Reasonable amp to do VH?

[RG955TT]

Man that Rockstah amp really has it going on. Listened to 3 or 4 others he did too, they all sound pretty great although his stellar playing contributes to it. Sad he is no longer with us. R.I.P Mark...get a hold of one of those if you can....nails it IMO

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

Sometimes he didn't even lower the filtering. It's a 2203 basically. If you want, lower the filtering. Then put in a PPIMV. The secret to getting what he got on those recordings (besides the right plate reverb and echo plugin settings) is to crank the regular 2203 master and then turn the PPIMV down to bedroom volume. All of his VH clips were recorded that way. It adds perceived gain and compression. The MOD 5 just sounds like a regular old 2203 with the PPIMV up - cause it IS one.

Of course, the REAL secret is having great EVH right hand attack and a heavy left hand, which Rockstah had in spades... He made a POD clip that sounded like EVH...

The playing is 95+% of it, IMO. I could get that tone no problem with a bunch of different gear. These below were made with the Guitar Hero backing tracks so there is ZERO of EVH's guitar on the backing, just vox, drums and bass:

Romeo Delight (the full song)

Jamie's Cryin' (snippet)

Steve

 

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

Haha! Sorry to de-rail.

Nice work, Steve!

As you were, gentlemen.

 

[Anonymous]

Haha! Sorry to de-rail.

Nice work, Steve!

As you were, gentlemen.

Steve

 

[ledvedder]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

Sometimes he didn't even lower the filtering. It's a 2203 basically. If you want, lower the filtering. Then put in a PPIMV. The secret to getting what he got on those recordings (besides the right plate reverb and echo plugin settings) is to crank the regular 2203 master and then turn the PPIMV down to bedroom volume. All of his VH clips were recorded that way. It adds perceived gain and compression. The MOD 5 just sounds like a regular old 2203 with the PPIMV up - cause it IS one.

Of course, the REAL secret is having great EVH right hand attack and a heavy left hand, which Rockstah had in spades... He made a POD clip that sounded like EVH...

The playing is 95+% of it, IMO. I could get that tone no problem with a bunch of different gear. These below were made with the Guitar Hero backing tracks so there is ZERO of EVH's guitar on the backing, just vox, drums and bass:

Romeo Delight (the full song)

Jamie's Cryin' (snippet)

Steve

Excellent playing! I realize much of it is the player's attack, but there is a certain tone to the amp that makes it sound amazing to me.

Is that an 800? I'd love to get one, if that's it, but they're just so damn loud! I'll bet most of my playing and gigs could easily be done with 20 watts!

 

[Racerxrated]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

Sometimes he didn't even lower the filtering. It's a 2203 basically. If you want, lower the filtering. Then put in a PPIMV. The secret to getting what he got on those recordings (besides the right plate reverb and echo plugin settings) is to crank the regular 2203 master and then turn the PPIMV down to bedroom volume. All of his VH clips were recorded that way. It adds perceived gain and compression. The MOD 5 just sounds like a regular old 2203 with the PPIMV up - cause it IS one.

Of course, the REAL secret is having great EVH right hand attack and a heavy left hand, which Rockstah had in spades... He made a POD clip that sounded like EVH...

The playing is 95+% of it, IMO. I could get that tone no problem with a bunch of different gear. These below were made with the Guitar Hero backing tracks so there is ZERO of EVH's guitar on the backing, just vox, drums and bass:

Romeo Delight (the full song)

Jamie's Cryin' (snippet)

Steve

Yup. Seriously, I had AndyK's 2204 that had a Rockstah mod 5. 2204 with an additional volume, as was said. It was a bit brighter overall, but a stock 2203/4 and a pedal will get you the same tone as I had with that amp. I didn't have GBs, just G12 65s but my tone was good. At the same time I had a good sounding 87 2205. I could dial the 2205 the same as the mod 5. Mark was an amazing player, he could play EVH flawlessly. Even a nmv Marshall and a pedal could get you close. There is/was a Mojave Peacemaker in the classifieds for 1100. Great deal on a great amp that will get you there as well. Power scaling plexi circuit..Steve(sah) has one or has had one...if its still available grab it!

 

[Anonymous]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

Sometimes he didn't even lower the filtering. It's a 2203 basically. If you want, lower the filtering. Then put in a PPIMV. The secret to getting what he got on those recordings (besides the right plate reverb and echo plugin settings) is to crank the regular 2203 master and then turn the PPIMV down to bedroom volume. All of his VH clips were recorded that way. It adds perceived gain and compression. The MOD 5 just sounds like a regular old 2203 with the PPIMV up - cause it IS one.

