs AND a pussy trimmer on the back for internal gain adjustment.

All those sounds you listed are no question in the amp but you need to play with it to get them. I'm pretty familiar with it now and can cop some pretty awesome tones.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Great feedback, folks, thanks! These are my initial thoughts and impressions, but keep in mind, I've not played all of these amps.

Chupa/Yeti
Pro: price seems right (except shipping), clips and videos I've heard sound pretty amazing, reputable, cool options.
Con: shipping costs

Quickrod
Pro: reputable, "boutique" (?), clips and videos sound right on the money for hot-rodded Marshall
Con: cannot speak from experience, but... non 2011 versions said to have annoying mid-spike, bad volume taper, needs to be cranked (like all good Marshalls), been labeled as "too tight/stiff", which isn't necessarily too bad

JVM210/205
Pro: most versatile out of the bunch, Marshall, come clips sound awesome, cool features
Con: factory, complex circuit (?), not overwhelming regarded as best value for money, love or hate, I played a 410 JVM when they first came out and I was not overly impressed, but didn't hate it, and that was around 2006 or 2007

5153
Pro: clips, videos sound pretty awesome, played one at low to medium volume in 2008 and I really liked it, but didn't spend enough time with it, Pete Thorn likes it and I think he's great, clean channel is cool, 50 watt version at a GREAT price, I think...
Con: reliability issues of the past, heard it does not play well with other speakers, heard it can be overly compressed and not cut through the mix well enough

Blackmore
Pro: cool features, like the metal clips I hear, gets good praise, well built, reputable, supposed to have some great hard rock/Jubilee tones
Con: I hear it doesn't cut in the mix as well as others - "too smooth" (?), don't see them around enough to try one

...Just my initial thoughts. I'd love to spend a week with all of these amps. After doing a lot of searching, they all seem to fit my tastes in some way or another, and rather well, but it's just a matter of which one fits me best.

If anyone can add to these lists (and delete whatever I posted in them), please do!

 

[Axe-Man]

I played the JVM 410H through a 1960A with greenbacks at major volume (as this was one of the 3 amps I considered - a modded SLP reissue as well) and I like my Yeti much better. The JVM was really flexible and loud but (just MHO) didn't nail any Marshall tone which kinda surprised me. I thought it was a great metal amp as it was super easy to play (very compressed) but it didn't make me think 'wow'. The Yeti doesn't do that uber bright Marshall tone like a SLP but it's plenty bright enough IMHO even through a really dark cab like an Orange 4x12. For me personally, it's an amp that when I play it loud (like this morning - it likes loud - ear plugs needed!) I just kinda grin and shake my head why I even gas for other amps...it just has that sound that works really well for me.

I love my 5150 v1 now I have V30s installed as it's huge and feral but it's not as nice to play as the Yeti and the Yeti comes very close in the aggro stakes. I do like the clips I've heard of the 5150 III though.

 

[steve_k]

The Yeti is almost worth it to have this.....

 

[nevusofota]

To expand upon your 5153 summary:

Never had a problem with mine in 4.5 years after numerous gigs (unless you count a bad preamp tube and footswitch cable)
I love it w/ my Mesa 4x12 w/ V30's (especially in a band setting)
Only channel 3 is overly compressed. I only use it for leads. Channel 2 is the gem in this amp (especially boosted), cuts great and is totally different in the mix than channel 3. Channel 2 is Pete's favorite also.

 

[verderacer]

The Yeti is almost worth it to have this.....

Plus its a damn good sounding Plexi clone...

 

[guitarnoize]

The Yeti is almost worth it to have this.....

Why have you circled the Ohm Selector?! AFAIK the Pussy Trimmer is inside the chassis, it's certainly not on top with the tubes on my Chupa

 

[guitarnoize]

My Chupacabra 50 in action:

By the way I've changed the speakers since recording the 80's demo, Eminence Gov's are a bit smoother

Can't beat it for the price as long as you don't want super chimey cleans.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Great feedback, folks, thanks! These are my initial thoughts and impressions, but keep in mind, I've not played all of these amps.

Blackmore
Pro: cool features, like the metal clips I hear, gets good praise, well built, reputable, supposed to have some great hard rock/Jubilee tones
Con: I hear it doesn't cut in the mix as well as others - "too smooth" (?), don't see them around enough to try one

If anyone can add to these lists (and delete whatever I posted in them), please do!

