Suggest an amp for me . . .

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cacheek

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I've posted some information about this topic on another forum, but I thought I'd try here and see what kinds of answers I get.

I'm hoping to be in the market for a new amp head soon after selling some gear or trading what I already have. I'll be playing it through a Mesa Recto cab with V30s, closed back.

I'm looking for an amp that is not over 50 watts but not super low either, has a two footswitchable channels. The only pedals I'll use will be an overdrive for boosting and thickening tone, a bit of chorus, delay, and wah. I use humbuckers, mostly.

Now, as far as styles I play, I'd like to find something that has really good cleans and a good drive too. "That's what everyone says" is probably what you're saying. So, for specificity's sake, I especially play fusion (think Guthrie Govan tones), some modern blues (Joe Bonamassa tones), and a good bit of progressive rock (think Porcupine Tree, Tool, and a bit of Opeth tone), and some classic and alternative rock. I like a good thump to the bass, but I'm not a mid-range scooper. I do not play "brutz" or metal or death "whatever". Not that I don't appreciate heavier music, but that's not what I play.

Anyway, suggestions would be great. Thus far, I’ve been looking at the Mesa Stiletto Ace, Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister, and Fender Supersonic.

My budget would be between 700 and 1000 used (I hope).
 
Go for the H&K--for the type of music you describe that sounds like the best match. And, you should be able to find a TM18 relatively inexpensively--the TM36 will be a bit more.
 
Of those, I'd go for the Boogie. Really not a fan of the HK, they all sound weird and buzzy.
 
Keep in mind it doesn't have to be one of the ones I listed. I'm just looking for suggestions.
 
JimmyDoomsday":3d6omkcr said:
EVH 5150 III mini
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Great head. The clean channel isn't really a clean channel though, but if you don't need a "clean" clean channel, it's great.
 
guitarnerd":2u4s3szn said:
JimmyDoomsday":2u4s3szn said:
EVH 5150 III mini
Click to expand...

Great head. The clean channel isn't really a clean channel though, but if you don't need a "clean" clean channel, it's great.
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I've heard a lot about the 5150 III but I've also heard it isn't a true clean, which is really what I'm looking for.
 
sickwindsor":2zdvwk3b said:
There is a Landry LS 50 ending today on ebay. ;)
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I'm worried the Landry might be a little too high gain.
 
check out the vox ac30 head. 30 watts, great cleans, decent crunch, under $1k used.

 
A used Groove Tubes Solo 75 (or Soul o), the included speaker (if combo version) is not that cool, change it to a scumback m75, quite good amp for your needs, very lively twang (clean) and unusual cool old school preamp! distortion...prefer it to mesa, h+k...., multiple channel marshalls for your application.

The gain side could be sufficient for tool.....old opeth not so sure....they seem to use less gain now....

IMHO good clean amps get too sizzle y when used with higher gain settings......high gain amps, the clean tone gets boring/non dynamic with clean channel...it is always a little compromise...so the groove tubes is a quite special amp.

Perhaps the new little bogners (did not try them).

Kai
 
I'd say that a used Rivera M60 would fill your needs quite nicely.
 
I'd checkout the Legacy III, 10 day tryout, if you dont like it, you return it. I've been thinking about one myself, but already have a Legacy 1 and dont know if the 3rd channel addition makes it worth getting, it was a good ideal adding the master volume to the L3 though, these amps are ungodly loud. Good luck.
 
leftyaxeman":32nq35cw said:
I'd checkout the Legacy III, 10 day tryout, if you dont like it, you return it. I've been thinking about one myself, but already have a Legacy 1 and dont know if the 3rd channel addition makes it worth getting, it was a good ideal adding the master volume to the L3 though, these amps are ungodly loud. Good luck.
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I've been interested in the Legacy III. They don't look that great, but I've heard good things. I wonder if it can get those prog sounds. From what I've researched, the Legacy has killer cleans and great fusion tones. Do the Legacies take pedals well?
 
The Legacy1 does have killer clean sounds, and I really, really like the lead channel for solos also, best I've heard. It's a versatile amp, I play different genres of music depending on the gig, covering many different artists. I've been gigging with it since '99 and its been very reliable, never ever has it failed me. It takes pedals really well. In the FX loop I have a GigFx volume, Boss TU2 tuner, MXR 10 band EQ, TC Electronics Chorus/Flanger, and a Boss DD-3 delay. In front of the amp I use a Dunlop EVH wah, if I'm doing a hard rock or metal gig I use a Barber Dirty Bomb or Suhr Riot Pedal in front also. That being said, I mostly play my guitar straight into the amp, no effects, 9 times out of 10. It's a very dynamic amp, responding to your touch very well. Hope that helped.

I agree with you about the look of the L3, not too thrilled with it either. I much prefer the look of the L1. You can find the L1 on ebay for really affordable prices.
 
Einstein is perfect for this. I use a 100 watter for the same styles and works great. But it's out of your price range. Bogner Alchemist $800 new and Engl Screamer 50 $1200 new come to mind. They both go for anyway from 600-1000 used.
 
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