Tube Heads under $2k worth trying for rock music

[Chubtone]

Splawn Quick Rod
EVH 5150 III (100 w or 50w)
Marshall JVM

If you can't get it done on one of these, it's my opinion that it ain't the gear.

 

[Gainzilla]

thanks for the ideas everyone.. I will try to try a few of these.

Out of curiosity, why does the DSL50/100 not get much love on rigtalk? (I thought usually people considered the DSL50/100 to be decent? )

I know you guys hate TSL's

I never got along with DSL and TSL but I LOVE the JVM...

 

[mdc1mdc11]

plexi or JCM800 with some form of modding

 

[Bloodrock]

Splawn QR
Ceriatone Chupacabra/Yeti
Love my modded DSL. Didn't care for the 5153 at all, sounds nothing like the old VH tones I prefer.

 

[Aristocat]

Mesa Stiletto
Soldano Hot Rod
Bogner Shiva
Rivera Knucklehead Tre

I like all of them, surprisingly the Mesa. It has a nice core sound and I've never been too much of a Mesa Boogie fan (too many knobs lol).

 

[rsm]

Engl Blackmore, Screamer, Thunder or Classic Tube.



not just modern metal; worth a look and listen. IMO.

 

[Chubtone]

Splawn QR
Ceriatone Chupacabra/Yeti
Love my modded DSL. Didn't care for the 5153 at all, sounds nothing like the old VH tones I prefer.

I don't know. I feel like with the EVH cab and the right guitar and set correctly, that blue channel is quite early EVH sounding. The 3rd channel sounds full metal, but that 2nd channel pleases the Super Lead freak in me.

 

[Hollywood]

Splawn QR
Ceriatone Chupacabra/Yeti
Love my modded DSL. Didn't care for the 5153 at all, sounds nothing like the old VH tones I prefer.

I don't know. I feel like with the EVH cab and the right guitar and set correctly, that blue channel is quite early EVH sounding. The 3rd channel sounds full metal, but that 2nd channel pleases the Super Lead freak in me.

Agree completely.
Also, I know the Mesa Dual rectifier Reborn is brand new at Guitar Center $1999.00 without tax. Tax out the door (OTD) is $2073.00 there abouts.
The new Mesa's are really awesome, but so are the Splawns and the Marshall JVM's.

 

[Chubtone]

Agree completely.
Also, I know the Mesa Dual rectifier Reborn is brand new at Guitar Center $1999.00 without tax. Tax out the door (OTD) is $2073.00 there abouts.
The new Mesa's are really awesome, but so are the Splawns and the Marshall JVM's.

Dude! I don't even care about amps right now, I'm just glad that you are feeling well enough to post about such unimportant things as amps and gear. I hope things are going well for you and your family.

 

[skoora]

Mesa Stiletto
Soldano Hot Rod
Bogner Shiva
Rivera Knucklehead Tre

I like all of them, surprisingly the Mesa. It has a nice core sound and I've never been too much of a Mesa Boogie fan (too many knobs lol).

I just got a used Stiletto stage II and I'm really digging it right now. I already have a '69 circuit Metro and wanted a higher gain amp in the Marshall vain and find all the new Marshall's too one dimensional. I do find so far it's very sensitive to pickups and excels with lower and medium output pickups. Honestly, I'd tried them a few times with mixed to bad results but this one sounded too good to pass up...and I don't even like Mesa

 

[Rushtallica]

I have a TSL100 currently, but interested in EVH50W and all other ideas.

My playing style is EVH/Page/Gilmour in a blender with mostly EVH.

My gear:
*MXR Phase 90, Flanger infront of amp
*Delay, EQ, and boost in FX loop
*Marshall 4x12 cabs w/ greenbacks

Guitars:
*All super strats

My NEEDs for the amp:
*<$2k
*Widely available (I.E. not custom or modded amps), need off the shelf stuff
*FX loop (preferably serial)
*Master volume
*Reliability
*TONE!!!!!!!!!

What amps should I start plugging into and looking at?

Thanks!

I know you said non-modded, but you could likely get a late '70s to early '80s JMP or JCM 800, pay a local tech probably a small amount to add a loop and maybe change the filter caps while at it. And with a simple boost in front you'd likely have tone that works awesome for simple classic rock type gain and not be over the top or too modern-sounding, though a boost can get you into metal territory if needed. You could also add in a Fender Super Reverb head and a Big Muff for Gilmour tone, though you might be a bit over $2k at that point.

 

[DoomBuggi]

I also would say; Vintage JMP, or JCM 800. I just sold my JCM 800 for a new amp, but there is a chance I will have it back. Its a totally bitching amp for rock music.

 

[sixstringking713]

lets say I got a JCM800....... the "best" years to look for would be the 1980-1985 before they changed the filter cap circuit?


seems like the splawn quickrod and EVH50III seem to be a common suggestion, I think I will start there. I'm pretty sure this one local store had the splawn QR but I never tried it out.

I never heard of splawn until rigtalk honestly. What well-known musicians use splawn live out of curiosity?

 

[SLOgriff]

Soldano Avenger!

 

[retrojet]

EVH 5150 III
Marshall JVM410H
Ceriatone Chupacabra (although not a great loop, needs a buffer)
Marshall 2210 or 2205

 

[skoora]

lets say I got a JCM800....... the "best" years to look for would be the 1980-1985 before they changed the filter cap circuit?


seems like the splawn quickrod and EVH50III seem to be a common suggestion, I think I will start there. I'm pretty sure this one local store had the splawn QR but I never tried it out.

I never heard of splawn until rigtalk honestly. What well-known musicians use splawn live out of curiosity?

I've played two Splawn Quickrod's. One older and one newer single channel. Even on gear 1 they get pretty heavy right away. I couldn't get a good medium gain sound out of them at all. Can't imagine why gear's 2 and 3 are even there

 

[Chubtone]

The Splawn Quick Rod on gear 1 OD1 with the gain set about 12-2 o'clock sounds very similar to the stock Marshall Super Leads I have sitting next to it. When you kick on OD2 it starts getting more aggressive.

 

[killertone]

My NEEDs for the amp:
*<$2k
*TONE!!!!!!!!!

What amps should I start plugging into and looking at?

Thanks!

You want perfect flexibility and tone, hang in there and save another 2K and get a Diezel Herbert - you'll never need another amp, ever.

Or another $500 and get one used.

Although, I don't think the Herbert does anything like what the OP wants. Yes, I owned one.