Top 5 tightest Amps

[midnightlaundry]

This isn't the Rolling Stone list..I wanna hear it from those who've owned the stiffest most unforgiving amps how you would rate them.

I've never played an Ultra Lead, but hear they are stiff. I own a Deliverance and a Sig:X, but I thing my Boogie Mark V is stiffer and faster in feel and response. All modern Marshall's are washy to me, so they lose..

 

[hstlaurent]

DAR FBM

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

1. Diezel VH4
2. Diezel Herbert
3. Mesa Mark III/IV/JP2C
4. Fryette UltraLead
5. Engl SE & Savage 120

... honorable mention Uber Twin Jet & KSR Gemini

 

[jdel77]

Hiwatt DR103 with a vintage RAT pedal in front of it.
The goddam notes come out of the cab even before you've hit the strings!

 

[midnightlaundry]

I've been jamming this for a couple weeks. PT works the volume and pickups along with a buzz box. Great guitar player. 26 years old here I think..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61foW5x2cmo

 

[the rossness]

Splawn Quickrod is the tightest amp I've ever played

 

[braintheory]

From my experience the tightest sounding amps were not necessarily stiff or unfirgiving in feel. If anything it was the opposite most of the time since they tend to be more compressed and less organic usually. For me it would be:
1) Cameron CCV- hands down the tightest, while also having lots of bottom end

In no clear order the next 3 tightest would be the Engl Invader 150, Gower KK++ (if dialed in to be super tight) and my Mesa/Boogie Mark III++ coliseum (originally a blue stripe)

The Diezel Herbert and EVH stealth are also very tight

All those amps though are on the more forgiving and compressed side, but all can sound extremely tight

Some amps though like the vh4, peters chimera or a 1996 Wizard Modern Classic I used to own were all unforgiving, stiff feeling and dry, but the bottom end on those amps are all actually on the more loose side in terms of how they sound when you chug (not really loose, but loose compared the amps mentioned before) , but I also have found that when comparing some amps that sound super tight like the ccv or invader 150 to looser, but more unforgiving amps like my Wizard MTL that the I hear each note more distinctly on the MTL when playing faster riffs (especially in machine gun type chugging), but when playing slower palm muting type stuff, the ccv or invader sound surgically tight, whereas the wizard or vh4 sounds way looser in comparison, bit still not actually loose or flubby by any stretch

I found the Fryette Pittbull UL to in be in some ways a middle ground because it can also sound very tight, but not as much as those amps I mentioned above like the ccv or gower kk++, but it's also more stiff and unforgiving but imo not as much as something like the chimera or vh4

 

[braintheory]

DAR FBM

I used to own an FBM and it's definitely tight, but there are many amps that are way tighter and it's definitely far from being an amp I'd call stiff or unforgiving. I was expecting it to be super super tight though because of the meshuggah association and the way it looks, which is pretty awesome imo

 

[mrTapp]

Tight enough?

 

[MetalHeadMike]

No clean boost up front=Engl Savage for me. Hands down the tightest, fastest responding amp I've owned/played to date when plugged straight in.

Clean boosted up front=D60. Wicked tight, fast response, and articulation when goosed up front; even more so than the Savage. Unboosted however the Savage is infinitely tighter.

 

[Speeddemon]

I own a Deliverance and a Sig:X, but I thing my Boogie Mark V is stiffer and faster in feel and response.

In which mode are you using the Mark V?

I can +1 on the Engl Savage and Diezel Herbert by the way.

But...why no love for the 5150III? Aside from whether you like the tone or not, it's pretty tight, right? My Sig:X and Savage 60 win, but it's not a landslide change.

 

[engage757]

Fortin NATAS/SATAN
Fortin Killer Kali ++
Rev F Dual Rec
Diezel VH4
Mesa Mark IV
KSR Colossus

 

[rottingcorpse]

DAR FBM and the Ultralead are tops for me.

Herbert is pretty tight. So is the Gemini.

