Marshall KK or VHT Pittbull Ultralead ?

[highgainer]

-apples & oranges-

-if you want the tone of the PRIEST go MARSHALL, if you want a modern voiced amp, go UL..

-I owned a VHT PITBULL UL & a 2203KK, still have the KK-(thou its for sale)-you wouldn't believe the long list of high gainers that the KK sent packing, longest I've ever owned any amp, what knocked the KK of its throne?.... WIZARD MC,...

-(which ever choice you go with bitch slap it with some GOLD LION KT88's)-

Wizard is soooooooooooooo out of my budget, when James Hetfield rocked a Wizard during the Garage INC era I realized there is something magical going on! Of course I know how much of a luxurious high end amp Wizard is, but if the Marshall KK managed to make it's way up to the podium only to be sent home by the Wizard, then it's really something Marshall staff could be proud of!

Yes I love Priest tone, but let me be precise, I talk about Judas priest of Jugulator and Painkiller

 

[highgainer]

Wlecome! Firstly, you mention hooking up a Rocktron Piranha to the KK..the KK has no loop, so you'd have to have a tech mod it to have a loop to be able to hook up to the power section. If a loop is necessary then the VHT. But, I've had a KK and it's a great amp! I ran it with the beast engaged and dialed back a bit, then hit it with a little boost from an EQ pedal, very nice modded Marshall tone. I've only owned both Deliverances, 60/120 so that's my only VHT experience but those two are amazing tone machines. Also, the KK is a one channel amp where the VHT is not.

Thank you for the rocking welcome )))
Yes, I do have a Rocktron piranha, at first I wanted to get a mesa fifty and call it a day...anyway, now I can either get the KK or the Ultralead, with the KK I can not get it modded for a loop, but a loop is not necessary, if the amp is tight, musical and heavy then that's it! Maybe I can dial the KK for a heavy punching rythm tone, then add a booster like the xotic for soloing stuff.

The ultralead will probably offer me three tones on the fly, which is awesome. So i'm torn

 

[highgainer]

A clear tight strong and mix cutting seems to be the characteristic of the Ultra lead... but again have not played the marshall KK and am not professional for record and mixing haven done so... but i own a UL and its an insane amp

That's great! As you have an ultralead you are the right person to answer my questions! I really don't care for recording or mixing anything, just looking for a great highgain tone to keep up with a loud hitting drummer, and if the amp is house friendly and quite good for the eventual bedroom jam then it's a plus! Then I plan to either get an orange PPC 412 or a VHT FB412

Both the KK and the Ultralead are in super clean shape, the ultralead is 1500 euros, the KK is much cheaper, almost half the price of the UL, price tag is something to take in consideration, but I'm mainly looking for tone and reliability.

Oh... well taking reference to what the rest of people here... getta VHT UL if you like a modern vibe and getta Marshall if you prefer old school vibe...

Suggest you to play it in person and many may not like the VHT ultra lead as its unforgiving and its tight in a certain way but not tight like the mesa mark series or the JP signature...

You may like the orange V30s or VHT FB with P50es... well many have said the P50es has a "hollow" sound and its more "softer" compared to V30s...
But the Fryette now has fanes speakers loaded in and maybe the FB412 has improved by the new speakers by those couldnt gel with the eminence p50es?

I used to have an orange cab 212 too when i first got my VHT 50CL its nice but abit harsh and for some reason i sold it to getta FB412 p50es since i thought i wanna true VHT tones and also i had thought the orange212 sounded kinda "boxy" when heard at few steps away....

The VHT UL has a 50watt half power mode and a master volume and it can excels well in room volume...but i guess many will prefer the master at about 1 or 2 oclock and having the channel volume to tune to desired volume but i find IMO to keep the master at about 12 or 11 and bring up a notch higher on the channel volume for more meat ?

Oh and last thing is if you were to decide on VHT ultra lead make sure you getta new version as its gone thru few times of 12at7 tube driver revision... just getta UL with 6 preamp tubes having that 12at7 delivering more punch ....

Indeed I heard many times about the P50s "hollow" thing, but I thought maybe it's because people use them with other amplifiers while they were primarily designed for VHT amps.

Is a 2005 Ultralead considered to be "new version" ?

 

[highgainer]

I own a UL, a BE100 and 2 Wizards. While the EQ on the UL gives it the ability to get a more modern tone, I disagree with statement's that it's the only thing it can do. It can definitely get an old-school Marshall tone. I recently got a new FB cab with the Fane speakers, which are a major improvement over the p50es, which I always hated.

I'd suggest another alternative to the OP. A Splawn Quickrod with KT-88s - get a newer one with the B/B+ switch and the new front panel switches. I had one once that I sold when I was gear fiending. I wish I'd have held onto it.

