So I'm buying an amp - help!

MilanPan!c

Many of you guys have heard my music, all of it recorded in Hum Studio (my kitchen) with amp sims. Based on what you've heard can anyone help me out here.

Traditionally I'd say my favourite amp would be an Orange Pics Only.

But buying a second hand one of those ain't exactly easy (IME). I know some some folks swear by the newish Anniv "reissue".

I also know a few guys say they PREFER the Twin Terror.

Others prefer the Cornfords.

I'm not a Marshall kinda guy, but am open to trying something that's highly recommended.

I will be using it for live and recording. The venues will range from clubs to ... Larger than clubs, say.

Reliable (I.e. Not brutally expensive to run) is a plus.

I may end up with a twin for clean, if that makes a difference.

It won't be for a few months, so no need to say, "I can sell you x". Though if you PM me in early September....

So guys, what say you?

DamagedTrax

wait till you try the dual rec tomorrow, you may be organising a meet with your bank manager

TelePaul

DamagedTrax wrote: »

wait till you try the dual rec tomorrow, you may be organising a meet with your bank manager

An orange to a Mesa is a big jump, no? Not that Mesas aren't wintastic.

SeanHurley

What's your budget Milan?

I am completely smitten with my Mesa Boogie Roadster (although that is quite expensive). Joe in the Nut Shed uses a Rect-O-Verb and it is beautiful. I was sceptical at first that Mesa's were all about heavy metal but they are actually quite versatile.

I have heard great things about the Tiny Terror although I have not used it. Another amp that I know people think is great is the valve power 18 watt yoke that Brewer has http://www.valvepower.co.uk/ I have never heard a bad word about it, I am actually going to pick one up for the studio just to have it.

MilanPan!c

SeanHurley wrote: »

What's your budget Milan?

I am completely smitten with my Mesa Boogie Roadster (although that is quite expensive). Joe in the Nut Shed uses a Rect-O-Verb and it is beautiful. I was sceptical at first that Mesa's were all about heavy metal but they are actually quite versatile.

I have heard great things about the Tiny Terror although I have not used it. Another amp that I know people think is great is the valve power 18 watt yoke that Brewer has http://www.valvepower.co.uk/ I have never heard a bad word about it, I am actually going to pick one up for the studio just to have it.

Hmm thanks for that Brewer amp tip! Must investigate!

Mesa? I would also think metal.

Budget? Depends on a few things but no more than 2K... And the less the better.

MilanPan!c

DamagedTrax wrote: »

wait till you try the dual rec tomorrow, you may be organising a meet with your bank manager

I am def excited to try it!

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Hmm thanks for that Brewer amp tip! Must investigate!

Mesa? I would also think metal.

Budget? Depends on a few things but no more than 2K... And the less the better.

What about a nice AC30?

SeanHurley

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Hmm thanks for that Brewer amp tip! Must investigate!

Mesa? I would also think metal.

Budget? Depends on a few things but no more than 2K... And the less the better.

Seriously you should give the Mesas a chance, they are really great sounding amps IMO. you should be able to get one of their combos for under 2k. Seriously try one of them, yes you can over do it on the heft side but if you spend time to get to know the amp they are tone heaven.

Having said that for 2k you could get a Fender Twin Reverb and an Orange Tiny Terror (or Dual Terror).

Check out the Valvepower yoke. Ask Paul about his, I know he thinks its a great yoke.

SeanHurley

TelePaul wrote: »

What about a nice AC30?

You would have to get an old one tho, the new ones sound pants.

DamagedTrax

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Mesa? I would also think metal.

not at all. i mean, they do metal very well but their clean channel is lovely but for me the real strength is when you drive them a touch and you get that lovely warm crunch out of them.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

What about a nice AC30?

I thought about a custom classic, but worry it'll be able to keep up, volume wise, in some enviroments.

???

TelePaul

SeanHurley wrote: »

You would have to get an old one tho, the new ones sound pants.

I dunno...I think the chinese label has brought alot of criticism, perhaps unfairly so...nut I prefer the AC15, so take my opinion with a grain of salt!

