Compressed feel in a non-compressed amp

[the rossness]

I had a tone in my head, I'm not sure it exists or not.

Is there an amp that has the gain/ compression-feel of something like a 5150, but has the sound of an an amp on the verge of breakup that's big and open and isn't compressed or saturated?

 

[gtr31]

Deizel IMO have tons of compression but still are very stiff
And dry

 

[Racerxrated]

I had a tone in my head, I'm not sure it exists or not.

Is there an amp that has the gain/ compression-feel of something like a 5150, but has the sound of an an amp on the verge of breakup that's big and open and isn't compressed?

Wizard.

If I'm reading you correctly, my old MTL gave me a unique feel, almost like it was compressed, and the gain was clear and cutting like a gained out maxed plexi. But no compression in the tone of the amp itself, and was the most uncompressed open sounding amp I've ever played.
Not the feel of a 5150 though. But it felt like there was more compression than there actually was.

 

[Zachalou]

I would consider my JCM 800 2204 to be an open sounding amp, but after I throw a SD-1 and OD-808 in the front, it compresses it in a really awesome way to my ears. Still very prominent, just tidied and tightened in all the right ways.

 

[Rdodson]

I agree with Zachalou, the ol' SD-1 into a JCM800 type of amp still has what you are describing.

 

[Racerxrated]

I would consider my JCM 800 2204 to be an open sounding amp, but after I throw a SD-1 and OD-808 in the front, it compresses it in a really awesome way to my ears. Still very prominent, just tidied and tightened in all the right ways.

That is a great tone.