Thank you for the Splawn suggestion, the thing is, I'm in Casablanca, Morocco, and there is no possible way to try it before laying down the cash, actually buying the KK or the Ultralead will be a pure leap of faith, that's why I'm trying to gather maximum feedback.

I would like to ask you please, when it comes to heavy punchy tight highgain tones, how do you find the UL in front of the BE100 and Wizard ?

 

[highgainer]

The Marshall KK tha I played sounded as a Marshall with a Metalzone in front of it.

How ?
Maybe due to failing tubes ? Maybe the amp was fine, but it just wasn't producing your kind of tone ?

By the way, is the KK reliable and solid enough ? Alexi Laiho's guitar tech said that Laiho was happy with the tone, but then the amp started to show signs of failure and they had to repair it...

-he's a troll, I've been pounding the piss out of my KK since a bought it new in 2007, with an obscenely high bias and a variac, zero issues, never blown a tube or a fuse,

Excellent! That's what I wanted to hear! Zero issues, no blowing fuses!!!

 

[RockyStar]

Between those two choices I would pick the UL. VHT will have a different feel than the Marshall. Sound is one thing, feel another entirely. That being said, I think the UL is more amp with more versatility. It is a bit dryer and tighter than the Marshall...less sag if you will.

 

[godgrinder]

I have a 2203KK and a VHT GP3+2/90/2 rack setup, if I can only keep one of them I'd keep the VHT.

 

[highgainer]

I have a 2203KK and a VHT GP3+2/90/2 rack setup, if I can only keep one of them I'd keep the VHT.

Could you describe how the KK sounds and differs from gp3/2902 ? Is it saggy or tight yet with a marshall sponginess ?

 

[godgrinder]

Could you describe how the KK sounds and differs from gp3/2902 ? Is it saggy or tight yet with a marshall sponginess ?

The KK is a JCM800 2203 with a built in boost (a mid hump EQ curve that he usually uses) and a noise gate. Imagine playing a 800 with a TS (having tone control set high) in front of the amp.

 

[RedB4Black]

Hi mhenson... cool well just wonder the fanes on the FB412 has a tone of a p50es based variant or a v30 based variant with improvement ?

Before I bought the cab I had found a comment where somebody said they were similar to a creamback H75. I think that that's probably a close enough description. It sounds completely different in the p50e, which I hated and thought it sounded like a cardboard box.

 

[RedB4Black]

I own a UL, a BE100 and 2 Wizards. While the EQ on the UL gives it the ability to get a more modern tone, I disagree with statement's that it's the only thing it can do. It can definitely get an old-school Marshall tone. I recently got a new FB cab with the Fane speakers, which are a major improvement over the p50es, which I always hated.

I'd suggest another alternative to the OP. A Splawn Quickrod with KT-88s - get a newer one with the B/B+ switch and the new front panel switches. I had one once that I sold when I was gear fiending. I wish I'd have held onto it.

Thank you for the Splawn suggestion, the thing is, I'm in Casablanca, Morocco, and there is no possible way to try it before laying down the cash, actually buying the KK or the Ultralead will be a pure leap of faith, that's why I'm trying to gather maximum feedback.

I would like to ask you please, when it comes to heavy punchy tight highgain tones, how do you find the UL in front of the BE100 and Wizard ?

The ultra-lead and my friends '92 SLO are the only amps I've heard/played/owned that come close to the Wizards. So between the KK and UL, I'd say UL all the way. I have limited experience with the KK at a guitar store and I didn't find it very memorable. This was a while back and I didn't get to turn it up too loud though

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Hi mhenson... cool well just wonder the fanes on the FB412 has a tone of a p50es based variant or a v30 based variant with improvement ?

Before I bought the cab I had found a comment where somebody said they were similar to a creamback H75. I think that that's probably a close enough description. It sounds completely different in the p50e, which I hated and thought it sounded like a cardboard box.

+2

Stay away from the P50e stock speakers that come in most Fryette cabs. Weird sounding speaker. Very hollow in the mids and boxy... like playing in a cardboard box.

 

[Kelly]

A clear tight strong and mix cutting seems to be the characteristic of the Ultra lead... but again have not played the marshall KK and am not professional for record and mixing haven done so... but i own a UL and its an insane amp

That's great! As you have an ultralead you are the right person to answer my questions! I really don't care for recording or mixing anything, just looking for a great highgain tone to keep up with a loud hitting drummer, and if the amp is house friendly and quite good for the eventual bedroom jam then it's a plus! Then I plan to either get an orange PPC 412 or a VHT FB412

Both the KK and the Ultralead are in super clean shape, the ultralead is 1500 euros, the KK is much cheaper, almost half the price of the UL, price tag is something to take in consideration, but I'm mainly looking for tone and reliability.

Oh... well taking reference to what the rest of people here... getta VHT UL if you like a modern vibe and getta Marshall if you prefer old school vibe...