MilanPan!c

SeanHurley wrote: »

Seriously you should give the Mesas a chance, they are really great sounding amps IMO. you should be able to get one of their combos for under 2k. Seriously try one of them, yes you can over do it on the heft side but if you spend time to get to know the amp they are tone heaven.

Having said that for 2k you could get a Fender Twin Reverb and an Orange Tiny Terror (or Dual Terror).

Check out the Valvepower yoke. Ask Paul about his, I know he thinks its a great yoke.

I used to own a twin reverb from the 1970s... Great amp when it worked...

that valvepower amp is more a recording thing??

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I thought about a custom classic, but worry it'll be able to keep up, volume wise, in some enviroments.

???

PA aside?

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

PA aside?

Well, if you're purely relying on the PA things can happen, bad things.



I'd like to have enough to avoid that.

Maybe the standard of PAs are astonishing here, but in the states...

SeanHurley

TelePaul wrote: »

I dunno...I think the chinese label has brought alot of criticism, perhaps unfairly so...nut I prefer the AC15, so take my opinion with a grain of salt!

We had one for a while and while it was "grand" it wasn't stellar, just always sounded a bit fake or something. We had issues with build qualite (dodgy switches) also. Plus it was ridiculously heavy for a combo

MilanPan!c

SeanHurley wrote: »

We had one for a while and while it was "grand" it wasn't stellar, just always sounded a bit fake or something. We had issues with build qualite (dodgy switches) also. Plus it was ridiculously heavy for a combo

Voxs have ALWAYS been bizaarely heavy. Never understood it.

SeanHurley

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I used to own a twin reverb from the 1970s... Great amp when it worked...

that valvepower amp is more a recording thing??

I think it is rugged enough to hit the road, and from memory they are meant to be plenty loud. Again Brewski will have the answers.

In fairness though a combo is a handier prospect when gigging. I'm lugging around a head and a 4x12 cab and it is a PITA. I'm probably gonna invest in a 2x12 cab for handyness.

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Well, if you're purely relying on the PA things can happen, bad things.



I'd like to have enough to avoid that.

Maybe the standard of PAs are astonishing here, but in the states...

I just think if you're going for a large club - or larger than clubs - you don't have much of a choice...unless you want to go the half/double stack route.

Also, if your PA quits, amp volume is the least of your worries - what's your vocalist going to do.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

I just think if you're going for a large club - or larger than clubs - you don't have much of a choice...unless you want a double stack.

I hear that... I just don't wanna be in a stupid situation where I'm always struggling with volume... you know?

Who knows... I totally miss my Twin and don't miss lugging a 4x12...

All I want is a really loud, versatile, light and easy to transport, top-range, reliable, cheap to maintain, amazing sounding in every situation, amp.

MilanPan!c

So, things to try:

New Orange "reissue"/Dual Terror
AC 30 CC
Mesa

And I need to research that other 18 watter.

XMusic??

Oh and Cornford? Anyone?

Just looked at the artist list ^^

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

All I want is a really loud, versatile, light and easy to transport, top-range, reliable, cheap to maintain, amazing sounding in every situation, amp.

Ha!

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

So, things to try:

New Orange "reissue"/Dual Terror
AC 30 CC
Mesa

And I need to research that other 18 watter.

XMusic??

Oh and Cornford? Anyone?

There's also /13, Buddha and Dr Z...

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

There's also /13, Buddha and Dr Z...

go on...


Holy crap... the main amp on the Budda page is shockingly ugly and intensely knobby... what the hell?



http://www.budda.com/

I'd be ashamed to play that.

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

go on...

Uhmm well also Rivera, Hughes&Kettner, Engl, Blackstar....

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

http://www.budda.com/

I'd be ashamed to play that.

Looks like Waylon Jennings' leather-covered Telecaster!

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Uhmm well also Rivera, Hughes&Kettner, Engl, Blackstar....

hahaha... I meant tell me what you'd recommend of those?

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

hahaha... I meant tell me what you'd recommend of those?

