Most Indestructible Amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr. Willy
  • Start date Start date

Best Build Quality

  • Mesa/Boogie

    Votes: 33 38.4%

  • Soldano

    Votes: 9 10.5%

  • Marshall

    Votes: 7 8.1%

  • Fender

    Votes: 2 2.3%

  • Peavey

    Votes: 17 19.8%

  • Engl

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Deizel

    Votes: 9 10.5%

  • VHT/Fryette

    Votes: 4 4.7%

  • Bogner

    Votes: 3 3.5%

  • Splawn

    Votes: 2 2.3%
  • Total voters
    86
Mr. Willy

Mr. Willy

Well-known member
What's the most well-built, bullet proof amp you've owned or own?

For me, it's an old 2-channel Dual Rectifier. Seemed like I could chunk that thing off a roof top and not damage it. I swear it could survive a car crash or a direct hit from a missile. Although I've moved away from the Recto tone, I have to give the best build award to Mesa/Boogie. Their amps are indestructible.

Poll added for fun. I can only enter 10 options, so I tried to include the amps I see the most around here. Of course, write your candidate in if not on the poll.

What say you?
 
The thing with Mesa is that even their "budget" amps are built with the same quality as their higher end stuff. I used and abused a DC-5 combo for years, and that amp always delivered. Threw it in and out of the back of a van for years and it just took a bruisin' and kept on cruisin.

Take Soldano for instance. The SLO is extremely well built, but I had an Avenger and it although it sounded killer, it wasn't built as tightly as the DC-5, imho. The Avenger wasn't flimsy by any means, but Mesa seems to place the same quality standards on every single thing they ship out.
 
I've owned a few, Marshall, Peavey, Mesa, Diezel, Etc....

BUT, the most solid, best built amp I've owned.... Mako
 
I've seen a 5150 tumble down stairs during load in and work perfectly that night.
 
Hard to pick one here because I've not really had the experience of seeing my amps on the verge of abusive, physical destruction. Sorta like having a line up of fine sportscars and having a poll as to which ones will handle a head-on the best outta the bunch. Who the f*ck really knows?!?! I will say, judging from woods, joinery, size and quality of hardware used, that Diezel is up there for "construction quality", but there's no way in hell you'll see me throw my Diezels down a set of stairs to test this notion.
 
My vote goes to a Peavey....I have an old classic 120/120 power amp that I've owned since 91 or so (bought it new) and it's been through hell a million times over. Modded it...used it for a bass amp at times...used for a drum monitor amp at times and of course as a guitar power amp at times...it just won't die and...I've unwittingly tried to kill it several times.. :lol: :LOL:
 
I once dropped my Peavey Mace head on the sidewalk while on the way to a show. The front grill separated, and that was it. When I got to the club, it came right on as if nothing had happened. The only thing that defeated it was when it got infested with roaches and shorted out the power supply. I turned it on, then ZZZZTTTTT!!!!!!!, at 160 watts, followed by an ominous silence. Once I got it fixed I started putting it in a large trash bag and sealing it up. That was in '84, and I still have it. It works great.

Once I was able to compare my Peavey Roadmaster to a Marshall head side by side. The Peavey had thicker wood, metal caps on the corners that were screwed in, while the Marshall had plastic caps tacked on! I'm not sure if they're made better now, but just yesterday I was replacing the tubes and had it apart. It's every bit as solid as the Mace . . .
 
Mesas are pretty bulletproof. Also had a diezel Herbert for 7 years show after show from 150 degrees to below zero in n out of a trailer. Zero problems. Diamond amps are built pretty kick ass too.
 
I gigged a Mesa MKII for nearly fifteen years. Never took a backup, tubes or fuses. That thing was indestructable and the most reliable amp I've ever seen or used. Just ridiculous.
My vote goes to Mesa Boogie. :rock:
 
my band was loading in for a show once, in minnesota during the winter, -10 degrees. there was some ice right out side of the door, i was carrying my 5150 on my shoulder and slipped. it fell about 5 feet(im 5'10, i dont know how tall my shoulders are, lol) straight onto concrete, worked fine that night. although i was shitting myself with fear until i plugged it in
 
My vote is of course Mesa. I saw a full beer tip over on top of a Triple Rectifier, spill all of its contents into the top grill all over the power tubes and inner chassis. 3 power tubes shattered and after the song was over, dude popped 3 spares into the amp and KEPT GOING!!! Amp sounded great.
 
I have been gigging steady for the last 15 years and on and off since 1982. I am a Marshall guy so I am biased but I have never had any pre 1980 Marshall fail live. I've blown a tube once and a while but that will happen to any head that gets bounced around, especially if the tubes do not cool down prior to movement.
 
I should add that while my biases lie towards Peavey, many of my favorite bands use Marshalls, and their role in the history of rock music can't be understated . . .
 
It would have been much easier to vote for the most unreliable amp, even then for me it would be a toss up between Vox and Orange. I love both amp companies too, just how it goes.

Anyway I voted Fender, all my Fender amps I have owned have been great. Currently have a couple of 60's Fenders and they just run.

I would have voted Mesa, but my mark IV has a dodgy LED on the Lead channel, not a big deal, but enough to give the slight edge to Fender.
 
I'll never again put my heavy-as-all-h*ll Mesa T-Verb combo on top of my oversized Mesa 4x12 on the sidewalk again after it rolled and fell face first onto the concrete. All the tubes smashed and I thought it was doomed. What a nice surprise that it was a-ok once new tubes were in. I was damn impressed!
 
Dissapointing that Rivera is not on the list. My TBR5 is second to none IMO.
 
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