What Amp Do I Want?

[Greazygeo]

As you can see in my sig I have several amps already, I have had many other amps in the past. I can get a reasonably acceptable sound/tone out of most amps(to my liking), but in the end they all seem to be missing something, or I can't dial out sounds/tones that I don't like.

Must be relatively available and reasonably priced. I'm not looking for a $5,000 head that I will never have the chance to see/demo prior to purchase.

My Ideal amp that I would want would have some fat/rich tones, organic, not compressed sounding. Not harsh sounding, no ice picks in the ears, no fizz/mud at the vast majority of volumes. Lots of chunk if needed. Heavy/dark metal distortion without being pushed anywhere close to max, and with precise note clarity.

Does this amp exist, what amp did i just describe to you?

No it doesn't exist……take up tennis.

 

[Mailman1971]

Does this amp exist, what amp did i just describe to you?

No it doesn't exist……take up tennis.

Ha!!

Yeah pretty much describing the magic unicorn. Something ALWAYS lacks in amps.

 

[Clayspun]

KSR/Rhodes Colossus =)

^ +1. You won't find the colossus lacking anything nor will you find any frequencies that are overbearing. Super well rounded tone. Can get any sound you want out of it really.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Two things I would look into. First pickup swaps. Pickups can make a huge difference, and if you are close to the sound you want that might get you the last bit of the way there. From what you are describing maybe something like a MCP Afwayu.

My other suggestion would be to buy a used amp, or two. If you don't like it after a month, or two flip it for something different. I used to do that all the time. Two I would try to check out are a Mako Makoplex, or Mak4 preamp if you can find one. Or maybe a Peters, there are a couple in the classifieds. I had a Peters Warhawk for a very long time, and it was a killer amp. If it had a clean channel I would probably still have that amp!!!!

 

[Dimebag11]

You just described a Fryette Deliverance.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

For pickups I have Carvin C26T/N active/passive, Seymour Duncan EMTY AHB-3 Mick Thompson Signature Blackout, AHB-1 Duncan Blackout, Duncan Live Wire Metal Active pickup, Switch factory high output pickup, DeArmond high output factory pickups, fender single coils.

My Carvin has the onboard module with phase switches, coil taps, active/passive mode, treble boost/cut, & mid boost/cut by far the most versatile. My favorite pickup is the EMTY it does exactly what Mick talks about with tighter lows and top end cut.

I've tried emg 81/85, EMG 85/81, of course lots of factory pickups, George lynch screamin demon, super distortion, and many others.

I probably should check out some others since it has been awhile for pickup shopping.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Personally I don't like active pickups at all. I used to swear by them, but after buying a few nice passives with good quality wiring I can't go back to actives. My two favourites of all time have to be the MCP Afwayu, and for lower output, more clarity, and good chunk Dimarzio crunch lab. Speakers also make a huge difference. I would say if you are almost satisfied look at the smaller details, and what is common. I see from your signature that you have mainly V30, and T75 speakers. Maybe that is what is limiting your tone.

http://motorcitypickups.com/products/afwayu.htm

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuck ... crunch-lab

 

[Brandon Breeze]

Personally I don't like active pickups at all. I used to swear by them, but after buying a few nice passives with good quality wiring I can't go back to actives. My two favourites of all time have to be the MCP Afwayu, and for lower output, more clarity, and good chunk Dimarzio crunch lab. Speakers also make a huge difference. I would say if you are almost satisfied look at the smaller details, and what is common. I see from your signature that you have mainly V30, and T75 speakers. Maybe that is what is limiting your tone.

http://motorcitypickups.com/products/afwayu.htm

http://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/humbuck ... crunch-lab

The Texas heats are the only speakers I have other than v30's and t-75's. I don't like the sound of any other amp through those speakers. The Krankenstein sounds amazing through them, but horrible through celestions. Vice versa with other amps through the Texas heats. The only other speakers ive tried were cheapo factory speakers in other cabinets which of course nearly always sound like crap.

I'd never really considered that the sounds of fizz could be coming from the speakers, I've always thought of it as an amp thing. I suppose I just trusted that nearly all high end amps use v30's or t-75's so they must have the best sound possible.

If I pick up this Marshall I may try to pick up a mode four cabinet which has Celestion K-100's. I've heard lots of good about these cabinets/speakers.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

I have been through more speakers than I care to admit. What I did was buy a good 1x12, actually I ended up with 2, and I went through a lot of speakers. Eminence Wizard, and Jensen Electric lightening are imo two of the best speakers out there. The eminence lynch super V is very good too, I had one of those in an Orange 1x12, those speakers are hard to come by. The speakers can make a huge difference. Only problem is it is expensive to try a lot of different speakers if you only have 4x12 cabs, and they also take a bit to break in as well. If every amp you have had can get you close you have to look at the common parts speakers, guitars etc. If you haven't tried other speakers I would see if you can find someone locally with a cab or two with something different from what you have, and start there.

 

[Brandon Breeze]

I have been through more speakers than I care to admit. What I did was buy a good 1x12, actually I ended up with 2, and I went through a lot of speakers. Eminence Wizard, and Jensen Electric lightening are imo two of the best speakers out there. The eminence lynch super V is very good too, I had one of those in an Orange 1x12, those speakers are hard to come by. The speakers can make a huge difference. Only problem is it is expensive to try a lot of different speakers if you only have 4x12 cabs, and they also take a bit to break in as well. If every amp you have had can get you close you have to look at the common parts speakers, guitars etc. If you haven't tried other speakers I would see if you can find someone locally with a cab or two with something different from what you have, and start there.

A pawn shop right up the street has two Carvin 1x12 tweed cabs, I was thinking about picking them up for my Dark Terror & Micro Terror, not a bad idea if testing speakers is also a plan. Not sure which speakers are in them, I'll have to drop by & see.