Educate me a little please...

  • Thread starter Thread starter PhloridaMan
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PhloridaMan

PhloridaMan

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As much as I love it, a buddy of mine made me an offer on my JCM800 2210 that I couldn't refuse. It's going to be disappearing here in a few weeks and I am going to be on the hunt for something different.

Budget will be 2000-2500.

I haven't kept up with the world of high gain heads outside of stuff like EVH, Mesa etc. lately.

I'm looking for something tight and articulate that has a good usable clean channel as well. I generally jam drop A# down to G# in the realm of the Acacia Strain to Kublai Kahn.

Currently I have an EVH 5150III 100w Stealth, 6505+ and a Carvin V3 in addition to the JCM I am letting go. In the past I have owned an EVH 5150III EL34 100w, VHT Pittbull Ultra Lead KT88, Framus Cobra, Mesa DC10, Mesa 50 Cal, JVM410H, JVM205H, Splawn Nitro, Engl Invader 150

I tend to be more of a fan of 6L6 and KT88 amps overall.

I keep looking at Revv Generator 120 MKIIIs and KSR Orthos but I don't know how they sound compared to the 6505 and EVH I have and I want something that sounds a little different especially for blending when recording stuff.

The only amps I am really not interested in are Engl and Mesa Rectos. Just can't jive with their sounds.

Appreciate any recommendations!
 
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Shiva 20th ..... 2000.00 shipped running brand new Gold Lion KT88's
 
If you like Splawn - get a Quick Rod. Def tight and articulate, raw and uncompressed.
Otherwise, Ceriatonesomething or other although I've never played one :(
 
I'm unfortunately not a lot of help because I am as out of the loop as you are. My favorite high gainer I ever owned was an Uberschall Rev Blue, but that was back when you could get one used for like $1500.

I just wanted to name drop and say that when I ordered my Kemper off Reverb it ended up being from one of the Dan's in Acacia Strain, don't know which one though lol. Has some killer Wormwood patches on there
 
Try the new PRS MT 100...although it does to me resemble an already boosted F Recto, and you don't like Rectos much....but not identical as it has some Uberschall DNA in it as well. The clean is fantastic too. 6L6 amp...external bias points...
Grab one and try it, return it if you don't dig it.
 
I have a KSR Orthos 2, it definitely reminds me of a 6505 but it's different enough to warrant having both. It's less saturated, and less hairy, but for that tradeoff you get a tighter sound and the feel controls add some cool flexibility. The clean channel is great as well. I don't play as low of tunings as you do often, but it seems like the amp was at least designed with low tunings in mind. You'll have to roll the bass off a bit I'm sure (as with most amps I'd guess).

Have you had any Diezels? I was just chatting with someone via email and it's hard for me not to sing the praises of the Herbert or Einstein. I'd imagine other Diezels are superb as well based on my limited experience.

PhloridaMan said:
The only amps I am really not interested in are Engl and Mesa Rectos. Just can't jive with their sounds.
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Don't ignore *all* ENGL's IMO. An ENGL Savage, Invader, and Powerball while similar "looking" amps in terms of style and features, are very different sounding amps. It's not the same as a specific model - for example you dislike Rectos which all share a similar sound, but would you discount Mesa Marks just because they have the same manufacturer? Of course if you've already tried them all and come to that conclusion I get it.
 
A new Omega Granophyre will run you a little over $2500 I believe and a wait lol. But it sounds right up your alley
 
TotallyRadGuitars said:
I have a KSR Orthos 2, it definitely reminds me of a 6505 but it's different enough to warrant having both. It's less saturated, and less hairy, but for that tradeoff you get a tighter sound and the feel controls add some cool flexibility. The clean channel is great as well. I don't play as low of tunings as you do often, but it seems like the amp was at least designed with low tunings in mind. You'll have to roll the bass off a bit I'm sure (as with most amps I'd guess).

Have you had any Diezels? I was just chatting with someone via email and it's hard for me not to sing the praises of the Herbert or Einstein. I'd imagine other Diezels are superb as well based on my limited experience.


