New hi gain tube amp head (Egnater, Laney...)

[ArlingtonBeech]

Hi,
I need help to buy an new tube amp head. Maybe Egnater Vengeance, Laney Ironheart 60W or 120W, or other, preferably under 1000$
I'm playing rock metal (alter bridge...) and I'm looking for a tube amp (50-120W).
Two different amps I really like are Diezel D-Moll and Soldano SLO100, but they are too expansive for my level and my usage (i'm mainly a singer and play only some rhythm parts live).
I'm really curious about Egnater Vengeance but I live in France and they are very rare here so it's impossible to find one to test.

I'd also like to know your opinion about those sub-1000€ amps vs more expensive ones. Here in Europe, Mesa amps aren't a bargain, but for instance a Diezel D-Moll costs 2000€. I wonder if, for playing only rhythm parts, I should save a little more and buy the D-Moll or if it's casting pearls before swine?
Thank you

 

[RevolverRT]

The Peavey 5150/6505 is kind of like a SLO100 clone. The EVH 5150 50W is awesome, i was actually playing an Alter Bridge tune last night on the red channel, friggin awesome.

 

[paulyc]

Stay away from Egnater, lots of quality control issues...

 

[Orvillain]

If you mainly play rhythm parts, then get a used Laney GH50L or GH100L. They're built fucking SOLID and have great tones in them. Can be had for very cheap as well.

 

[JimmyBlind]

5150/6505

Next!

 

[Revson]

I'll second the Laney suggestion. I miss my GH100 dearly. If you need a decent clean channel to go with the dirty then the VH100 would be worth looking into.

 

[Orvillain]

VH100R is one of my all time favourite amps. The other guitarist in my band uses one.

 

[ArlingtonBeech]

Thank you for your answers.
How is the GH100L for hi gain metal stuff? VH100R is a bit expensive, nearly the price of the Diezel D-Moll.
Even if I like the SL100, I'm not really into the 5150 mids.

 

[Orvillain]

You can get those VH100r amps for next to nothing on the 2nd hand market. I bought one for £200 last year, then sold it. The GH100L is more of a British high-gain sound, so it depends on what kind of metal you're talking about.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

GH100 is a kickass metal amp

 

[Revson]

The GH100 could use a boost in front of it if you really want to get it into modern metal territory.

 

[ArlingtonBeech]

The GH100L is more of a British high-gain sound, so it depends on what kind of metal you're talking about.

It's really hard for me to describe with words the tone I'm looking for.
Maybe something like a mix of british high gain and something more modern.
I'm not an expert in amps and it's more and more difficult to find good amps to test in french stores (except in Paris). I don't really now which amp I want, but I know what I don't like.
For instance, I'm looking for something more modern than a JCM800, something less compressed than Engl Powerball, I don't like the mids of 5150, I prefer Mark V over rectos...

With words, maybe I can say I'm looking for a quite dark and modern amp.
i forgot to tell I'd like something with an efficient master, to be able to use the amp at home too.

 

[Elric]

I dunno how the prices are overseas but in the States, a used Peavey 5150/6505 is a slam dunk for you scenario.You should check prices ASAP.

 

[ArlingtonBeech]

I'm really sorry 5150s are great amps but I don't really like them. Don't like the mids, and too many metal players use them (probably for good reasons) but I'm looking for something more original.

 

[tech21man]

What you describe, I don't know if it exists but you need something tight articulate and not so congested...(as you don't like middy 5150 compressed tones or recto bloom/boom).

You can try, the newer randall RDs, laney ironhearts for affordable really good hi gain tones on the cheap.

The 5150 III in the blue channel should be closer to the SLO (well not really close) than the older peavey ones, circuit wise they even changed to a cathode follower tonestack for example (vs the plate fed of the 5150). I'd take that over any diezel for what I like.


If you can try some oddball amps (as you are in europe) try mercatinomusicalle.com in italy, really affordable prices on 2nd hand brunetti (the XL-R evo and 059 could do what you want) or dv marks (the triple 6, ola englund has done a lot of demos, sounds really good).


I'd say fryette but in europe they're even more scarce than mesa.

It'd be great if you could try some of these amps. Don't they come up locally in france, studios, guitar shops etc?

 

[Orvillain]

Ha! I'm trying to source a Fryette Sig X here in UK/EU right now. I'm having no luck whatsoever!

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

just save for the DMoll - if you're going to be gigging a lot, there is a negligible difference from $1000 - $2000 when it comes to reliability and the tone of the DMoll will pummel almost any amp around.

 

[ArlingtonBeech]

It'd be great if you could try some of these amps. Don't they come up locally in france, studios, guitar shops etc?

That's the problem. Except a trip to Paris, shops here in France have less and less tube amps to test. They have modeling amps, bugera, marshall...
Speaking of Marshall, can a JVM250H do tight hi gain metal without being too thin in the lows?

 

[ArlingtonBeech]

there is a negligible difference from $1000 - $2000 when it comes to reliability and the tone of the DMoll will pummel almost any amp around.

Unfortunately there is a huge difference for my banker!
I really like to buy a D-Moll, but it wouldn't be wise for the few rhythm parts I play with my band

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

DMoll - do it