Need a new amp, vote on the list, kids

[J the TyranT]

This one's mostly for Andy and James... well, I know I've beaten Andy up before on AIM about this, but, now that I've actually got some $$$ to blow [hey, maybe I can knock the companies around about endorsements?], I need to know....

Now I've used Triple Recs, Marshall 900's and 2000's, 5150's, and Road Kings, each with moderate success... mostly, we go back to the 5150,

But I need to pick up something new...

So, for something that will crunch out palm muted ballsiness kinda like Lamb's new Ashes, but has a bit Opeth mid and Shads Fall highs...

Do we go, Framus Cobra

Engl Savage

Krank Revolution

Gimme some fuckin details here, dudes...

Also, if any of you have any experience, my buddy wants to know about the Carvin Legacy...

Thanks in advance,

J - The Percussive Engineer =P

 

[Exsanguis]

Personally, I'd go with the Engl. The Savage is absolutely beastly for any great metal tone. That said, I've never played a Cobra, and have only played a Krank once, for about 45 minutes. I liked it, but I wasn't wildly impressed by it, as it sounded good, but had no distinct personality, unlike 5150's, Mesa's, Marshall's, or, for that matter, Engl's. Good luck shopping.

 

[Ermz]

Well my name ain't Andy, but with what you describe there I'd say the ENGL would be a great pick. Some friends of mine recently gigged with one and it had this amazing old-school thrash mid-chunk sound.

I'm sure James will point you towards the Cobra, and while at it, probably give many more quantified reasons as to why, hehe.

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Framus Cobra

Engl Savage

Pretty sure James agrees on the cobra.

The savage rips imo.

Might want to think about 5150 maybe too. Or not?

 

[Razorjack]

You could also think about a Deizel Herbert, amazing amps. Might be a little hard to get over in the US, but they sound so amazing. 180watts of pure brutallity (hell, with KT88's in it can hit 360watts!!).

From the amps you've listed though, you should get in touch with Tony Krank, he seems to be very happy to hand out endorsments atm.

 

[J the TyranT]

Man... the Peavey JSX just killed that Krank at the store today, I think so far...

Now Im more fucking confused then when I started.

 

[The ORIGINAL South Of Heaven]

I'd go with the Engl, personally. That being said, I've heard really good things about the JSX, since you bring it up. Never used one though. Supposedly they are based on the XXX, which is a fucking killer amp! The second guitarist in my old band had one, and those are some of the most brutal, yet clear sounding amps I've ever heard. Not all that expensive either.

 

[AmirH]

Haha, you and I have similar tastes. I'm certainly not qualified to talk about this- but when you find the sweet spot on those xxx's there isn't much out there that sounds better to my ears. The stock tubes kind of blow- only a few really great settings I could find, but you can pick one up cheap, have it retubed with really nice tubes, and have the bias reset a bit warmer and you have a KILLER amp that's now pretty versatile. Taxes killed me last week, but I've already been G.A.S.ing for a xxx for like a month now. Set it up proper and ooooh yeah

 

[DracWell]

I got the xxx some months ago, but I'm already thinking about an engl savage

 

[AmirH]

I like the way the framus amps sound a bit better. Engls sound so bright to me(for leads). Chunky sounding rhythm though. I wonder how much different the lead sounds on engls are in person. Actually- on that clips page that was posted the splawns caught my attention the most, but I digress...

 

[006]

Check out this clip...it was done with an Engl half stack (not sure which head/cab) recorded with a Neumann TLM193. Very impressive heavy distorted tone IMO. I'm actually thinking about trading this guy my 5150 combo for his Engl head (not the guy in the sound clip).

http://www.guitar-dominion.com/engl.mp3

Mhmm.

~006

 

[DracWell]

Sweet clip!

 

[AmirH]

Trade your 5150 for an ENGL? That sounds like an uneven trade for your friend, since a 5150 can be had for around 600 dollars off ebay.

How come no one has mentioned bogner? Uberschall delivers GREAT marshall tones, and the ectstasy and shiva are practically orgasmic as far as beautiful lead sounds go.

