Selling all my of amps only to buy one to last the duration

[SuperVintendo]

Hi everyone, I don't know how I haven't come across this site before. I was talking to a friend today and asking for the same advice I'm posting now and he told me to check this site out. Kudos everyone. After lurking around for a while I think this place is great. Now on to my story and question.

After years of sticking to my guns and never selling my gear I have decided to sell all of my amps so that I can buy one really nice amp to stay at home and record with. I will have around $2,000 after coming down on prices to sell my gear so I'm hoping that'll be enough to buy a really nice 2x12 or head/cab.

I mostly play post rock like Dredg and also do thrash/metal like Megadeth so that is what the amp is 90% going to be used for. The other 10% is for what the amp is capable of - by capable I mean that it can kind of do it already but needs a little help from pedals. That would be any of the "core" metal genres like grindcore/hardcore etc. The reason being that this will be a studio amp only and most of the bands I'll be recording do heavier metal than what I play on my own but their amps usually suck. Mostly because they don't take care of them to begin with or because they bought a really nice head but skimped on the cab so their cabs sound horrible.

While I've been looking into amps I've been thinking about going Orange because of their ability to do post rock, decent sound for non modern gain type restoration, and the speakers in the amps sound really nice. I've also been hearing a lot of good things about the Carvin V3 in regards to its different types of distortion but haven't heard anything about their clean channel.

As I said above, I won't be playing live so 100watts isn't really necessary but I wouldn't be opposed to it because I love the feeling of air moving the speakers. I am hoping for more around 50/60watts. Only tube suggestions please. Onboard effects aren't necessary since I'll only be using it for recording and I apply them later. At least 2 channels. Preferably a combo but a half stack is fine as long as I don't go over $2,000 for both head and a cab.

I have been watching a lot of amp test videos and came across a few that I really like for their heavy side but I haven't heard much of their clean side. Anyone have any thoughts on the Orange Rockverb/Dark Terror, Engl Fireball/Blackmore/Savage, Framus Cobra, or Marshall JVM?


I appreciate any and all suggestions

 

[Mailman1971]

One of the best clean tones out there that never gets talked about is on the Framus Cobra.
Has a very chimey clean channel.

 

[SuperVintendo]

One of the best clean tones out there that never gets talked about is on the Framus Cobra.
Has a very chimey clean channel.

REALLY? That's one of the amps that I have never heard the clean channel of but love the lead. Chimey cleans eh? Is there a decent clean crunch to it as well?

 

[Mailman1971]

One of the best clean tones out there that never gets talked about is on the Framus Cobra.
Has a very chimey clean channel.

REALLY? That's one of the amps that I have never heard the clean channel of but love the lead. Chimey cleans eh? Is there a decent clean crunch to it as well?

I didnt like the crunch too much. Of course the lead channel is insane....but the crunch just sounded like a watered down lead to me. The clean is really really good.

 

[SuperVintendo]

One of the best clean tones out there that never gets talked about is on the Framus Cobra.
Has a very chimey clean channel.

REALLY? That's one of the amps that I have never heard the clean channel of but love the lead. Chimey cleans eh? Is there a decent clean crunch to it as well?

I didnt like the crunch too much. Of course the lead channel is insane....but the crunch just sounded like a watered down lead to me. The clean is really really good.

Good to know. Any opinion on a cab to go along with it?

 

[Mailman1971]

One of the best clean tones out there that never gets talked about is on the Framus Cobra.
Has a very chimey clean channel.

REALLY? That's one of the amps that I have never heard the clean channel of but love the lead. Chimey cleans eh? Is there a decent clean crunch to it as well?

I didnt like the crunch too much. Of course the lead channel is insane....but the crunch just sounded like a watered down lead to me. The clean is really really good.

Good to know. Any opinion on a cab to go along with it?

I hear they are super picky with cabs....but when I had one...
ran it thru my Randall Lynch box cab that is loaded with Eminence Super V's and it was Killer.

 

[SuperVintendo]

One of the best clean tones out there that never gets talked about is on the Framus Cobra.
Has a very chimey clean channel.

REALLY? That's one of the amps that I have never heard the clean channel of but love the lead. Chimey cleans eh? Is there a decent clean crunch to it as well?

I didnt like the crunch too much. Of course the lead channel is insane....but the crunch just sounded like a watered down lead to me. The clean is really really good.

Good to know. Any opinion on a cab to go along with it?

