Gearheads help me out with a death metal amp

[maddnotez]

Ive got about a grand or so to spend. Have a little gear to sell or trade as well. Looking for suggestions on a great high gain metal amp. Right now am interested in VHT, Engl savage or FB, I want a dar but dont have the money I do not like mesa and I just sold my Peavey. any suggestions???? also I do not mind buying used.

 

[Code001]

What Mesa and Peavey did you use previously? What didn't you like about those?

 

[Mudder]

What are your influences? I mean, Fryette and Engl are both killer, but the Fryette is dry while the Engl is more saturated.

 

[Mailman1971]

Engl Fireball 100 is a GREAT Metal amp that can be had pretty reasonable on ebay used.

I didnt care too much for the 60 watt one.

 

[Spaceboy]

I play brutal/tech death metal and similar genres of music almost exclusively, and the Engl Fireball 100 is the amplifier at the very top of my GAS list. You should be able to find one used for around 1.5 grand or even cheaper. I think I saw one recently for 1350, but I can't remember where. What sort of tone and bands are you wanting to get?

 

[skoora]

If you're talking late 80's/early 90's style you might need an old Peavey solid state combo. Or a 2203 Marshall, scoop the weird mids and hit it with a Boss metal pedal.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Death metal.... hmmmmm Suffication, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse have all used VH140Cs'. Best DM amp out there IMO.

 

[Juggernaut]

Death metal.... hmmmmm Suffication, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse have all used VH140Cs'. Best DM amp out there IMO.

this

 

[Spaceboy]

Death metal.... hmmmmm Suffication, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse have all used VH140Cs'. Best DM amp out there IMO.

This is the amplifier I'm using right now. There's better amps out there, IMO, but if you're wanting something cheap, reliable, and most of all - fuckin' brutal - then this is the amplifier for you! I was dubious about it at first since I was used to tubes, but after putting an EQ in the loop it really opened it's mouth and bared those teeth. John Gallagher from Dying Fetus always tours with a VH140C, although the last few records have had different amps on them. Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse used these amps and the Crate versions through the 90s. It's a hell of an amp!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Death metal.... hmmmmm Suffication, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse have all used VH140Cs'. Best DM amp out there IMO.

This is the amplifier I'm using right now. There's better amps out there, IMO, but if you're wanting something cheap, reliable, and most of all - fuckin' brutal - then this is the amplifier for you! I was dubious about it at first since I was used to tubes, but after putting an EQ in the loop it really opened it's mouth and bared those teeth. John Gallagher from Dying Fetus always tours with a VH140C, although the last few records have had different amps on them. Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse used these amps and the Crate versions through the 90s. It's a hell of an amp!

Not to mention I have spent thousands of dollars on tube amps seeking that tone.
Funny thing, I was hanging out with an old friend at the Black Dahlia Murder show Tuesday night and we were talking about amps. He has been to a fellow R-T members house, who has a huge, high dollar amp collection(no names) and said that every one of the amps were dialed in to sound like the VH140C that "said member" had back in the 80's/90's.

 

[Code001]

Death metal.... hmmmmm Suffication, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse have all used VH140Cs'. Best DM amp out there IMO.

This is the amplifier I'm using right now. There's better amps out there, IMO, but if you're wanting something cheap, reliable, and most of all - fuckin' brutal - then this is the amplifier for you! I was dubious about it at first since I was used to tubes, but after putting an EQ in the loop it really opened it's mouth and bared those teeth. John Gallagher from Dying Fetus always tours with a VH140C, although the last few records have had different amps on them. Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse used these amps and the Crate versions through the 90s. It's a hell of an amp!

Not to mention I have spent thousands of dollars on tube amps seeking that tone.
Funny thing, I was hanging out with an old friend at the Black Dahlia Murder show Tuesday night and we were talking about amps. He has been to a fellow R-T members house, who has a huge, high dollar amp collection(no names) and said that every one of the amps were dialed in to sound like the VH140C that "said member" had back in the 80's/90's.

Pretty sure he's referring to Brad.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Death metal.... hmmmmm Suffication, Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse have all used VH140Cs'. Best DM amp out there IMO.

This is the amplifier I'm using right now. There's better amps out there, IMO, but if you're wanting something cheap, reliable, and most of all - fuckin' brutal - then this is the amplifier for you! I was dubious about it at first since I was used to tubes, but after putting an EQ in the loop it really opened it's mouth and bared those teeth. John Gallagher from Dying Fetus always tours with a VH140C, although the last few records have had different amps on them. Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse used these amps and the Crate versions through the 90s. It's a hell of an amp!

Not to mention I have spent thousands of dollars on tube amps seeking that tone.
Funny thing, I was hanging out with an old friend at the Black Dahlia Murder show Tuesday night and we were talking about amps. He has been to a fellow R-T members house, who has a huge, high dollar amp collection(no names) and said that every one of the amps were dialed in to sound like the VH140C that "said member" had back in the 80's/90's.

Pretty sure he's referring to Brad.

I'm pretty sure the VH140C is what made Brad the gear Whore he is today.

 

[maddnotez]

Ok well for the first reply. The 6505+ was too "fizzy" dont get me wrong it sounded good, but very fizzy. I know they can be modded but anyway. I just dont like Mesa period. Too flubby, If any I would consider the single rectoverb.