That's exactly what I thought of the Blackmore my buddy had. The amp sounded great, no doubt, but it didn't slice through the mix like the 6505+ he was using before it.

You've had a JCM800 before, have you considered a modded version by any one of the killer modders who lurk around here? You've got Fortin, BFG, FJA, etc. Don't know if you want to go the modded route, but a good tweaked JCM800 cover a lot of ground.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Wow, all great feedback, gents: thank you!

I just listened to clips of Cheetaro's Blackmore review (yes, I know it's not the same as in person), but he does a great review of the EQ section and it sounds awesome, but just missing that "something" that a Marshall/clone has to cut through. I also listed to Carl Roa using the Blackmore in a live setting, and it sounded awesome (but he's just awesome!), and it was great, BUT he was the only guitar going in the mix.

I have considered the modded route, but I've been down that road, and I think I just want something outta the gate, so to speak. I don't think I can afford the amp plus mod. I like FJA's clips, but sometimes I feel like the videos make a good number of the amps he mods sort of sound the same. Anyone else find that? That said, he's been the #1 choice if I went the mod route, because everything I hear I like. ...Fortin's amps are just rediculous, btw. That is the meanest, nastiest heavy Marshall sound I've heard in a while. I'm not sure what he charges, but yea, I'd love to have one of his amps or modded amp.

Thanks again and keep them coming if anyone has any experiences with these and the differences. Cheers!

 

[Axe-Man]

The Yeti is almost worth it to have this.....

Why have you circled the Ohm Selector?! AFAIK the Pussy Trimmer is inside the chassis, it's certainly not on top with the tubes on my Chupa

The pussy trimmer is a knob on the back of the amp just like the ohm selector on the Yeti. Great feature for dialing back the gain for more classic tones IMHO.

 

[guitarnoize]

The Yeti is almost worth it to have this.....

Why have you circled the Ohm Selector?! AFAIK the Pussy Trimmer is inside the chassis, it's certainly not on top with the tubes on my Chupa

The pussy trimmer is a knob on the back of the amp just like the ohm selector on the Yeti. Great feature for dialing back the gain for more classic tones IMHO.

That's weird?! I wonder why it isn't the same design for the Chupa considering its the exact same amp with a few different components internally.

 

[Axe-Man]

That's weird?! I wonder why it isn't the same design for the Chupa considering its the exact same amp with a few different components internally.

Nik made a few adjustments I believe to make it a little more flexible/user friendly. I wonder what the difference between the Chupa and Yeti actually is (tone stack, gain structure, Jose mods...not sure really)...I've tried other owners Chupa settings and it pretty much doesn't work with the Yeti...they usually sound extremely dark and unusable.

 

[guitarnoize]

That's weird?! I wonder why it isn't the same design for the Chupa considering its the exact same amp with a few different components internally.

Nik made a few adjustments I believe to make it a little more flexible/user friendly. I wonder what the difference between the Chupa and Yeti actually is (tone stack, gain structure, Jose mods...not sure really)...I've tried other owners Chupa settings and it pretty much doesn't work with the Yeti...they usually sound extremely dark and unusable.

Not sure what the differences are but he told me it was fairly easy to change a Chupa into a Yeti if I wanted, about 5 different components I think?

 

[killertone]

Man, I own a Blackmore and have for 5 years...these "don't cut in a mix" comments are killing me!

Gigged with that amp for around 2 years, no one ever had a problem hearing me and there were 2 guitars in the band at the time. There wasn't one time on stage or at loud rehearsals that I thought "this amp doesn't cut in a mix." It is a great amp and there is a reason it has stayed around for so long in my stable. Channel 3 and 4 are great for rock and metal respectively. Clean channel is ok, not great but not bad. One of the reasons I love this amp is because you can a really good tone in about 30 seconds. Super simple and sounds great.

Here are some clips I made a looooooong time ago.

Blackmore Metal

Blackmore Rock

Bluesy Blackmore


The JVM is great, too. I have a 410 but I actually like the 210 that I recently played a little better. Great amp, excels at metal/hard rock and has an awesome clean channel. Super flexible and versatile.

JVM Clips:

JVM Thrash

Blackmore/JVM Together