Don't like 'em, but I need a grab and go hard rock combo

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tallcoolone

tallcoolone

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Looking for something where in/out will be an issue and I won't have much room on stage. Live/rock drummer volume use only. 12" speaker. 40 or so LBs, not interested in 50+ LBs or awkwardly large 2x12 behemoths. Would like channel switching but not necessary as long as the gain can go from low to high and it cleans up relatively well with the guitar volume. Fan of my other amps Mark V, Friedman BE, 3rd Power, EVHIII.

Small, light, high gain and sustain...what's out there that isn't just crap?

Thanks!
 
Since you know you like the Mark V, why not grab a 1x12 combo?
 
If you can find the VHT Fifty/Twelve (not the 45) - GREAT sounding 1x12". I miss mine, which I reviewed below. Can go from Voxish cleans to Fair Warning.

 
Rdodson":5efntawr said:
If you can find the VHT Fifty/Twelve (not the 45) - GREAT sounding 1x12". I miss mine, which I reviewed below. Can go from Voxish cleans to Fair Warning.

Click to expand...

Ha! Hi Ron. I bought your VHT. Fryette makes GREAT stuff but I didn't get along with that amp very well. I sold it after a few months.
 
JCM800 1x12 combo, upgrade speaker to g12-65 if it doesn't have one already, SD-1 and volume knob for cleans. You know it will sound good when you get the volume up with the drummer. Do you mic the speaker or does it have to keep up with the drummer in the room? an 800 will def. keep up.
 
Most all of the 1x12 Mesa MK's sound great.
The Recto 1x12's sound really good as well.
The 100 watters are every bit as loud as the heads.
 
Badronald":sv7zf96m said:
Most all of the 1x12 Mesa MK's sound great.
The Recto 1x12's sound really good as well.
The 100 watters are every bit as loud as the heads.
Click to expand...

To me the only Mark series combo that sounded any good was the Mark IV widebody. I've had III and loaded IIC+'s in the small combo and never liked them, even with the EVL speaker.

It's heavy and it needs a good OD pedal, but the Mesa Electra Dyne is the best sounding combo to my ears. It sounds big and fat while other combos just sound small. I played one next to a Mark V combo and to my ears the Electra Dyne killed it, all IMHO. And again, it just needs a good OD pedal.
 
I used a buddy's Rectoverb 1x12 combo for some rehearsals and it sounded huge.
Heavy amp though.
Used a Road King combo as a back line amp at a gig once. Sounded great but those are big and heavy and expensive. Overkill.
The MKIV combos sound great.
 
Budda SD18 combo. Nothing sounds better for hard rock and is under 40 lbs. IMO

The Mesa Electra Dyne was also one of my favorite sounding 1x12 combos. But at 90 lbs ...not so much.
 
Roland Cube 80XL.

cube-80xl_angle_gal.jpg


http://www.rolandus.com/products/details/1122/specs/
 
the new Friedman Small box comes in a combo version. We just finished the combo version and Ritchie Sambora is trying the first one. Its surprisingly lite
 
The hell with high gain combos, they'll never sound as good as head + cab, unless maybe you find a Mesa with an EVM speaker, and then it'll get pretty heavy

I say something like a 5150 III 50 watt head and 1x12 cab, 35 lbs each, you'll have to make one more trip from the back of your car to the stage, big deal. Then the amp will still be useable if you get to use a bigger cab.
 
No Mesa combo is going to be under 40 lbs. I'd go Mini Recto and a 1x12 or your Mark V head and a Mesa Wide body 1x12.
 
You already have awesome amps
Why not just get a 1x12 or 2x12 cab?

(2) 40 lb pieces is very easy to haul

If you must, you may still be able to find some of those Jet City combos at stupid low prices
 
Badronald":1aq8vqec said:
I used a buddy's Rectoverb 1x12 combo for some rehearsals and it sounded huge.
Heavy amp though.
Used a Road King combo as a back line amp at a gig once. Sounded great but those are big and heavy and expensive. Overkill.
The MKIV combos sound great.
Click to expand...

I forgot about the Rectoverb, yes that one is pretty cool and sounds good when it's up loud. I had the Roadster but I was never 100% happy with it, always tweaking to get it bright enough, then trying to get the fizz out etc.
 
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