The 101 Most Badass Modern Amps On The Planet (Post 1990s)

[cecilbag]

turns out the amps I suggested were already listed. Carry on

 

[SavageRiffer]

To respond to a couple of comments... yes, it's a big list, but that's because there are a lot of badass amps out there these days. It was probably a mistake to put "iconic" in the title, and I'll edit that by the way, but it would be good to have a nice reference list that's already sorted out for people starting out a new amp quest.

I didn't just want to do the high-gain thing either because there are some badass amps that any player could appreciate like the Magnatone Varsity and Jackson Ampworks McFly. If it would have been limited to only very modern amps, then amp that are still revered and in prolific use today, such as the SLO, would be left out.

In no particular order, by no means all inclusive, will revise once consensus reached. Add and suggest new rankings.

Seems some have missed the part about 'no particular order'

But then you say 'suggest new rankings'

So that is kind of confusing.

Is this a list of Iconic Amps or just a long list and we're going to see how much longer we can get it

Just giving you trouble....man. Carry on.

One thing I used to do annually on another amp forum was create a 'Top Ten' list. You start with 10 amps and then people vote +1/-2 until you get to a winner. Only one vote every 24 hours. Got kind of testy sometimes but it was a lot of fun.

Sorry it's so confusing. I don't know how to make it any easier for you to understand. If you think you can do a better job of it, then by all means go right ahead. Other than that, you're just plainly mistaken and your criticism sucks. People refer to what you're doing as "trolling," and you should be aware that it's a very unpopular behavior.

Bray 4550!!!

Already included. Indeed, it's a badass amp. That guy does phenomenal work.

 

[flatheads_4ever]

greatest for what? your list is all over the place and really doesn't make much sense. if you are talking modern hard rock and metal you could take a lot of amps off that list and many would be rated far too low. if you are talking jazz and blues amps many others shouldn't be there. I love the DSL but rating it that far above many other killer amps is a head scratcher. same with the 6505, awesome amp, but ranking it that high is highly questionable above some of the other farther down the list that would destroy it. rockerverbs are really not that great either.


I'm sure we all will agree on a consensus. hahaha. my #1 is the Fuchs Viper.

Well being a little dick about it only makes you look like little dick. If you would have read the first part then you would have noticed that I only offered it as a start in order to get a consensus. I did say "add and suggest new rankings." Let me simplify it for you... There are plenty of "best amps in the world" discussions, but they often include amps from 50 and 60 years ago. That's too broad and I'm looking to get a consensus on more modern amps which have taken the world by storm. My list isn't all over the place. In fact, pretty well-thought despite being limited to what I could type in a few minutes. If you don't like it, then ignore it and be on your merry little way, but don't act like a prick because it's not the way you'd do it.

I really don't think he was being a dick about it ( ...or at least not intentionally)

To be honest... it doesn't make any sense. Most of the amps on that list are completely different from one another. It does make me realize that there are way too many amps made today. Most of us will never have a chance to even play 1/3 of that list. There are a lot of amps on that list, and a lot that aren't that people rave about that I have found to be blah. How many variations of a modded Marshall does the world need? I guess it's nice to have options, but it's not hard to spend a small fortune chasing tone with all the amps out there today.

Ed

 

[Racerxrated]

When I think of post 1990-
1. Dual/Triple/Tremoverb Rec
2 .VH4
3. XTC, Uber
4. DAR stuff
5. Mark IV
6. Modded Marshalls-Cameron, Friedman, Suhr, Golub, etc.
7. SLO, even though it came out in 87 it still wasn't very mainstream until after 1990

These aren't in any ranked order, just amps that come to mind as the most popular amongst "new" designs post 1990.

 

[SavageRiffer]

When I think of post 1990-
1. Dual/Triple/Tremoverb Rec
2 .VH4
3. XTC, Uber
4. DAR stuff
5. Mark IV
6. Modded Marshalls-Cameron, Friedman, Suhr, Golub, etc.
7. SLO, even though it came out in 87 it still wasn't very mainstream until after 1990

These aren't in any ranked order, just amps that come to mind as the most popular amongst "new" designs post 1990.

I think I got most of those except the DAR, but I thought about it. The only reason I didn't include it is because they were only made for a short time to my knowledge, had a more obscure type of power tube I think, and never really caught on. On another note, I've seen a couple here and there pop up for sale in the $3's and $4s.

