Getting tired of searching for a high gain head. Need halp.

[moltenmetalburn]

VH4, herbert wont be forward enough in the mids for you based on your comments.

Wut?

OP thought the Friedman sounded too "mastered." All Diezels have that same thing, to my ear. Not that Diezel's sound bad (I think they're awesome), but based on what the OP said, he may want something else.

Ahh missed that. yeah they are NOT raw. Splawn but the cleans lack...

 

[cardinal]

If this is just a change-of-pace amp to backup your MKIII, maybe consider an AFXII or Kemper.

 

[cnote]

I have a Mk III blue stripe. I have a JP2C. I have a Tremoverb. I have not played most of the other boutique amps mentioned, but, if you want something to balance & compliment the MKIII I highly recommend looking at a Tremoverb head. All Rectos need a boost for high gain (where the Marks don't), but that thing sounds like the butter of the gods. Best damn Recto they made. It's going to compliment the Mark amp, not compete with it. I should do a Mark vs Tremoverb comparo vid that gets the cleans & gains. The JP cleans are shimmery & immaculate (IMO better than the III), but the Tremoverb cleans make me want to stay in that channel all day. FWIW I have done a MKIII / JP2C metal tone comparo vid. https://youtu.be/5t339KHoOt4

+1, don't have a III, but I have a IIC+, and I had a Tremoverb (before lending it to a guy that bought it) and the Tremoverb is a great complement; cheap too

 

[jdel77]

Guys I really appreciate all the input. It's awesome.
Ok, so I'm in a position where I can either go for a SLO or a Herbert.
I haven't ruled out a Tremoverb either, but it's heritage is the SLO and I figure I may as well cut to the chase and go for the big daddy itself...

Re: the SLO, I will need to do the FX Loop mod on so it works with my old EHX pedals - does this change the sound of the amp, that loop mod?
Is there any info out there anywhere on this?

 

[cardinal]

If you're really paranoid about the loop, you could have a separate Metro loop installed in the SLO, leaving the stock loop original.

 

[monkey42]

SLO is a great a,p for sure

 

[bognerluv]

Suhr PT100?

 

[JerEvil]

I would say Peters or KSR. The KSR Gemini would most likely take care of all your needs. VH4 would be great as well.

 

[fretout]

Since you have some money to spend, I'll second (or third, fourth, whatever) the guys above and recommend the Diezel VH4/Herbert for its versatility, and the fact that they have 3-4 channels that can be set up independently.

I will add that I was hard-set to buy a VH4 (not the VH4S...they weren't available), and the local GC happened to have one. I brought my Blue Stripe (not the Coli) and my Triple Rectifier, and I found my Blue Stripe tracked way faster than the VH4, and my Recto had a little more low end (even if it was a little looser without a boost), but the Rectos high end sounded so much more "dimensional", as if there were additional harmonics on top of it. So, I walked out kinda upset because I figured that the VH4 would have been THE amp for me.

If you're comparing your Mesa to a Diezel, in my opinion, it's kinda like a mix of a Mark IV and a Recto. It's a little drier like the Marks, but is voiced to close in on the low-mid Recto/SLO tone.

On a side note, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend the R2 mod on your Blue Stripe. It makes the Mark III a three channel amp. You'll get that Marshally crunch on your Rhythm 2 and really makes it shine. Do it.






Do it naow.

 

[the4thlast1]

If you want to continue with a Mesa I would also say JP2C+ ....Thicker and more organic than the Mark III , IV and V , I had.

What about an EVH 5153 , 100 watt ? They sound SLOish and have a great loop

 

[mooncobra]

I have a Mk III blue stripe. I have a JP2C. I have a Tremoverb. I have not played most of the other boutique amps mentioned, but, if you want something to balance & compliment the MKIII I highly recommend looking at a Tremoverb head. All Rectos need a boost for high gain (where the Marks don't), but that thing sounds like the butter of the gods. Best damn Recto they made. It's going to compliment the Mark amp, not compete with it. I should do a Mark vs Tremoverb comparo vid that gets the cleans & gains. The JP cleans are shimmery & immaculate (IMO better than the III), but the Tremoverb cleans make me want to stay in that channel all day. FWIW I have done a MKIII / JP2C metal tone comparo vid. https://youtu.be/5t339KHoOt4

I played a tremoverb and it was the best mesa I have ever played by far.

 

[mooncobra]

Check out the Landry amps

great amps!!

 

[LPMojoGL]

If you're really paranoid about the loop, you could have a separate Metro loop installed in the SLO, leaving the stock loop original.

Is this a thing? Can a metro loop be installed on the SLO in the same place circuitwise as the Friedman or master volume marshalls?
Because it would be awesome to bypass the SLO loop and use the metro loop.

 

[Mklane]

Herbert does everything you want and Will crush skulls! I think there's a good deal on one in the classified section.

 

[glassjaw7]

Based on how you described the amps in your list I don't think you'll love the Herbert. You mentioned how the III was organic and "real" and the '78 had the type of drive sound you love. The Herb is a cool amp for some things but it's about the furthest thing there is from that sound. To me it felt amazing in its response but the tones on channel three were almost like an over processed sound. Like a very very high end solid state type of tone that is missing something in the midrange. Clean and lower gain are awesome from channels 1 and 2 but for high gain I think the VH4 and Dmoll just have a better thing going on. Of course different strokes.. just basing this on what you said in OP and on my experience with all amps mentioned. I do however think that the Herb would slay if you blended it with the Mark III!

I'm thinking of going to a two amp setup to get the clean/dirty thing right.

 

[GJgo]

I just threw together a tone comparo that includes my Tremoverb & the JP-2C. Maybe it'll help you out in the search, check it out.

https://youtu.be/NdARuM_4QJ8

 

[jharpersj]

For what you want I am thinking Carol Ann triptik 2, nails it, otherwise a wizard mtl or mc2 is pretty amazing.

 

[Tone Jones]

RedPlate Magica!

 

[jlb32]

Another vote for the Mesa Trem-o-verb. To compliment your Mark III it's just such a killer sounding amp. Just make sure it doesn't have the dreaded LDR issue. I'm afraid mine finally does and needs to be sent in to Mesa for a fix but when it was running properly it was just amazing sounding. Definitely the best Mesa Rectifier ever IMO.

If you can maybe check out the Mark IV again also. It is my favorite of all the Mark amps.

 

[rstites]

Re: the SLO, I will need to do the FX Loop mod on so it works with my old EHX pedals - does this change the sound of the amp, that loop mod? Is there any info out there anywhere on this?

Another option here is to use the DI of the SLO. Run that through your effects and out through a good clean, SS power amp and then to a cabinet. That'll preserve the great tone of the stock SLO, power amp and all, and let you use whatever effects you want.

The best option here would be to run direct, dry from the SLO speakers to one cabinet, and run the effected signal to another cabinet. If you don't want to dry around two cabs, a split-stereo cab would allow the same thing with one cab.