 

[RedB4Black]

Of the amps I've owned...

Wizard MCII
Wizard MTL
Fryette UL
KSR Gemini
Diezel VH4

I still own the 4 four on this list if that tells you anything about my tastes.

 

[Alex_S]

From my experience the tightest sounding amps were not necessarily stiff or unfirgiving in feel. If anything it was the opposite most of the time since they tend to be more compressed and less organic usually. For me it would be:
1) Cameron CCV- hands down the tightest, while also having lots of bottom end

In no clear order the next 3 tightest would be the Engl Invader 150, Gower KK++ (if dialed in to be super tight) and my Mesa/Boogie Mark III++ coliseum (originally a blue stripe)

The Diezel Herbert and EVH stealth are also very tight

All those amps though are on the more forgiving and compressed side, but all can sound extremely tight

Some amps though like the vh4, peters chimera or a 1996 Wizard Modern Classic I used to own were all unforgiving, stiff feeling and dry, but the bottom end on those amps are all actually on the more loose side in terms of how they sound when you chug (not really loose, but loose compared the amps mentioned before) , but I also have found that when comparing some amps that sound super tight like the ccv or invader 150 to looser, but more unforgiving amps like my Wizard MTL that the I hear each note more distinctly on the MTL when playing faster riffs (especially in machine gun type chugging), but when playing slower palm muting type stuff, the ccv or invader sound surgically tight, whereas the wizard or vh4 sounds way looser in comparison, bit still not actually loose or flubby by any stretch

I found the Fryette Pittbull UL to in be in some ways a middle ground because it can also sound very tight, but not as much as those amps I mentioned above like the ccv or gower kk++, but it's also more stiff and unforgiving but imo not as much as something like the chimera or vh4

For a non-native-speaker: what is the difference between tight and stiff (in the lower frequencies)?

 

[bgh]

Several have already mentioned the Mesa Mark IV. I totally agree. Plus, it is a very unforgiving amp (in a good sense).

 

[braintheory]

From my experience the tightest sounding amps were not necessarily stiff or unfirgiving in feel. If anything it was the opposite most of the time since they tend to be more compressed and less organic usually. For me it would be:
1) Cameron CCV- hands down the tightest, while also having lots of bottom end

In no clear order the next 3 tightest would be the Engl Invader 150, Gower KK++ (if dialed in to be super tight) and my Mesa/Boogie Mark III++ coliseum (originally a blue stripe)

The Diezel Herbert and EVH stealth are also very tight

All those amps though are on the more forgiving and compressed side, but all can sound extremely tight

Some amps though like the vh4, peters chimera or a 1996 Wizard Modern Classic I used to own were all unforgiving, stiff feeling and dry, but the bottom end on those amps are all actually on the more loose side in terms of how they sound when you chug (not really loose, but loose compared the amps mentioned before) , but I also have found that when comparing some amps that sound super tight like the ccv or invader 150 to looser, but more unforgiving amps like my Wizard MTL that the I hear each note more distinctly on the MTL when playing faster riffs (especially in machine gun type chugging), but when playing slower palm muting type stuff, the ccv or invader sound surgically tight, whereas the wizard or vh4 sounds way looser in comparison, bit still not actually loose or flubby by any stretch

I found the Fryette Pittbull UL to in be in some ways a middle ground because it can also sound very tight, but not as much as those amps I mentioned above like the ccv or gower kk++, but it's also more stiff and unforgiving but imo not as much as something like the chimera or vh4

For a non-native-speaker: what is the difference between tight and stiff (in the lower frequencies)?