Of course, the REAL secret is having great EVH right hand attack and a heavy left hand, which Rockstah had in spades... He made a POD clip that sounded like EVH...

The playing is 95+% of it, IMO. I could get that tone no problem with a bunch of different gear. These below were made with the Guitar Hero backing tracks so there is ZERO of EVH's guitar on the backing, just vox, drums and bass:

Romeo Delight (the full song)

Jamie's Cryin' (snippet)

Steve

Excellent playing! I realize much of it is the player's attack, but there is a certain tone to the amp that makes it sound amazing to me.

Is that an 800? I'd love to get one, if that's it, but they're just so damn loud! I'll bet most of my playing and gigs could easily be done with 20 watts!

Thanks man! Those are both the Axe-FX Ultra on a stock preset with a minor change, recorded direct, with a RedWirez greenback IR. See, you can get it with almost anything...

Steve

 

[MrDowntown]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

Sometimes he didn't even lower the filtering. It's a 2203 basically. If you want, lower the filtering. Then put in a PPIMV. The secret to getting what he got on those recordings (besides the right plate reverb and echo plugin settings) is to crank the regular 2203 master and then turn the PPIMV down to bedroom volume. All of his VH clips were recorded that way. It adds perceived gain and compression. The MOD 5 just sounds like a regular old 2203 with the PPIMV up - cause it IS one.

Of course, the REAL secret is having great EVH right hand attack and a heavy left hand, which Rockstah had in spades... He made a POD clip that sounded like EVH...

The playing is 95+% of it, IMO. I could get that tone no problem with a bunch of different gear. These below were made with the Guitar Hero backing tracks so there is ZERO of EVH's guitar on the backing, just vox, drums and bass:

Romeo Delight (the full song)

Jamie's Cryin' (snippet)

Steve

Excellent playing! I realize much of it is the player's attack, but there is a certain tone to the amp that makes it sound amazing to me.

Is that an 800? I'd love to get one, if that's it, but they're just so damn loud! I'll bet most of my playing and gigs could easily be done with 20 watts!

Thanks man! Those are both the Axe-FX Ultra on a stock preset with a minor change, recorded direct, with a RedWirez greenback IR. See, you can get it with almost anything...

Steve

And there is a curveball for ya! The 1's and 0's have made GREAT strides in recent years...some of the stuff sounds so good...and authentic (at times).

 

[MrDowntown]

I'm not a good player, by any stretch...that said. here is a SLO patch i put together on my HD500 couple years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RTcr-crQcw

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

If you are going to go the rockstah route, save your cash and just get a jcm800. Then, pay 15-20$ in parts and mod it to those specs which are readily available. Or, pay someone to do the mod. He did tune each amp a bit differently depending on which value sound d best but generally speaking, it is a jcm800 with ppimv and some changes to other areas like filtering. I opened up my 800 on a hot plate tonight all knobs on ten except presence and it gained up nicely for leads. Add that echoplex imparted preamp boost in front and you will get even more.

Sometimes he didn't even lower the filtering. It's a 2203 basically. If you want, lower the filtering. Then put in a PPIMV. The secret to getting what he got on those recordings (besides the right plate reverb and echo plugin settings) is to crank the regular 2203 master and then turn the PPIMV down to bedroom volume. All of his VH clips were recorded that way. It adds perceived gain and compression. The MOD 5 just sounds like a regular old 2203 with the PPIMV up - cause it IS one.

Of course, the REAL secret is having great EVH right hand attack and a heavy left hand, which Rockstah had in spades... He made a POD clip that sounded like EVH...

The playing is 95+% of it, IMO. I could get that tone no problem with a bunch of different gear. These below were made with the Guitar Hero backing tracks so there is ZERO of EVH's guitar on the backing, just vox, drums and bass:

Romeo Delight (the full song)

Jamie's Cryin' (snippet)

Steve

You said it Steve, very simple part swaps and jacking the master while turning down the PPIMV. Like going on the hotplate and setting it down to -16. Record it with the right verb and just hope your hands are up to snuff. Mine definitely are not but i had enough gain with mine to pull off legato runs and fast picking runs high on the neck with enough compression to make it easier to play. I guess you could also then factor in slaving and running it through another amps preamp to further colour the sound and crunch it up. We always come back to this but you need Ed's right hand and attack.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Excellent playing! I realize much of it is the player's attack, but there is a certain tone to the amp that makes it sound amazing to me.

