jdel77
Well-known member
Here’s the deal – I’ve been through a few high gain heads, each with their own special magic, but nothing has nailed it so far apart from my old MKIII Blue Stripe. But I would like an alternative amp to what that thing does.
If you can be bothered, read through what I’ve had, what I liked and what I didn’t.
I need a rich sparkling clean channel, a killer mid gain crunch and a killer lead sound. Also a great FX loop is mandatory as I run an old Deluxe Memory Man and a vintage Electric Mistress. Pretty much my only modulation pedals.
Cabs are a Mesa Stiletto 4x12 with V30's and a Mesa horiontal Recto 2x12 with an EVM12L/Black Shadow C90.
I'm a picky bastard, as we all are.
The band plays stuff along the lines of Deftones, Chevelle, Quicksand, Shihad etc....
’78 Marshall 2203 JMP - Killer drive sound
• Shite cleans.
• No FX loop.
• Can’t get with that upper end crushed glass sound.
• Tried V30’s, Scumbacks, Creambacks, G12T-75’s, 65’s etc… Not my thang.
Friedman BE100
* Good, but sounds like a safely mastered JCM800 to me. Nothing bad about it, but nothing that really stands out.
Bogner Ecstacy
* I need an amp with more attack, more of a forward sound.
* They sound very compressed and "in the back", I like amps that slap you between the eyes.
Orange OR100 Great drive sound. Not as clear as the JMP though. Too safe sounding.
• Cleans were awful.
• Mid gain not a strong point.
• Shit clean up on guitar’s volume pot.
Mesa Mark IV Awesome amp overall, but prefer my MKIII. The MKIII is richer and sounds more organic/real.
• Not much wrong with this amp, but:
• the R2 is maybe a 6/10. Sounds spitty, like a cranked Silverface Fender.
• Lead channel rules but has an upper midrange cocked wah sound sometimes.
• Cleans sound a bit sterile sometimes.
Soldano SLO100 Drive sound is nuts. Love it. This is the sound.
• Loop is too hot for floor pedals.
• Clean channel is way quieter than Crunch.
This can be gotten around with a Vol pedal/guitar’s vol knob into the Crunch channel to clean up I suppose.
Mesa MKIII Blue Stripe. Cleans are rich, sparkling and full.
R2 is Marshally, no upper midrange crushed glass vibe. Well balanced and a joy to play.
Lead is off the chain. So good. Love this amp.
• Nothing bad here. This amp is perfect. But I would like something different to balance it.
So, is there anything else with the power and punch of the SLO?
Here's what I know is out there but I haven't played them:
Multiwatt Mesa Recto - are they in the same league as the SLO?
Diezel - what are they like for what I want to play? I need power and a solid high gain sound.
Peters - no idea. Just heard of them.
If you can be bothered, read through what I’ve had, what I liked and what I didn’t.
I need a rich sparkling clean channel, a killer mid gain crunch and a killer lead sound. Also a great FX loop is mandatory as I run an old Deluxe Memory Man and a vintage Electric Mistress. Pretty much my only modulation pedals.
Cabs are a Mesa Stiletto 4x12 with V30's and a Mesa horiontal Recto 2x12 with an EVM12L/Black Shadow C90.
I'm a picky bastard, as we all are.
The band plays stuff along the lines of Deftones, Chevelle, Quicksand, Shihad etc....
’78 Marshall 2203 JMP - Killer drive sound
• Shite cleans.
• No FX loop.
• Can’t get with that upper end crushed glass sound.
• Tried V30’s, Scumbacks, Creambacks, G12T-75’s, 65’s etc… Not my thang.
Friedman BE100
* Good, but sounds like a safely mastered JCM800 to me. Nothing bad about it, but nothing that really stands out.
Bogner Ecstacy
* I need an amp with more attack, more of a forward sound.
* They sound very compressed and "in the back", I like amps that slap you between the eyes.
Orange OR100 Great drive sound. Not as clear as the JMP though. Too safe sounding.
• Cleans were awful.
• Mid gain not a strong point.
• Shit clean up on guitar’s volume pot.
Mesa Mark IV Awesome amp overall, but prefer my MKIII. The MKIII is richer and sounds more organic/real.
• Not much wrong with this amp, but:
• the R2 is maybe a 6/10. Sounds spitty, like a cranked Silverface Fender.
• Lead channel rules but has an upper midrange cocked wah sound sometimes.
• Cleans sound a bit sterile sometimes.
Soldano SLO100 Drive sound is nuts. Love it. This is the sound.
• Loop is too hot for floor pedals.
• Clean channel is way quieter than Crunch.
This can be gotten around with a Vol pedal/guitar’s vol knob into the Crunch channel to clean up I suppose.
Mesa MKIII Blue Stripe. Cleans are rich, sparkling and full.
R2 is Marshally, no upper midrange crushed glass vibe. Well balanced and a joy to play.
Lead is off the chain. So good. Love this amp.
• Nothing bad here. This amp is perfect. But I would like something different to balance it.
So, is there anything else with the power and punch of the SLO?
Here's what I know is out there but I haven't played them:
Multiwatt Mesa Recto - are they in the same league as the SLO?
Diezel - what are they like for what I want to play? I need power and a solid high gain sound.
Peters - no idea. Just heard of them.
