Is a Sig:X The Answer?

[ape2000]

Clearly people will all have different opinions and there's a million ways to cut a cake.

Through some experimentation with pedals and listening, I've got more of an idea of what I want in my gain channels.

Cleans and a great effects loop will always be super important to me, thought idc if it's Fender or Hiwatt or Mesa cleans. Just need them to be good. But I haven't had a good dirty amp in a while. I can't afford a Diezel or SLO. But I've noticed I really love VH4 tones for aggressive hard rock/metal rhythm. And while all different, I like SLO and Mesa Mark tones. Shit, I could even appreciate a 5150 lead tone in a more modern context.

I like how tight yet massive the VH4 sounds, even just using the pedal version into a clean channel. The Sig:x is amp that's been recommended once or twice, and one that I've read about a bit. Other than going modelling or modular, no one amp is gonna cover all bases, especially with my pockets not running uber deep. Do you think the Sig:X is a good contender to cover a lot of bases and get at least in the ballpark of some of the more revered modern classics like the above mentioned? They seem to be attainable at a reasonable price point. I know some people call them "dry" but I'm not even sure I get what that means.

Just trying to land on an amp finally and lay the search to rest for a good while.

Edit: also considering Splawn and Rivera offerings.

 

[Orvillain]

I have a VH4 and a Sig X. The Sig X is very different to the VH4, in fact I can't really think of an amp that sounds like the Sig X does. It is it's own beast.

The Sig X is tight and refined sounding, definitely has tons of mids. It doesn't have a boomy low-end, and the high-end is very smooth. It isn't abrasive and nasty in the way that say a 5150 can be.

If you want to hear some Sig X tones, I actually put up some stems of my guitars from our last two albums.
Exegesis - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/56nf9uvyphkv ... beQqa?dl=0
Wires/Dream\Wires - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0r0sh7hhcygf ... pZvwa?dl=0

Finally, the VH4 is great. It's got tons of low end density and it has the high-end aggressive thing going on, but it can be tamed with the presence control. It has lots of mids too, but I'd say the Sig X is tighter sounding.

If you love the VH4 sound, then you've gotta go with that really haven't you? Maybe a VH2, or a Paul? My VH4 cost me £1200 and my D-Moll cost me £1000, and my Sig X cost me £750. So there are bargains out there to be had. Just gotta save up and be patient.

 

[RyeDaddy]

I don’t have personal experience with anything other than the VH4, which I just looooove to death, but I have heard/read several people saying that the PRS Archon can be made to sound much like a VH4. Some claim indistinguishable when dialed correctly.

That may give you another lead to follow up on in the affordable realm. I see them used for slightly less than the Sig X

 

[ape2000]

I have a VH4 and a Sig X. The Sig X is very different to the VH4, in fact I can't really think of an amp that sounds like the Sig X does. It is it's own beast.

The Sig X is tight and refined sounding, definitely has tons of mids. It doesn't have a boomy low-end, and the high-end is very smooth. It isn't abrasive and nasty in the way that say a 5150 can be.

If you want to hear some Sig X tones, I actually put up some stems of my guitars from our last two albums.
Exegesis - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/56nf9uvyphkv ... beQqa?dl=0
Wires/Dream\Wires - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0r0sh7hhcygf ... pZvwa?dl=0

Finally, the VH4 is great. It's got tons of low end density and it has the high-end aggressive thing going on, but it can be tamed with the presence control. It has lots of mids too, but I'd say the Sig X is tighter sounding.

If you love the VH4 sound, then you've gotta go with that really haven't you? Maybe a VH2, or a Paul? My VH4 cost me £1200 and my D-Moll cost me £1000, and my Sig X cost me £750. So there are bargains out there to be had. Just gotta save up and be patient.

I will check these out. Gave a few tracks a quick scroll through. Please let me know where I can listen to the full band stuff! Mostly cause I dig what I'm hearing and because it'll give me a good contextual idea.

As for Diezel - it's part of a sound I love but doesn't tick every box. I know I'll need to make a compromise somewhere, so I'm figuring out what might give me a little of each of what I want. I considered a VH2 or even a Lil Fokker.

