List of the tightest hi-fi high gain amps for Down Tuning

[spirit7]

Madness! The UL is a disgustingly heavy amp.

-C

 

[ericsabbath]

Hi-Fi = a amplifier that tracks very well and is aggressive and reactive. For example. Modern Rock amps to me cut really well in the mix. Not looking for saturation as much as open percusive attack. A Vh4 ch3 with the gain turn down to down and the master way up or possibly closer to the VHr Ch 2.

Tool
A perfect Circle
Smashing Pumpkins
NIN
Basicly the stuff I grew up listening too. I guess more prog rock.
etc.

I am looking for a VH4 single channel alternative That is aggressive but not over saturated.

From the information you've given, I'd say (again) the VH4, Ultralead, and now the Naked. Tool = VH4. APC = Naked. Smashing Pumpkins = Diezel. NIN = Diezel. I have the exact same tastes as you — 90's rock/metal/prog rock. I think of all the amps mentioned, the original two-channel Rectifier and the Ultralead will be the easiest to get at good prices. The VH4 would nail what you want. But it's more expensive and you said you'd like a single channel version of that sound.

APC has a great sound. Very hi-fi (yeah I hear what you're after). And that would be the Naked. But I think Muse fits in with the sound you're after as well. And they use VH4.

the budda superdrive preamp section is pretty close to the naked (they were both designed by dave based off the naylor superdrive)
the naked seems to be stiffer and more scooped sounding, though
probably low or no negative feedback for the power amp section

you should consider the vht deliverance as well

if money isn't a problem, a diezel einstein gets really close to the vh4 tone without having a thousand knobs

but if your priority is really tightness and clarity under gain, what you need is a framus cobra
no smooth picking with that one
tightest, clearest and punchiest 100w high gain amp I ever played
pain in the ass to deal with, though
very picky with speakers, needs to be played loud, and not much versatile... it's pure blues clean or full metal

 

[Inca Roads]

SERIOUSLY...Watch this:
If there's anything I know about,
one of those things is Quality Amps!!
I've taken pride at owning just about every
High Gain/Hi Fi Amp on the Market. Played
them all, sold them, came back to my favorite
ones. The Diezel's, Custom Audio, Bogner and
Cameron were some of the Best but the "New Direction"
of High Gain looks like this to me.
DYNAMO GTS and GT-6. At 200 watts of Pure Tube
Sweetness, it stays Clear and Focused at the Loudest
Stage Volumes with Killer Tone!!

http://m.dynamoamplification.com/#!Amplifiers|page_1

 

[RJF]

Played an Einstein and Herbert however it they didn't have the percussive nature of the VH4.

You might want to rethink Herbert.

First thing is you want something with KT88 tubes. You are after a big open, uncompressed, tight power section that allows the preamp to do it's job without a power amp section coloring the tone.

You need to try a Herbert with KT88's, a boost, and a front loaded cab with V30's. Tight, ultra clear sound.

I would also backup the VHT Ultra Lead, that is one bad ass amp.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

The Peters FSM has been my favorite amp for lower tunings. Would not call it high fi but it does modern and tight very well to my ears. This vid is just a standard tuned 7 string but you get the idea. I dialed it in to taste but it can achieve more scooped or tighter with some tweaks. Great freaking amp.
The best thing about it imo is that it has a clarity that is unrivaled. When I play lower tuning most amps turn to shit, the Peters retains the note clarity with amazing articulation.

 

[RJF]

but if your priority is really tightness and clarity under gain, what you need is a framus cobra
no smooth picking with that one
tightest, clearest and punchiest 100w high gain amp I ever played
pain in the ass to deal with, though
very picky with speakers, needs to be played loud, and not much versatile... it's pure blues clean or full metal

I would have to disagree, it is a pretty tight amp, but it's a TOTALLY saturated tone IMHO.

 

[311splawndude]

Another +1 to Splawn


tight and punchy just liked you asked for and great for down tuning imo

 

[gtr31]

Played an Einstein and Herbert however it they didn't have the percussive nature of the VH4.

You might want to rethink Herbert.

First thing is you want something with KT88 tubes. You are after a big open, uncompressed, tight power section that allows the preamp to do it's job without a power amp section coloring the tone.

You need to try a Herbert with KT88's, a boost, and a front loaded cab with V30's. Tight, ultra clear sound.

I would also backup the VHT Ultra Lead, that is one bad ass amp.

I agree 100% the KT88 or 6550 is the tube type ya want , that is stiffer ,will not color or add power tube compression or saturation

 

[Trippled]

I think my Uberschall Twin Jet loaded with 88's is the finest amp for this application.

