13 replies to this topic

[GuitarGrizz]

After I move out on my own within the next six months to a year, my next two things I'll be saving up for is a new electric guitar and a louder guitar amp (right now I'm coping with my line6 spider 30 watt). I want the new guitar to be more of a metal sounding guitar, emg pickups, ibanez type of tone to it (hell, it might be an ibanez that I buy), so what kind of amp would fit with that metal tone I'm looking for. Tube amps are the way to go I've often found from jamming at guitar center, but what are some suggestions gtu? brands? and not Fender.

[Matt B]

What's your price range? If you have the money, a Mesa Boogie Rectifier or Stilleto would be great. If that's going to be too spendy, you could try to find a good deal on a Peavey XXX or 6150.

[Dave C]

If I wanted a metal sound, I would take my Randall or my Peavey.

[GuitarGrizz]

Well, if I'm going to make the purchase I want to do it the right way. Plus, these purchases are a while from now unfortunately. First, a home, second - new electric guitar, third - the amp, fourth - new acoustic. How much is the Mesa Boogie? Never heard of it.
Though I do like Peavey, I don't think the metal/distortion tone is quite what I'm looking for. Randall could very well work though.

[Dave C]

Mesa boogie are very good and very expensive. Some say the best.

[Matt B]

Depending on which Boogie you go with, you are looking at about $2,000. More if you want to go with a head/cab set up. A Stilletto or a Dual or Triple Rectifier, a Rect-o-verb, or the Mark V. The Mark V would be my choice. It runs about $2,200 for the combo, I think. It's got a lot of options, and can do everything from a country clean to a bluesy overdrive to a gain soaked metal tone.

Another route might be to check out the Roland Cube series. They aren't tube, but they sound amazing. I can get a great metal tone out of my Cube 60. And if you were to put metal distortion pedal of some sort in front of it, you could get the tone you are after for about a third of the price of the Mesa.

Edited by matt_theripper, 20 February 2012 - 02:44 PM.

[GuitarGrizz]

I appreciate the suggestions guys. I'll be doing some amp shopping as soon as I get the chance..more like the spare money.

[CrazyCal]

Orange amps are very good too.

[Matt B]

I know this is a bit old now, but I've run into some brands I thought I'd throw out for you.

Check out Jet City, they are basically a budget Soldano, as they are designed by Mike Soldano. The JCA-22H or 2212 combo would probably fit your needs, they make 50 watt versions if you want more than 20 watts. I would also look at Blackstar, an HT-20 or HT-40 would probably fit the bill as well.

[SmashySmashy]

I love my Mesa Boogie Express 5:25. I paid 800 CAD for it used back in the spring and I have no regrets. Great sounding amp, dual channels, loads of tone options and great for home use and gigging thanks to the 5 watt/25 watt power selection switch. Master volume, gain, 3 band EQ, footswitchable reverb plus a contour selector which gives the amp better presence on each channel, channel 1 has clean and dirty selections via a toggle switch while channel 2 has it's own toggle to switch between a more aggressive distortion and a heavy distortion. Like I said, I have no regrets buying it and can't wait to couple it with a higher quality guitar (looking at a Gibson ES-335).

[lowden]

Blackstar are producing some great amps, I bought the little HT-5 for home use and it kicks ass, it's 5 watts will live with most 20/25 watt amps for volume., can't argue against mesa boogies, but it's sometimes hard to get them to produce their great tone at low volume (that can become an issue when playing smaller clubs, when your amp is drowning everyone else out). if cash is not an issue and volume will not upset the neighbors, mesa boogie would be my choice, (but i'd have them in hardwood and wicker), a VOX AC30 gives great brit tone, but look at Blackstar.

[Matt B]

A lot of newer Mesa amps have switches to bring the power down to 5w or 10w depending on the amp. The new Express 5:25 Plus is switchable from 5w to 15w to 25w on each channel. 5w is still loud, but it's less likely to make your neighbors hate you!

[SmashySmashy]

My only complaint with the original Express 5:25 that I have is the fact that there is some rattling in the cabinet when you have it set to 25 watts. I'd get it looked at, except I almost never use it at 25 watts since I mainly play at home. The Express 5:25 Plus seems like a better value amp to be honest, with both channels having the ability to switch between 5, 15 and 25 watts, plus the 5 band EQ and Solo control, all of which are footswitchable, whereas the original has just the Channel, Reverb and Contour switches. Honestly though I'd change the speaker though if I were buying the Express 5:25, no matter the model. It comes with a Celestion G12, and I find it's a very muddy sounding speaker with too many mids and not enough highs and lows.

[dadfad]

Mesa boogie are very good and very expensive. Some say the best.

I agree. My main amp is a Mesa Boogie which I've had for a long time. (Actually I used to have a second identical one for a backup, but finally let a friend have it who'd always wanted it.) I have quite a few good amps, but I prefer the Mesa for almost everything. And they really take hard use for a very long time. At least mine has and I've heard the same thing from others.

Oh, b/t/w... I'm not sure if they still make it as it's been probably ten or more years (my Mesa is one of the original Boogies from like 1970-ish), but they'd started making a model called the S.O.B. (Son of a Boogie) which wasn't quite as expensive as some of their other models, but still was extremely powerful and versatile. I played through one several times in a band where I substituted for their regular guitarist for a few gigs. A great amp. I liked it enough to not think it was worth the trouble to bring my own Mesa.

Anyway...