Rack Power Amp Recommendation Request

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ghosty999

ghosty999

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Hey guys,

Finally moving out of my appartment into a house, so can make use of my V30 loaded 4x12 etc. Also means I can turn UP!

I've been using the Marshall 8008 for small gigs with the AxeFX Ultra or JMP1, but looking to get something more substantial.

Valve would be great, but can't really do more than a 2U. I used to have the EL84 20/20 which nailed the Hard Rock stuff, but struggled with the more modern drop tunings.

I looked into Solid State options from Seymour Duncan, but I hear mixed reviews... and deep down I'm a valve guy.

What is on the market? New or old? Willing to go second hand. Budget around 600$ at the moment, but may go up as work picks up!

Thanks dudes :rock:
 
I'd go with the VHT/Fryette 2502, basically the baby brother of the Classic 2100. It's more or less the default option for serious 2U power amps, and I think you should be able to find one for 600.
 
VHT/Fryette 2/50/2 is pretty substantial. I had one briefly, but ended up preferring the sound of heads to the JMP-1 2/50/2 combo. I have a feeling that the particular used JMP-1 I had acquired wasn't to my taste. The 2/50/2 was very quick and punchy.

vht-2-50-s-fifty-power-amp-vht-2502_1_713b0018c077db23c92e5f9f23929a6e.jpg
 
I doubt there are any good 2U options in the UK for $600. All the quality stuff (VHT, Mesa, Randall, Duncan) would be pricier.

I bet you could get a Marshall 9100 or similar for cheap, but that's 3U. Maybe ENGL is in that price range over there?
 
I got my 2/50/2 used for around £600 if I recall correctly. There’s one on eBay now for £575 but collection only (don’t know where you are in the U.K.).

Fryette/VHT’s come up for sale every now and then but not too often. The old Marshall stuff is common, and not too pricy used. But like said above I think they’re all 3u.
 
boyedav":2jw1wwk9 said:
Randall RT2/50 if you can find one, otherwise 2/50/2.
Click to expand...

I have a Randall RT2/50 that could use a good home. Though I’m in the US so shipping would be hella expensive.
 
Matrix mosfet 2U GT1000FX or an older Matrix Mosfet power amp. UK made, very high quality. I just picked up a 2U GT1000FX and I compared it directly to my old Peavey Classic 50/50 stereo power amp. Side by side the Matrix recreated my base dry cabinet tone better and more exact than the peavey hands down,I'm running the amp in a W/D/W setup. IF you are running a single 4x12 with your Axe units bridge the power amp to get the maximum wattage and headroom. Matrix says the GT1000FX sounds more tubelike than the 800, but the GT800fx is pretty tubelike as well. You should be able to find a used on in your price range in the UK no problem.
 
Mesa Strategy 400. I use one and its a beast!!!
 
Mosvalve on the cheap. Another inexpensive, and great option, is the Carvin TS100.
 
If it's gotta be tube, the Mesa 2:90 is tough to beat in a 2u unit.

But today's modern Matrix power amps sound amazing. You're not giving anything up going with one of them.
 
squank":pjj06v5r said:
If it's gotta be tube, the Mesa 2:90 is tough to beat in a 2u unit.

But today's modern Matrix power amps sound amazing. You're not giving anything up going with one of them.
Click to expand...

Ditto ! Mesa 2:90 is a beast ! :rock:
 
Mesa 50/50, quite cheap, quite light and works better with JMP-1 than VHT 50/50 or Mesa 2:90.
 
Best 2U rack power amp if you can find one..Seymour Duncan KTG-2100
 
Well, based on your budget for tube, and as some have pointed out -

Mesa Fifty/Fifty. Great amp. One of my favorites.
Seymour Duncan KTG-2100. As kurt said, hard to find.
Peavey Classic 50/50 Power Amp. Fine amp but I much preferred it's bigger brother the Classic Stereo 120/120 behemoth, one of the finest tube power amps made IMO but it's huge.
Randall RT2/50 Stereo Tube Power Amp

SS -
Mosvalve 1500 (rare) or 500. And the 962 50 watt.
Rocktron Velocity 300
Matrix

Now if budget isn't an issue then that opens up Fryette and some of the other Boogie offerings.

Of all of the power amps I owned back in the day my three favorite were the Boogie Fifty/Fifty, the 2:90 and the Peavey Classic 120/120. I preferred those over the other Boogie, VHT/Fryette and a few other amps I owned. Granted I never owned the VHT/Fryette grail 2150 big dog. And for solid state I like the Velocity 300. I was always looking to downsize but kept coming back to that behemoth Peavey, that thing moved some air.
 
Thanks for the recomendations, spent hours reading up on everyones suggestions... but you guys are right, hard to get good prices for power amps in the UK. All the good ones are in the States!

Could folks let me know what the downsides of something like this as an SS option? I could grab this as a gig beater and enjoy my valves at home.

https://www.palmer-germany.com/en/produ ... /macht-402
 
Palmer always made good stuff in the past. Maybe you should look into a Matrix GT800FX or if you want a 2U the GT1000FX, they were made in the UK for many years. Steve Stevens is using them live instead of his old HH V800's.
 
ghosty999":17xkgv6n said:
Thanks for the recomendations, spent hours reading up on everyones suggestions... but you guys are right, hard to get good prices for power amps in the UK. All the good ones are in the States!

Could folks let me know what the downsides of something like this as an SS option? I could grab this as a gig beater and enjoy my valves at home.

https://www.palmer-germany.com/en/produ ... /macht-402
Click to expand...

Well, it's made in China like current Rocktron stuff. :dunno:

If I were to go solid state, I'd pick up an old Rocktron Velocity 150, 250, or 300 (2U version). They're all very nice, made in the USA, with switchable mains voltage. The 250 looks best since the depth and presence aren't combined.
 
harddriver":18rv76d6 said:
Palmer always made good stuff in the past. Maybe you should look into a Matrix GT800FX or if you want a 2U the GT1000FX, they were made in the UK for many years. Steve Stevens is using them live instead of his old HH V800's.
Click to expand...
I'd go Matrix for the portability/price. But, since the HH stuff was made over there, I'd think you could source a used one? Not the bigger V800/M900 but a lower powered version? I've spied a few on Ebay UK from time to time before I found my M900, they were 2-3u and 3-600w? At one point I know there were like 8 for sale but none would ship over here. 150w on up.

Edit: just looked and a seller has 3 that would work: the VX 900, 450 and 300. 250-300 pounds. The 300 and 450 are 2U and the 900 3u.
 
ghosty999":1r6r5c77 said:
Thanks for the recomendations, spent hours reading up on everyones suggestions... but you guys are right, hard to get good prices for power amps in the UK. All the good ones are in the States!

Could folks let me know what the downsides of something like this as an SS option? I could grab this as a gig beater and enjoy my valves at home.

https://www.palmer-germany.com/en/produ ... /macht-402
Click to expand...

Since you are in Europe you can get an ENGL POWERAMP in a good price...
 
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