I hear they are super picky with cabs....but when I had one...
ran it thru my Randall Lynch box cab that is loaded with Eminence Super V's and it was Killer.

I plan on being picky as well. Whatever combo or head/cab I end up with will have to last me a long time AND sound great recorded. The Framus Cobra 4x12 comes with Greenbacks in it so it should have a fairly quick dynamic and frequency response

 

[mjtripper]

The v3 has a very nice clean channel, actually most of the carvin camps have very nice clean channels. It can be sparkly clean to a little bit of grit, the v3 is actually one extremely versatile amp covering everything from squeaky clean to full on high gain metal. The engl powerball 2 is also a really nice amp. One I didn't see listed but also has a ton of versatility in it is the mesa mark v.

 

[SuperVintendo]

The v3 has a very nice clean channel, actually most of the carvin camps have very nice clean channels. It can be sparkly clean to a little bit of grit, the v3 is actually one extremely versatile amp covering everything from squeaky clean to full on high gain metal. The engl powerball 2 is also a really nice amp. One I didn't see listed but also has a ton of versatility in it is the mesa mark v.

Mesa's are always on my list but they are usually a little pricier than I can afford by including a cab as well.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Mesa Mark V combo. It's $2400, but for the extra $400 it cover's all of your needs.

 

[SuperVintendo]

Mesa Mark V combo. It's $2400, but for the extra $400 it cover's all of your needs.

I'm kind of cautious of 1x12's. Have you played them before?

 

[glpg80]

thrash metal and core genres and a great clean?

The first amp to come to mind was a roadking II.

the clean channel was based off of the lonestar series which is world reknown for stellar cleans, lead channel is great. can select each channel to be a certain separate rectifier, and plenty of channels to do studio work for getting alot of versatility out of it. Also excepts pedals well.

Framus cobra is based off of their take of a SLO. I have a friend who has had nothing but problems out of his - i have questionable words about their build quality. Certainly not trying to start anything just passing info along.

Another option would be a mesa roadster but they are darker sounding. great cleans, channel blending capabilities (crunch can do clean, etc) which is great for pedal use in certain channels.

Another would be to grab the JCM900 SL_X for sale in our classifieds - those amps are killer. SS distortion but with an extra tube stage of gain compared to 2203 JCM800's. Probably not the be all end all amplifier on the clean side but it would do well on the rest if you do not like alot of gain or like the marshall growl.

And last but not least you could try out a Blackstar series one 200 with 200W of output but a built in power attenuator to get down to 20W so you could have your cake and eat it too - loud and push some serious air when you feel like it and 3dB of power attenuation on tap to make a great practice amplifier. Great cleans too.

Ive heard orange amps that sound great but every time i try to dial one in i just do not see anything to work with, i just do not gel with them well. definitely an amplifier you need to play first to make sure that is your thing. YMMV.

 

[SuperVintendo]

thrash metal and core genres and a great clean?

The first amp to come to mind was a roadking II.

the clean channel was based off of the lonestar series which is world reknown for stellar cleans, lead channel is great. can select each channel to be a certain separate rectifier, and plenty of channels to do studio work for getting alot of versatility out of it. Also excepts pedals well.

Framus cobra is based off of their take of a SLO. I have a friend who has had nothing but problems out of his - i have questionable words about their build quality. Certainly not trying to start anything just passing info along.

Another option would be a mesa roadster but they are darker sounding. great cleans, channel blending capabilities (crunch can do clean, etc) which is great for pedal use in certain channels.

Another would be to grab the JCM900 SL_X for sale in our classifieds - those amps are killer. SS distortion but with an extra tube stage of gain compared to 2203 JCM800's. Probably not the be all end all amplifier on the clean side but it would do well on the rest if you do not like alot of gain or like the marshall growl.

And last but not least you could try out a Blackstar series one 200 with 200W of output but a built in power attenuator to get down to 20W so you could have your cake and eat it too - loud and push some serious air when you feel like it and 3dB of power attenuation on tap to make a great practice amplifier. Great cleans too.

Ive heard orange amps that sound great but every time i try to dial one in i just do not see anything to work with, i just do not gel with them well. definitely an amplifier you need to play first to make sure that is your thing. YMMV.

