What are your favorite amps in the $800 - $1400 range?

[the rossness]

Orange RV100
Marshall JVM 205H
Randall MTS Series
Peavey xxx/3120
Engl Powerball/ Fireball
Lee Jackson XLS
Markbass CMD12P
Orange AD30
Marshall VM
Krank Stuff

 

[ericb]

I've owned a few IV's. The deal breaker for me is paying the extra money for them only to get a shitty R2 channel, and the III lead channel is a little more raw sounding.

What are you getting a 101b for if you have that Baron clone? The XTC is a decent amp but the red channel isn't that great IMHO, unless maybe it takes a boost pedal to tighten it up.

The R2 channel on mine is pretty good. I suppose clips are in store

I sold the Baron clone because it wasn't mushy enough for me. It was too tight, and a bit more modern than I wanted, but it had an amazing voicing. The current owner absolutely loves it. The Ecstasy tone is all about the blending of the notes and juiciness, and the transformers in it matter a huge amount. I wanted the real thing, even though I think to YOU, the clone sounded "better" for YOUR style. The amp should be here in around a week-two weeks max, so if you come down here around then, you'll have the chance to play it alongside the 5150 III, Mark IV, Fortin Cali, and Baron K2.

AND YES, I bought the Baron Xtc-'clone?' amp and absolutely totally love the thing . It's killer. I have a few dozen amps and have played a long time and the Baron is amongst the best amps I've played. However, I still haven't been using it on my gigs, due to not being able to switch between the "Vintage" and "Modern" voicings, or not have dual master volumes, etc for solo boosts.. I always end up using amps for my gigs that allow me to do a solo boost using medium to hi-gain sounds, and it's a bit hard with the Baron . Anyway, the tones from that amp are KILLER KILLER KILLER and the quality is great. 1 of these days I was going to contact the builder to see if he'll put in an fx loop so I can have lead boosts, or a 2nd master. BUT I don't want to ship it out and let it go ! booohoo. .

Eric