Fetus now using the Savage which is what I really want. I dont have a specific tone per say that i want. I like the Engl sound quite a bit but also the dry VHT sound, so its a really hard desicion. Wish I could get both lol.

I like all those death metal bands listed but honestly I think the older fetus tone is not for me, as well as suffo. Love the band, not the tone.

I like all the options the VHT has. Honestly I wont use them alot but its nice to have. Id get a deliverance but I MUST have an FX loop. Would like a decent clean sound as well. I have never played the Ampeg. I do have a Crate stealth 100w wich is comparable to the ampeg from what I hear. And it sounds good, but just not quite enough for me. Definitely not looking for 80's/90's metal tone at all.


I really like the black dahlias tone on Nocturnal, Dimmu has a good sound. I just want something Brutal. Very thick, very crunchy but still tight and aggressive. Non metallic sounding.


Here are some pretty good examples of what I am looking for

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/i ... ic=13664.0

http://www.baroncustomamps.com/K88%20K2%20Series.html (on this one listen to Baron K2 Melodeath Clip, and the Hi Gain 2 for the K88

 

[Spaceboy]

I've seen Dying Fetus three times in the last year and John Gallagher was using the Ampeg VH140C. I should be seeing them again on that Vital Remains, Devourment, Cannibal Corpse tour and I will be blown away if I see an Engl Savage on stage, after 15 or so years of faithful Ampeg dedication. I won't complain though! Suffocation have been spotted using Engl Fireball 100s too. Cannibal Corpse will undoubtedly be running Dual or Triple Rectifiers as normal, and I honestly haven't got a clue what Devourment might be running. I would grab the Fireball 100 over the Savage, but they're completely different sounding amplifiers so it depends on personal preference. It sounds like you're looking for a much cleaner, open distortion compared to what I want, which is far more compressed and staccato. I've been waiting for a brutal tone from Axe FX, but most people who play metal with those are into progressive and metalcore, genres that really can't give me a feel for the product's capabilities in REAL metal.

 

[maddnotez]

Engl endorses Fetus. Not sure if they even use them. but i think they recorded with the Savage on the latest.

Ive been looking at you tube demos of the ampeg and im not sure if they did not know how to dial in the amps or have junk guitars but what I heard was just decent. Need to look for more when i get home on a better computer.

 

[Spaceboy]

Yeah, they record with tube amps (not sure which, could be Engl Savage) and then play with VH140C on tour, although I think they may run stereo with other amplifiers on larger packages judging by pictures I've recently seen. I hope I'll get a chance to drool over some major touring gear on that Devourment show. I haven't seen many quality clips of the Ampeg VH140C either, and it's a completely different amp with an EQ in the loop than it is naked. It definitely doesn't compare to a high-caliber tube amplifier though, and if you're willing to spend a grand or more you would be better off with something else for the sound you're wanting. I would definitely look into Engl though, based on those clips you posted. I still say Fireball 100 but the Savage is an awesome amplifier too, if you can find it within your price range.

I'm a bit of a Dying Fetus fanboy. The rig I'm currently playing is based on what I've seen John with. High output pickups into an Ampeg VH140C with a scooped EQ in the loop, through Vader Cabinets, right now a 2x12 and 4x12, but I'm looking around for a 2x15 to replace the 2x12.

 

[maddnotez]

Yeah, they record with tube amps (not sure which, could be Engl Savage) and then play with VH140C on tour, although I think they may run stereo with other amplifiers on larger packages judging by pictures I've recently seen. I hope I'll get a chance to drool over some major touring gear on that Devourment show. I haven't seen many quality clips of the Ampeg VH140C either, and it's a completely different amp with an EQ in the loop than it is naked. It definitely doesn't compare to a high-caliber tube amplifier though, and if you're willing to spend a grand or more you would be better off with something else for the sound you're wanting. I would definitely look into Engl though, based on those clips you posted. I still say Fireball 100 but the Savage is an awesome amplifier too, if you can find it within your price range.

I'm a bit of a Dying Fetus fanboy. The rig I'm currently playing is based on what I've seen John with. High output pickups into an Ampeg VH140C with a scooped EQ in the loop, through Vader Cabinets, right now a 2x12 and 4x12, but I'm looking around for a 2x15 to replace the 2x12.

Sounds like a Killer setup....And the more i look into it I agree. Fireball or Savage is probably what I will end up with. I might as well wait a bit to save up a little more.

 

[Spaceboy]

Bump... I want to see some suggestions I haven't heard before!

 

[Code001]

I've been waiting for a brutal tone from Axe FX, but most people who play metal with those are into progressive and metalcore, genres that really can't give me a feel for the product's capabilities in REAL metal.

This is about as close as you'll get:

 

[Dimebag11]

I'd suggest 3 amps, just depends on what you want out of your tone in particular as to which one of these you should choose.

VHT UL=tight as fuck, percussive, punishing
Framus Cobra=Also tight as fuck a little more saturated than the UL but, it sounds bigger overall IMHO but, reliability is average
Engl Fireball 100= Another tight as hell help but, the most saturated of the 3 also doesn't cut in a band mix as good as the other 2