Recovering Mesa Addict looking for What's Next

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GJgo

GJgo

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Hey guys, wanted to reach out for some collective wisdom. For the last decade I've been going down the Mesa rabbit hole and I've finally reached the bottom. I have the experiences that I've wanted & still have most (but not all) of my favorite amps. So, I've started thinking about a little more variety and have been pondering lots of other amps that I may want to try out.

Over this time I have tried some Marshalls (JMP 1959, JCM2000 & Silver Jubilee), a Wizard MTL & a SLO 100. All good but they didn't scratch my itch. (Also tried a Naylor that was actually very good.) What I'm looking for are high gain amps that sit very well in a live mix, have good tight ass for chugging, and also sound great with V30s. At the moment I have a bunch of 2000-2003 V30 loaded cabs that sound fantastic & I'm not interested in buying more cabs right now. maybe in the future, but one thing at a time!

I will admit that I did just pick up a new 6505 1992 reissue and am actually enjoying it quite a bit. It has great mids for metal and the band guys can hear my parts very well compared to most Marks.. Plus it's cheap! If it gets trashed at a bar gig, who cares.

So let's say that I had up to $2500 to spend on the next amp to try. Where should I be looking?
 
You’ve tried already many of the great high gain amps. For $2500 I can’t think of anything that worthwhile for you. For $2500 I’d probably just invest in the best vintage speakers instead

I’d say (to me at least) a Hermansson, OG Uber, ‘90’s Blueface, and late ‘80’s SLO would be the other top tier high gain amps that are at least worth trying/experiencing once even if not your cup of tea, but they’d all be way out of budget
 
Maybe not the highest gain and many will agree that they don't work well with V30's but Splawns definitely stand out in a live mix and probably sit somewhere in the Marshall-Naylor-SLO-Recto-Wizard had a step child park (for under $2,200 new)
I know they don't get a ton of love around here and this one below is loaded with KT88's but damn :yes:

 
It’s time to jump into a good pedal platform Fender and have some fun with pedals. There might be some European brand, high gainers that would interest you but maybe not for 2500 or less. Find a decent vintage Showman, if you need the power or even a Late 60’s Bassman head and with some pedals you could get some great sounds that aren’t the ones you’ve been getting.
 
braintheory said:
You’ve tried already many of the great high gain amps. For $2500 I can’t think of anything that worthwhile for you. For $2500 I’d probably just invest in the best vintage speakers instead

I’d say (to me at least) a Hermansson, OG Uber, ‘90’s Blueface, and late ‘80’s SLO would be the other top tier high gain amps that are at least worth trying/experiencing once even if not your cup of tea, but they’d all be way out of budget
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I can afford more, I'm just trying to be realistic about an amp that I'll drag out to gigs. There's a risk / reward here.

I will say I do like the OG Uber clips I've heard. Not the Ultra clips, though.

There's a '96 SLO for sale about 4 hours from me that's tempting. I LOVE the SLO, but I think it's just a bit soft for metal.

I've heard a lot of good things from gigging guys about the 5150 Stealth, FWIW.
 
GJgo said:
I can afford more, I'm just trying to be realistic about an amp that I'll drag out to gigs. There's a risk / reward here.

I will say I do like the OG Uber clips I've heard. Not the Ultra clips, though.

There's a '96 SLO for sale about 4 hours from me that's tempting. I LOVE the SLO, but I think it's just a bit soft for metal.

I've heard a lot of good things from gigging guys about the 5150 Stealth, FWIW.
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I think the stealth 50 watter is pretty fun from experience playing them but that’s only store experience, not in a band context. Don’t discount the Iconic head. It’s bright but can be easily tamed as the knobs turn on it…lol
 
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running KT88's and only 2000 shipped
 
GJgo said:
I can afford more, I'm just trying to be realistic about an amp that I'll drag out to gigs. There's a risk / reward here.

I will say I do like the OG Uber clips I've heard. Not the Ultra clips, though.

There's a '96 SLO for sale about 4 hours from me that's tempting. I LOVE the SLO, but I think it's just a bit soft for metal.