Havn't played them all. But the Dr Zs are getting consistently amazing reviews. Out of those others listed, the Hughes&Kettner are pretty nice, and the Blackstars are very versatile albeit it a touch on the clinical side sound-wise. Engl are largely a high-gain offering. There's been a big resurgence in simple-circuit boutique-inspired offerings.

If, somewhere down the line, you find yourself with a spare 300 bills, the Marshall Class 5 is a stunning amp - only 5 watts though.

MilanPan!c

The problem I have, when you get into boutique amps, is this:

what the heck are you actually buying?

I know SOME people swear by their collection of 5K 10watt amps, but I need a tool, something to get the job done, consistently, without being a pain...

Plus, can you even buy most of those in Dublin?

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Havn't played them all. But the Dr Zs are getting consistently great reviews. Out of those others listed, the Hughes&Kettner are pretty nice, and the Blackstars are very versatile albeit it a touch on the clinical side sound-wise.

Yeah, I had a friend that played a Parker Fly, the expensive one, through H&K and it sounded completely bizarre... cool, but just over the flipping top.

I like a bit of the ol' coming apart at the seams, when appropriate... that's why I liked the twin..

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

The problem I have, when you get into boutique amps, is this:

what the heck are you actually buying?

I know SOME people swear by their collection of 5K 10watt amps, but I need a tool, something to get the job done, consistently, without being a pain...

Alot of them are hand-wired point-to-point, no PCBs. That's a can of worms I don't want to open though. The 10 watt amps thing, I think, comes from the distrust of the perceived benefits of a master volume control...people would rather turn their small amps up than turn their big amps down, or alternatively attenuate (another can of worms). What you'll find though is that, broadly speaking, the more money you pay, the less ancillary features you get: while I'm the opinion that these extras are rightly sacrificed in favour of a better sound, I think for the purposes of a working rig, some of the more mainstream brands would be more appropriate. For the record, I love 5 watt amps.

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Plus, can you even buy most of those in Dublin?

Probably not, though this problem isn't confined to high-end amps. Stena-line mate!

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I like a bit of the ol' coming apart at the seams, when appropriate... that's why I liked the twin..

Sure, I hear ya, same with the original Tweed Deluxes.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Sure, I hear ya, same with the original Tweed Deluxes.

exactly!

I just don't think the Twin is versatile enough for what I'm doing now... the clean certainly ain't pristine... which was good for my old band, but not for this...

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

exactly!

I just don't think the Twin is versatile enough for what I'm doing now... the clean certainly ain't pristine... which was good for my old band, but not for this...

Pristine cleans? JC 120! No drive whatsoever. Distortion not allowed.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Alot of them are hand-wired point-to-point, no PCBs. That's a can of worms I don't want to open though. The 10 watt amps thing, I think, comes from the distrust of the perceived benefits of a master volume control...people would rather turn their small amps up than turn their big amps down, or alternatively attenuate (another can of worms). What you'll find though is that, broadly speaking, the more money you pay, the less ancillary features you get: while I'm the opinion that these extras are rightly sacrificed in favour of a better sound, I think for the purposes of a working rig, some of the more mainstream brands would be more appropriate. For the record, I love 5 watt amps.



Probably not, though this problem isn't confined to high-end amps. Stena-line mate!

well, we're gonna be in London a lot this fall (so I hear) so I guess wait until then... hmm... hate to give those bastards any more of my hard earned dosh money though...

esp with 20% VAT! ahhhhhh

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

well, we're gonna be in London a lot this fall (so I hear) so I guess wait until then... hmm... hate to give those bastards any more of my hard earned dosh money though...

esp with 20% VAT! ahhhhhh

VAT is the same here. London is in the EU so you wont pay any import duty either.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Pristine cleans? JC 120! No drive whatsoever. Distortion not allowed.

yeah, but what about when I NEEEED it?

this is why you try and find a nice two channel amp..

Though... two amps is always a good option...

Man, this is why I asked for help!

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

VAT is the same here. London is in the EU so you wont pay any import duty either.

Yeah, but that VAT goes to my government!

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Yeah, but that VAT goes to my government!

