Top 5 amps of all time that you have owned and why?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadAsAHatter
  • Start date Start date
MadAsAHatter

MadAsAHatter

Well-known member
It's been a minute since we've had one of these threads...

Stipulations for the list.
-You have personally owned the amp at one point in your life.
-List amps in order from most to least favorite.
-Only one amp per slot, no ties.
-Include a brief reason of why the amp takes that particular slot. (Include as much details as you want, but a couple of words to a sentence or two will suffice)
-Feel free to include ONE honorable mention in your list.
-Lastly, Pics if you got 'em.

My list is a follows:

1. Headfirst Alta 100 - The best, most versatile, easiest to dial in, do it all, channel switching British style amp I have ever had the pleasure of playing.
1696518185832.png


2. Ground Zero Hellion - A highest tier, do it all British style amp that can cover everything from vintage to in your face modern in a single channel.
1696518235342.png


3. MonoMyth Skeleton Key - One of the most aggressive high gain modern British style I've played. It will put other modern high gain amps to shame.
1696518530291.png


4. Naylor Superdrive 100 - It is likely the most raw, uncompressed amp I've played with a unique tone that doesn't really compare to anything else out there.
1696518614614.png


5. Jaded Faith/EVO TM50 - A perfect example of a versatile American voiced amp. The Vari-Q mids & mid shift give you precise control over those frequencies.
1696518720532.png


Honorable Mention: Zinky MOFO - Another raw sounding amp with a unique tone unmatched by anything else. It's just fun to play. Set everything to 11 and let it rip.
1696519135202.png
 
Atla is probably my number 1.
Skeleton Key is number 2
Mesa Mark IV is my number 3. Not my standard Marshall style amp so it gets me away from my usual.
5150/6505 is my number 4. Just nice to have one of these. They have their faults but they play great and feel good.
KSR is my number 5. Just an all around cool amp whether it's a Ares, Orion, or Gemini. I always like having one in the stable.
 
1. Friedman JJ-100 - modded with footswitchable JBE and separate volume for JBE

2. Bogner Ecstasy Classic

3. Dr. Z 6545

4. Bogner 20th Anniversary Ecstasy EL34

5. Marshall 2553

Honorable Mention: Bogner Shiva 6l6
 
Demeter TGA3: the most versatile amp I've owned to date
Soldano SLO: put the gains at noon, the masters at 7, and hang TF on
Egnater TOL: smoothest amp ever made
Metropoulos-built early Friedman BE100: the most ideal Marshall tones available
Bogner 101B white chassis: all the best Bog tones in one box
 
1. Diezel VH4 - Totally unique sounding amp - many great available tones

2. Koch Supernova - Also very unique sounding - deep, rich, 3D high gain tones - most versatile amp I have ever seen

3. Mesa Mark III Red Stripe - Ridiculous punch and volume - extremely aggressive - just plain angry

4. Diezel Herbert MRK I - Channel 2 in + mode with mid-cut engaged is nearly the perfect high gain rhythm sound - no post production required

5. Peavey 5150 II Voodoo Custom Mod - Kept all the aggressive qualities of the 5150 series - added articulation, responsiveness and clarity
 
1. 1971 Marshall Superlead
2. 1977 Marshall JMP
3. Wizard MCii 25 with 6L6’s
4. Bogner Ecstasy 101B
5. Soldano SLO 100
 
Diezel VH4 (blue face guts 1998 silver face) - Just so versatile and records so well.
Diezel Herbert MK1 - Pure evil but also records so clear
Marshall JMP-1 + Mesa Strategy 500 - Marshall midrange/Mesa low end. Loved it.
Mesa Single Rectoverb - This was a firebreather. I only sold it when i had the Herbert.
Orange Micro Dark - This is a monster with an OD in front. Beartooth trick.

V7qheM2_d.webp
 
1. Dual Rectifier 2 channels - the Sound of the 90ies and 2000, but still relevant

2. Marshall Jcm800 - the Rock sound! Defined the 80ies, but still relevant

3. Mesa Mark III green stripe - the other big Mesa Sound

4. Peavey 6505/6505+ - it‘s a huge metal machine. Just brutal, tight, barking and in your face.

5. Vox AC30 TB from the mid 60ies - has all the jangle and goodies like the Bulldog speakers etc. Man I love that clean tone!
One time when playing it, I had to check if I had a Reverb pedal hooked because of the depth it produces. It oozes over tones and 3-dimensionality but doesn’t smear like with a reverb on
 
1-tremoverb (2)
2-mark iv
3-vh4
4-jcm800zw halfstack
5-jvm 410 or road king version 1
I had a funny relationship with the road king. When dialed in it was awesome but I always kept fucking with it like rainman.
Honorable mention- 2 channel single rec. It was a nasty one…
 
1) Diezel VH4 - Thick, tight and crunchy. Very versatile. Some days I don’t appreciate the amount of compression or the round attack, but overall I very much enjoy playing this amp. Needs bright speakers. I plan on installing a variable negative feedback knob to allow me to open the amp up a bit more when needed.

