Need a recommendation for a gigging 2 x 12 tube combo

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racerevlon

racerevlon

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Instead of hauling a bunch of heavy equipment around, I'm thinking of investing in a really good modern 2 x 12 combo and maybe use my 2U Anvil briefcase for some effects, but have that be my rehearsal/small gig rig. So I'm looking around and there seem to be a wide (but not necessarily good) variety of 2 x 12 combos. Examples:

ENGL Sovereign: 100W Extremely versatile, MIDI, sounds great, but $2899 US
Jet City 5212RC: 50W, The "Overdrive" channel on this combo is the "Normal" channel from the JCA100H, $799 US
Bogner Alchemist: 40W with good speakers, on-board reverb/delays. Heard of reliability problems, $1099 US
Hughes & Kettner Switchblade: 100W Great amp, on-board effects, MIDI, sounds great, $1279 US
Marshall JVM205C: 50W, standard-issue Marshall, $1699 US
Peavey 6505: 50W, Don't know much about it, $1199 US
Egnater Renegade: 65W, Played it at GC, not much gain, $1199 US
Blackstar Series One: 45W, Haven't heard much, $1799 US
Hughes & Kettner Statesman 6L6: 60W, good tones but not high gain, $999 US
Marshall Vintage Modern Combo: 50W, Great sound, Greenbacks, $1599 US
The Diezel Einstein gets an honorable mention, but at $3699 US it's a lot more than I'm looking to spend.

Anyone got anything to weigh in on? I'm not opposed to using what little outboard effects I'll need, but the Switchblade and the Alchemist look cool as they may be "all-in-one" solutions.

Let me know RT--I want to hear what you think!!

Cheers,
 
I'd rather lug a head and 412 around than most of the 212 combo's I've tried. At least you can make 2 trips. Try a head and 212 or a rack and stereo 212 which is what I'm doing currently.

If you really want a 212 combo consider the Egnater Tourmaster. Some people don't like them and they are loaded with features which means more stuff to potentially breakdown but I liked the one I tried.
 
Mesa Electra Dyne boosted with an OD pedal. You can find those combos for around $1,000 used. It's the only combo I've played that has a real thick ballsy tone with a lot of bottom.
 
I have an H&K Switchblade head, so I'm a little biased, but it's a good choice that seems to go unnoticed by most. It has a ton of gain and the on-board effects are usable, if not top-of-the-line.

I've also posted this before, but I really like the H&K Edition Tube 25th anniversary combo amp. It's a 1x12 20-watt amp, so you would need to mic it. The guitar player for a local cover band plays one with a modest pedal board and KILLS with it. There was one for sale on here at a ridiculous price a few weeks back...
 
Namm in 3 weeks.

be patient, if you aren't going, we can keep a lookout for you.

Note: they have a 5150 combo over in northridge GC you can try out. saw it there the other day.

but dont you already have a Mark V combo ? not good for live?
 
One of the best live tones that I've ever heard was from a guy playing a Strat mutt with Kinmans through an Egnater TOL 100 2x12 combo...it covered clean to mean and everything in between extremely well. I've never played through one myself but I'd jump at the chance if I ever come across one.
 
danyeo":1w0xxc5p said:
Mesa Electra Dyne boosted with an OD pedal. You can find those combos for around $1,000 used. It's the only combo I've played that has a real thick ballsy tone with a lot of bottom.
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Read my mind.
 
mightywarlock":58khuxik said:
Namm in 3 weeks.

be patient, if you aren't going, we can keep a lookout for you.

Note: they have a 5150 combo over in northridge GC you can try out. saw it there the other day.

but dont you already have a Mark V combo ? not good for live?
Click to expand...

Didn't like the Electra Dyne-Didn't seem all that versatile and not much character. (IMHO)

I find that with the Mark V combo it doesn't sound as "wide" as a 2 x 12, I find myself hanging around most of the time on Channel 2 Crunch mode, Channel 1 Tweed cranked or clean, and while I like the Channel 3 Mark IV mode, the volume drop is unacceptable, and I just can't get behind the "Extreme" setting. Also, ANYTHING I put in the effects loop drops the volume an unacceptable amount, even with the send level maxed out. (Spoiler Alert: This amp may be up for sale soon)

I played the Tourmaster and thought it was the most lifeless, gain-starved amp I've almost ever played. It was touted as being "all you'll ever need" but on channel 4 with the gain dimed I was barely getting crunch. Wasn't Impressed.

I guess I can wait for NAMM. I'm DEFINTELY a fan of the Hughes & Kettner Switchblade combo, being a former 100W head owner myself, but am just wondering what the good alternatives are. Anything else in the list spark any interest?
 
Bugera 333XL?

Just heard a YouTube clip that wasn't half-bad. I know there are connector quality issues, but I can fix those... and I can also swap tubes and speakers.

Never heard one in person. Are they really that bad and un-salvageable?

:dunno:
 
racerevlon":4xrmx79i said:
mightywarlock":4xrmx79i said:
Namm in 3 weeks.

be patient, if you aren't going, we can keep a lookout for you.

