High gain "metal" amps that sound good without power tube...

[mountain2012]

Can you please list high gain "metal" amps that you don't have to turn the master volume up high to get good tone? This quote was posted on another forum:

"There is also the way in which certain amplifiers don't need power-tube break-up to sound good. Diezel, Fryette, Soldano, Cornford - they all fit that criteria. Stick an attenuator in between a Diezel amp and a 4x12 and it turns buzzy and weird."

Modern high gain metal amps are new to me as I have been using a Tone King Ironman for some time now with Rectifiers and 5150s. Now I want to explore amps that are designed to sound good at lower master volume setting.

 

[FourT6and2]

Lower master volume setting does not equal no power tube clipping.

High volume still contributes to a certain sound. The way speakers react. The way your ear reacts and compresses.

So if you're looking for high-gain at mouse fart volumes, that's different than a high-gain amp that sounds good without pumping out 120 dB. So what are you looking for exactly?

 

[RedB4Black]

Here is a list of 100w tube amps that sound good at low volumes:









.

 

[mountain2012]

So if you're looking for high-gain at mouse fart volumes, that's different than a high-gain amp that sounds good without pumping out 120 dB. So what are you looking for exactly?

I'm looking for a high gain amp that sounds good without pumping 120db.

Here is a list of 100w tube amps that sound good at low volumes:

 

[FourT6and2]

From my own experience, I've liked Bogner, Diezel, and KSR.

 

[Racerxrated]

Here is a list of 100w tube amps that sound good at low volumes:









.

I never understand these questions, ALL tube amps sound better turned up. Period. They all sound, well, quiet at low volumes. Lol. They don't sound bad, but of course they will sound a little fuzzy. Every damn one of them. No differences, and I've played and owned all the major names. I've never heard any amp sound really good at a low volume.

 

[Racerxrated]

Here is a list of 100w tube amps that sound good at low volumes:









.

I never understand these questions, ALL tube amps sound better turned up. Period. They all sound, well, quiet at low volumes. Lol. They don't sound bad, but of course they will sound a little fuzzy. Every damn one of them. No differences, and I've played and owned all the major names. I've never heard any amp sound really good at a low volume.

Edit: One exception is the Wizard MCI, there's a spot on the master that's easily apt level that sounds like a pushed power section. Very unique.

 

[errrrrl]

+1 Friedman Butterslax

 

[glip22]

It's the nature of the beast. It's not only power tube distortion as posted. It's pretubes and pushed speakers as well.
If you want an amp that can still have a saturated tone at lower volumes get one with a clipper circuit with lower voltage diodes. You will never get the dimensional tone you will from a pushed tube amp but you can at least play without pissing off your family and or neighbors.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Here is a list of 100w tube amps that sound good at low volumes:









.

I never understand these questions, ALL tube amps sound better turned up. Period. They all sound, well, quiet at low volumes. Lol. They don't sound bad, but of course they will sound a little fuzzy. Every damn one of them. No differences, and I've played and owned all the major names. I've never heard any amp sound really good at a low volume.

I agree with this completely. And like Racerxrated said regarding the MCI, I concur in regards to the MCII I own. AMAZING low volume tone and feel. Best low volume amp I've ever owned (Not that I need to play at low volumes )

 

[Skolphy]

Engl Fireball 100...no issue at low volume..sounds excellent..but when you get it to about 3 on the master that is when the magic really starts..

 

[maddnotez]

I disagree with most of those opinions. Almost any amp I've had sounded great at whisper volumes, Fryette included. Yeah I maxed the master but had the chanelle down.

Bogner uber didnt rely on master, sounded better with master and channel. Same concept sounded great at low volumes.

I'm no expert but I think this is a myth. Sure an old Marshall plexi or something this may have applied. Not with any modern amp I've owned.

 

[Metlupass2]

The Mesa JP-2C was the best low volume amp I've ever owned and I left it at 100 watt. It has a super gradual volume taper unlike a Splawn or 6505.

 

[stratjacket]

I play all my amps through a Suhr Reactive Load, turn up the Master to about 10o’clock (about 4 on a scale from 1-10) and get the most glorious sounds ever. Diezel, KSR, Bogner, Friedman, Splawn, etc...and I just bought my first ever Marshall JVM and I was completely blown away.

But haven’t had a bad amp experience yet. Without alarming the popo, it’s kind of like the female reproductive organ, none of its bad, just some better than others....

 

[bubucci]

It's all about good master volume. Friedman, Engl, Cornford, VHT ... all sound good at TV appartment levels. But something like 6505, Marshalls, Rectos sound like flat buzzy noisemaker at those levels.

 

[GOHOINC]

Friedmans have the best master volumes I've ever heard, followed by bogner.

 

[jc986]

The PRS Archon is the best tube amp I’ve played for low volume. Even in 100w mode.

 

[Racerxrated]

Problem is, many of the amps that we like get the majority of that tone BECAUSE of the loud, pushed power section, so a Marshall (JMP, JCM 800) aren't going to be a very good low volume amp because the majority of the great tone won't happen until it is pushed hard. There is a magic to EL34s when they begin to saturate, that puts a smile on many faces.
Amps that are designed around the preamp, like Mesa, Soldano, VHT will be better suited for low volume playing because the tone they produce isn't dependent on power tube saturation.
Honestly, the best low volume tone I've experienced (other than the spendy MCI) is my new to me pawn shop special...the '88 Randall RG80 combo. 150 bucks. Killer low volume tone.

 

[xzacx]

In my experience higher watt amps typically sound better at low volumes than low wattage amps. For example, a Mark V 25 didn't sound nearly as good at low volumes as a Herbert (or full size Mark V). They obviously don't sound as good as when they're loud, but surprisingly usable for at-home playing IMO.

 

[RedB4Black]

While I personally find playing my amps (wizards and a Fryette UL) at low volume to be less than ideal for a decent tone, I will say that you can play them at lower volumes without it being complete crap. I'm no expert, but there's probably some Fletcher Munson effect in play along with the effect of power tube saturation.

If you are buying something for low volumes, you're better off buying something like an Axe FX/Kemper/Helix/Atomic - which, through an FRFR speaker, I find are much more suited for lower volumes than a 100W tube amp.