Don't ignore *all* ENGL's IMO. An ENGL Savage, Invader, and Powerball while similar "looking" amps in terms of style and features, are very different sounding amps. It's not the same as a specific model - for example you dislike Rectos which all share a similar sound, but would you discount Mesa Marks just because they have the same manufacturer? Of course if you've already tried them all and come to that conclusion I get it.
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I've got a friend selling an original Orthos right now I've been curious to take a look at so I might. I've never had a Diezel, no. Really never looked into them because they were always way above my price range. Having adult money makes that different sometimes lol Some of the videos I've seen they sound fizzy which I'm not a fan of but that might be shit recordings too.

The Engl Savage II is the only one of the Engl's that's ever been of interest to me. The Invader I had sounded horrendous to me. I dumped it after having it for a week. I don't really like scooped sounding amps overall. I like them tight with good mid growl. With the Savage, It's just not been one that I could afford to really look at much like a Diezel lol
 
Racerxrated said:
Try the new PRS MT 100...although it does to me resemble an already boosted F Recto, and you don't like Rectos much....but not identical as it has some Uberschall DNA in it as well. The clean is fantastic too. 6L6 amp...external bias points...
Grab one and try it, return it if you don't dig it.
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I'm gonna sit and wait for the market to flood with used ones and grab one of these down the road anyway. In a year or so I bet they are on marketplace for $1200 or so lol
 
PhloridaMan said:
Budget will be 2000-2500.

Currently I have an EVH 5150III 100w Stealth, 6505+ and a Carvin V3 in addition to the JCM I am letting go. In the past I have owned an EVH 5150III EL34 100w, VHT Pittbull Ultra Lead KT88, Framus Cobra, Mesa DC10, Mesa 50 Cal, JVM410H, JVM205H, Splawn Nitro, Engl Invader 150

I tend to be more of a fan of 6L6 and KT88 amps overall.

I keep looking at Revv Generator 120 MKIIIs and KSR Orthos but I don't know how they sound compared to the 6505 and EVH I have and I want something that sounds a little different especially for blending when recording stuff.

Appreciate any recommendations!
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Doesn't sound like you're too out of the loop to me. Those are all notable high gainers, some still as viable today as they were when first released. I'd say you're on the right track with Revv and KSR even though I've never played them. Maybe Bogner, Soldano, Headfirst or Diezel if you can find a good deal. And like was said above I wouldn't shut the door on some of the Engl stuff either. Or maybe go with the Synergy head and some modules. Quite honestly that is something that intrigues me at the moment.
 
My 2210 was my gigging amp for ober 15 years. One of the few amps I regret selling. The JVM 410 and Ultra Lead are the two from your list I like the best. The JVM can get similar gainy tones to the 2210 and the cleans are 10000% better. And can get other heavier tones too.
 
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PeteLaramee said:
My 2210 was my gigging amp for ober 15 years. One of the few amps I regret selling. The JVM 410 and Ultra Lead are the two from your list I like the best. The JVM can get similar gainy tones to the 2210 and the cleans are 10000% better. And can get other heavier tones too.
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It's not something I'd pick for low tuned modern metal, but it'd take a serious situation for me to ever let go of my 2210

PhloridaMan said:
I've got a friend selling an original Orthos right now I've been curious to take a look at so I might. I've never had a Diezel, no. Really never looked into them because they were always way above my price range. Having adult money makes that different sometimes lol Some of the videos I've seen they sound fizzy which I'm not a fan of but that might be shit recordings too.

The Engl Savage II is the only one of the Engl's that's ever been of interest to me. The Invader I had sounded horrendous to me. I dumped it after having it for a week. I don't really like scooped sounding amps overall. I like them tight with good mid growl. With the Savage, It's just not been one that I could afford to really look at much like a Diezel lol
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FWIW, I paid $1999 for my Herbert Mk1 less than a year ago (plus tax and ship of course) so that's well within your budget. Fizzy only if you dialed it that way on purpose or are using brighter speakers with that intent. Really, great amp. Einstein I traded for but it was priced a hair over $1500, it's not as feature heavy as the Herbert but I feel it has some similar DNA and also sounds great.

I gave you some more detail via PM but I agree on the ENGL thing. The Savage is one of the best amps ever made in my book while the similarly priced Invader might be one of my least favorites. I saw a Savage Mk1 sell on Reverb very recently under $1400, I think it may have been a member here actually. For that price I was damn tempted to buy a second one!
*I haven't played a Savage Mk2 and from appearances at least it does have quite a few differences from the Mk1. All accounts are that it is great but I can't personally comment on the Mk2 (yet...)
 
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