Screw the Overdrives, Back to cable straight to amp baby!

[rupe]

With a few exceptions (mostly vintage non-master volume amps) , I'm all about being able to plug in directly to get the tone that I want. If a particular amp doesn't do what I want, I find one that does.

 

[Badronald]

Well damn. I guess I need to make some calls.

I need to call every guitar god ever and tell them they're doing it wrong.

Thanks for the heads up sparky.

 

[midnightlaundry]

The 80's are over, and amp technology has advanced beyond a shit smelling distortion pedal. OHH..

Somebody should tell Bogner, Suhr, Wampler, etc that make, and sell quite a few, distortion pedals

AHAHAHah.. Most people need a stomp box to crutch their playing. And old players that still use one haven't upgraded their gear. Or, you're just old and can only hump a combo around and use your horseshit pedal board littered with the flavor of the month buzz box to get your dirt sound.. At this point I'm not making friends.

Needless to say, most players still use them, and sensible businessmen with a name will take advantage of this market even tho there were killer designs like the Boogie Marks that, well kill... Because the truth is that no flat, pasty sounding pedal will have the definition and clarity or a straight in sound.

This is why EVH is the king, because he didn't use pedals, and got what most corksniffers that browbeat this board, is the best guitar tone of all time on his early records. But even he moved on with s 5150. Who the fuck needs a stomp box with a 5150? You just suck.. Go play some drop-D phrygian metal riffs.

Can we still be pals?

Such strong beliefs...I would love to hear some clips of your work

Don't get your 9 volts batteries all in a bunch. If you don't agree, that's fine. Besides, nothing I would post could ever be good enough for you at this point. Even if I was EVH and nobody ever heard off me, I could post Mean Streets, and you would say it sucked because I stepped on your stomp box with shit on my shoes.. LOL

 

[C1-ocaster]

"If you don't agree, that's fine."

Is it really?
I get a sense that you're not really that "fine" with it.

BTW, I too much prefer to get the gain and tone from the amp.
My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000.
There are great clean amps with modest gain channel, but I haven't found a small combo in that price range that gives a very good clean tone and can give high gain.

The closest is the B52 AT112, but it's no longer made, and they had some quality issues.
But their clean tone was great and the high gain was killer.

Used market is a different story as there are small combo's that fit, but nothing with a warranty.
And I don't want to pay $800-$1000 for used no warranty amp.
I'm looking into a Bogner Alchemist or Genz Benz Diablo 60.
Any others you or anyone can recommend to fit the "no distortion" pedal mantra?

 

[Zombify]

"If you don't agree, that's fine."

Is it really?
I get a sense that you're not really that "fine" with it.

BTW, I too much prefer to get the gain and tone from the amp.
My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000.
There are great clean amps with modest gain channel, but I haven't found a small combo in that price range that gives a very good clean tone and can give high gain.

The closest is the B52 AT112, but it's no longer made, and they had some quality issues.
But their clean tone was great and the high gain was killer.

Used market is a different story as there are small combo's that fit, but nothing with a warranty.
And I don't want to pay $800-$1000 for used no warranty amp.
I'm looking into a Bogner Alchemist or Genz Benz Diablo 60.
Any others you or anyone can recommend to fit the "no distortion" pedal mantra?

Hughes and Kettenr has some combos in that range. Great amps.

 

[C1-ocaster]

"If you don't agree, that's fine."

Is it really?
I get a sense that you're not really that "fine" with it.

BTW, I too much prefer to get the gain and tone from the amp.
My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000.
There are great clean amps with modest gain channel, but I haven't found a small combo in that price range that gives a very good clean tone and can give high gain.

The closest is the B52 AT112, but it's no longer made, and they had some quality issues.
But their clean tone was great and the high gain was killer.

Used market is a different story as there are small combo's that fit, but nothing with a warranty.
And I don't want to pay $800-$1000 for used no warranty amp.
I'm looking into a Bogner Alchemist or Genz Benz Diablo 60.
Any others you or anyone can recommend to fit the "no distortion" pedal mantra?