Note: they have a 5150 combo over in northridge GC you can try out. saw it there the other day.

but dont you already have a Mark V combo ? not good for live?
Click to expand...

Didn't like the Electra Dyne-Didn't seem all that versatile and not much character. (IMHO)

I find that with the Mark V combo it doesn't sound as "wide" as a 2 x 12, I find myself hanging around most of the time on Channel 2 Crunch mode, Channel 1 Tweed cranked or clean, and while I like the Channel 3 Mark IV mode, the volume drop is unacceptable, and I just can't get behind the "Extreme" setting. Also, ANYTHING I put in the effects loop drops the volume an unacceptable amount, even with the send level maxed out. (Spoiler Alert: This amp may be up for sale soon)

I played the Tourmaster and thought it was the most lifeless, gain-starved amp I've almost ever played. It was touted as being "all you'll ever need" but on channel 4 with the gain dimed I was barely getting crunch. Wasn't Impressed.

I guess I can wait for NAMM. I'm DEFINTELY a fan of the Hughes & Kettner Switchblade combo, being a former 100W head owner myself, but am just wondering what the good alternatives are. Anything else in the list spark any interest?
Click to expand...



How loud are you playing these amps? I'm not a big fan of the Egnaters but they have plenty of gain to me and the Electra Dyne is the balliest 1x12 I've heard but you have to turn it up to really hear what it can do. At low volumes you need a pedal or it sounds too dark. I played an Einstein combo and the ED smoked it. I was hoping for the Diezel's sake that it had a bad tube but it didn't sound that different from the head version my friend had? Not sure.
 
danyeo":n11jpr6z said:
How loud are you playing these amps? I'm not a big fan of the Egnaters but they have plenty of gain to me and the Electra Dyne is the balliest 1x12 I've heard but you have to turn it up to really hear what it can do. At low volumes you need a pedal or it sounds too dark. I played an Einstein combo and the ED smoked it. I was hoping for the Diezel's sake that it had a bad tube but it didn't sound that different from the head version my friend had? Not sure.
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The Electra Dyne smoked the Einstein...wow! I've heard that the Einstein combo was the 'be all/end all' of hard rock combo amps. That's pretty impressive.
 
Get a 2x12 cab and your head options are limitless.Easier to carry too. BTDT
 
My 5150 combo is the heaviest thing since sumo wrestling. 110 Lbs. And it has one tiny handle on the top. It sucks to carry around. Much rather a 4X12 and Head because at least you can share the weight with two handles on the cab, and the head section is less weight and more maneuverable. Its not the sound or power that I am looking to upgrade to halfstack, its the portability.

Key to a 2X12, make sure it is portable before you buy. It may look portable, but it can be a beast in the sack. In a not good way.
 
threadkiller":27uxhet4 said:
I'd rather lug a head and 412 around than most of the 212 combo's I've tried. At least you can make 2 trips. Try a head and 212 or a rack and stereo 212 which is what I'm doing currently.
.
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this x20

i have a vypyr 60W combo 1x12 and the damn thing only lacks 30-40lbs before weighing the same as a 5150 cabinet. it weighs more than a 120W tube head anyday, i couldnt imagine a 2x12 of this thing.

get a 120W or 50W head and a 2x12 extension cabinet. save your back and strength.

of the amplifiers in the list, id recommend the einstein, a JVM, a Soldano hotrod 50+, a 5150 of some sort (models depends on taste/features you are looking for), or maybe consider a 5150 III.

the egnater renegades have the best clean tones i have ever heard or played. dont care for the gain channel at all though, personal preference here.
 
Randy Van Sykes":62bp5s7a said:
danyeo":62bp5s7a said:
How loud are you playing these amps? I'm not a big fan of the Egnaters but they have plenty of gain to me and the Electra Dyne is the balliest 1x12 I've heard but you have to turn it up to really hear what it can do. At low volumes you need a pedal or it sounds too dark. I played an Einstein combo and the ED smoked it. I was hoping for the Diezel's sake that it had a bad tube but it didn't sound that different from the head version my friend had? Not sure.
Click to expand...
The Electra Dyne smoked the Einstein...wow! I've heard that the Einstein combo was the 'be all/end all' of hard rock combo amps. That's pretty impressive.
Click to expand...


The Einstein is really small. I think cab design/size has a lot to do with it. The widebody Mark IV combo sounds way better than the regular short IV combo.

And that's the second time that i tried an Einstein and thought it sounded like crap. But i have to chalk this one up to bad tubes because i can't imagine it sounding as bad as it did and anyone liking it.
 
roadifier":2tfdltnu said:
Id go with a soldano hot rod 50 + and a 2x12 soldano cab. IMO great sounding combo ;) the head wasnt very heavy, and neither was the cab.
Click to expand...

same thing i am thinking, that combination would kill :rock:
 
Great recommendations but even the Lucky 13 50W 2 x 12 is $2635. Anybody heard about the quality problems with the Bogner Alchemist combo? I'm leaning towards the Switchblade--I have experience with it (the head version) and it has more on-board FX than the Alchemist.

Bogner sure does sound good, though....

Sure do love me some Vintage Modern, too...
 
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