Which solid state amp for high gain and /or 80's tone?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ThrowBackMan
  • Start date Start date
The Marshall 8200 bi chorus sounds pretty dam good better then the 8100 model and it's loud as hell I still have mine from the 90's
 
I gigged a 60W Marshall Valvestate Combo for years whenever I didn't want to take the nice stuff out. Put a V30 or whatever in it and it sounds fine. Run a really good pedal in front and it sounds great.
 
Ampeg SS150 !!! Peavey redstripes also.....ibqnez TBX150 is pretty good also
 
Thanks guys.. I'm currently looking at another 2 x 12 Marshall Valvestate made in the UK for sale on Reverb.com and a Randall all tube 2 x 12 which has just been retubed and serviced and has a new cab for the combo.. also on Reverb.com. I love the sounds I get out of my 1 x 12 Marshall Vavlestate, except for lead I would need a clean boost, but really it's pretty damn good.. It has a solid state power amp, but tube preamp and nice C 12" speaker.
T
 
What are the amps that Iron Maiden used for Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son? I really like the tone on those records.
Galien Kruger! That's it. Find one of those.
 
LPMojoGL":1wo2b0qq said:
What are the amps that Iron Maiden used for Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son? I really like the tone on those records.
Galien Kruger! That's it. Find one of those.

I thought they used Marshall JMP-1 Preamps?
 
Interesting. Didn't know about the GK amps you speak of and I know I like the JMP1's, but I personally think my Valvestate sounds just like a Tube amp from Marshall, but maybe not like one cranked with a tube power amp, but it's really close to me..
 
romanianreaper":aggkjqo6 said:
LPMojoGL":aggkjqo6 said:
What are the amps that Iron Maiden used for Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son? I really like the tone on those records.
Galien Kruger! That's it. Find one of those.

I thought they used Marshall JMP-1 Preamps?


They used the JMP1s later on, but for Somewhere In Time and 7th Son, I believe they were using the GKs.
Check this article:
http://www.guitarworld.com/steve-harris ... w?page=0,2

Alex Lifeson and Michael Schenker used them, too.
 
Randall Cyclone, V-Max, Titan, Warhead, V2, T2.
All of these will do what you're looking for and sound great doing it.
 
LPMojoGL":3edfwr76 said:
romanianreaper":3edfwr76 said:
LPMojoGL":3edfwr76 said:
What are the amps that Iron Maiden used for Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son? I really like the tone on those records.
Galien Kruger! That's it. Find one of those.

I thought they used Marshall JMP-1 Preamps?


They used the JMP1s later on, but for Somewhere In Time and 7th Son, I believe they were using the GKs.
Check this article:
http://www.guitarworld.com/steve-harris ... w?page=0,2

Alex Lifeson and Michael Schenker used them, too.
Now, you've got my attention! Schenker and Lifeson! Two of my favorites of all time!
I am begginging to think that really, the tone is 80% or more in the hands of course.. But, I'm also starting to think that tubes don't matter, but that it matters that you using at least analog which most solid state is.. I know there are tube purists, myself including that love the feel of a tube amp that you can't get any other way, but I think all things being equal with good components and a solid state vs tube amp, it's very hard to tell the difference tone wise.. But, just thinking and might be totally wrong..LOL..
T
 
It looks like the GKs come up used, and for fairly cheap, quite often. There is a 2000CPL preamp with footswitch on CL near me for $140. That is what Iron Maiden used on 7th Son. Listening to Maiden England '88, I'd be fine with having that sound on tap.
 
Peavey XXL. They can be had cheap. Put it through a good cab and it's one of the best SS amps I've heard. Wide range of tones in it too.
 
iplayloudly":3m6t1r8t said:
Peavey XXL. They can be had cheap. Put it through a good cab and it's one of the best SS amps I've heard. Wide range of tones in it too.

Hey IplayLoudly.

I have a Peavey backstage or something that I love the tone of, and it has the same technology as the Peavey XXL I guess, but it's not enough Gain, but of course, that's just a practice amp.

Do you think the XXL has enough gain to do metal and 80's metal, glam, and blues and ? I ask because I'm trying to find a solid state head that will do everything from cleans to metal and 80's metal especially..

I've seen those heads cheap and would use one in a minute if they're good? Do they make them or can you find them that are made in the states or ?

Thanks man.. I really appreciate that..
T
 
i have an xxl head. they have plenty of gain and lots of options too. it has three voicing options for the clean channel.. vintage.. modern and warm.. three voicings for the lead channel.. classic..
british and high gain.. and three for the ultra channel.. crunch.. modern and ultra. foot switchable channel select and loop.. master volume.. wattage select.. cab resonance select.. and ohm select.
if i ever feel the need to use a boost it's usually an od 808 with this amp.
about the only thing i don't like about it is the 1960b cab i usually play it through. don't get me wrong.. i like the 1960 cab.. just not with this amp. it can go from chimey clean to downright brutal.
mine is made in the u.s.a.
 
If you're looking for versatility, the XXL is a very good choice since it has the 3 modes per channel. The cleans are very useable, the Lead channel will do 80's very well, and the Ultra channel will do some pretty brutal metal tones.
 
Bloodrock":2z2t8345 said:
If you're looking for versatility, the XXL is a very good choice since it has the 3 modes per channel. The cleans are very useable, the Lead channel will do 80's very well, and the Ultra channel will do some pretty brutal metal tones.
yup. i like mine. i just need to find the right cab to pair it up with.. but that's more subjective than objective. :)
 
ThrowBackMan":oha2to0y said:
iplayloudly":oha2to0y said:
Peavey XXL. They can be had cheap. Put it through a good cab and it's one of the best SS amps I've heard. Wide range of tones in it too.

Hey IplayLoudly.

I have a Peavey backstage or something that I love the tone of, and it has the same technology as the Peavey XXL I guess, but it's not enough Gain, but of course, that's just a practice amp.

Do you think the XXL has enough gain to do metal and 80's metal, glam, and blues and ? I ask because I'm trying to find a solid state head that will do everything from cleans to metal and 80's metal especially..

I've seen those heads cheap and would use one in a minute if they're good? Do they make them or can you find them that are made in the states or ?

Thanks man.. I really appreciate that..
T

Absolutely. The "Ultra" channel has tons of gain. I don't think they make them anymore but there are tons of them out there. Easy to find. I actually wish I still had mine.

Here is a decent youtube video I found...
 
i've been messing around with running mine on 25 watts through a jet city 12s cab. i think it helped tame some of the harshness i was hearing in the highs when running through the celestions in the 1960.
i'd really like to crank it up a bit more to be sure.. but i'm currently living in a one bedroom upper in the middle of town. i think the neighbors would complain about that. :lol: :LOL:
the good news is that i'm trying to close a deal on a house in the country. i hope to be able to return to doing something that resembles "normal" for me by the start of next year. :)
a friend of mine said to me following my divorce " given what your hobbies are you should find a place in the country because wherever you go there goes the neighborhood." :lol: :LOL: he was right. :D a cranked amp of even 10 watts at this altitude in a residential neighborhood populated by retirees and families with small children? the cops would put me on speed dial. :lol: :LOL:
 
I used to have a Marshall VS100 Valvestate 2x12 Combo and it was great! Got pretty gainy and took pedals well.
 
I always like the Marshall 8200 valvestate it has a pretty good sound for solid state
 
Back
Top