2) Metropolous DVL-1 - Amazing plexi tone but could get more scooped/modern if needed. Incredible bloom to the bass notes. I regret selling this one. For some reason I had trouble cutting in a band mix. I needed to engage the boost in order to get the midrange cut going. It could be the amp or maybe I wasn’t dialing it in correctly. George makes amazing stuff.

3) Suhr SL68 - Excellent clean sound and harmonically rich crunch with a 4700pf bright cap installed. I still need to make the bright cap switchable. Great plexi clone.

4) SLO-100 (BAD version) - Just an awesome amp. Very articulate, harmonically rich, and versatile. Thunderous low end if needed. Only critiques are I don’t like the frequencies where the EQ is centered for the Middle or Depth controls. Speakers make a big difference.

5) Wizard MCII 100W - I had a love/hate relationship with this amp. Things I didn’t like: the weight, the Rhythm channel, the character of distortion, no sag in the playing response, lack of saturation. What I did like: how it ate boosts for breakfast, how articulate and clear it is, how much it punched at band practice. I want to try one out again, but I’ll likely go for a 50 watter. I’ll also need more money.
 
1. JCM800 2203: Open, dynamic, jagged, raw and aggressive as hell. Dumb amounts of versatility for a single channel with a few pedals. Guitar volume roll off for clean, pushed clean, light crunch. Depending on your choice of boost you can go 80's modded Marshall to modern metal. Very engaging amp to play.

2. Diezel VH4: Wholly unique voicing. Thick growl but can be dialed to have a nasty bite on top. Very, very unique distortion character (swirly 3D). Extreme versatility across the channels. Feels great to play. Tight and immediate.

3. Dual Rectifier: Again, wholly unique voicing. Very dynamic for a high gainer. Takes an 808 style boost like an absolute champion...chunks the amp up perfectly. Can get basically any sound you want out of it but it will always sound like a Recto. I own the multi-watt and Tremoverb.

4. JTM 45: Favorite cleans in the the world. Push it a bit to get that classic sag. Incredibly dynamic and engaging playing experience.

5. Wizard MTL 50: Open and raw. Huge sounding. Can get to rip your head off bright or doomy with a couple of knob turns. Saturation knob is absolute magic. Phenomenal amp...only reason it's not higher is it's not my favorite core voicing but it has alot else going for it.

For reference, other amps I currently own or have recently owned: Diezel (VHX, Hagen, D-Moll, BigMax, Herbert), Monomyth (Skeleton Key, modded Origin 50), Headfirst Alta, KSR (Orthos Mk II, Orion), Boogie (Mark III no stripe, Mark V, JP2C), EVH 5150III EL34, Peavey 6505 1992 Original, Carstens Grace, Orange (Rockerverb 100, Thunderverb 50), Revv Generator 120 MkII, Friedman Phil X
 
Torgo2003 said:
1. JCM800 2203: Open, dynamic, jagged, raw and aggressive as hell. Dumb amounts of versatility for a single channel with a few pedals. Guitar volume roll off for clean, pushed clean, light crunch. Depending on your choice of boost you can go 80's modded Marshall to modern metal. Very engaging amp to play.

2. Diezel VH4: Wholly unique voicing. Thick growl but can be dialed to have a nasty bite on top. Very, very unique distortion character (swirly 3D). Extreme versatility across the channels. Feels great to play. Tight and immediate.

3. Dual Rectifier: Again, wholly unique voicing. Very dynamic for a high gainer. Takes an 808 style boost like an absolute champion...chunks the amp up perfectly. Can get basically any sound you want out of it but it will always sound like a Recto. I own the multi-watt and Tremoverb.

4. JTM 45: Favorite cleans in the the world. Push it a bit to get that classic sag. Incredibly dynamic and engaging playing experience.

5. Wizard MTL 50: Open and raw. Huge sounding. Can get to rip your head off bright or doomy with a couple of knob turns. Saturation knob is absolute magic. Phenomenal amp...only reason it's not higher is it's not my favorite core voicing but it has alot else going for it.

For reference, other amps I currently own or have recently owned: Diezel (VHX, Hagen, D-Moll, BigMax, Herbert), Monomyth (Skeleton Key, modded Origin 50), Headfirst Alta, KSR (Orthos Mk II, Orion), Boogie (Mark III no stripe, Mark V, JP2C), EVH 5150III EL34, Peavey 6505 1992 Original, Carstens Grace, Orange (Rockerverb 100, Thunderverb 50), Revv Generator 120 MkII, Friedman Phil X
Click to expand...
Would you say it’s worth owning a Tremoverb and a Multi-Watt? I’m getting a Tremoverb tomorrow. I went back and forth on this decision.

