Objectively top tier amps?

[ZedEsq]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

 

[nevusofota]

All 100% subjective. For me the SLO is THE tone.

 

[napalmdeath]

I'd say personal preference. If the MKIIC+ floats your boat, by all means get one.

That said, the JP2C might be a contender for you as well.

 

[nevusofota]

After owning most of the big name amps I’ve learned that all the top tier high gain amps are about 90% the same. I could make due with any of them and be happy. The 10% difference consists of features and subtle nuances of tone and feel.

 

[Racerxrated]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

Good choice. I'm a Marshall guy but after selling an SRG C+ I had such remorse that I had to go back to a C+, no regrets. I've had SLOs X3, a Wizard MTL, plenty modded Marshalls from all the well known guys and still, the 2C+ is the one I had to have back most. Even being a Marshall guy at heart, the 2C+ goes nowhere.
And yes I still have a 2203, out for a mod as we speak....

 

[gtr31]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

I hear you I really wanted to
Love the VH4 I had heard so much about 3rd ch
I was stoked when local shop got one
Went in and it just wasn't for
Me tried several hi end guitars different cabs
The matching Deizel a Freidman a Bogner
Just didn't work it's super stiff verydry
And dark just not my thing
I like a bit of grease brighter and a bit of give
More like /Mesa /SLO

 

[ZedEsq]

After owning most of the big name amps I’ve learned that all the top tier high gain amps are about 90% the same. I could make due with any of them and be happy. The 10% difference consists of features and subtle nuances of tone and feel.

Consider yourself lucky! I've very black/white, and just don't see that overlap. The SLO is a great amp, but just wasn't for me - especially coming from the IIC+.

 

[ZedEsq]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

Good choice. I'm a Marshall guy but after selling an SRG C+ I had such remorse that I had to go back to a C+, no regrets. I've had SLOs X3, a Wizard MTL, plenty modded Marshalls from all the well known guys and still, the 2C+ is the one I had to have back most. Even being a Marshall guy at heart, the 2C+ goes nowhere.
And yes I still have a 2203, out for a mod as we speak....

I know EXACTLY what you mean. The IIC+ just does everything perfectly!

Is your IIC++ an original or upgrade?

 

[ZedEsq]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

I hear you I really wanted to
Love the VH4 I had heard so much about 3rd ch
I was stoked when local shop got one
Went in and it just wasn't for
Me tried several hi end guitars different cabs
The matching Deizel a Freidman a Bogner
Just didn't work it's super stiff verydry
And dark just not my thing
I like a bit of grease brighter and a bit of give
More like /Mesa /SLO

That's exactly how I felt running the VH4 pedal into my old Hiwatt... It was cool, but just not me - especially on leads.

 

[engage757]

Depends on what you need it to do for you. In metal? Fortin/KSR/Mesa/Diezel/ENGL will all have great options. Depends on price, tones, features you need. etc.

 

[braintheory]

After owning most of the big name amps I’ve learned that all the top tier high gain amps are about 90% the same. I could make due with any of them and be happy. The 10% difference consists of features and subtle nuances of tone and feel.

Consider yourself lucky! I've very black/white, and just don't see that overlap. The SLO is a great amp, but just wasn't for me - especially coming from the IIC+.

I felt the same way and sold my SLO. My iic+, wizard and modded Marshalls made it obsolete

If you're used to a real iic+ you may find that almost all amps (a few exceptions) made within the last 20 years or so will sound comparatively filtered/restrained and not as raw or organic. The iic+ imo is really one the best amps of all time and also has the best cleans of anything I owned once properly dialed

 

[gtr31]

I think if you love the 2c+ a Petrucci sig would be a great place to start

 

[Racerxrated]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

Good choice. I'm a Marshall guy but after selling an SRG C+ I had such remorse that I had to go back to a C+, no regrets. I've had SLOs X3, a Wizard MTL, plenty modded Marshalls from all the well known guys and still, the 2C+ is the one I had to have back most. Even being a Marshall guy at heart, the 2C+ goes nowhere.
And yes I still have a 2203, out for a mod as we speak....

I know EXACTLY what you mean. The IIC+ just does everything perfectly!

Is your IIC++ an original or upgrade?

