Objectively top tier amps?

[cardinal]

There definitely are amps that most guitarists would agree are “top self.” Of course, which is the favorite is completely subjective. But there definitely are some amps that everyone but haters would agree are top notch for what they do. Fender Deluxe Reverb and Twin. Marshall 1959, 2204, and 2203. Soldano SLO. Mesa IIC+. Probably the Bogner XTC and Diezel VH4 is up there. I wouldn’t put the boutiques on a list like those because I don’t think you can say there’s a consensus about amps most people have never heard of or heard on an album.

 

[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 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...

PM'd

 

[Racerxrated]

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.

I PMd you, let me know if you got it....

 

[hehasthejazzhands]

Nothing compares to the IIC+. Maybe the TriAxis and JP2C, but a IIC+ is a IIC+.

Agreed with you on the Diezels, as well.

I know there's some IIC+ guys that say the JP2C can't compare, but maybe give it a shot to see if "it's" there?

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

What about a Friedman JJ? Nice rich Marshall with more gain, less dark than a vh4

 

[cardinal]

Oh, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard clips that do the VH4 justice. To me, the recording that comes closest to how it sounds is the Tool album 10,000 Days. I know he uses an unobtainable version of the amp and blends it with others, but to me that album sounds like a VH4.

 

[Racerxrated]

Oh, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard clips that do the VH4 justice. To me, the recording that comes closest to how it sounds is the Tool album 10,000 Days. I know he uses an unobtainable version of the amp and blends it with others, but to me that album sounds like a VH4.

One of my fav amp tones is that riff on The Pot..just killer. When I finally tried a VH4, no dice, not even close. Must've been the Superbass he used that made that tone more than the Diezel. Although I've read he blended quite a few...Rivera, Recto, Bassman....

 

[cardinal]

^ Huh. I’ve had a few VH4s and that song specifically is how they sounded to me? Different ears I guess

 

[SpiderWars]

I love that song and that tone. Sneaky hard to play (for me anyway).

And I've got an SRG combo incoming. Good price I think. Can't wait!

 

[hehasthejazzhands]

Although I've read he blended quite a few...Rivera, Recto, Bassman....

Yup, he supposedly layered several amps. His Marshall, Mesa, Diezel, threw in some Rivera Knucklehead...

 

[Racerxrated]

^ Huh. I’ve had a few VH4s and that song specifically is how they sounded to me? Different ears I guess

That song is the only reason I had to try a VH4...and try as I might, Couldn't get it to resemble that tone..it's a great amp esp ch 3 but that tone is the result of more than just the Diezel, they used his Marshall and what, 5 other amps to get tones on that album?

Maybe I just didn't set it right, who knows...but I know another local guy who gigged his VH4 and he couldn't get that tone either. And his band covered like 4 Tool tunes...great amp nonetheless.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Objectively top tier... nothing "objective" when it comes to amps and tone though.

Play what sounds/works for you.

I do like the Mesa Marks more than the SLO overall... so it that counts for anything.

 

[hehasthejazzhands]

^ Huh. I’ve had a few VH4s and that song specifically is how they sounded to me? Different ears I guess

That song is the only reason I had to try a VH4...and try as I might, Couldn't get it to resemble that tone..it's a great amp esp ch 3 but that tone is the result of more than just the Diezel, they used his Marshall and what, 5 other amps to get tones on that album?

Maybe I just didn't set it right, who knows...but I know another local guy who gigged his VH4 and he couldn't get that tone either. And his band covered like 4 Tool tunes...great amp nonetheless.

FWIW, the closest I ever got to getting that tone was using my LTD Alex Skolnick (with a Duncan JB in the bridge, as well as the "tone changing" silverburst finish ) and an AMT R2 Recto preamp pedal. like, it got shockingly close. Sounded just like Jambi.

 

[ZedEsq]

As long as people aren't thinking that I'm crazy for spending VH4 money on a IIC+, I'm on the right track I guess. Regardless, loved the IIC+s I had, and haven't come across a clip of another amp that's knocking my socks off. The ones that are moderately interesting, I can just tell aren't going to do it for me in terms of the cleans/mid-gains.

 

[Racerxrated]

Nope you aren't crazy. Used VH4 2500+, Used 2C+ for 2500+....depending on options etc. Both great amps, my choice for my ears is the C+.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I’m a die hard VH4 guy, I don’t go for anything Tool-esque though. To me it’s balanced which could be another man’s dark so I see that. Also, can be made to be overly bassy or actually too strong in the 2k up area with strong presence and deep settings (which is where a lot of people end up thinning it out and having trouble cutting because it ends up scooped with extremes of those two) it’s happiest around the middle of it’s knob range with lots of volume. I love the IIC+ as well though. I can’t honestly say I’ve heard many “high end” amps I couldn’t get a useable or great tone out of though to be honest.