I've heard a lot of good things from gigging guys about the 5150 Stealth, FWIW.
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I haven’t tried yet the Ultra, but have one of order. In general I’m really not a Bogner fan at all or of the other version ubers. The OG Uber is my one exception. It’s in I think a similar ballpark to my Rev C, but tighter, more modern, smoother, easier to play, greasy with this unique chewy low mid character and overall somewhat cartoonish sound that makes it very fun to play

I’ve not tried any ‘90’s SLO. Most guys seem to say they sound like the 2000’s ones, which I’ve tried many and still have a 2014 SLO. They’re great amps. The ‘89 one I have is the same flavor, but as I like to say sorta the fresh squeezed version that is more raw and harmonically rich and imo a little more Marshall-y, but it’s overall the slo flavor, so still may not be your thing. I see it as one of the best for all things rock and old school metal that I don’t really think of as being metal lol

I get the appeal of the stealth’s. They are well voiced, feel very easy to play, and functionally great, but the tone itself imho is kinda plastic-y, not the more organic and just never sounded that special to me when AB’ed with amps I’d consider to be in the great category. They come off to me sounding cheaper for lack of a better description, but like the peavey versions, maybe can be great functionally in the same kinda way, just not a tone that I consider to have the detail or complexity to be anything that inspiring or memorable
 
The final level for gear addicts who have tried almost everything is transcendence. Once you reach this state, you come to realize that most high-gain amps sound pretty similar and only have minute differences between them once dialed in to a mix. In fact, gear doesn't actually matter at all (as long as it works). Most people care about what you're playing, not what gear you're using. In fact, if you use cheap, unknown amps/guitars/speakers and record a great album with it, people will start trying to copy your tone.

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GJgo said:
a Wizard MTL
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I’d try a boosted MC. Seems like that’d be more your bag than the mtl. Or hell get your hands on a ground zero, or monomyth modded Marshall. My monomyth vintage modern is just insanity.

Fryette stuff is very good, and pretty affordable. The old school VHT deliverance models are money. Not to mention LOUD. With a traditional OD808 lots of fun.

The OG Uber and Uber ultra might not be your bag either. Very low middy amps and super bright up top. BUT that cuts super well in a mix, on its own can get fatiguing. In recordings it really doesn’t need much eq at all when dialed right. The ultra can get stupid tight with the added controls too. The Uber ultra can sound damn near identical to the OG with the right settings. It is the most flexible of any amp I actually own.
 
GJgo said:
I can afford more, I'm just trying to be realistic about an amp that I'll drag out to gigs. There's a risk / reward here.

I will say I do like the OG Uber clips I've heard. Not the Ultra clips, though.

There's a '96 SLO for sale about 4 hours from me that's tempting. I LOVE the SLO, but I think it's just a bit soft for metal.

I've heard a lot of good things from gigging guys about the 5150 Stealth, FWIW.
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Push the front end and you are there probably.

How much for that ‘96 btw?
 
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311splawndude said:
Gotta know what the pipe if for :LOL:

A/C I'm assuming or is it a studio thing?
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it's my glory hole .....

actually ... my studio is a 15 x 15 room in a basement ....I have no windows ..... thats the feed for my AC .... I'm in New England .... we go from 90 degrees with tropical humidity to 42 degrees in a 8 hour span ....
 
Hermansson. Wish he would post here an update on his new flagship amp. That other Swedish dude with the 4channel rack head looks badass….not 2500 though.
 
Diezel, ENGL, Driftwood, KSR, Bogner

There are a million options

I disagree with pipboy, gear only doesn't matter if your sound doesn't matter

If youre going for a "as long as it's decent" sound you can certainly make it work for "as long as it's decent" music

I would argue that the homogeneous nature of modern rock and metal is because of too many people taking this approach
 
I would recommend a Rivera K-Tre, has a TON of gain on the dirty side and a very underrated clean channel as well. It has so much bottom end on the dirty channel that it can be a little loose at times but nothing a decent tube screamer or something of that nature going through the front end can't fix. Serious chugs! I run mine through a 4x12 with 30's & 75's in an X-Pattern and it sounds killer. They can be had for about $1,200-1,400 on the used market which is a steal for what you actually get.
 
JackBootedThug said:
Hermansson. Wish he would post here an update on his new flagship amp. That other Swedish dude with the 4channel rack head looks badass….not 2500 though.
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That Euge demoed?

Did Henrik present his flagship already?
 
What about a tweaked 1959? A touch more gain and tightness. Feel like you’d like that considering you like harmonics and clarity from my memory.
 
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