What's your favorite 3-channel amp ever?

[TheGreatGreen]

I think the official way to talk about amps with half channels should be:

Number of Full channels -> X.X <- Number of Half channels

Bogner Ecstasy 101B = 2.1 channels
Bogner Ecstasy 104 = 2.2 channels
Mark VII = 3.6 channels lol (3 full channels plus two additional “half modes” per channel)
EVH 50w = 2.1 channels

 

[suhrimmetal]

Currently?

Deizel Paul

Close second:

Suhr PT15IR

Haven't played plugged in since my band called it quits 2+ years ago..... but you're making me want a Diezel Paul. I loved my Suhr PT15IR...and I just play live(no recording). Still have my Suhr PT212 and pedalboard.... sold everything else. Cheers

 

[Rackman]

I think the official way to talk about amps with half channels should be:

Number of Full channels -> X.X <- Number of Half channels

Bogner Ecstasy 101B = 2.1 channels
Bogner Ecstasy 104 = 2.2 channels
Mark VII = 3.6 channels lol (3 full channels plus two additional “half modes” per channel)
EVH 50w = 2.1 channels

I'd be in favor of that assuming the "half" channels are at least switchable. Arguable if an independent volume is required - I'd say usually yes but not always (e.g. channel 1 from a X88IR). Fox example the typical Rivera preamp is 2 channel, with a reasonable gain boost on the dirty channel and a not-so-reasonable clean boost on the clean channel. Different models have different boosts wired to the footswitch, but let's assume it's all switchable. Is that 2.0, 2.1, or 2.2?

With the footswitchable distinction the MkVII is a 3.0 right? I've never actually used one.

 

[BeZo]

I think the official way to talk about amps with half channels should be:

Number of Full channels -> X.X <- Number of Half channels

Bogner Ecstasy 101B = 2.1 channels
Bogner Ecstasy 104 = 2.2 channels
Mark VII = 3.6 channels lol (3 full channels plus two additional “half modes” per channel)
EVH 50w = 2.1 channels

Actually, it depends more on hoe you use the amp. My Mesa Stiletto is a two channel amp, with a boost setting for leads. If you use the boost as a lead channel, it can work like a three channel amp. My Mark V has all those different switches for different voices on each of the channels, but I can't use a footswitch to change them like a channel. The Mark V could function like a 4, 5, or 6 channel amp if you footswitch the EQ and Boost to get different voices through the footswitch. A lot of the earlier two channel amps were just two gain knobs and a shared EQ. A lot of the "2.1" or "2.5" or "2.3" or whatever amps count here for that reason, especially if you use wildly different gain settings on the gain channel and switch them like rhythm and lead channels.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I'd be in favor of that assuming the "half" channels are at least switchable. Arguable if an independent volume is required - I'd say usually yes but not always (e.g. channel 1 from a X88IR). Fox example the typical Rivera preamp is 2 channel, with a reasonable gain boost on the dirty channel and a not-so-reasonable clean boost on the clean channel. Different models have different boosts wired to the footswitch, but let's assume it's all switchable. Is that 2.0, 2.1, or 2.2?

Actually, it depends more on hoe you use the amp. My Mesa Stiletto is a two channel amp, with a boost setting for leads. If you use the boost as a lead channel, it can work like a three channel amp. My Mark V has all those different switches for different voices on each of the channels, but I can't use a footswitch to change them like a channel. The Mark V could function like a 4, 5, or 6 channel amp if you footswitch the EQ and Boost to get different voices through the footswitch. A lot of the earlier two channel amps were just two gain knobs and a shared EQ. A lot of the "2.1" or "2.5" or "2.3" or whatever amps count here for that reason, especially if you use wildly different gain settings on the gain channel and switch them like rhythm and lead channels.

Yeah good calls. Maybe something like the Mark VII would just be a simple 3 channel amp because the additional modes are just simple gain stage changes with no controls that are dedicated or independent from the other modes.

Ok so then I'd say personally a half channel is something with at least a separate gain structure + a dedicated control or two.

Who knows, it's all made up arbitrary nerd stuff, hah.

 

[Rackman]

Who knows, it's all made up arbitrary nerd stuff, hah.

Oh no doubt, but I do think it's interesting to consider how many sounds you can get an how independently controlable they are without turning knobs.

As a practical matter once that number hits about 4 if the amp is well voiced for what I'm doing it means there's no need for pedals to play a cover gig (or country gig that is really a country + rock + metal gig), and that means no signal on the floor, just a switcher and wah remote. And that means tons of cables and rack slots aren't needed and the rig really shrinks. The 104BV and X88IR have enough. Same with a Syn2 (let alone 2 of them). The 101B is close but not really. Same with the Rivera. A Jose mod or something I'm going to be bringing tons of extra crap.

 

[Scot]

"country + rock + metal gig"

Ever seen Hank III? I know he uses a VHT of some sort but I think it’s safe to say he uses a LOT of good gear, if nothing else. Nothing more to add except that I swear I hear ‘something’ in the xtc’s red channel when switched to b2 that’s similar to a VHT (50W) I once had. I’m not smart enough to pick apart what that is though. The xtc’s bright switches are key to getting the most out of it. No experience w/the 104 and it’s midi + new channel switching abilities though. Still haven’t happened upon one in the wild.

 

[Speeddemon]

Ok so then I'd say personally a half channel is something with at least a separate gain structure + a dedicated control or two

Ok, but what would you make of the Engl Invader then?
It's a 4 channel amp, but all the channels have a Lo and Hi gain mode, which is assignable to the footswitch too.
With the Z9 footswitch I have 8 different tones available (and toggling between two overall master volumes and FX loop on/off).

 

[the other John Browne]

Diezel Herbert mk 1

 

[stephen sawall]

Really into the Mark IV the last month. Fits what the band is doing these days. A cleaner more refined sound. Instead of the wall of girth that I often use.

My drummer likes RHY2 better than LDEQ. He was a audio engineer for decades. I trust his ear more than most people. I decided to become completely familiar with RHY2. The entire vintage and modern voices. The entire gain range.

Been using GT6L6GE in it a few years. Hardness #4. I am going try a few EL34 in it again in the Class A.

 

[DECEMBER]

Mesa Marks have the best clean tone I've ever had, and as much as I use high gain, having that clean is essential. So if I had to choose just one amp, it'd be a Mark VII or V. VII probably has more usable tones but I wish it had all the extra options the V has.
Though I find myself using my 5150 III 6L6 more often for high gain, but its clean channel is bunk - dark/muddy.

 

[lester]

I think of any amp that has a clean, a distortion channel and then a boost for lead (or second master) to be the ideal three channel amp. So for me, that would be the Gower custom build and the Cornford MK50IIh.

But if you're talking 3 channels that's a clean then a mid gain channel and the 3rd being a channel with even more gain but doesn't actually include a boost for your volume. Then I got to go with the Bogner XTC Classic and the Custom Audio Amplifiers OD100 SE+.
All of which I have right now and considering maybe selling for the right price I haven't put an ad up yet for any of them but if you're interested let me know.

More specifically why do I like the XTC classic so much, with just a simple adjustment you can get out of it the most incredible fender clean. it's just beautiful.
The blue channel is renowned for a reason it's really fucking killer you don't really have to do anything to it like adding any pedals to it or anything. I just keep the built in boost on everything, on the blue boost on the red. The red channel with the boost definitely gets in the Cornford territory for sure. I don't know who's first I don't care really but they sound very similar, except the Ecstasy does have a little more gain... just a little bit.