What 5 tube amps under $2,000 would you buy for your studio?

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mikemtm

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I was trying to figure out what 5 tube amps I want to have in the studio. Here are some I am considering. What are your thoughts?

Peavey 5150 (Block/Signature)
JCM800
Mesa Rectifier
Orange Rockverb
Engl Powerball
EVH 5150 III
 
JMP
Blackface Fender Twin reverb
Vox AC30
Mesa rectifier
Uberschall or Diezel VH4/Herbert/D Moll
 
I'd get some kind of:
Fender Blues Deville or something like that
EVH 5150 III
Marshall JCM 800
Dual Rec
Some kind of Vox
 
Here's what I'm working with:
b4f38d28-fa49-4144-b68f-7f9e6a5d45f2_zps34068433.jpg


I could probably trade out one or two on any given day, but not sure exactly what for yet. Maybe a 20th Shiva, maybe a VH4 or Dmoll, maybe an HC30.

mikemtm":17qhb9o6 said:
I was trying to figure out what 5 tube amps I want to have in the studio. Here are some I am considering. What are your thoughts?

Peavey 5150 (Block/Signature)
JCM800
Mesa Rectifier
Orange Rockverb
Engl Powerball
EVH 5150 III
Click to expand...
Sounds like a lot of metal tones, which is cool, but when I went through/am going thourgh that I like to have continuity throughout a collection of songs, so If I have 6 or 7 songs that I feel work well together, I'll pick two amps and get them sounding good together, and just use those two. At the end of the day having so many options takes away a lot of productivity.
 
Mesa Tremoverb, or a great sounding early dual Recto. Pretty much required for 90's grunge and metal.

JCM800 for 80's and hard rock.

Fender Twin for cleans.

Mesa Mark IV. IIC+ is too expensive and the IV on just the lead channel is better than the V.

And a Rockman! :lol: :LOL:
 
5150 variation (for teh metulz)
Mesa 2-channel or Reborn Triple Recto (for modern and heavy rock)
Peavey JSX (great clean and lead sounds)
JCM 800/JMP Super Lead/JCM 2000 DSL (pick one for great crunch and classic rock sounds)
Vox AC30 (because Queen)

Also, I'd get 2 good 2x12s loaded with a couple different speakers so you can mix and match tones and use a couple different amps at once.
 
Fender Twin
JCM800 2203
Mesa Recto
Vox AC15 (I dunno, maybe something else... I'm not a Vox guy)
Bogner XTC
 
Well...

Is it a studio you intend to have other bands record in for money?

In that case,

Marshall 2204 or 2203--JMP or JCM for for ~$1000
Mesa Tremoverb for ~$1000
Fender Deluxe Reverb for ~$800-1000
Marshall 1959 or 1987 for ~1300-1600
Vox AC30 - $1300?

That would leave you $4100 and stock you with the most classic, ubiquitous, and recognizable amps out there. Use the extra money and invest it into the rest of your studio. If you absolutely have $10K to spend on amps, spend the extra money on a VH-4 or SLO and a Bassman--again extremely recognizable amplifiers known for sounding incredible under the microphone.

If it's just for you, then I'd need more information on what you're looking to do and what sounds you want to get.
 
I agree with making sure you have a good variety in speakers as they will affect the tones more than changing the amp. As far as amps go I would want....

Tweed or Brown Fender
Blackface Fender
Marshall 1987 or 1959
Mesa MKV
Vox AC15 or 30.
Ampeg SVP Pro preamp or 70's SVT or V4.

But ultimately the correct response may be an AxeFx II.
 
I'm one for using different angles. :p How about a $10,000 allowance (new or used) and only room for 5 amps? :D :D

I could even go $2000 for all 5 amps if I got them off Craigslist.

In fact, here's a very do-able studio list (examples of my actual CL/pawn shop buys over the past 6 years):

Peavey 6505+ - $250
Carvin Legacy - $225
Marshall JCM800 - $250
Bogner Alchemist - $350
Jet City JCA50H - $150

Soldano 4x12 cab - $300

But to be fair I'll stick to the OP guide:

Bogner Shiva
Peavey 6505
Marshall JCM800
Mesa Mark V:25
Fender Twin



Don't spend money unless you absolutely have to!
 
skoora":1up0jshm said:
But ultimately the correct response may be an AxeFx II.
Click to expand...

Hell no. When you can set the amps up in the studio and leave them whats the point of the Axe-Fx? Especially when you can take your time and get the mic positions just right and leave them be. Maybe for the actual effects the Axe is a space saver in the studio but if you wanted 100% of the tone you're after why settle for less with the Axe-Fx?
 
mikemtm":18y4ejno said:
I was trying to figure out what 5 tube amps I want to have in the studio. Here are some I am considering. What are your thoughts?

Peavey 5150 (Block/Signature)
JCM800
Mesa Rectifier
Orange Rockverb
Engl Powerball
EVH 5150 III
Click to expand...

You already have a pretty good list as far as variety goes.
I think your essential list should be this:
JCM800
Mesa rectifier
EVH 5153
Those three give you great tonal landscape.
Latter on you could add:
1. Orange, I don't have much experience with but they do have a different vibe.
2. 5150, it is a little different than the 5153 and you may get request for it. If you wanna save money you could go with this over the EVH but you sacrifice a good clean channel.
3. Engl anything, they have a cool unique sound plus there is a lotta difference in each model.
4. Maybe a fender or Vox of some kind for cleans and mild breakup.

I have a suggestion based on what I have used in the studio plenty of times.
1. Peavey JSX/Triple XXX II, I have used this amp on so many projects. It is the main amp I use in the studio. It has a lot of tonal options and sounds great.
2. Peavey XXX/3120, this is another amp I have used over and over again in the studio. It is the predecessor to the JSX/Triple XXXII but is a more raw sound and you can dial in more saturation.

As far as cabs go, I suggest a cab that has v30 and g12t-75. It gives you two of the best options out there. At least in my opinion. I mainly use a mesa with v30. I have 3 other cabs with different speakers in each one but I have not used anything besides the mesa. The v30s just track so well and have yet to have someone ask to used a different cab. I throw out the option to people and experiment with the other ones but the v30s always win.
 
My studio would be for me. All were scored way less than 2k except the peters which was 2.3k.

Fja recto
Fja 6505
Langer 800
Pittbull ultralead
Peters Vega/gryphon
 
5150/6505
JVM210H
Dual Recto 2 channel
Mark IV
ENGL Powerball 2 or Smolski
 
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