I have an upgraded C++ at the moment. My C+ history is this: Found a 2C 60w with eq at a GC 3 yrs ago for 750. Sent it to Mesa for the upgrade. While it was with Mike B, I found an original 100w C+ for 1500. Bought that, and when my upgraded one came back I A/Bd both for 2 wks and kept the upgraded. They sounded nearly the same at volume, with the 60w a little sweeter. So my experience was there was no noticeable difference to justify the original vs upgrade myth, which is what I think it is. Others here with much more C+ experience agree. The originals are worth more but upgrades sound just as good IMO. Any differences between them is attributed to the normal differences between any 2 amps of the same model.

 

[Racerxrated]

I think if you love the 2c+ a Petrucci sig would be a great place to start

They are cool amps...but they just don't measure up to the real deal. I've played a JP at a shop in St Paul a while back, the feel and 3D tone are not there at all in comparison to the C+.
If someone has 2500 for a new JP I'd recommend saving a little more and biding your time for a real C+.

 

[journeyman73]

I think if you love the 2c+ a Petrucci sig would be a great place to start

They are cool amps...but they just don't measure up to the real deal. I've played a JP at a shop in St Paul a while back, the feel and 3D tone are not there at all in comparison to the C+.
If someone has 2500 for a new JP I'd recommend saving a little more and biding your time for a real C+.

Ive owned both and agree with this.

The JP tone and feel is almost polished in comparison - almost like a slightly flat facsimile of the original...it didnt have the same depth of feel or ‘breathe’ the same to me

 

[ZedEsq]

Thanks for all of the help - now if a kind, nice person would like to sell me a IIC+ even at market rates, let me know. Fully loaded por favor.

 

[ZedEsq]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

Good choice. I'm a Marshall guy but after selling an SRG C+ I had such remorse that I had to go back to a C+, no regrets. I've had SLOs X3, a Wizard MTL, plenty modded Marshalls from all the well known guys and still, the 2C+ is the one I had to have back most. Even being a Marshall guy at heart, the 2C+ goes nowhere.
And yes I still have a 2203, out for a mod as we speak....

I know EXACTLY what you mean. The IIC+ just does everything perfectly!

Is your IIC++ an original or upgrade?

I have an upgraded C++ at the moment. My C+ history is this: Found a 2C 60w with eq at a GC 3 yrs ago for 750. Sent it to Mesa for the upgrade. While it was with Mike B, I found an original 100w C+ for 1500. Bought that, and when my upgraded one came back I A/Bd both for 2 wks and kept the upgraded. They sounded nearly the same at volume, with the 60w a little sweeter. So my experience was there was no noticeable difference to justify the original vs upgrade myth, which is what I think it is. Others here with much more C+ experience agree. The originals are worth more but upgrades sound just as good IMO. Any differences between them is attributed to the normal differences between any 2 amps of the same model.

I really appreciate this. Was nervous about going the upgrade route, but between you and Mike B., feel less troubled by it.

 

[SpiderWars]

Thanks for all of the help - now if a kind, nice person would like to sell me a IIC+ even at market rates, let me know. Fully loaded por favor.

There was a fairly recent thread here that discussed 'market rates'. I think it probably occasionally sells at both extremes but market rate (if there is such a thing for this) is somewhere in-between. I want one too but I like my Mark IV enough to be patient.

 

[Racerxrated]

Psychodave, New World Man, Steve K are some of the guys that have had numerous C+ of all types, original and upgraded. Good sources of info...

As far as Value, the SRG(60w) around 2-2400, HRG(100w) 2600-3K, Simul(DRG) 3-4K. All with EQ, I wouldn't get one without. I paid 3K for an HRG C++ a few months back. I was also thinking about an original long head DRG that was on ebay but it went above my limit, ended up at 3600. They say that one was a rare one being a long head simul with presence on the front, and it was an original with serial 13XXX.

 

[Exo-metal]

About to drop serious coin to rejoin the IIC+ ranks (by the way, if you have one for sell let me know), and considering my options that aren't necessarily 35 years old. Had a pair of them that I sold to go with SLOs, which I since dropped. Is there anything that is OBJECTIVELY better, or is it all a matter of choice, style, etc.

Really considering the VH4, but just not liking the clips I'm hearing and didn't LOVE the pedal...

Good choice. I'm a Marshall guy but after selling an SRG C+ I had such remorse that I had to go back to a C+, no regrets. I've had SLOs X3, a Wizard MTL, plenty modded Marshalls from all the well known guys and still, the 2C+ is the one I had to have back most. Even being a Marshall guy at heart, the 2C+ goes nowhere.
And yes I still have a 2203, out for a mod as we speak....

I have a 2203 that's clean as they come so I hesitate to mod it, I know it won't need much so what type of mods are you having done and by who if I may ask? Sorry to shift gears here...