Modern Amps that sound like ASS

[Sick Michael]

Modern gear has improved an awful lot, Im not that old, but I remember when you had to be careful about buying stuff, cause a lot of it just didnt cut the mustard. For example, you'd buy an amp which just didnt have enough gain for what you wanted, or another amp just wouldnt have an effects loop or a clean sound that was useable, and cheap, mid-budget guitars were often really hit and miss.

But modern amps, by and large they all sound pretty decent and you can get a range of tones out of them.

Heres the question, which modern amp (ie manufactured in the last 10 years or so), actually sounds like complete ass?

Who has made an amp recently who really need not have bothered.

I've only heard a few -

The Krank amps (goodness knows why they have any popularity)
Mesa Nomad
Some Genz Benz amp

 

[Marshall Law]

I have only played a used krank head once at a music store and I was impressed

 

[guitar_god123456]

kranks you need to spend time with to get them sounding awesome

 

[Valtiel]

I also think the Mesa Nomads can be pretty cool, John Petrucci used one at one point.

 

[gtrplr71]

Any Madison with the duct tape mod!

 

[Variable]

Actually, my Mesa Nomad sounds pretty great

FWIW, most Peavey amps (barring the 5150) have this annoyingly artificial fucked-up midrange that makes them sound like death to my ears.

 

[Anonymous]

I too dug the Krank Rev 1....The Krankenstein not so much

 

[guitarslinger]

there is a counter-intuitive trick with the Krankenstein.

To my ears it sounded like there was a negative feedback loop tied to the presence, like a global bass, if you will.

I normally enjoy amps with the presence all the way down, and I couldn't figure out why the 'Stein sounded so thin, then I turned the presence up half-way or whatever, and it was like the lights went on in the amp, and it ripped.

No problems with Krank, except the stupid name, and their shady marketing tactics early on. They're actually quite nice.




That said,

The Genz Benz Diablo was the worst, modern tube head I've ever played. Sounded bad at every setting, and I can appreciate the subtleties of almost any amp.

 

[mrp5150]

I personally think VHT's sound like total ass, but everyone else seems to love them. I hate the voicing.

 

[bobbtoz]

Any Madison with the duct tape mod!

I remember when the Madison amp was the talk of the town. Than all hell broke loose.

 

[mrp5150]

I actually liked the Madison I owned. It sounded good for modern metal stuff.

 

[Juggernaut]

Mine............

 

[BURNTHISCORPSE]

Owned a Chadwick, and Rev 1. Awsome sounding amps. really good build quality too. above average by far. except for the companies scumbaggery that they made famous early on.

 

[Digital Jams]

Most of today's amps have something good to offer, choices are much better than in the 80s that is for sure.

 

[EvilBatman]

I personally think VHT's sound like total ass, but everyone else seems to love them. I hate the voicing.

Tentative +1.

I've played the UL and Sig:X and while there were aspects I liked about them, the voicing just pissed me off. If I could find an amp that had the clear, tight, not overly saturated distortion the UL has with a more Mesa voicing, I'd be robbin' folk to buy one.

As for amps that sound like ass, well ask me at another time and my answer will be different most likely but I've been really pissed at amps as of late. So fucking many of them have this shitty, over saturated, muddy distortion tone that it's almost unbelievable! It can't be impossible to make an amp that's got a a big, tight bottom with a distortion that's really tight around the note without being completely dry and annoying while being super clear can it!? But no! There's a myriad of amps that sound like I shoved a mic down some fat guy's throat and then kicked him in the balls repeatedly.

Ok, rant over. Hope everyone has a nice day.

 

[Marshall Law]

I've played everything from the B-52 solid state heads to a Diezel Herbert and I don't really hear any amps anymore that just sound like ass. The old, old Peavey stuff from the '70s and '80s had horrible amp distortion, but I don't really hear amps like that anymore?

I had a rivera that totally sounded like ass!!!

 

[nbarts]

Mine............

 

[nbarts]

I personally think VHT's sound like total ass, but everyone else seems to love them. I hate the voicing.

 

[King Crimson]

Heres the question, which modern amp (ie manufactured in the last 10 years or so), actually sounds like complete ass?

 

[King Crimson]

I personally think VHT's sound like total ass, but everyone else seems to love them. I hate the voicing.

VHT brings out the ass in you...it's a given.