Hughes and Kettenr has some combos in that range. Great amps.

Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36W combo has a cool look to it.
$1200. I don't want to spend that much on small tube combo.
The 18 watt 1x10 has a 10".
$700 for a single 10" with shared EQ for the 2 channels, not diggin that.

I tried a 6505+ and that's pretty much a one trick pony, plus the high gain is ok/decent, good amount of crunch but didn't excite me, kind of "eh" it's ok.
The clean channel was blah, dull, lifeless.

All I'm saying is that it's hard pickin's out there for a decent versatile amp that doesn't need a drive/distortion pedal at a reasonable cost. In the world of Bogner's and Mesa's $1200 may not sound like much, but to guitarists that play just for the joy of it and not to make money at it, $1200 is pricey.

 

[barnesjd]

(...) My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000. (...)

My issue is that you're trying to do high gain with a combo.

I prefer my combo of my 50w Granger LO50, Orange 212, and Bogner 412.

 

[Zombify]

"If you don't agree, that's fine."

Is it really?
I get a sense that you're not really that "fine" with it.

BTW, I too much prefer to get the gain and tone from the amp.
My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000.
There are great clean amps with modest gain channel, but I haven't found a small combo in that price range that gives a very good clean tone and can give high gain.

The closest is the B52 AT112, but it's no longer made, and they had some quality issues.
But their clean tone was great and the high gain was killer.

Used market is a different story as there are small combo's that fit, but nothing with a warranty.
And I don't want to pay $800-$1000 for used no warranty amp.
I'm looking into a Bogner Alchemist or Genz Benz Diablo 60.
Any others you or anyone can recommend to fit the "no distortion" pedal mantra?

Hughes and Kettenr has some combos in that range. Great amps.

Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36W combo has a cool look to it.
$1200. I don't want to spend that much on small tube combo.
The 18 watt 1x10 has a 10".
$700 for a single 10" with shared EQ for the 2 channels, not diggin that.

I tried a 6505+ and that's pretty much a one trick pony, plus the high gain is ok/decent, good amount of crunch but didn't excite me, kind of "eh" it's ok.
The clean channel was blah, dull, lifeless.

All I'm saying is that it's hard pickin's out there for a decent versatile amp that doesn't need a drive/distortion pedal at a reasonable cost. In the world of Bogner's and Mesa's $1200 may not sound like much, but to guitarists that play just for the joy of it and not to make money at it, $1200 is pricey.

I think the low wattage Hughes and Kettner tubemeister heads are fairly cheap, if you already have a cabinet.

 

[bulletproof_funk]

Have you tried a Fender Machete 50W 1x12 combo? It's $1149 new (was $1800 last year), I think a pretty underrated amp. The cleans are shimmering Fender cleans, the high gain channel is kind of different, I only played one briefly last year, it has a lot of controls and the gain gets up there pretty well. Could try a used Rivera 50W as well?

 

[stephen sawall]

Less of everything between my fingers & the speakers is usually my preference.

 

[C1-ocaster]

(...) My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000. (...)

My issue is that you're trying to do high gain with a combo.

I prefer my combo of my 50w Granger LO50, Orange 212, and Bogner 412.

Why?
I'm talkin about pre amp gain to get the tone I want, not volume from the speakers.

Even modeling boxes can give great powerful tone just through headphones not cab required.

 

[C1-ocaster]

"If you don't agree, that's fine."

Is it really?
I get a sense that you're not really that "fine" with it.

BTW, I too much prefer to get the gain and tone from the amp.
My issue is that there aren't enough high gain 1x12 combo amps at reasonable prices like around $800-$1000.
There are great clean amps with modest gain channel, but I haven't found a small combo in that price range that gives a very good clean tone and can give high gain.

The closest is the B52 AT112, but it's no longer made, and they had some quality issues.
But their clean tone was great and the high gain was killer.

