Lets talk tube power amps...

[gybe!]

So I am thinking about picking up a power amp, but other than some basic specs (tubes/power etc) I don`t really know much/have much experience with whats out there. So, what have you used (and with what preamps) and what are your impressions?

I am thinking I will use this with a Mako Mak4 and my axefx...

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Mesa 2:90
Marshall 9100
Carvin T100

All of the above are 6L6 amps, used with the following and sounded great:

Bogner/Hafler Triple Giant
Rocktron Piranha
Mesa TriAxis

 

[gybe!]

Mesa 2:90
Marshall 9100
Carvin T100

All of the above are 6L6 amps, used with the following and sounded great:

Bogner/Hafler Triple Giant
Rocktron Piranha
Mesa TriAxis

How would you say they compare to each other when using the same pre/settings?

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Mesa 2:90
Marshall 9100
Carvin T100

All of the above are 6L6 amps, used with the following and sounded great:

Bogner/Hafler Triple Giant
Rocktron Piranha
Mesa TriAxis

How would you say they compare to each other when using the same pre/settings?

The 2:90 is more versatile and heavier sounding. The switching mode options are real nice at shaping your tone on the fly.
The 9100 Is my #2 fav and it's very close right behind the 2:90. With good tubes in it, it's a very warm, balanced amp. Best way I can put it is if the 2:90 was a great Dual Recto, the 9100 would be a great Bogner/Marshall. I think both impart a little of their design philosophies into the sound. but not in an overpowering way.
The T100 is a very good amp for the price, when pushed it compresses and chunks up well. I've had it for years and it's never let me down. For starting out on the cheap, it's the perfect tube power amp.

Hope that helps.

 

[gybe!]

Mesa 2:90
Marshall 9100
Carvin T100

All of the above are 6L6 amps, used with the following and sounded great:

Bogner/Hafler Triple Giant
Rocktron Piranha
Mesa TriAxis

How would you say they compare to each other when using the same pre/settings?

The 2:90 is more versatile and heavier sounding. The switching mode options are real nice at shaping your tone on the fly.
The 9100 Is my #2 fav and it's very close right behind the 2:90. With good tubes in it, it's a very warm, balanced amp. Best way I can put it is if the 2:90 was a great Dual Recto, the 9100 would be a great Bogner/Marshall. I think both impart a little of their design philosophies into the sound. but not in an overpowering way.
The T100 is a very good amp for the price, when pushed it compresses and chunks up well. I've had it for years and it's never let me down. For starting out on the cheap, it's the perfect tube power amp.

Hope that helps.

Definitely does. How tight is the 9100? If I pick up the Mak 4 I think a VHT will be too tight, so I will be looking for something that can get a little loose (but not overly so).

Thanks!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Mesa 2:90
Marshall 9100
Carvin T100

All of the above are 6L6 amps, used with the following and sounded great:

Bogner/Hafler Triple Giant
Rocktron Piranha
Mesa TriAxis

How would you say they compare to each other when using the same pre/settings?

The 2:90 is more versatile and heavier sounding. The switching mode options are real nice at shaping your tone on the fly.
The 9100 Is my #2 fav and it's very close right behind the 2:90. With good tubes in it, it's a very warm, balanced amp. Best way I can put it is if the 2:90 was a great Dual Recto, the 9100 would be a great Bogner/Marshall. I think both impart a little of their design philosophies into the sound. but not in an overpowering way.
The T100 is a very good amp for the price, when pushed it compresses and chunks up well. I've had it for years and it's never let me down. For starting out on the cheap, it's the perfect tube power amp.

Hope that helps.

Definitely does. How tight is the 9100? If I pick up the Mak 4 I think a VHT will be too tight, so I will be looking for something that can get a little loose (but not overly so).

Thanks!

It's not too tight. I've never had a VHT power amp, so I can't compare them for you. But if too tight is a bad thing for you, the Marshall will do fine.

 

[gybe!]

Anybody else?

 

[Sixtonoize]

I owned a Marshall 9100, and it sounded great - good clarity, nice tonal balance...
But I carried to exactly ONE band practice before I got rid of it.
At 65lbs, it's a damn quick way to make a rack that weighs as much as a 4x12.

The Carvin T100 sounds 90% as good and weighs half as much...which is why I still own it.

 

[Flump]

I'm currently using the Randall RT2 50 with the axe-fx as my preamp and fx. This is only for live use because when I record at home I use the axe-direct. I love it though. The RT2 50 is really flexible (the main reason I picked it) being that you can choose between 6l6's and 34's whenever you want via midi. I'd say it colors the sound a bit, but in a way I really like. Definitely more modern and stiff at higher volumes though, but I take care of that with a power amp sim in the axe if need be. The only downside is that it is heavy as hell.

 

[Anonymous]

My favorite and still in current use is a Peavey Classic 120/120...heavy as hell but what I did with it was...is made it a mono 120 watt amp by taking one sides tranny's out making it much more managable. Great power amps and can be found pretty cheap...it's the shipping thats expensive...lol!

 

[gybe!]

My favorite and still in current use is a Peavey Classic 120/120...heavy as hell but what I did with it was...is made it a mono 120 watt amp by taking one sides tranny's out making it much more managable. Great power amps and can be found pretty cheap...it's the shipping thats expensive...lol!

Interesting....How would you describe its feel?

 

[Anonymous]

My favorite and still in current use is a Peavey Classic 120/120...heavy as hell but what I did with it was...is made it a mono 120 watt amp by taking one sides tranny's out making it much more managable. Great power amps and can be found pretty cheap...it's the shipping thats expensive...lol!

Interesting....How would you describe its feel?

They feel great! for what it's worth and I know this is blasphemy but...All the amps I've been through which is well documented here...lol!! I use a Marshall JMP-1 into the Peavey and couldn't be happier...All the tones I'd ever need or want