That Sig:X sounds great in your stems though. So I'm intrigued.

 

[ape2000]

I don’t have personal experience with anything other than the VH4, which I just looooove to death, but I have heard/read several people saying that the PRS Archon can be made to sound much like a VH4. Some claim indistinguishable when dialed correctly.

That may give you another lead to follow up on in the affordable realm. I see them used for slightly less than the Sig X

Good call. Oddly enough, I've seen those compared to Diezels, and some other amps (I want to say Recto, 5150, maybe a Bogner?). I know they have great cleans, so that's a plus.

 

[ape2000]

Might as well throw Rivera amps into this conversation.

 

[skullfxr]

I haven't ran my sig:x for a long time. But I do love it. Absolute beast. Some of my favorite cleans for a high gain amp. It's tight and wicked that is for sure. There is not really a comparison that i have tried. It's iys own thing

 

[ape2000]

I haven't ran my sig:x for a long time. But I do love it. Absolute beast. Some of my favorite cleans for a high gain amp. It's tight and wicked that is for sure. There is not really a comparison that i have tried. It's iys own thing

That's a solid endorsement. You seem to have a lot of amps and have played more. What's your favorite, just out of curiosity? You've got a few in your sig that I've considered at different points in time.

 

[stephen sawall]

Sig X is the amp I use most. It's kind of a mix of Hiwatt and Mesa Mark....but it is it's own thing.

 

[ape2000]

Sig X is the amp I use most. It's kind of a mix of Hiwatt and Mesa Mark....but it is it's own thing.

Yeah, I've heard that quite a bit. I've liked every clip I've heard and I know you've sung its praises. I think you and I have talked on tgp a few times about amps too, so I trust your taste.

 

[stephen sawall]

With pedals and GEQ in the loop it can do about anything. I'm into the Deliverance too...but the Sig X is more versatile and easier to control lower volumes.

I like lots of amps....it just happens to fit how I play.

 

[ape2000]

With pedals and GEQ in the loop it can do about anything. I'm into the Deliverance too...but the Sig X is more versatile and easier to control lower volumes.

I like lots of amps....it just happens to fit how I play.

Right on. Versatility is important to me with the type of music I play - and that's just in one band. I play in two, so having something that can kind of cover it all fairly well is helpful.

 

[skullfxr]

I haven't ran my sig:x for a long time. But I do love it. Absolute beast. Some of my favorite cleans for a high gain amp. It's tight and wicked that is for sure. There is not really a comparison that i have tried. It's iys own thing

That's a solid endorsement. You seem to have a lot of amps and have played more. What's your favorite, just out of curiosity? You've got a few in your sig that I've considered at different points in time.

I don't have a favorite. Lol. I tend to play the ktre, Rockerverb and Supersport the most. Mainly depends on how loud I want to be and what I feel like playing.

I need to buy KT88's then I will get the sig x back up in action.

 

[JerEvil]

Sig is amazing. I’m about to buy one for the THIRD time! Lol.

 

[ape2000]

Sig is amazing. I’m about to buy one for the THIRD time! Lol.

A THIRD time? Hahaha that's awesome.

 

[Orvillain]

Sig is amazing. I’m about to buy one for the THIRD time! Lol.

I'm on my, technically, 4th one!

 

[Orvillain]

I have a VH4 and a Sig X. The Sig X is very different to the VH4, in fact I can't really think of an amp that sounds like the Sig X does. It is it's own beast.

The Sig X is tight and refined sounding, definitely has tons of mids. It doesn't have a boomy low-end, and the high-end is very smooth. It isn't abrasive and nasty in the way that say a 5150 can be.

If you want to hear some Sig X tones, I actually put up some stems of my guitars from our last two albums.
Exegesis - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/56nf9uvyphkv ... beQqa?dl=0
Wires/Dream\Wires - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0r0sh7hhcygf ... pZvwa?dl=0

Finally, the VH4 is great. It's got tons of low end density and it has the high-end aggressive thing going on, but it can be tamed with the presence control. It has lots of mids too, but I'd say the Sig X is tighter sounding.