 

[RJF]

I think my Uberschall Twin Jet loaded with 88's is the finest amp for this application.

Good choice, but the TJ has a lot of saturation and "sizzle" in it's tone, like a recto. He is wanting less sizzle and more dryish/clear sounding amps.

 

[Trippled]

Hmm, I dunno, I think it's still a very clean sounding amp, wouldn't even compare it to a recto in that department.
I got to A\B it with a knucklehead tre which was drier and didn't have any saturation at all, was an interesting experience.

I think the twin jet is kind of a good mix between the two worlds, I personally do like abit of saturation in my tone.
I'd give it a shot for his purpose still, he may love the bogner voicing as well, which is another important factor.

 

[ericsabbath]

but if your priority is really tightness and clarity under gain, what you need is a framus cobra
no smooth picking with that one
tightest, clearest and punchiest 100w high gain amp I ever played
pain in the ass to deal with, though
very picky with speakers, needs to be played loud, and not much versatile... it's pure blues clean or full metal

I would have to disagree, it is a pretty tight amp, but it's a TOTALLY saturated tone IMHO.

crunch channel sounds pretty NOT saturated, unless you go wild on gain settings
it's probably the driest high gain amp I ever played
the lead channel is saturated indeed
the vh4 still has fair more saturation, and a peavey or engl has like twice the amount of saturation

 

[ericsabbath]

SERIOUSLY...Watch this:
If there's anything I know about,
one of those things is Quality Amps!!
I've taken pride at owning just about every
High Gain/Hi Fi Amp on the Market. Played
them all, sold them, came back to my favorite
ones. The Diezel's, Custom Audio, Bogner and
Cameron were some of the Best but the "New Direction"
of High Gain looks like this to me.
DYNAMO GTS and GT-6. At 200 watts of Pure Tube
Sweetness, it stays Clear and Focused at the Loudest
Stage Volumes with Killer Tone!!

http://m.dynamoamplification.com/#!Amplifiers|page_1

much better than the namm video, that sounded exactly like a solid state Dime amp
still could have a hair less oversaturation, but that guys seems to use pretty high end stuff
I love the hot rod finish (that I'm usually not a fan of) and the bling knobs
I wish more high end brands had single channel high gain amps
diezel and bogner would sell single channel 50w/100w amps like water
I hate all the multichannel with dozens of knobs thing

 

[richardt4520]

In tight do you mean feel or sound? Definitely Engl SE E670. Never got a hint of flub and that was all the way down to Bb on a 7 string. The new Cameron Ocean I just traded it for will do that to a pretty good extent also if set a certain way but with a much more vintage kind of feel.

 

[Spaceboy]

I don't understand what "hi-fi" means in regards to guitar amplifiers and distortion.

 

[gtr31]

I don't understand what "hi-fi" means in regards to guitar amplifiers and distortion.

I think its different things to all people but to me
it would be

A very clean power section that does not distort it has no color and ton of headroom .
The attack of the low end is crisp and very fast.
All the freqs are balanced ,compression in the pre to smooth the overdrive character .no honking mids.

If you think of all the things tube amps or lets say classic tube amps do like Sag, give power amp distortion .have really raw in you face mid push and can feel almost out of control when cranked

The Hi fi to me would be to remove or reduce those characters
Get a Smooth, Clear ,Tight focused sound

 

[racerevlon]

Splawn Nitro with KT88'S

 

[RJF]

but if your priority is really tightness and clarity under gain, what you need is a framus cobra
no smooth picking with that one
tightest, clearest and punchiest 100w high gain amp I ever played
pain in the ass to deal with, though
very picky with speakers, needs to be played loud, and not much versatile... it's pure blues clean or full metal

I would have to disagree, it is a pretty tight amp, but it's a TOTALLY saturated tone IMHO.

crunch channel sounds pretty NOT saturated, unless you go wild on gain settings
it's probably the driest high gain amp I ever played
the lead channel is saturated indeed
the vh4 still has fair more saturation, and a peavey or engl has like twice the amount of saturation

I don't use anything but the lead channel on my TJ. It's pretty darn saturated, again, to me Ubers sound a LOT like Rectifiers. In your face gritty, saturated gain with lots of sizzle.

 

[se7en]

Try a VHT if you're looking to avoid that saturated sound. The Twin Jet is where's it's at for me, but may be too saturated for you even though it's less so than past Ubers due to the KT88's.

 

[skoora]

Pro Co Rat into a Crest 1000.