They have similar meanings, but stiff is used more often to describe an amps feel and response, but tight is used more often to describe how it actually sounds. A lot of amps like the Engls or the EVH stealth sound very tight, but are actually very forgiving (not stiff feeling at all), compressed, and processed sounding

 

[Alex_S]

From my experience the tightest sounding amps were not necessarily stiff or unfirgiving in feel. If anything it was the opposite most of the time since they tend to be more compressed and less organic usually. For me it would be:
1) Cameron CCV- hands down the tightest, while also having lots of bottom end

In no clear order the next 3 tightest would be the Engl Invader 150, Gower KK++ (if dialed in to be super tight) and my Mesa/Boogie Mark III++ coliseum (originally a blue stripe)

The Diezel Herbert and EVH stealth are also very tight

All those amps though are on the more forgiving and compressed side, but all can sound extremely tight

Some amps though like the vh4, peters chimera or a 1996 Wizard Modern Classic I used to own were all unforgiving, stiff feeling and dry, but the bottom end on those amps are all actually on the more loose side in terms of how they sound when you chug (not really loose, but loose compared the amps mentioned before) , but I also have found that when comparing some amps that sound super tight like the ccv or invader 150 to looser, but more unforgiving amps like my Wizard MTL that the I hear each note more distinctly on the MTL when playing faster riffs (especially in machine gun type chugging), but when playing slower palm muting type stuff, the ccv or invader sound surgically tight, whereas the wizard or vh4 sounds way looser in comparison, bit still not actually loose or flubby by any stretch

I found the Fryette Pittbull UL to in be in some ways a middle ground because it can also sound very tight, but not as much as those amps I mentioned above like the ccv or gower kk++, but it's also more stiff and unforgiving but imo not as much as something like the chimera or vh4

For a non-native-speaker: what is the difference between tight and stiff (in the lower frequencies)?

They have similar meanings, but stiff is used more often to describe an amps feel and response, but tight is used more often to describe how it actually sounds. A lot of amps like the Engls or the EVH stealth sound very tight, but are actually very forgiving (not stiff feeling at all), compressed, and processed sounding

I see. Thanks!

 

[MetalHeadMike]

[/quote]
They have similar meanings, but stiff is used more often to describe an amps feel and response, but tight is used more often to describe how it actually sounds. A lot of amps like the Engls or the EVH stealth sound very tight, but are actually very forgiving (not stiff feeling at all), compressed, and processed sounding[/quote]


IMHO, stiff or unforgiving (an amp that is so articulate and immediate in its response that every nuance of your pick attack and playing is revealed) and tight are very much linked whether talking feel/response or how things sound.

My D60 is tight/stiff sounding and feeling in response in that it accentuates all detail of your right and left hand. It very immediately reproduces everything you put into it and as a direct result sounds tight, feels tight, and feels somewhat stiff.

Same with all the ENGLS I've owned/still own. I agree the ENGLS can be somewhat compressed/processed, but I feel like they are definitely pretty darn stiff/unforgiving in their feel or response. My FB100 was pretty unforgiving despite the compressed nature, and the Savage 120 I have is definitely more compressed/processed sounding/feeling than the Fryette, but IMHO its pretty damn stiff and unforgiving under my fingers anyway; it doesn't hide a thing either at least not the way I have the knobs set. Tubes surely factor in to the feel too though right....

In comparison, my KSR ARES on the other hand sounds and feels tight but has more give, sag, delay in response (Whatever you want to call it) and therefore has a slightly more relaxed response or is a tad bit easier to play if I'm sloppy if that makes any sense. Still very tight and articulate, just not as stiff/unforgiving

 

[midnightlaundry]

I own a Deliverance and a Sig:X, but I thing my Boogie Mark V is stiffer and faster in feel and response.

In which mode are you using the Mark V?

I can +1 on the Engl Savage and Diezel Herbert by the way.

But...why no love for the 5150III? Aside from whether you like the tone or not, it's pretty tight, right? My Sig:X and Savage 60 win, but it's not a landslide change.

I prefer the IV mode because it's bigger and more filled in. The 2C mode is tighter even in Triode, but it's narrower and honky all around compared to the IV. I don't get the hype of the 2C...Shit has moved on.. Deliverance anyone??

Diezels and Fortins interest me very much, but I havent tried tham and nobody around here carrys them. I'd have to pony up and gamble like I did with the Fryette stuff.