the most "compressed" high gain tube head?

[jessexxx]

ok...after bragging about how i found happiness with a inexpensive amp..(peavey xxx)..i have major gas!!,..i love ubershalls,..and will probably end up getting one,...but i want to hear what all my brothern are using..or could suggest for my check list!

i live in portland maine so my chance to test the wide variety of hi-gain monsters is very limited,..so with in the next 2 weeks i'm headed to boston,..and i am gonna do some amp searching/testing while i'm there,..

unlike most,..i like a compressed sounding amps..i want tight bass you can feel...i want a hi-gain amp with "great" note seperation while playing chords,...thats my only "must haves"..

i dont care if it is a single channel,..or if it has lots of bells and whistles,..i dont care if it has reverb,..actually i like the simplicity of a stripped down amp!,..i dont care if it is a one trick pony,(as long as the ponys one trick is the compressed,tight bass you can feel,more gain than i can use, trick!)

the amps i have owned..
marshall jcm 800
mesa stilletto
peavey 6505+
peavey xxx

amps i have tried and liked,..
evh 5150 (3)
mesa mark v
bogner ubershall

amps on my check list that i am gonna try,..
framus cobra
engl savage/powerball
diezel,..
vht pitbull
splawn nitro


and what ever else i find in my travels,..i have 8 music stores lined up,..i'm bringing my sg and my wallet..


my style is a cross between hendrix and iommi,..i play lots of open chords/notes and add things to the openess,..


thanx guys for your positive suggestions.

jesse

i currently have a mesa recto cab (4x12)

 

[Shark Diver]

My experience for your taste - Diezel Herbert. But the ew Ubers slay!

 

[Skirmish]

From what you describe: Diezel Herbert

 

[smdb]

I may be wrong but I own the Vh4 and it seems more compressed than the Herbert.. The Vh4 channel 2 should get you in the Jimi area, with a modern twist.. All of the 4 channels on the Vh4 are EXTREMELY tight!! More than the Herbie without question..
I like both amps, I just own the Vh4.... Either one is a winner!!

 

[sebby123]

Mark IV, Not V the V is more open soundings, Diezel Herbert, Bogner Uber.

 

[King Guitar]

I have had them all.

Diezel Herbert will get you that compressed high gain tone.

Suhr CAA OD100SE+ will do it.

Engl Special Edition will do it.

My vote is the new Bogner Uber Twin Jet which I have being built.

For as cool as Boston is as a city and music scene it is slim pickings in Boston proper for gear. Heath at Boston Guitar is your best bet (Actually 45 minutes south in Brockton) has a Bogner XTC 101B 20th anniversary and some Diamond Amps.

There is a new young guy opening up I spoke with a few days ago going by the moniker of The Axe Palace in Walpole who is going to sell allot of high end boutique stuff.

I drove out to his shop and he was there standing outside and we chatted but he is not open regular hours (just by appt for now but he says he will have regular hours in a month or so).

For what its worth I buy my new gear from Rob at Tone Merchants in CA or Josh at Rebel Amps. Both of those guys are top shelf

If you want to stay somewhat local take a trip to NYC and hit Rudys Amp room as well as the numerous other shops in the city.

 

[fearhk213]

"unlike most,..i like a compressed sounding amps..i want tight bass you can feel...i want a hi-gain amp with "great" note seperation while playing chords,...thats my only "must haves".."

Sounds like a Herbert to me as well, but if bells and whistles don't matter or you'd be fine with a one trick pony then the Herbert's price may be hard to justify unless you absolutely fall in love with the voicing. If you can find one and aren't in a hurry, I'd suggest considering a Cameron Marshall. Those along with the Herbert have that whole compression thing going on. The Engl Powerball has some nice tones on tap too. I like the Uber alot and with the exception of the a Cameron HG Jose I prefer it over the ones I suggested, but the other ones are noticeably tighter in the bass.

Just as a side note, I wouldn't consider the Nitro a compressed amp. If you had said you were looking for a open high gain head I'd had suggested the Nitro. It's tight and you can definitely feel the bass, but compressed in the way a Herbert is it is not. Not trying to discourage you from trying it since you may love it, but if you're pressed for time in Boston I'd push it towards the bottom of the "to try out" list based on your "must haves".

 

[J.B.]

A Mako Dorado would probably fit what you're looking for from my experience. May not be compressed enough for you, but.......

 

[sebby123]

"unlike most,..i like a compressed sounding amps..i want tight bass you can feel...i want a hi-gain amp with "great" note seperation while playing chords,...thats my only "must haves".."

Sounds like a Herbert to me as well, but if bells and whistles don't matter or you'd be fine with a one trick pony then the Herbert's price may be hard to justify unless you absolutely fall in love with the voicing. If you can find one and aren't in a hurry, I'd suggest considering a Cameron Marshall. Those along with the Herbert have that whole compression thing going on. The Engl Powerball has some nice tones on tap too. I like the Uber alot and with the exception of the a Cameron HG Jose I prefer it over the ones I suggested, but the other ones are noticeably tighter in the bass.

