Icons of amp distortion

O

oddguitar

New member
I’ve always preferred amp distortion to pedals and got to thinking which high gain amps are significant milestones in amp distortion that have gone on to become icons? Here’s what I came up with:

Mesa Mark Series
Modified Marshall (Plexi or JCM800)
Soldano SLO
Peavey 5150
Mesa Dual Rectifier

Thoughts?
 
I'd have to add a Diezel to that list, probably VH4 and/or Herbert since they're the most well known. I'd also want to add something from ENGL to that list. ENGL typically falls into Invader style or Savage style so maybe one or both of those.
In general German high gain like Diezel or ENGL have a distinct character that you don't find in British or American style high gain amps.
 
oddguitar said:
I’ve always preferred amp distortion to pedals and got to thinking which high gain amps are significant milestones in amp distortion that have gone on to become icons? Here’s what I came up with:

Mesa Mark Series
Modified Marshall (Plexi or JCM800)
Soldano SLO
Peavey 5150
Mesa Dual Rectifier

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
hard to beat that list if you're talking moving the needle IMO. Maybe the AC30 and VH140C? You could get into specific amps, like maybe like the old Jose mods that spawned a side industry. Or maybe iconic amps used on albums. IE. Slash's JCM, or Jerry's Snorkler. I wanted a Larry for years because of Iced Earth. Also funny how the 5150 became such a metal icon, yet I'm not sure Edward had that in mind, lol.
 
oddguitar said:
I’ve always preferred amp distortion to pedals and got to thinking which high gain amps are significant milestones in amp distortion that have gone on to become icons? Here’s what I came up with:

Mesa Mark Series
Modified Marshall (Plexi or JCM800)
Soldano SLO
Peavey 5150
Mesa Dual Rectifier

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I guess this is for rock amps. The mark series notwithstanding, those amps sound like loose butthole without a boost.

But amps that absolutely need no boost that i have played
Groundzero
Wizard
Monomyth
Mesa mark series
MGL
Bogner (at least the uber ultra)
 
Smash said:
I guess this is for rock amps. The mark series notwithstanding, those amps sound like loose butthole without a boost.

But amps that absolutely need no boost that i have played
Groundzero
Wizard
Monomyth
Mesa mark series
MGL
Bogner (at least the uber ultra)
Click to expand...
I thought it was more about amps that kind of moved the needle, where everyone started wanting that tone. But yeah, definitely rock or metal amps. I'm like a kindergartener if you are gauging clean tones. I know about Dumble and Fender, that's the end of my knowledge, lol.

edit: oh you meant metal amps, I'm a bit slow, lol.
 
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I think i misread op. I was thinking amps that dont need a pedal to be tight. I feel like this is about amps that replaced pedal into clean amp...

I mean yeah, SLO was fucking cool in 90s. 5150 may be most overrated amp in history. It will do the job, but nothing special. The marks are special and the rectifier series sounded amazing...with a boost
 
Metal? Iconic? No boosts allowed?

Peavey 5150 Series
EVH 5150III Series
Mesa Mark Series
Mesa Rectifier Series
Diezel VH4 / VH2 Series
Diezel Herbert Series
Marshall JVM Series
Bogner Uber Series
Bogner XTC Series
Soldano SLO
Wizard
 
Smash said:
I think i misread op. I was thinking amps that dont need a pedal to be tight. I feel like this is about amps that replaced pedal into clean amp...

I mean yeah, SLO was fucking cool in 90s. 5150 may be most overrated amp in history. It will do the job, but nothing special. The marks are special and the rectifier series sounded amazing...with a boost
Click to expand...
nah, I think I misread it, I glossed over the pedal part.
 
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