Also, what’s your opinion on the Headfirst Alta for someone that likes 2203/2204s as well?
 
1 - Mesa Roadster
2 - Bogner Uberschall Rev Blue
3 - Rivera Knucklehead II
4 - Peavey 5150 Block Letter
5 - Soldano Hot Rod 100 Plus

Of course, the Roadster is only my CURRENT favorite, and it could change between any of the top 3 at any time because I still own them.

Honorable mention - Rhino Beast - I'll never sell this thing. I always get a kick out of playing it, because it's a really great sounding amp. One of these days I'm gonna have a tech fix the minor issues it has.
 
pipboy90 said:
Would you say it’s worth owning a Tremoverb and a Multi-Watt? I’m getting a Tremoverb tomorrow. I went back and forth on this decision.

Also, what’s your opinion on the Headfirst Alta for someone that likes 2203/2204s as well?
Click to expand...
I think they're different enough to own both. Voicing is a bit different and I feel like the Tremo has a little more gain. That being said, I actually prefer the Multi-Watt but most of that is just because it's a smaller, lighter package with more versatility and still does the Recto thing. I know most would prefer the Tremoverb though.

Channel 2 in Vintage on the Alta sounds alot like a 2203/2204 to me. Jason doesn't smooth things out too much like a Friedman might - it can get plenty raw. That being said, I do prefer the Marshall. It's just a touch nastier to me but most of the preference is probably just the fact that I love playing through a single channel and I don't need a full midi switching setup with multiple voicing options. Alta is badass though and if I had to consolidate down to a few amps it would be on the shortlist because it does so much so well.
 
1. 1972 Marshall Superlead
Thump, cut and the best clarity of any amp I’ve owned. Stock, boosted just a killer
2. Rev C Recto
This amp had the low mids of a Mesa like you’d expect, but you can Dime the bass and mids and it just got better sounding; power and thump like an SLO and the best clarity of any Mesa I’ve played.
3. 1982 2204
This was easily the best MV Marshall I’ve ever played. Incredible bloom. GC for 799. Had a slight gain mod and a tube loop.
4. Naylor SD60
As others said, just a great sound that’s like a darker 2204, with great feel and is raw/open, but still smooth in some way.
5. Wizard MC100
Monster amp. My 72 only rivals it in thump. Killer
6. Mark 2C SRG
Have to mention this one; this was my first C+ but it was one angry raw Mfer as a C. Honestly should have kept it as a C.
 
Last edited:
Not necessarily in this order, depends on the day. Hahaha

Mesa Rev C Recto- Tightest, juiciest, most aggressive Recto ever. Kills straight in or boosted.
100% worthy of the hype It receives.

Mesa IIC++ SG- Absolute beast of an amp. Off the charts feel, aggression, growl, piss and vinegar. Extreme levels of harmonic content and complexity to the gain structure. Can be dialed in to be fat and juicy or tight af. Hard to believe an amp could do what it does in 1984.

‘79 JMP 2203- Gone full circle from modded Marshalls back to stock/boosted. IMO no modded Marshall can match the raw, nasty, grind of a boosted vintage Marshall, especially In the mids.

2016 Wizard MTL 100- Hits like an 800lb gorilla with incredible clarity. Raw, jagged, punishing, menacing, low mid tone with bad intentions. Nothing pretty about it. On the dryish side but has an incredible feeling of connectedness that makes you really want to dig in. Clips do Wizards no justice, they must be experienced in person. One of the few modern production amps that can hang with the great vintage amps.

Naylor 100- Raw, open, articulate, with an amazing sticky feel. Flamethrower when boosted. Loves a boost like a Recto or vintage Marshall. Killer power section that hits hard and really goes next level at band volumes. Reminiscent of a JCM800 meets a Recto meets a Hiwatt. One of the best amps out there, and again, one of the few imo that can hang with the vintage greats
 
1.) Reserved for a pending acquisition
2.) Early Komet K60, straight-in through a ‘72 1960B with Pulsonic Greenbacks, it can go from great big cleans to wild gain - all through riding guitar volume. It’s just a fun stallion to ride! Bonus: ability to use a number of different power tubes.

IMG_3182.jpeg


3.) Bogner Ecstasy 100B the most amazing Swiss Army knife amp. It could do it all: Beautiful cleans, through that infamous chewy Bogner overdrive.

IMG_2878.jpeg


4.) Late Mesa Mark IIB KRG - what’s not to like about massive iron fueled by 6 6L6GC’s? Explosive, massive tones that can peel paint off the walls.

IMG_3206.jpeg


5.) Mesa Mark IIC+ SRG - very versatile, and the most pissed-off version of the 8 C+/++’s I owned

IMG_2360.jpeg



[Edit]: Honorable mention goes to my ‘65 BF Bassman

IMG_3981.jpeg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top