 

[Anonymous]

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Steve

 

[Racerxrated]

When I think of post 1990-
1. Dual/Triple/Tremoverb Rec
2 .VH4
3. XTC, Uber
4. DAR stuff
5. Mark IV
6. Modded Marshalls-Cameron, Friedman, Suhr, Golub, etc.
7. SLO, even though it came out in 87 it still wasn't very mainstream until after 1990

These aren't in any ranked order, just amps that come to mind as the most popular amongst "new" designs post 1990.

I think I got most of those except the DAR, but I thought about it. The only reason I didn't include it is because they were only made for a short time to my knowledge, had a more obscure type of power tube I think, and never really caught on. On another note, I've seen a couple here and there pop up for sale in the $3's and $4s.

Yeah, those DAR amps are pretty rare but coveted I think. I should also add a few..

1. 5150/6505
2. Triaxis/295 combo
3. Rhodes
4. VHT/Fryette
5. Peters
6. Henning
7. Wizard
These aren't ranked.
And last but probably least.....

The Fucking Fucker!

 

[SavageRiffer]

When I think of post 1990-
1. Dual/Triple/Tremoverb Rec
2 .VH4
3. XTC, Uber
4. DAR stuff
5. Mark IV
6. Modded Marshalls-Cameron, Friedman, Suhr, Golub, etc.
7. SLO, even though it came out in 87 it still wasn't very mainstream until after 1990

These aren't in any ranked order, just amps that come to mind as the most popular amongst "new" designs post 1990.

I think I got most of those except the DAR, but I thought about it. The only reason I didn't include it is because they were only made for a short time to my knowledge, had a more obscure type of power tube I think, and never really caught on. On another note, I've seen a couple here and there pop up for sale in the $3's and $4s.

Yeah, those DAR amps are pretty rare but coveted I think. I should also add a few..

1. 5150/6505
2. Triaxis/295 combo
3. Rhodes
4. VHT/Fryette
5. Peters
6. Henning
7. Wizard
These aren't ranked.
And last but probably least.....

The Fucking Fucker!

I've included all of those brands except Henning. The Triaxis (assume you're talking about the Mesa Boogie preamp) is a preamp so I figure it kind of covers some of the ground the other Mesas already paved. Henning, well, everything I've heard about them has been great and the audio is very good, but they haven't made a market impact yet. Their amps are relatively obscure at this point, but that doesn't diminish that they have great potential. It always seemed to me like they should take a more affordable route like most people want these days. Even Friedman did it with the Runt stuff, and now that I've had time to get to know the Runts, I'm intent on getting one. Anyway, if the consensus is that Henning should be in the list then so be it.

 

[jc986]

I'd love to hear this amp that destroys a 6505.

+1

I've been through about 12 amps over the past 15 years and my stock 6505+ hangs with or beats the majority of them for what I play.

 

[SavageRiffer]

I'd love to hear this amp that destroys a 6505.

+1

I've been through about 12 amps over the past 15 years and my stock 6505+ hangs with or beats the majority of them for what I play.

Yeah it's a shame that some well-made boutique 6505 clones haven't popped up yet. I got a 6505+ a few years ago which crapped out on me, then recently picked up a 6505 mini which was defective. I really love the sound of them, but I want better quality.

 

[jc986]

I've found the USA made Peavey stuff to be incredibly reliable. I know they are making the majority of stuff (including the 6505 line) in China now so I don't have any experience with that.

 

[keennay]

No Framus Cobra or Dragon? What about Bugera 6260 & 6262, the poor man's Peavey 5150?

I'd also throw in the Cameron Atomica.

 

[SavageRiffer]

No Framus Cobra or Dragon? What about Bugera 6260 & 6262, the poor man's Peavey 5150?

I'd also throw in the Cameron Atomica.

I definitely considered the Framus Cobra, but it too was rather short-lived. Let's go ahead and add it though. I wouldn't qualify a Bugera as one of the most badass amps on the planet though.

 

[4406cuda]

CAA Custom Audio Amplifiers

 

[Superunknown]

Bludotone

 

[esppse]

stereo Marshall MS-2s

 

[psychodave]

Missed the Mesa Boogie Mark III. Yes the were made in 1990's

 

[SavageRiffer]

CAA Custom Audio Amplifiers

Ah yes! Will add.

 

[BLUESSYNDICATE]

Mezzabarba MZERO Overdrive!

 

[Elric]

Stuff like this is only interesting if there's some controversy. You need to limit it to like 5 and order them. This is just a list of every newish amplifier you can think of. Most people aren't going to be interested, I know I'm not.