Dream amp wanted

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singtall

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i was thinking about buying a Kemper or Axe-fx and realized that i really only use 3-4 different tones....ever. so why not get a head that will cover those needs?

i hope someone already has built my dream amp and someone can just point me there.

what i would like:

1) good chimey fender clean. think dream theater images and words cd clean sound.
2) old marshall jtm45 or other nice gritty jangly distortion. SRV without needing a distortion pedal.
3) nice brown high gain distortion (must clean up when guitar volume rolled back) EVH balance cd tone.
4) volume boost for brown channel.

if someone could kindly point me in the right direction, i would appreciate it.
 
could i maybe just find a good clean amp and get a pedal to cover the rest? Wample Pinnacle or Suhr riot come to mind, but i haven't tried either.

i am currently using an eleven rack with full range speaker cabinet and though it's nice....it ain't the real deal.
 
Someone just posted profiles of the fender for Kemper. Gonna have to check em out. ;-)

That was the original appeal for me with the mts line. Though realistically its hard to get completely different sounds even with different pres going through the same cab.
 
singtall":kh67vy8j said:
could i maybe just find a good clean amp and get a pedal to cover the rest? Wample Pinnacle or Suhr riot come to mind, but i haven't tried either.

i am currently using an eleven rack with full range speaker cabinet and though it's nice....it ain't the real deal.
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There are a lot of choices out there.

Personally I'd recommend one of the following:
1) Surreal Atomica (AKA 100): My personal favorite amp. Really great cleans and absolutely phenomenal low-high gain. I recently have been trying to coax a high-gain sound out of it (a la Metallica to modern metal) and have had some great results with a 10-band EQ in the loop, slight scoop of the mids, boost of the lows, and a slight boost of the highs. I also have a decent sized pedalboard running in front of it for use with the clean channel. Seriously, with a couple guitars there isn't a tone I can't get with this amp.
2) Marshall JVM410: Very versatile, relatively inexpensive, can't really go wrong with this choice.
3) Diezel VH4: Crazy versatile. Channel 3 has my favorite high gain sound. Channel one has a very usable clean channel which can be utilized by some pedals for other tones. Channel 2 can coax a great Marshall tone.

Either way, I would recommend using a pedalboard as well as a versatile amp. Some amps take pedals better than others though. I personally am not satisfied with getting my overdrive from pedals minus lower gain stuff. I've tried a Suhr Riot, Carl Martin Plexitone, among others. While they are passable and most definitely usable I just don't ever seem satisfied. That's why I have fallen in love with my Surreal. I can get all the overdrive tones I want (low/mid/high/modern/etc) and like I said, with the EQ in the loop-DAYUM, I was so surprised with the high-modern metal tones I am able to achieve.

And I agree with Audioholic, it is tough to get a lot of versatility out of the same cab but I am getting awesome results through my scumback cab (m75s). Just took some serious dialing for some of the tones (high-modern metal in particular).
 
the Surreal amps sound like the ticket! gonna contact the guy asap. thanks.
 
PT100
EVH 5150III
Bogner XTC(some versions have better cleans than others).
Maybe a Diezel Einstein?
 
There's alot of great multi-channel amps out there..some that I like are the Bogner XTC 20th EL-34, Diezel Hagan, VH-4, Rhodes Colossus, Suhr (CAE) PT-100, and the Engl Invader (EL-34). The Cameron CCV-100 is cool too. If it was just 2 Channels..Friedman BE-100 and the Soldano SLO-100. I'm a fan of EL-34's though. :) It also depends on if your gonna stick with 6 strings and your playing style.
 
I am partial to the Diezels, Herbert/Hagen/VH4 and the Bogner 20th XTC.

I own or have tried these and each has excellent versatility and covers the bases you are needing.

One major benefit of the Diezel amps is they have midi capability built-in. So, switching is easy, most features are programable and you can choose from 3 channels or 4 channels depending on the model. Amazing cleans, and the gain channels are just superior.

The XTC is amazing as well, yet no midi capabilities. You will need a midi interface, like the RJM amp gizmo or something simliar, to do channel switching via midi. There is a foot switch with the XTC, yet it doesn't control ALL the functions on the amp. You can change channels, there is boost for each channel, mute, and loop on/off. Problem is, there are many other functions on the XTC that make it incredibly versatile, yet there are only manually switchable.

Good luck finding your Dream...I side-stepped this whole dilemma a bit because I couldn't decide on just one, so I have a few currently. Diezel Herbert, Hagen and an XTC 20th :rock:
 
What is your budget?

If it is under $1500 go with a used JVM 410. If you need more versatility than this amp offers, you need a multi amp set up.
 
Krank Nineteen80. Fender clean channel, classic dirt channel, tube driven loop can be engaged with footswitch and can run without anything in the loop adding a 12ax7 gain stage.
 
Sounds like a PT-100 type amp or a Brown Eye. JP's IAW clean tone overlayed w/ a piezo IIRC.

However, I think the right Marshall Super Lead and a boost would get you in the ballpark of those tones, too.
 
singtall":3gfzw8p3 said:
the Surreal amps sound like the ticket! gonna contact the guy asap. thanks.
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You wouldn't regret it. Jerry is a great guy to do business with too!
 
VH4 might struggle to give you #2. Channel 2 does sound Marshally, but more JCM800 than JTM45. I played a Friedman mod with the separate clean channel that sounded killer. Not sure it has a JTM45 sound in it either, but I didn't have long to tinker with it.
 
If your on more of a budget try the EVH 5150 III mini (50 watter)
Otherwise plenty of great amps have been mentioned. Diezel, Suhr, Rhodes, Cameron etc . . . . .
I'm using a Diezel Einstein 100 watt w/ the Channel 1 mod. It's like a poormans (well cheaper I should say :lol: :LOL: ) Versoin of a VH4. Pretty much turns it into a 4 ch. amp. You can find them on eBay for just under 2000 used. I've seen a few on there right now for like $1800. Diezel has one of the best effects loops on the market too.
Mesa Boogie MK III can be found cheap too and adding a pedal or 2 would get you the tones you want. I use the lead ch. as more of a boost. IMHO don't get a combo do a head and seperate cab if you do got that way.
Suhr Riot into a nice tube amp is great pedal too. :thumbsup:
 
The Hoff":36pfvab5 said:
singtall":36pfvab5 said:
the Surreal amps sound like the ticket! gonna contact the guy asap. thanks.
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You wouldn't regret it. Jerry is a great guy to do business with too![/quote

Plus one on Jerry and his work!

AKA all the way!

Vintage/scream switch takes you from plexi to 800, pull Jose's for modded 800 heaven.
Clean channel is Vox based, beautiful, full, chimey, has its own dedicated tone stack toO...
Jerrys motto is make it one of a kind, so you can tell him to put a blackface fender clean channel in there and he'll make it happen. Def call him....

I often describe my 50 watt aka as my dream amp, he's out every thing I've ever wanted in there...
 
From the sound of it from some people, i would be a bit hesitant about dealing with CAE?? no? some cats got screwed from the sounds of it
 
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