new amp head question

[harryjx2]

alright so im looking into getting a new amp head and i was hoping to get one that will give me a sound closer to like a paramore or mayday parade kinda sound with nice clean any suggestions my budget is anything under 1000 if possible and i have a strat

[foisol]

Try to get a JCM 2000 DSL used. You want tube tone... trust me. JCM 2000 DSL's are also one of the few tube amps I know that are easier to take care of. Keyword = easier.

[patrickhowell]

You can easily find a used Mesa Single Rectifier in that price range. That would really be ideal. Also, what kind of strat do you have? If you don't have a humbucker in the bridge position, you're really not going to be able to get that tone.

JCM 2000 DSL's are also one of the few tube amps I know that are easier to take care of. Keyword = easier.

How so? Modern Marshall's (JCM900 and newer) are some of the least reliable tube amps available...

[mylastflight]

but jcm 2000 sound like garbage

[foisol]

You can easily find a used Mesa Single Rectifier in that price range. That would really be ideal. Also, what kind of strat do you have? If you don't have a humbucker in the bridge position, you're really not going to be able to get that tone.



How so? Modern Marshall's (JCM900 and newer) are some of the least reliable tube amps available...

I've had no grief with them to date. I don't own one anymore though. The guys in my last band both played DSL's, and they were playing with the same amp (minus changing of tubes) and gigging for the past 3 years before I came along and sang for them for a short while. No problems at all.

[patrickhowell]

I've had no grief with them to date. I don't own one anymore though. The guys in my last band both played DSL's, and they were playing with the same amp (minus changing of tubes) and gigging for the past 3 years before I came along and sang for them for a short while. No problems at all.

3 years (should) be a very short amount of time for an amp. There are plenty of 50's / 60's Fenders that are still sounding great. Some of them out there still working well with the original tubes. Most modern amps won't last even close to that long. Marshall JCM 900, JCM 2000, and Haze series are all very problematic amps. This doesn't mean that every one is bad, but the percentage is way worse than it should be. There are recurring problems in the amps because of lazy design and cheap components. The same goes for the Fender Hot Rod series. All these amps can sound great, but I see broken ones on a constant basis.

[foisol]

3 years (should) be a very short amount of time for an amp. There are plenty of 50's / 60's Fenders that are still sounding great. Some of them out there still working well with the original tubes. Most modern amps won't last even close to that long. Marshall JCM 900, JCM 2000, and Haze series are all very problematic amps. This doesn't mean that every one is bad, but the percentage is way worse than it should be. There are recurring problems in the amps because of lazy design and cheap components. The same goes for the Fender Hot Rod series. All these amps can sound great, but I see broken ones on a constant basis.

I think the key is maintenance in general though dude. I'm saving up to get a Bogner Uberschall. Before I settled on getting that, I was eyeing a Diezel VH4. These are extremely expensive amps... obviously amplification for the pro player (I gig and record... not just my own band but for several)... and I know what a bitch it's going to be if (WHEN, more likely) my amp breaks down. Luckily, I take care of my equipment really well.

I do agree with your previous post though... a Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier will be more than enough for the guy who asked what amp he should get. I just didn't know you could get a used head for less than $1000. I might get one myself, if I have the money, as a back up amp after I get the Uberschall.

[patrickhowell]

I think the key is maintenance in general though dude. I'm saving up to get a Bogner Uberschall. Before I settled on getting that, I was eyeing a Diezel VH4. These are extremely expensive amps... obviously amplification for the pro player (I gig and record... not just my own band but for several)... and I know what a bitch it's going to be if (WHEN, more likely) my amp breaks down. Luckily, I take care of my equipment really well.

I do agree with your previous post though... a Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier will be more than enough for the guy who asked what amp he should get. I just didn't know you could get a used head for less than $1000. I might get one myself, if I have the money, as a back up amp after I get the Uberschall.

The Uberschall is a really well-built amp, the new Bogners I was talking about are the Alchemist series... They're built in the Line 6 factory in China. And no, it's not just about maintenance, it's about companies cutting corners and using cheap parts, sub-par designs, and/or poor construction techniques.

[mylastflight]

Bogner makes great amp i especially love the shiva but i have to disagree with patrick on this one. A few of my friends own bogners amps (extacy shiva and ubershell) and they all had some kinda problems with it. and they cost like 3000$ although the tone is great, id be pissed off if my $3000 amp have a problem

[foisol]

This is the very reason I don't want to get a Diezel VH4... AMAZING amp, but seriously, judging by how many people are saying it breaks down a lot, and that you have to send it back to Germany to get it fixed... no thank you.

[harryjx2]

so a mesa boogie?

[EscSirBssist]

My singer/guitarist just got a Mesa Rectoverb for $750 and its pristine... you can usually find them at this price.

Forgot to add:
Check these out: Carvin Legacy, Peavey Classic 50. If you have the money, definitely check out Soldano.

[Lost In A Name]

I recently bought the new Peavy head 3120. Its a 120 watt all tube head and its pretty versatile. The clean is really clean, and you can get a wide range of distortion. The distortion channels are pretty noisy though. (I have a "hush" gate pedal to make up for this, but even with that on the distortion channels can be a bit noisy) Anyways when I bought it new the head was $999 and came with a free cab. The cab is kind of shit, but you could possibly sell the cab on craigslist and make a little money back. I run that peavy head through a Marshall Lead 1960 cab and I'm very happy with the sound.

[iAMhollyood315]

I recently bought the new Peavy head 3120. Its a 120 watt all tube head and its pretty versatile. The clean is really clean, and you can get a wide range of distortion. The distortion channels are pretty noisy though. (I have a "hush" gate pedal to make up for this, but even with that on the distortion channels can be a bit noisy) Anyways when I bought it new the head was $999 and came with a free cab. The cab is kind of shit, but you could possibly sell the cab on craigslist and make a little money back. I run that peavy head through a Marshall Lead 1960 cab and I'm very happy with the sound.

i played that a while ago at guitar center. a solid head. i currently have a peavey solid state amp (special 212) i was considering the 5150/6505/3120 or a mesa dual rec. i kind of always had my heart set on a dual rec but i cannot afford any tube amps right now. i needz me a new job

[Lost In A Name]

haha yeah I originally wanted a dual rectifier as well, but that would have been more than double what I paid for for that peavy, and there is no way I would have been able to afford it. I would have really loved to get my hands on a 5150 as well, but those are hard to find and more expensive too. The 3120 is pretty comparable to the 5150 though, and I've been really happy with it. If your playing heavy (hard rock/metal/hardcore/etc) the distortion sounds excellent. But if you are playing something lighter/cleaner, the cleans sound extremely good too.

[romeoag0g0]

Peavey Valveking. Like $900 for the head and cab. Sounds great also.

[DevinRosni]

I've always liked Marshall JCM 2000's. They've yet to fail me, and I've enjoyed the flexibility that comes with them. Unlike some of the more "metal" heads I've jammed, the JCM has no real genre limitations.