New Amp Time!

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ewill52

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Time to do a little trading. I've got a love\hate thing going on with my Mesa Mark V and I just can't seem to gel with it. Seriously looking at the Shiva but haven't been able to get my hands on one. Here's the question - what other amps should I be looking at in the general price range of the Shiva? I've been looking at used so we're talking $1500-$2000 ballpark estimate. Looking for versatility...I've got metal tone for days with my Roadster, so a little less gain is not a big deal ...the Shiva seems to have plenty o' gain on tap any way.

Suggestions? This forum is great because it turns you on to gear you might not otherwise find - the PWE was a great example...had never seen them before this forum.

Thanks in advance for input!
 
How about an ENGL Invader 150? There's one for sale in the member classifieds for 2100 shipped. That's a hell of a price. You should check it out.
 
Not enough info. What kind of tone are you looking for? British? What features do you want in an amp (number of channels, boost options, reverb, etc, etc, etc)?

I agree that the Invader 150 in the classified section is a great price for a great amp (LOVE my Powerball 2). Keep in mind that amp has six power tubes, and you'll need to buy a matched sextet of tubes at a time.

Btw... I owned an EL34 Shiva with reverb and adjustable solo boost and it was a great amp. I wouldn't mind having one around again. It was punchy and LOUD. Clean channel was great and TONS of clean headroom. It wasn't anything near a metal amp. Boosted with an OCD I would say that Jerry Cantrell territory was its limit. But for classic rock, blues, country, and old school metal it was a great amp. My biggest gripe with it was the upside-down chasis deal. Makes for a lot of heat. I much prefer the layout of the 20th Anniversary Shiva (and from what I've heard, it'll get closer to metal).
 
good point...left out some key info. I want a channel switcher with a loop, EL34's...that's about the only requirements, open to lots of ideas. I run my delays and reverbs through the loop and would like to keep them there. I run 2-3 gain pedals (OCD and a GT-OD) for boosting\light overdrive. Currently covering everything under the sun from classic country, new country, classic rock (dangerous territory here...I know there's a lot of opinions on what this would cover...for me I'm defining that as a pretty wide selection - Cream all the way to Van Halen)
 
ewill52":iztl9nyx said:
good point...left out some key info. I want a channel switcher with a loop, EL34's...that's about the only requirements, open to lots of ideas. I run my delays and reverbs through the loop and would like to keep them there. I run 2-3 gain pedals (OCD and a GT-OD) for boosting\light overdrive. Currently covering everything under the sun from classic country, new country, classic rock (dangerous territory here...I know there's a lot of opinions on what this would cover...for me I'm defining that as a pretty wide selection - Cream all the way to Van Halen)
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For 2K you can get a few used and flip those you dont like.

I had a MKV. Similar lack of bond to it. Got a used 5153, great amp, 1200 about 6 months ago.

Surprise good amp for 600, a JVM2000 DSL 100. Has the Marshall tones the Brit modes miss. A few pedals and the DSL is a good bag of tricks for dirt cheap.

You could find a MKIIC for 2K cash and have the goods the MKV falls short of delivering.

I got a Dr Z Maz 38 to cover the modern country, classic rock, bluesy stuff. The 38 has way more punch than the Maz 18, and takes pedals great. That Maz 38 and a Triple Wreck on the pedalboard is insane. Instant Rectifier with a supposedly country amp. Tele forum will have more input on that option. Humbucker Music has a sales guy gigging that setup covering most of the material you mentioned. Call em. Don't underestimate the Z.

Good luck on the tone quest.
 
I was never a fan of the Mark V, thought the Mark IV was a much better amp!
 
Have you ever thought about looking into a used Randall MTS amp? Even the 100 watt head can be found for well under a grand. Capable of handling three different modules which could give you a pretty good range of different sounds. Plus if you wanted to have any mod done, the little modules are alot cheaper to have modded and save a ton on shipping costs back and forth.
 
I actually have had an MTS and hated the loop...may have just been a lemon but it had hands-down the worst effects loop of any amp I've ever had. Loop off was awesome...loop on = poop.
 
ewill52":1lc9pq13 said:
good point...left out some key info. I want a channel switcher with a loop, EL34's...that's about the only requirements, open to lots of ideas. I run my delays and reverbs through the loop and would like to keep them there. I run 2-3 gain pedals (OCD and a GT-OD) for boosting\light overdrive. Currently covering everything under the sun from classic country, new country, classic rock (dangerous territory here...I know there's a lot of opinions on what this would cover...for me I'm defining that as a pretty wide selection - Cream all the way to Van Halen)
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Yeah... I can see why you were thinking a Shiva. Based on your wants, that amp definitely nails them. I ran a TC Nova System in the loop of my Shiva for verb and delays, and up front I usually just had the OCD and a wah. It was an awesome setup and if I ever stop playing newer rock/metal, I'll definitely consider another Shiva. My Powerball 2 is more versatile, but I think that the Shiva probably cut through a mix better.

Oh... and I second the suggestion about a Marshall DSL as well. The clean channel on my DSL50 certainly doesn't have the same spank and character as the one on my Shiva did. But it's got some great OD tones in there (despite being overlooked/ignored/scoffed-at on gear forums) and I really do like that amp. I've been in love with my Engl and playing it daily, but last night I plugged into the DSL again and it's just a great amp at a GREAT value. I traded into mine, but picked it up for a trade value of $500-600. Best $500 amp I've ever had.
 
For the styles you mentioned, how you set up effects, and run dirt pedals, I'd look at a Marshall DSL 50/100 watts. Great amp for the money. The Shiva's cool too, but it's gonna cost twice as much used as the Marshall.
 
Mr. Willy":2kbgg7zy said:
For the styles you mentioned, how you set up effects, and run dirt pedals, I'd look at a Marshall DSL 50/100 watts. Great amp for the money. The Shiva's cool too, but it's gonna cost twice as much used as the Marshall.
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Word....

DSL100. Bang meets buck. And you can flip it easily....

Shiva is awesome, but you could buy a used decent guitar with the difference between that and the DSL.
 
Maybe look at the new Laney Ironhearts, used Splawn, used Soldano HotRod, JVM 210/410..
 
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