What's the best high gain amp you've played?

[philnz]

Mojave Peacemaker with Jose mod

 

[taliababa]

Living in a small city in Vermont, my local music stores amp selection is lacking. So the highest gain amp I've played is my Mesa Mark V. Previous to the Mark V I had a Mesa mini-rectifier.

 

[glip22]

Might be a good idea OP if you want to. Break this down into categories of high gain amps such as channel switchers, best tone, etc.. and one of the most important for me is amp feel. Lots of variables. "Best amp" is very broad. This thread could be very informative with more information. Great gigging high gain amps that don't get buried in the mix. Great amp for home play, metal, hard rock. Comparisons,etc.. This will bring allot more than just a name of an amp. If that is all you were looking for then For me I have not found a high gain head yet that has it all so it is always a tonal compromise for me. Single channels have always had the purest tone. The more options to me means more crap in the tube signal pathway which takes away dynamics, feel, and tone.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Might be a good idea OP if you want to. Break this down into categories of high gain amps such as channel switchers, best tone, etc.. and one of the most important for me is amp feel. Lots of variables. "Best amp" is very broad. This thread could be very informative with more information. Great gigging high gain amps that don't get buried in the mix. Great amp for home play, metal, hard rock. Comparisons,etc.. This will bring allot more than just a name of an amp. If that is all you were looking for then For me I have not found a high gain head yet that has it all so it is always a tonal compromise for me. Single channels have always had the purest tone. The more options to me means more crap in the tube signal pathway which takes away dynamics, feel, and tone.

I agree with this.

I have been in a long honeymoon with my Rhodes Gemini. It covers multiple bases very well, so I call it a Best Amp. I like the old MKIIC a little better for that one high gain scooped evil vibe... Or the old Recto boosted for that one chug vibe... Or for the gainy Marshall side, a boost into my old DSL100 is the best.

So many areas, and then what you like for leads. In high gain riffing songs, I actually like lower gain for leads.

Some day I want to get a Snorkeler Mod Marshall. Seems to be the high gain tone I like too..

It's could get expensive

 

[charveldan]

Soldano SLO & Friedman KS JMP with a Les Paul.

 

[TrueTone500]

There's no way I can pick just one amp. Boutique vs. mass-production is worth mentioning I think, so here are my choices...

In the 'boutique' category:
80's American HG - Boogie Mark IIC+ w/Simul-Class.
American HG - Soldano SLO100
British HG (American-ish HG w/6L6) - Cornford RK100.

In the mass-production category:
Marshall owns it!

Favorite rig posts are excellent for venting, and are much appreciated!

 

[charveldan]

Favorite 80's tone ... EVH before Sammy, ULAK Dokken, AFD Guns, Surfin with the Alien Satch.

 

[Tone Monster]

Might be a good idea OP if you want to. Break this down into categories of high gain amps such as channel switchers, best tone, etc.. and one of the most important for me is amp feel. Lots of variables. "Best amp" is very broad. This thread could be very informative with more information. Great gigging high gain amps that don't get buried in the mix. Great amp for home play, metal, hard rock. Comparisons,etc.. This will bring allot more than just a name of an amp. If that is all you were looking for then For me I have not found a high gain head yet that has it all so it is always a tonal compromise for me. Single channels have always had the purest tone. The more options to me means more crap in the tube signal pathway which takes away dynamics, feel, and tone.

I realized this thought would come up immediately after I started the thread. My question is more simple. What amp has given you the best damn sound you've ever heard?

 

[jmgman69]

 

[BackCrack]

BFG-modded Jet City

 

[steve_k]

Finding high gain without high noise has been a real adventure.

 

[charveldan]

Finding high gain without high noise has been a real adventure.

Amen to that, the best pre's i've found for my BE/HBE JMP Marshall are NOS 7025 Amperex with spiral wound heaters.
I set the gain to 75% and use a gate with an overdrive.

The amp by itself sounds very good.

 

[metalmaniac93]

A Bugera!!! Actually the Mark IIC+ but I never owned one. Only played through one about 10 or so years ago.

 

[Nico]

Friedman Marsha

 

[Heritage Softail]

I don't want to play a VH4. Too expensive...

 

[TrueTone500]

Might be a good idea OP if you want to. Break this down into categories of high gain amps such as channel switchers, best tone, etc.. and one of the most important for me is amp feel. Lots of variables. "Best amp" is very broad. This thread could be very informative with more information. Great gigging high gain amps that don't get buried in the mix. Great amp for home play, metal, hard rock. Comparisons,etc.. This will bring allot more than just a name of an amp. If that is all you were looking for then For me I have not found a high gain head yet that has it all so it is always a tonal compromise for me. Single channels have always had the purest tone. The more options to me means more crap in the tube signal pathway which takes away dynamics, feel, and tone.

I realized this thought would come up immediately after I started the thread. My question is more simple. What amp has given you the best damn sound you've ever heard?

Dammit! If I have to pick only one, I'm staying with the Boogie Mark IIC+ Simul-Class combo w/EVM-12L.

 

[ChadVanHalen]

Line 6 Spider... *Goes and sits in corner*

 

[Tone Monster]

I don't want to play a VH4. Too expensive...

Just bought a mint used one for like $200 more than our Gemini.

 

[JimmyBlind]

It took me 10 years to find the right amp for me. I let a VH4 go, dabbled with some amps & devices & bought another. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it delivers for me on many levels, is built like a tank, & has all the switching options I could ever need.

The VH4 does many things very well, though I think there are single-purpose amps with better cleans & better lead channels for specific applications.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I realized this thought would come up immediately after I started the thread. My question is more simple. What amp has given you the best damn sound you've ever heard?

The answers would have been the same anyway, "whatever I own/like".