 

[DIOBOLIC5150]

I A/B'd an Uber and a Randall RM100 Modular Tube head... The Randall head is just sick! It has tons of chunk and screaming high end (at least with whatever modules were in it at the time). I think the RM100 would be a cool studio head because you can switch out the modules to get different sounds. The guys at Randall will even design a module based on your specs and what you play (so I hear). But the only thing that kills it is the price... If you have money to burn, it's worth checking out IMO.

 

[Ermz]

Trade your 5150 for an ENGL? That sounds like an uneven trade for your friend, since a 5150 can be had for around 600 dollars off ebay.

How come no one has mentioned bogner? Uberschall delivers GREAT marshall tones, and the ectstasy and shiva are practically orgasmic as far as beautiful lead sounds go.

Better lead sounds than the 5150?

 

[J the TyranT]

Well what's the real tone difference between a 5150 and a XXX? Anybody?

BTW, thanks so far guys, yer helpin out.

 

[AmirH]

Better lead sounds than the 5150?

The ectstasy in particular has probably the best lead sound I've ever heard... 5150 sounds awesome and all but it doesn't stack up to that, at least not for me. The uber sounds a lot more generic and would be a more fair comparison.

Main difference between 5150 and xxx... I've played both, but not for long enough to seriously tweak. From what I can tell- the 5150 is tighter, and would be a better bet if you're into that palm mute chunk. Mind you, the xxx chunks PLENTY and sounds huge with the damping set to loose but the one I played(a combo) sounded really great once you got the gain under control(which is a bit of a feat since it has stupid amounts of gain) and allowed for single not definition in fast strumming type riffs. The xxx also had a really beautiful middy overdrive that seemed to sustain for days and basically convinced me I wanted the amp. This occured once I rolled off the treble though and was one of the few sweet spots I found while tinkering. It was tricky to eq- it responded WAY sensitively to tiny adjustments but then when you found something it was like "oh hell yes." I didn't play the 5150 long enough to get any great lead tones but the ones I always hear from it are a lot more metal than I had the xxx sounding so it might be more up your alley. I'm definitely a rounded treble, thick mids blues fan as far as how I like my lead sounds so I'm not so sure the 5150 fits me as well the xxx- but I'd have to have more time to tweak and find out. Should be noted- xxx sounded like shit when the eq was off which is which is why I think I need more time to tweak a 5150 but that kinda goes for all amps doesn't it? Anyway, hope I helped.

 

[006]

Here's a clip I just recorded like 5 minutes ago for you, my 5150 in a very dry room (bare walls) recorded with a Shure KSM44 into an MBox. The mic was placed a little too far from the speaker, but the clip gives you an idea. Ignore the drum spots as I haven't put acoustic guitar over it yet, this is a song I have been working on, more or less scratch guitar tracks mainly to hear it myself and for you to hear the 5150. Check it...

http://www.guitar-dominion.com/5150.mp3

Yep.

~006

 

[006]

Also, from gigging with a friend's XXX head and matching 4x12, I think for me, my 5150 combo was a bit better for what I was using it for. Which is the style of stuff in the clip. The XXX could do it, but it wasn't as tight, and also was harder to get a great tone that would also cut through. The 5150 (combo or head) already has enough mids on it even with the knob significantly low to cut through, so I've found it excellent for recording and playing with a band/gigs. I used my friend's XXX half-stack for that one show because I was having new tubes put in my 5150. I am definitely looking into the XXX combo for recording, but it would be just there if a band wanted to use it at the studio or something. I would probably use it, of course, but I'm faithful to my 5150, hehe. Again, this is all subjective and based on my own experiences and opinions. In the end it's what sounds good to you. Best advice anyone can give you is to go out and play the amps you are looking at. Yep.

~006

 

[006]

Oh also, I found out that the Engl half-stack in that clip I posted a while back in this thread was an Engl Powerball head. And yes, it does seem like a fair trade considering it has no tubes in it, and my 5150 has 3 month old tubes in it. Also, the head has some scratches in the material that covers it, whereas my 5150 is in near mint condition, with only a scuff on the left side. Mhmm.

~006