Most NATURAL sounding High gain amp

[rlord1974]

The amp that costs the most. Thought this was a no brainer.

 

[rlord1974]

I'm liking NMV and MV Marshalls up until the diodes came into play. Also liking Wizards, most Matchless and Bad Cats amps and the Top Hat Emplexador.

 

[jsp]

Mesa Marks, as long as you don't dial it too scooped and/or too gainy.

 

[lester]

Zinky Mofo....well, pretty much any Zinky. That's his approach, natural, authentic to the instrument. He only has a couple high gainers though that I remember.

 

[merkaba]

I previously used Engl and Marshall amps but recently bought a Diezel Einstein which for me is the perfect balance between the two. The Texas and Mega modes both have amazing hi gain capability without the fizz.

 

[ttosh]

Back in the 90's someone I knew had a Wizard head and that thing was pure AC/DC crunch, but higher gain the old Marshall's. That thing was straight up balls.

^^^^^^^ This

 

[rupe]

In my experience, I've gotta go with the Friedman Marsha/BE and Soldano SLO for high gain, with an honorable mention to the Mako Custom Hundred.

 

[garey77]

VHT/Fryette. Organic, tight, w/either 0-100% gain...never fizzy.

 

[Devin]

VHT Deliverance

 

[Greazygeo]

Wizard is one for sure.

 

[sahlomonic]

Such a subjective question....my personal fave is the Cornford MK50...a nice compromise....

Based on what I *read* about them, I'd agree. I have no personal experience with it, but I do have it's half-brother; the Jet City Earhart. Very un-compressed to my ears and a fairly un-forgiving amp. Can still do the high gain stuff no sweat.

 

[Disfigured]

Larry Dino 939

I own Wizards and a Mark IIC+, Wizards sound great but I don't know if I would call them high gain, but the Dino sounds even better and is truly a high gain amp, the most open, dynamic, detailed high gain amp ever, with so much tonal character.

 

[Ventura]

All depends on what you consider "high gain" and what you consider "processed", but WTF, I'll play along:

Marshall with an 808 up front for no bells and whistles straight up original high gain.
Something along the Friedman/Bogner line up for a more unique sounding high gain that's still natural and unprocessed.
Mesa all the way for standard, contemporary, all day long high gain tones.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

Wizard MC and Bogner Shiva EL34

 

[311boogieman]

Splawn



play. learn. love. live.

 

[D-Rock]

Soldano and VHT

 

[steve_k]

Well, this thread turned into a free for all on what the poster owns as being the best high gain and natural sounding amp....

Most everything listed here so far, with exception of a couple, cannot even handle its own gain without falling to pieces and sounding like shit.

 

[dstroud]

Well, this thread turned into a free for all on what the poster owns as being the best high gain and natural sounding amp....

Most everything listed here so far, with exception of a couple, cannot even handle its own gain without falling to pieces and sounding like shit.

I think if we each didn't own what we considered the be best sounding amp, we'd probably sell what we have and buy what we considered the best sounding amp to be... that's probably why we mostly list the amps we own. If we thought there was a better sounding amp, then we would sell what we have and buy the "better" sounding amp and list it and your statement about being a free for all on what the poster owns would still be true lol

 

[R45VT]

Well, this thread turned into a free for all on what the poster owns as being the best high gain and natural sounding amp....

Most everything listed here so far, with exception of a couple, cannot even handle its own gain without falling to pieces and sounding like shit.

What did you expect form the title?

 

[dstroud]

Here's another excellent option if you ears gravitate to what I consider the Marshally side of things - the Henning Cherry Bomb made by Steve Henning (sah5150 here on Rig Talk). Lots of gain available, very open and natural sounding while always keeping it together on the low end. One of my favorite amps I've played.