Used market is a different story as there are small combo's that fit, but nothing with a warranty.
And I don't want to pay $800-$1000 for used no warranty amp.
I'm looking into a Bogner Alchemist or Genz Benz Diablo 60.
Any others you or anyone can recommend to fit the "no distortion" pedal mantra?

Hughes and Kettenr has some combos in that range. Great amps.

Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36W combo has a cool look to it.
$1200. I don't want to spend that much on small tube combo.
The 18 watt 1x10 has a 10".
$700 for a single 10" with shared EQ for the 2 channels, not diggin that.

I tried a 6505+ and that's pretty much a one trick pony, plus the high gain is ok/decent, good amount of crunch but didn't excite me, kind of "eh" it's ok.
The clean channel was blah, dull, lifeless.

All I'm saying is that it's hard pickin's out there for a decent versatile amp that doesn't need a drive/distortion pedal at a reasonable cost. In the world of Bogner's and Mesa's $1200 may not sound like much, but to guitarists that play just for the joy of it and not to make money at it, $1200 is pricey.

I think the low wattage Hughes and Kettner tubemeister heads are fairly cheap, if you already have a cabinet.

I do have a B52 AT-100 half stack that I really really like. As much gain as I can stand from that thing.
But that thing lives at my buddies home studio where we play.
I'm looking for a home practice combo amp, so something light enough to carry room to room.
Don't need loud volume, but I do want good clean, gain and good tone.

Although I guess a small head and a 1x12 is easy enough to move around, might even be easier as it's 2 pieces.
I'll have to consider it.

 

[C1-ocaster]

Have you tried a Fender Machete 50W 1x12 combo? It's $1149 new (was $1800 last year), I think a pretty underrated amp. The cleans are shimmering Fender cleans, the high gain channel is kind of different, I only played one briefly last year, it has a lot of controls and the gain gets up there pretty well. Could try a used Rivera 50W as well?

Probably will go used.

I just tried out a demo Peavey JSX and REALLY like it.
But you can't get a new one anymore.
The 2x12 I was playing all of sudden went microphonic after playing it for about 45 minutes.
It was priced at $929 and I asked if they'd take less as it's gonna need a new tube or two, and the condition was fairly used.
It was a highly used demo with about 3 tears on it and some piece of covering half peeled off at the lower bottom corner.
And the tubes were not even the same, so not matched. 2 of one kind and 2 of something else.
The sales guy said that's how it came back from the repair shop.
Dusty as all get out inside the speaker area.

The manager said they can't take any less than $929. Why?
Because, he said they had just had to do a repair on it and needed to make their money back.
I laughed. So, it's a very used demo that has already broke down once and you got it repaired.
And just as I was playing it something else broke on it, and you want how much again?
I passed.

I did find a couple used for sale, and one was selling for $400 and the other around $530 or so.
That amp I could easily live with. Great sounds, and the clean was also very nice, considering I'm not a fan of most Peavey tube amps.

 

[barnesjd]

Why?
I'm talkin about pre amp gain to get the tone I want, not volume from the speakers.

Even modeling boxes can give great powerful tone just through headphones not cab required.

Understood. In my experience, it has been hard to find high gain amps that sound great with just preamp gain without going into the higher wattage. Not sure why it has to be that way, tho.

BTW, have you tried one of those Damage Control pedals? I used to have one for this type of application.

 

[skoora]

Pedals can be fun when you want the amp to sound out of control. A lot of new amps have too refined a distortion. Sometimes it's not about more gain but changing up the EQ of the amp, and strangely enough an EQ pedal doesn't do it right because it's the OD character in the pedal that shaped the EQ it creates. For eg. Amp just doesn't have enough raw mid range but with the right pedal it does. But having said that I have a few OD pedals I really like and haven't plugged them in 2 years. None of the amps I have need them, except for maybe a Vox I got but I haven't got that in a ready to play slot right now.

Plus a lot of folks dig low output pickups but they'll just never get some amps into that sweet spot like a Ceramic humbucker or hot alnico will do.