Under rated amps thread

[King Guitar]

I used to a gig a VH140C when they first came out. This is like in 1992.

How tall are you? That LP and Halfstacks look tiny next to you Brad.

For underrated amps, it's hard to say as every amp builder has his own forum these days, with owners hyping their stuff.

I would say Steavens doesn't get the love and attention they deserve. Extremely badass, versatile amps.

lol 6'5"

 

[Mr. Willy]

Someone already said it...Mesa DC amps were great bang for the buck. Much better than the Nomads that replaced them.

 

[jmgman69]

Dumble

 

[blackba]

Most of my underated amps have already been listed. But here are a few more

- Silverface Fenders, particularly the heads (Bassman, Bandmaster, Bandmaster Reverb, etc)
- Vox AC50, the AC15 and AC30 get all the press.
- Mesa mark III, they are well respected around here, but if you just look at the price, they go for less than a IIC+ or IV or V used, so by that overall they are a bit underated.

 

[mboogman]

I put my vote in for the Mesa Heartbreaker, great amps, but they were overlooked and forgotten about.

+1

My only problem with it was that if you have one, you really need to have two, because all 4 modes of the amp are too good to not have instantly available. It's the Mesa I wish I could still have.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Framus Dragon. The hate for this amp is unreal. It's based off an SLO, Sounds a lot like my Avenger which is an SLO without the clean channel(or close to it, little less mojo) .

The Dragoon is a brutal amp, and thanks to the internet, also inexpensive.

 

[scottcrud]

Mesa Boogie .50 Cal+ 6L6 version
Traynor, any of the late 60's early 70's 50 watt bassmasters, reverbmaster heads. Similar to Plexi Marshalls, ptp wiring, loud, sound great with a OD in front, and CHEAP!

 

[Tawlks]

Amps that are usually seen on this forum modded, the stock version of that.

The ones that popped to my head (all have previously been mentioned)

1. Laney Gh50L
2. Ampeg Vh140c
3. Peavey Ultra+

Only played one but never heard a bad clip from the Ampeg or Peavey

 

[Norton666]

Sovtek Migs - The other guitarist in my band gigged with one for a long time and it sounded bitchin!
Peavey Butcher
Mesa Caliber series ( 50 cal, DC )
Mesa Nomads
Marshall JCM 900s - ALL of them. Ive heard stellar tones come out of every single amp in the 900 line
Marshall JCM 800 (2205 & 2210 models) - They get slagged on all the internet forums , but I think they sound excellent.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

Mesa/Boogie DC series amps are WAY underrated. I have the DC-5 widebody combo (50w 6L6) that I picked up serveral years bacl for around $500 and thing is a great amp, great cleans and classic Boogie lead tone.

 

[boost]

Laney AOR series - lots o' gain and cleans up nicley with the guitar volume. Channel switching not necessary.

 

[1big1]

g series yamaha. designed by paul rivera for yamaha in the late 1970's. i spent an hour with my g 100 210.. a bb-2 and a strat last night. WOW! does this amp like pedals!

 

[TeleBlaster]

Sovtek MIG series amps

and the rebuilt version, the Krank Revolution Series One...

 

[Les Zombie]

soldano avenger- great amp and i dont hear much about it.
i had a couple slo100 and i actually liked my avenger better, i doubt too many others will agree but i really liked that amp alot.

 

[Bullseye]

My vote goes to the Budda Superdrive 80! It takes pedals so well and has one of the most transparent FX loops ever.

Best wishes,

Bullseye

 

[Dimebag11]

Framus Dragon and Marshall DSL

 

[polaris20]

Mesa/Boogie DC series amps are WAY underrated. I have the DC-5 widebody combo (50w 6L6) that I picked up serveral years bacl for around $500 and thing is a great amp, great cleans and classic Boogie lead tone.

Definitely agreed!

 

[racerevlon]

As noted before:

Hughes & Kettner Trilogy
Hughes & Kettner Switchblade (I'm probably gonna put mine up for sale again, but only because I have tumeni amps again)

AND...

Jet City JCA100H--my friend has an SLO100 and we did an A/B comparison into a W/D/W setup with three Mesa 4 x 12's with V30's and there was virtually no difference. SLO tone for under 1K? This is a must-have amp!!

Honorable mention:

Crate V33--great true Class A amp with nice cleans and a good crunch/overdrive with a good amount of options: 2-channel (footswitchable), boost, good reverb, and EL84-based for that nice greasy overdrive. Can do just about anything with appropriate pedals. For under $200, can't go wrong.

Cheers,

 

[glassjaw7]

1. Carvin MTS -voiced somewhere between Marshall/Mesa and really feels great to play on the lead channel.
2. JCM 900
3. Boogie DC series
4. Ceriatone Plexi -can't say I've played one, but I'm loving the clips (and the prices)
5. Peavey Ultra

 

[gibson08]

Mesa/Boogie DC series amps are WAY underrated. I have the DC-5 widebody combo (50w 6L6) that I picked up serveral years bacl for around $500 and thing is a great amp, great cleans and classic Boogie lead tone.

AHH, My first Boogie amp, that was def a rockin amp and extremely loud for 50 watts, great amp!