I definitely appreciate the negative experience! Good reports are always welcomed but you always learn more from the negative ones. My dream would be a Road King ii actually but I don't think I'll be able to afford it unless I get everything that I'm asking for on my gear and don't have to come down at all. I'd like to stay away from JCM's but am not exactly opposed to them. I have a JCM2000 and I've never felt that I have been able to get the gain that I should have. I do get a nice thrash tone but not much above there. I do like it's cleans though. Not twangy but very defined with a nice punch and crunch as well. I have NEVER actually seen anyone use a Blackstar so I have no aural knowledge of them at all. I have heard mixed reviews on Orange amps but I do enjoy their rhythm tones and the cleans are usually amazing. I appreciate the info!

 

[Audioholic]

I didn't like my Carvin V3 all that much, I think you can do much better..

Some type of mesa? JVM? I also think the Line 6 DT50 amps are pretty impressive, don't let the line 6 name fool you, go try one. 4 amps in one.

 

[SuperVintendo]

I didn't like my Carvin V3 all that much, I think you can do much better..

Some type of mesa? JVM? I also think the Line 6 DT50 amps are pretty impressive, don't let the line 6 name fool you, go try one. 4 amps in one.

I'm not opposed to Line 6 products. I own a Pod XT Live and love it but I've never used their amps. I have read about the DT series and was excited about it but haven't heard anyone using them yet

 

[glpg80]

Yeah no problem, i am sure alot of people will be stepping in before too long to help out - tricky to recommend anything since oranges do not get alot of love around here, that kinda threw me at a tangent trying to make suggestions that would fit that type of tonal preference

Since the marshall thing is not your style and the roadking II is a possible option on the used market, have you considered a 5150 III 100W or 50W? i do not own a 50W, have played the 100W multiple times, but i do hear the 50W can handle drop tuning great, and the clean channel is excellent. Price is great too - about twice as cheap new as a used roadking II.

 

[Audioholic]

I didn't like my Carvin V3 all that much, I think you can do much better..

Some type of mesa? JVM? I also think the Line 6 DT50 amps are pretty impressive, don't let the line 6 name fool you, go try one. 4 amps in one.

I'm not opposed to Line 6 products. I own a Pod XT Live and love it but I've never used their amps. I have read about the DT series and was excited about it but haven't heard anyone using them yet

I have tried in the store at least all of the line 6 amps to date and pretty much didn't like any of them. I was pretty surprised in the DT series, they sound much much better then previous incarnations.

I also agree with the 5150 III amp. if you get the 50 watt, then you can possibly have scratch left over for a cab and then maybe another micro head like the snot watt or something

 

[SuperVintendo]

Yeah no problem, i am sure alot of people will be stepping in before too long to help out - tricky to recommend anything since oranges do not get alot of love around here, that kinda threw me at a tangent trying to make suggestions that would fit that type of tonal preference

Since the marshall thing is not your style and the roadking II is a possible option on the used market, have you considered a 5150 III 100W or 50W? i do not own a 50W, have played the 100W multiple times, but i do hear the 50W can handle drop tuning great, and the clean channel is excellent. Price is great too - about twice as cheap new as a used roadking II.

I have definitely considered the 5150. That was a lead contender for a while until I heard its clean channel. I've only heard and played on one and it was a 100watt. That was the worst clean sound EVER! It could've been the head but Jesus Christ it was bad! I stood in shock for a while. Would you consider the head or the combo with a change of speakers?

 

[glpg80]

Ive heard they improved the clean on the 50W compared to the 100W. Fender also added a resonance knob on the 50W version on the back to bring back some low end on low volume playing. Does not take cranking it much to give up the chewy goods for lead playing too.

They also sound great with V30's. i would actually get a 2x12 loaded with some low wattage greenbacks though. A 50W 5150 into a pair of 25W original greenbacks would sound killer for the rock style, but for the core genre you would most definitely want the V30's or something simillar, celestion gk-100's, eminence, etc.

 

[SuperVintendo]

ive heard they improved the clean on the 50W compared to the 100W. they also added a resonance knob on the 50W version on the back to bring back some low end on low volume playing. Does not take cranking it much to give up the chewy goods for lead playing too.

they also sound great with V30's. i would actually get a 2x12 loaded with some low wattage greenbacks though. a 50W 5150 into a pair of 25W original greenbacks would sound killer!

I do love the sound of Greenbacks. I have always thought that the dynamic response was way cleaner and quicker than V30's. I'll definitely have to give the 5150's another look if you think the clean channel has improved. Are you talking about the EVH 5150iii's? I haven't played the EVH versions. The one I played was a Peavey and was pretty old.