Suggest you to play it in person and many may not like the VHT ultra lead as its unforgiving and its tight in a certain way but not tight like the mesa mark series or the JP signature...

You may like the orange V30s or VHT FB with P50es... well many have said the P50es has a "hollow" sound and its more "softer" compared to V30s...
But the Fryette now has fanes speakers loaded in and maybe the FB412 has improved by the new speakers by those couldnt gel with the eminence p50es?

I used to have an orange cab 212 too when i first got my VHT 50CL its nice but abit harsh and for some reason i sold it to getta FB412 p50es since i thought i wanna true VHT tones and also i had thought the orange212 sounded kinda "boxy" when heard at few steps away....

The VHT UL has a 50watt half power mode and a master volume and it can excels well in room volume...but i guess many will prefer the master at about 1 or 2 oclock and having the channel volume to tune to desired volume but i find IMO to keep the master at about 12 or 11 and bring up a notch higher on the channel volume for more meat ?

Oh and last thing is if you were to decide on VHT ultra lead make sure you getta new version as its gone thru few times of 12at7 tube driver revision... just getta UL with 6 preamp tubes having that 12at7 delivering more punch ....

Indeed I heard many times about the P50s "hollow" thing, but I thought maybe it's because people use them with other amplifiers while they were primarily designed for VHT amps.

Is a 2005 Ultralead considered to be "new version" ?

2005 is the new version. You'd have to go back to the very early models to find the different ones.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Another Marshall vote

 

[jr21]

Marshall

 

[VoodooChild24]

Marshall KK here.

 

[D-Rock]

When I owned a KK I desperately wanted to remove that EQ curve which dominated the amps voice. Just couldn't get around it.

I still own a '93 UL and the playability of that amp is far ahead and more inspiring to play.

 

[sg guy]

When I owned a KK I desperately wanted to remove that EQ curve which dominated the amps voice. Just couldn't get around it.

I still own a '93 UL and the playability of that amp is far ahead and more inspiring to play.

-why didn't ya turn the ASSAULT nob down?.. Even at 25% there's still too much gain ...

 

[godgrinder]

When I owned a KK I desperately wanted to remove that EQ curve which dominated the amps voice. Just couldn't get around it.

Just turn the boost section off and it becomes a regular 800 basically.

I got the boost section modded to add a second boost mode that has a flatter response.

 

[hopkinWFG]

A clear tight strong and mix cutting seems to be the characteristic of the Ultra lead... but again have not played the marshall KK and am not professional for record and mixing haven done so... but i own a UL and its an insane amp

That's great! As you have an ultralead you are the right person to answer my questions! I really don't care for recording or mixing anything, just looking for a great highgain tone to keep up with a loud hitting drummer, and if the amp is house friendly and quite good for the eventual bedroom jam then it's a plus! Then I plan to either get an orange PPC 412 or a VHT FB412

Both the KK and the Ultralead are in super clean shape, the ultralead is 1500 euros, the KK is much cheaper, almost half the price of the UL, price tag is something to take in consideration, but I'm mainly looking for tone and reliability.

Oh... well taking reference to what the rest of people here... getta VHT UL if you like a modern vibe and getta Marshall if you prefer old school vibe...

Suggest you to play it in person and many may not like the VHT ultra lead as its unforgiving and its tight in a certain way but not tight like the mesa mark series or the JP signature...

You may like the orange V30s or VHT FB with P50es... well many have said the P50es has a "hollow" sound and its more "softer" compared to V30s...
But the Fryette now has fanes speakers loaded in and maybe the FB412 has improved by the new speakers by those couldnt gel with the eminence p50es?

I used to have an orange cab 212 too when i first got my VHT 50CL its nice but abit harsh and for some reason i sold it to getta FB412 p50es since i thought i wanna true VHT tones and also i had thought the orange212 sounded kinda "boxy" when heard at few steps away....

The VHT UL has a 50watt half power mode and a master volume and it can excels well in room volume...but i guess many will prefer the master at about 1 or 2 oclock and having the channel volume to tune to desired volume but i find IMO to keep the master at about 12 or 11 and bring up a notch higher on the channel volume for more meat ?

Oh and last thing is if you were to decide on VHT ultra lead make sure you getta new version as its gone thru few times of 12at7 tube driver revision... just getta UL with 6 preamp tubes having that 12at7 delivering more punch ....

Indeed I heard many times about the P50s "hollow" thing, but I thought maybe it's because people use them with other amplifiers while they were primarily designed for VHT amps.

Is a 2005 Ultralead considered to be "new version" ?

2005 is the new version. You'd have to go back to the very early models to find the different ones.

Yeah a 2005 model would be pretty it... but just to ensure ask the seller if its gotta 6 preamp slot... if yes thats it