Anyone who calls Autumn 'Fall' need not swear fiscal fealty to Cowen and the lads

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

yeah, but what about when I NEEEED it?

this is why you try and find a nice two channel amp..

Though... two amps is always a good option...

Man, this is why I asked for help!

Two amps is a stellar, if expensive, option. And an A/B switch obviously.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i have a mesa f-50 - compact and huge sounding .

and for recording i use tone bones tube adapters so i can put in el84 instead of 6l6 tubes

makes it a cross between a mesa and an ac30 but its nice.

there is someone selling an awsome vintage ac30 rebuild on adverts ie - if i had the dosh id get it .

the new voxs are not good , i wanted to get them but after research id stay clear.

the tiny terror amp is good , but the tiny terror combos are boxy and thin sounding.

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Anyone who calls Autumn 'Fall' need not swear fiscal fealty to Cowen and the lads

Irish citizen, Irish wife, Irish kids.

(shhhh about the kids)

MilanPan!c

TelePaul wrote: »

Two amps is a stellar, if expensive, option. And an A/B switch obviously.

I was interested until the A/B switch... can't afford that!

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Irish citizen, Irish wife, Irish kids.

(shhhh about the kids)

You have be jonesing after a new two-amp set-up right now...hmmm....Mesa and Rolanc JC anyone?

TelePaul

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I was interested until the A/B switch... can't afford that!

HAH! The Electro Harmonix Switchblade is fine for that so long as you don't need both simultaneously.

Mataguri

I'd wholeheartedly recommend that you check out an Axe FX. I bought an Ultra two weeks ago and I'm currently selling off all my old amps cause I just don't need them anymore. Sounds amazing plugged in direct for recording and sounds amazing in a band situation through a full range speaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oER9vtXj-1Q

trackmixstudio

I have a mesa triple recto.
The heavy drive is amazing as you would expect.
The clean and crunch sounds are terrible though.
Very flat with no life or sparkle.
I have a H&K Triamp mk2 and it is perfect for the sounds the Mesa cannot do yet it can also do heavy drive really well.
If I could only keep one head from my mesa, HK, Peaey 6505 and Marshall DSL, the HK would be the one. 6 channels going from fender clean to mesa drive and everywhere in between. PM me if you want to call over and have a go on it.

There is one on adverts for a grand. I know the guy selling it. He bought one after recording with mine.
http://www.adverts.ie/225229/guitar-and-bass/hughes-and-kettner-triamp-mkii/

New from GAK
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/72328

i57dwun4yb1pt8

Mataguri wrote: »

I'd wholeheartedly recommend that you check out an Axe FX. I bought an Ultra two weeks ago and I'm currently selling off all my old amps cause I just don't need them anymore. Sounds amazing plugged in direct for recording and sounds amazing in a band situation through a full range speaker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oER9vtXj-1Q

its not bad , but it sounds digital to me , and im deaf .and listening over you tube .
its like an expensive pod
also a bit thin and choked sounding - just a bit - but enough to notice it.

any direct clips of this ?

progsound

TelePaul wrote: »

You have be jonesing after a new two-amp set-up right now...hmmm....Mesa and Rolanc JC anyone?

Yup have both never bothered bringing both to a gig though just to much hastle

Mataguri

DaDumTish wrote: »

any direct clips of this ?

Plenty here: http://www.fractalaudio.com/experience.html

MilanPan!c

trackmixstudio wrote: »

I have a mesa triple recto.
The heavy drive is amazing as you would expect.
The clean and crunch sounds are terrible though.
Very flat with no life or sparkle.
I have a H&K Triamp mk2 and it is perfect for the sounds the Mesa cannot do yet it can also do heavy drive really well.
If I could only keep one head from my mesa, HK, Peaey 6505 and Marshall DSL, the HK would be the one. 6 channels going from fender clean to mesa drive and everywhere in between. PM me if you want to call over and have a go on it.

There is one on adverts for a grand. I know the guy selling it. He bought one after recording with mine.
http://www.adverts.ie/225229/guitar-and-bass/hughes-and-kettner-triamp-mkii/

New from GAK
http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/72328

thanks for the info and the offer!

don't be surprised if I take you up on it!