Favorite High Gain Amp You've Owned

[PeteLaramee]

For me it's still my Voodoo modded DSL.

 

[Zachman]

Cameron Atomica (NAMM proto type, still have it)
Cameron modded Marshall SL (High gain Jose, still have it)
Mesa/Boogie MKIII Coliseum Simul-Class (Bought NEW in 1986 and still have it)
Fuchs ODS (Had 2, LOVED them, but sold them)

Looks like we have similar favorites (atomica modded slp, mkiii++ coliseum). I wasn't though as impressed with the Fuchs ods though. Never tried Cameron Jose. I wonder if my atomica would get close to that at all?

I played several Fuchs ODS amps and was lucky to find the two I had, which I preferred to the Fuchs ODS amps I've played since.

These are the Cameron Atomica

That Atomica sounds AWESOME!!! Love it!

Thanks Alex. I LOVE this thing. I had been looking for an amp that ticks all the boxes this one does for 30 years.

A couple of better recordings:

Just audio here. mentoneman and I were goofing around w/ tone. The Clean tone is a '65 Fender Super Reverb, and the distortion stuff is the Cameron Atomica's attempt at a more VH1 tone. I tend to lean toward preferring a VH2ish tone, anyway... here it is

https://soundcloud.com/mentoneman/zachrack-10-30-16

 

[Hartattack1090]

Haven't owned too many amps, but I'm going with the ENGL Fireball.

 

[romanianreaper]

Cameron CCV, Cameron Aldrich modded Marshall and Mesa Boogie Mark IIC++. I still own all 3.

All these years on the forum, have I ever told you I hate you to the core?!!?



It's funny, that the Cameron Aldrich is my favorite high gain amp ever and never owned one. I was so close to talking a friend into selling me his and couldn't convince him.

I'd have to say that the Splawn Competition 50-watt is probably the best high gain amp I've owned.

 

[Nitrobattery]

My 2011 Splawn Quick Rod. It's been the ultimate amp GAS killer for me. I've had something like 25 high gain heads over the years, and as soon as I plugged this QR in, it was just like, "That. That's the sound".

 

[Alex_S]

Thanks Alex. I LOVE this thing. I had been looking for an amp that ticks all the boxes this one does for 30 years.

A couple of better recordings:

...see above....

Just audio here. mentoneman and I were goofing around w/ tone. The Clean tone is a '65 Fender Super Reverb, and the distortion stuff is the Cameron Atomica's attempt at a more VH1 tone. I tend to lean toward preferring a VH2ish tone, anyway... here it is

https://soundcloud.com/mentoneman/zachrack-10-30-16

Good lord, these clips sound amazing. These Atomicas are really perfect sounding. Damn, why do the best things always have to be hard/impossible to get?

 

[Zachman]

Thanks Alex. I LOVE this thing. I had been looking for an amp that ticks all the boxes this one does for 30 years.

A couple of better recordings:

...see above....

Just audio here. mentoneman and I were goofing around w/ tone. The Clean tone is a '65 Fender Super Reverb, and the distortion stuff is the Cameron Atomica's attempt at a more VH1 tone. I tend to lean toward preferring a VH2ish tone, anyway... here it is

https://soundcloud.com/mentoneman/zachrack-10-30-16

Good lord, these clips sound amazing. These Atomicas are really perfect sounding. Damn, why do the best things always have to be hard/impossible to get?

I know what you mean. The best stuff (for me) had always been either out of reach financially or due to a lack of availability.

It's a REALLY versatile amp. IF it did channel switching it'd be PERFECT (for me)

Here is a clip of the Atomica through a Fender 4x12 cab plugged straight in, no wet rig/fx additions.

Please excuse the playing

Another cell phone clip w/ minimal delay 220mS

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Ive had this KS JMP 6 years, never had a problem.

For me its the Ultimate Rock amp.

Paired up with a JCM-DSL .... fugget-a-bout-it

 

[Hardvalve]

If only you could get someone who knows to play, to use it...

 

[Oblivion DC]

I know I'm still in the honeymoon period with this one but my James Peters BodyHammer is thee best amp I've ever played through.

 

[Alex_S]

I know what you mean. The best stuff (for me) had always been either out of reach financially or due to a lack of availability.

It's a REALLY versatile amp. IF it did channel switching it'd be PERFECT (for me)

Here is a clip of the Atomica through a Fender 4x12 cab plugged straight in, no wet rig/fx additions.

Please excuse the playing

Another cell phone clip w/ minimal delay 220mS

Ok, you now either stop this or send me your amp. Deal?

 

[nigelpkay]

I know I'm still in the honeymoon period with this one but my James Peters BodyHammer is thee best amp I've ever played through.

I just got my Bodyhammer a few weeks ago, still haven't fully explored it yet because of lack of time and being away too much. Very different beast than the Peters FSM that I also have. I think the Bodyhammer was born to thrash Very tight, dry gain, not as saturated as the FSM but punches harder with more upper mid content. It's almost like a JCM 800 with a ton of gain and more lows and depth.

 

[DistortED]

My JJ for sure followed by the SLO

 

[mooncobra]

If only you could get someone who knows to play, to use it...

??????

 

[mooncobra]

masotti x100m
friedman ss100
gower rockmonster
Cameron 50 watt Aldrich that crushed!

 

[Zachman]

I know what you mean. The best stuff (for me) had always been either out of reach financially or due to a lack of availability.

It's a REALLY versatile amp. IF it did channel switching it'd be PERFECT (for me)

Here is a clip of the Atomica through a Fender 4x12 cab plugged straight in, no wet rig/fx additions.

Please excuse the playing

Another cell phone clip w/ minimal delay 220mS

Ok, you now either stop this or send me your amp. Deal?

 

[stephen sawall]

Guitar
Rockett IQ Compressor
Event Horizon Precision Drive
Amp

I find the Precision Drive takes away too much bass for my taste. The gate works flawless and feels natural. With the Attack control you can get the bass super tight. Using the IQ EQ you can bring back the bass lost with the Precision Drive. You can very much thicken the sound with the IQ Compressor. Using a very small amount of Mix to control the feel and dynamics with the compression. I did not try other EQ pedals but would expect similar results.

I tried this with several guitars in various tunnings with a Mesa Tremoverb Dual Rectifier and Mark IV, Diezel VH4 and Einstein. Have not tried it with the Deliverance 120 yet.

I don't think you can get a more modern focused sound for rhythm playing. It made the Tremoverb as tight as a Fryette. The combination of the gate and compression is really key to controlling this type of sound.

 

[greenmosheen]

I love my EVH Stealth... She's a keeper... Especially after a re-tube / upgrade there... Wowser!

 

[metalmaniac93]

KK++ along with the Atomica!!! Engl Savage 120 also gets a mention.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

My favourite high gain amplifier I have owned so far is my 2016 Wizard 100 W MTL
Amazing sounding amplifiers and absolutely beautifully made,