If you love the VH4 sound, then you've gotta go with that really haven't you? Maybe a VH2, or a Paul? My VH4 cost me £1200 and my D-Moll cost me £1000, and my Sig X cost me £750. So there are bargains out there to be had. Just gotta save up and be patient.

I will check these out. Gave a few tracks a quick scroll through. Please let me know where I can listen to the full band stuff! Mostly cause I dig what I'm hearing and because it'll give me a good contextual idea.

As for Diezel - it's part of a sound I love but doesn't tick every box. I know I'll need to make a compromise somewhere, so I'm figuring out what might give me a little of each of what I want. I considered a VH2 or even a Lil Fokker.

That Sig:X sounds great in your stems though. So I'm intrigued.

Albums can be heard at: www.bridgedisaster.co.uk
The other amp was a Laney VH100R.

Our last single, Truth Escapes, was all Diezel. The D-Moll, VH4, and Hagen.

Basically any of the amps listed are epic and well worth having.

 

[Speeddemon]

Not to rain on the parade, but my experience with a Sig:X, which I sold a couple of months ago, was that it lacked certain qualities that you seem to be looking for.

While it's tight as a nun's arse, it's very, very, VERY dry sounding. Mesa Mark tones and Diezel tones have way more of that 'liquid smoothness' available and the grain of the highs is different as well.

The channel where I luuuuved the Sig:X for, was the Rhythm channel. If that Channel was the R2 channel of a Mark IV, it probably would be the amp to rule them all...well, if there was an R3 as well that could do SLO tones.
It could pretty much out-Marshall a Marshall, with the options of going either Plexi-ish, or hotrodded JCM, but more refined than a Marshall.

The clean channel to me sounded like a HiWatt/Fender/Matchless hybrid; it's more pushy than a typical Fender clean and you'd have to do some aggressive EQ-ing to get that mid-scoop and sparkly top going on. This is something where Mesa Marks and Engl (Invader and SE) have the Sig:X beat.

Finally, the lead channel; sure there's tons of gain on tap, but it's dry gain, less saturated/compressed, so it won't out-chug a 5150 and it lacks that big lead tone that an SLO could do.

 

[ape2000]

Not to rain on the parade, but my experience with a Sig:X, which I sold a couple of months ago, was that it lacked certain qualities that you seem to be looking for.

While it's tight as a nun's arse, it's very, very, VERY dry sounding. Mesa Mark tones and Diezel tones have way more of that 'liquid smoothness' available and the grain of the highs is different as well.

The channel where I luuuuved the Sig:X for, was the Rhythm channel. If that Channel was the R2 channel of a Mark IV, it probably would be the amp to rule them all...well, if there was an R3 as well that could do SLO tones.
It could pretty much out-Marshall a Marshall, with the options of going either Plexi-ish, or hotrodded JCM, but more refined than a Marshall.

The clean channel to me sounded like a HiWatt/Fender/Matchless hybrid; it's more pushy than a typical Fender clean and you'd have to do some aggressive EQ-ing to get that mid-scoop and sparkly top going on. This is something where Mesa Marks and Engl (Invader and SE) have the Sig:X beat.

Finally, the lead channel; sure there's tons of gain on tap, but it's dry gain, less saturated/compressed, so it won't out-chug a 5150 and it lacks that big lead tone that an SLO could do.

Rain away my man. That's what this thread is for. I want the good and the less favorable. The dryness is something I've read a lot about and have some ideas that may help overcome it; but, I know that's something that as you said, won't touch a Mark, Diezel, or 5150. The clean I'm actually fine with. I like Hiwatts and Matchless and find myself wanting more warmth and mids from a fender clean. Ampegs and JTM50s actually have my favorite cleans.

Out of curiosity, what'd you replace the Siggy with? Or, anything you'd recommend based on what I've posted?

 

[ape2000]

I've also considered Splawn and Framus offerings. The Archon is amn amp I've wanted to like cause of the great cleans, but when I played at a GC nearby, the gain had this fizzy nature to it. Might've been the cab or the volume?