Just as a side note, I wouldn't consider the Nitro a compressed amp. If you had said you were looking for a open high gain head I'd had suggested the Nitro. It's tight and you can definitely feel the bass, but compressed in the way a Herbert is it is not. Not trying to discourage you from trying it since you may love it, but if you're pressed for time in Boston I'd push it towards the bottom of the "to try out" list based on your "must haves".

I have similar tastes in amps but i dont use alot of gain i just like tight bass and compression, Mark IV does it for me, Still want to try a herbert but they have a hefty price tag.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm going to suggest something that might seem like heresy to a lot of people on here.

Have you thought about trying out some higher end solid state amps? I know some guys who like that compressed metal tone and they've ended up going with some nice solid state stuff.

 

[mrp5150]

The Engl Powerball is compressed as hell IMO.

 

[Mailman1971]

I would have to say the Framus Cobra.
I owned that and also a Splawn Nitro and the Engl Invader.
The Cobra was VERY VERY COMPRESSED and it does what it does PERFECT.
That is a METAL amp to be all end all.
Would like to try out a Diezel though.........

 

[FixXxer]

Try a Mesa boogie Roadster.

 

[jessexxx]

I have had them all.

Diezel Herbert will get you that compressed high gain tone.

Suhr CAA OD100SE+ will do it.

Engl Special Edition will do it.

My vote is the new Bogner Uber Twin Jet which I have being built.

For as cool as Boston is as a city and music scene it is slim pickings in Boston proper for gear. Heath at Boston Guitar is your best bet (Actually 45 minutes south in Brockton) has a Bogner XTC 101B 20th anniversary and some Diamond Amps.

There is a new young guy opening up I spoke with a few days ago going by the moniker of The Axe Palace in Walpole who is going to sell allot of high end boutique stuff.

I drove out to his shop and he was there standing outside and we chatted but he is not open regular hours (just by appt for now but he says he will have regular hours in a month or so).

For what its worth I buy my new gear from Rob at Tone Merchants in CA or Josh at Rebel Amps. Both of those guys are top shelf

If you want to stay somewhat local take a trip to NYC and hit Rudys Amp room as well as the numerous other shops in the city.

thats some great info brad!

everyone seems to agree on the herbert!,..it would be cool if i run into and get to try a suhr (or any other custom modded) amps,..my ears and wallet are open..i have convinced myself that this is as good of a time to buy as any,..

as far as the twin jett goes...when do they hit the streets!,..and i am going to nyc in the fall to visit family/see a football game,..so i will take your advice and try to line up "amp-tour #2"


jesse

 

[jessexxx]

hmmmmmm,..i posted another response to everyone that made suggestions,..asking questions of them!..but it hasnt shown up yet,...grrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Rayneman]

I think the answer is the Herbert.

Every time I play mine, I am amazed at the palpable compression...you FEEL it. Its not a shitty compression that ruins all dynamics though.

I am not sure about this new Uberschall...I thought the major changes were with power tubes and the "clean" channel. I have a Rev Blue Uber, and while I love it (it may be my favorite amp) its not as compressed as the Herbert.

 

[nbarts]

 

[AdamB]

Maybe a cheaper suggestion, but have you tried upgrading your pickups too? Or maybe just your bridge one? To something like a high output Bareknuckle. Nailbomb, Painkiller, Ceramic Warpig etc etc. Might help you in that quest for 'that' tone!

 

[glpg80]

have you tried the JSX?

i played one that screamed. but i also played one at a store that sounded like ass - preamp tubes were all microphonic as well. but i would try one. definately compressed and easy to play. i cranked one to 10 and had a $300 LTD going through one at one time and it sounded absolutely fucking awsome

the pickup suggestion is no joke. that really does make or break perceived sustain. also try OD pedals and slam the front end of the amplifier. it really does work and isnt just for tone shaping.

i also would not recommend the nitro. scott is an excellent guy and builds amazing amplifiers, but the nitro has a punchy tightness to them that is far from compressed in percieved sustain. the nitro is unbelievable when you really crank it up and i would own one just for that purpose - with power amp compression. but i wouldnt even consider a nitro unless i could get ahold the version 1's, the series he made when he first introduced the amplifier in 2007. the ones he has now are a revision, and are not the same. he changed the amplifier, and said he based the changes off of a fender-type esque due to demands. but even still, its not an amp i personally would recommend because i like the simillar type of tone as you do. i wasnt digging it for the playability of it until its opened up. tone wise though, its an awsome awsome amplifier.

if you got the cash, get a cameron marshall. hands down i would recommend an ocean mod but each of the mods cameron has done in his past is different for each amplifier, as cameron tuned each one differently. if you can wait, thats what i would do.

i also know that the savage 120 SE and herbert suggestions are great. i personally would love to try a herbert. but these are out of my price range and i havent played either of them, so i cant really say anything.

good luck on your quest! i ended up doing 18 mods to a 5150II to get that tone so i can understand wanting one right away

 

[D-Rock]

JSX, JVM or Fire/Powerball.