Is that an 800? I'd love to get one, if that's it, but they're just so damn loud! I'll bet most of my playing and gigs could easily be done with 20 watts!

What you get with a jcm 800 is a fuller tone and more compression when you go up to around 7 on the master volume and crank the other knobs to 10. (i dial back bass because mine is particularly bassy). What Ed has is the crunchy gain but also the compression which comes with an amp that sounds like it is struggling to stay there. The 800 does a good job simulating this without blowing up. One other thing is 6CA7's. They do sound different than EL34 and that is what I am running right now. I dig em. So to make things simple, just get a hotplate so you can also have straight up other tones when you want to dial back the flub and have it cut more with a pedal. Also unmolested, the 800 will have good resale value. So many modded amps out there but just as often, people are raving about the stock tone. There is so much you can do with the circuit.. open it up for old school VH type tones, boost with a pedal for tight thrash or hair metal, straight up dial back preamp a bit and turn up the bass and get AC DC tones etc... awesome amp.

 

[Iskra68]

I know this has probably been asked a millions times, but with all the new amps available, I'll ask again. I'm looking for an amp that can get close to early VH. Preferably under $1k and 50 watts or lower.

Actually, you have asked this question a million times with the same responses ad nauseum. Shit or get off the pot already.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I know this has probably been asked a millions times, but with all the new amps available, I'll ask again. I'm looking for an amp that can get close to early VH. Preferably under $1k and 50 watts or lower.

Actually, you have asked this question a million times with the same responses ad nauseum. Shit or get off the pot already.

Yeah but it is so much fun to talk about VH tone on the first 3 albums!! Why would we not rehash the same responses? Did he use the super distortion did he not use it, was there any slaving? Any mods on his amp? ARRRRRGH i need answers!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ledvedder]

Ok, I have an opportunity to get hold of a Quickrod for close to $1K. What do you guys think? I'm seeing mixed reviews about them.

 

[CP5150]

First if you can't play like Ed no amp will help.

And I say 5150 III can do any era of VH. Very well. Blue channel rocks! I did play a DSL-100 and thought it did old VH very well. Same gain type levels and no sustain. Just like Ed! Listen to his chords decay. i was going to get one when I got a 5150 III 2x12 combo as a gift!

Not to be a jerk or anything. However, there is more gain in early VH than most people think. Listen to the isolated tracks. Then tell me the sizzle and fizz found in 5150 amps isn't in there. Problem is when you get the gain right on a 5150 it's too low for me. I like more sustain from the amp. For my settings it's too much gain to get a good classic VH.

I keep threatening to do VH I and II on my old Peavey 5150 to prove it can do it well and fool most people. There are subtle nuances missing I'll admit. It's a trade off for reliability and ease of use to me. Who needs an old possibly unreliable Marshall?

 

[scriptphase]

I agree with many here that there are several ways to get close to the early EVH tone. The cheapest I've done it was with JamUp on my iPhone. Also done it on the cheap with the Line 6 Pod stuff, so $1K is more than enough.

Plenty of 50-watt amps can do a convincing enough VH, but a Marshall-voiced amp (or channel) helps. Doesn't have to be a Marshall or even a clone, but IMO best if it can cop a sound somewhere in the ballpark of an old 1987 or 2204. If we're talking first album VH, some of these amps do it by themselves (usually with plenty of volume regardless of a MV), others with some help as they normally need a little front-end boost with either a hot pickup (DiMarzio SD, MM 1300, etc.) or a pedal. My favorite Marshall-helper is this, but plenty of other ODs and EQs work too:

Plate reverb and a Phase 90 might be more important than the amp. A huge part of that early-VH sound is the reverb.

 

[Badronald]

Ok, I have an opportunity to get hold of a Quickrod for close to $1K. What do you guys think? I'm seeing mixed reviews about them.

Mixed reviews? That amp is killer.
Highly recommended. Love mine.

 

[scriptphase]

Ok, I have an opportunity to get hold of a Quickrod for close to $1K. What do you guys think? I'm seeing mixed reviews about them.

Love the QR. Can't be beat for the price and the ease of use. I went from a QR to a '69 Marshall modded to Friedman's EVH spec, variac, 6-band, Clinch-FX EP3-type booster, etc. Sounds killer, but I miss the convenience of having an amp that essentially does the same sound without all the outboard stuff.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I think I sort of agree with some of the others at this point, you do need to shit or get off the pot. So you read differing views on a quick rod. The only way to know what you will think is to try it. Other than that, any old Marshall with a hot plate and push it ever so slightly with an eq pedal. Done. Case closed. Now go get er done!