Tis the golden age of amp enlightenment finally upon us?

[mooncobra]

So many killer amps on the way from
Numerous builders! Lenz has thrown his hat into the ring! Bravo sir! That amp sounds epic!

 

[thegame]

With today's craptastic new production tubes and shortages, I'd say no.

 

[braintheory]

There have been lots of new amps in recent times that seemed very very promising, but when actually getting them and comparing to my favorites older amps I've found very few to be that worthwhile imho. That being said, I'm always excited to try new stuff including Lenz, I'm just always very skeptical these days. The only recent made amps that really impressed me so far have been Schroeder's, Alessandro's and Gjika. Wizards I also like

 

[Techdeth]

There have been lots of new amps in recent times that seemed very very promising, but when actually getting them and comparing to my favorites older amps I've found very few to be that worthwhile imho. That being said, I'm always excited to try new stuff including Lenz, I'm just always very skeptical these days. The only recent made amps that really impressed me so far have been Schroeder's, Alessandro's and Gjika. Wizards I also like

The Hermansson is only amp that gets more playing time than my wizards . It’s so unique and awesome

 

[8len8]

We’re in saturation mode right now. My opinion is that the heard will thin out in the next few years, with the better offerings rising to the top.

 

[thegame]

There have been lots of new amps in recent times that seemed very very promising, but when actually getting them and comparing to my favorites older amps I've found very few to be that worthwhile imho. That being said, I'm always excited to try new stuff including Lenz, I'm just always very skeptical these days. The only recent made amps that really impressed me so far have been Schroeder's, Alessandro's and Gjika. Wizards I also like

Sometimes, A/Bing stuff solo vs A/Bing with other instruments can change your preferences. And to further complicate it, results can vary depending if it's a live band on stage/rehearsal room or the recording of them. How gear interacts and blends within these various scenarios is all something to consider. So, to truly know what your gear sounds like or is capable of, it's best to hear it in all 3 situations: solo, live with a band, and recorded. I think they're all important.

 

[Mikeyboyeee]

The Hermansson is only amp that gets more playing time than my wizards . It’s so unique and awesome

With 2 Monomyth Superleads and hoping to wrap up the stock 1972 1987 this week, my only real gas is to send my 83 2203 to Hermansson for the 5 stage total works.

 

[scottosan]

There’s always been great builders. The challenge is building amps to the scale that meets demand and sustain that. Thats a whole completely unrelated skill set

 

[Mikeyboyeee]

There’s always been great builders. The challenge is building amps to the scale that meets demand and sustain that. Thats a whole completely unrelated skill set

That's why I prefer to have a modded amp by a good builder VS their eventual line. Just for a more custom feel.

 

[braintheory]

Sometimes, A/Bing stuff solo vs A/Bing with other instruments can change your preferences. And to further complicate it, results can vary depending if it's a live band on stage/rehearsal room or the recording of them. How gear interacts and blends within these various scenarios is all something to consider. So, to truly know what your gear sounds like or is capable of, it's best to hear it in all 3 situations: solo, live with a band, and recorded. I think they're all important.

Well I did hear almost all my amps in my friend's last re-amp for his album (very diverse range on it) and there were tons of instruments involved in that and nothing about the way the amps or various speakers worked in that context was different than what I was expecting. I had to plan very carefully for it. I admit there were some situations where we used lower quality gear that just fit in better with certain sections, but that to me doesn't make them good pieces of gear in my book. There were just very specific scenarios where I didn't have 100% the right tool for the job, so we used a "pretty good amp to me, not amazing" to get the job done. Those situations are uninspiring for me, but it happens. The way I see it great tone is great tone, but whether it's practical or the right tool for the job is not necessarily gonna be the case

 

[Techdeth]

With 2 Monomyth Superleads and hoping to wrap up the stock 1972 1987 this week, my only real gas is to send my 83 2203 to Hermansson for the 5 stage total works.

Such a cool amp . The bad part is people now know about him and the wait sucks . It’s long lol . But I’m glad to see him succeed. He’s a good dude

 

[BeZo]

I'll believe it when an amplifier defines a generation or genre of music. The Marshall, 5150, or the Rectifier all defined genres and created iconic sounds that are still sought today. Nowadays, the effects are what really provide inspiration. Sadly, people reach for stock presets and layer effects for new sounds. We're in the age of modeling, and I hope it ends soon. Amps sound better.

 

[braintheory]

I'll believe it when an amplifier defines a generation or genre of music. The Marshall, 5150, or the Rectifier all defined genres and created iconic sounds that are still sought today. Nowadays, the effects are what really provide inspiration. Sadly, people reach for stock presets and layer effects for new sounds. We're in the age of modeling, and I hope it ends soon. Amps sound better.

Agreed. Those amps plus the Mark series, Vox’s and a few others have stood the test of time. Of all the amps I know of made in the last 20-25 years I don’t think they will. The 3 I mentioned might have a chance, but the others I think guys will forget about them later on. Most are generally just cool for now while they’re new. Imo the real golden age of gear happened before I was born

 

[rottingcorpse]

I would have given one of my testicles up in 1982 if I could have had the choices we have now.
An Ultralead or Herbert or KSR would have been awesome to have when everyone was playing Marshalls.

 

[VESmedic]

Lots of new amps… very very few hold a candle to the mainstay of popular amps over the last 20 years. The flavor of the month is becoming a thing with amp builders, and while I always have high hopes, they often leave me feeling less than satisfied to say the least. Plugging into my 101B was what really made me realize this. A true modern classic, one of the greatest and Few will probably disagree with that even if it’s not their duo of tea. It just instantly hit me why this thing is revered and so great, it just slays most of the “new” stuff these days. I think it’s very easy to think something “sounds AWESOME” when you don’t have a frame of reference right next to you. I know this because I literally do it all the time. I think wow this sounds sickkkkk! And then I AB it with a reference track from source tones I love and know are great…. And then, yea, maybe xyz amp isn’t actually all that great. This is the only way to do things in my opinion.