Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: maliciousteve on January 07, 2006, 07:50:03 PM
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Hey guys. I'm not satisfied with my tone anymore. The JCM900 doesn't cut it for what i'm looking for now. It's great for that 80's metal tone, but not so great for the sort of style i play (7 string grindcore i guess). I'm getting an E.Q pedal at the end of the month to see if that will help at all. If not, i've narrowed it down to these amps:
ENGL Fireball
Laney VH100L
JCM800 re-issue (i played through Tims re-issue with a Keely SD-1 and Squier 7 string with a Warpig, sounded damn good)
What i want it something with great clarity, power, tight low end but a nice thick lead tone. The lead tone i have now is a bit too thin i think.
So from those 3 amps, which would do you reckon would better suited for my style of playing?
Obviously, getting up close with the amp would be a better idea than asking for opinions from a message board. But this is all i can do for now.
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http://www.rocksolidamps.com/sounds.php
checkout the Decapitated clips (ENGL Thunder) and all the Fireball ones.
I have a Fireball... its insane and THE best brutally tight balls out gain amp going 8)
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I've been on that site many times before and always loved the Fireball clips. I'm leaning more towards the Fireball out of the three i've listed. I just want to see peoples opinions on these :wink:
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well it's not in your list but the laney gh100ti is what i've fallen in love with. It's the tony iommi signature one and apparently is extremely loud with loads of gain. It is a head though so i dunno what your opinion is about that. Everything i read about it says it's perfect for Sabbath, but again it depends on your opinion because you may not even like sabbath.
And i've heard great stuff about ENGL amps. Buti haven't tried any of these amps so basically my advice is worth nothing!
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You've played my JCM800 Zakk heads so you know what they do............I also Have an Engl Screamer combo............damn good amp........doesn't do it for me as much as my Marshalls but that's just personal preference, I'd be more than happy to play either at a gig.
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ever checked a framus Cobra?!
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I have heard some clips of the Cobra, but they are so bloody hard to find over here. I know of where i can get the Framus Dragon, but i'm a bit tight with money after spending quite a bit on a new guitar.
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what about a krank amp?!
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I really want a Matamp 1224 MKll, but they've increased the price by about double since the Guitarist Magazine review.
You might want one of the more gain-ey ones by the sound of it.
Like the MK V or the Maxx.
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kranks are like £2,000 ++ in the uk arent they?? Just for the head?
The ENGL Powerball or Savage SE wipes the floor with them (as does the Fireball imo, but that doesnt have loads of channels etc) and are cheaper and easier to buy 8)
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i like the engl BLACKMORE more than the others
all those ENGLS sounds lika they have Scooped Middles.
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Like django5, I really would like a Matamp, but can't decide between the 1224mkII or the GTL/GTR/GTO...
Decisions, decisions...
And lack of money doesn't help...
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Well the 1224 did get one of only 5 Gold ratings that Guitarist have ever given out.
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Because it's one of the most versatile amps out there.
But there again... Part of me wants the power of the GTL/R/O... :twisted:
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Well the 1224 did get one of only 5 Gold ratings that Guitarist have ever given out.
so did the peavey jsx, and i wasn't impressed with it :o
i tend to take reviews with a pinch of salt.
(a) they aren't always independent.
(b) they frequently let metal-heads test jazz amps, and indie kids test engl powerballs- it's all in the preference of the reviewer. Example: i like, say, steve vai. You think he's a pretentious widdler. If i were writing a review for a music mag, i'd give his album 5 out of 5. Doesn't help you vai-haters much...
EDIT: (c) they don't test any of the kit AGAINST anything else. For example, if i tried, say, a peavey jsx on its own i'd think "damn, that's one nice amp". I tried it next to a few laneys and a 6505, and then I think "yeah, the jsx is ok, but the laney tt100 and vh100r are half the price and better!"
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Good point - but lots of people won't trust their ears until a reviewer says it's good. That JSX amp is one of the worst amps I've ever played.....
Another one, Matamp C7 got gold, Ashdown Essex blonde didn't. (one of the first 25 built by Matamp wnet for review, and they're C& combis!))
Actually the 1224 price went up 30%, but the prices in Guitarist were factory direct trade price, ie ex-VAT. It was getting to the point that Matamp weren't making any money at all, in some cases loosing money, so after three years the price had to go up! Also there have been maney component upgrades that cost more too!
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also i noticed you just said the laneys were half the pirce- i just had a look for them and their bascially identical price to the jsx if not dearer. i dunno maybe they've risen or something.
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If you've got enough cash then you could try a Cornford. I've got a 6W Harlequin and it's the best amp I've ever used. If I was gigging again I'd try out their bigger amps.
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how much did yours cost then?
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I wouldn't have thought Cornford's would have the sound he is looking for. The chance in finding a second hand dual rectifier is next to impossible. I've heard good things about the ENGL Powerball. Obviously the Diezel Herbert is out of most people's price range!
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I thought he was after
great clarity, power, tight low end but a nice thick lead tone
then a Cornford would fit the bill. My Harlequin cost me £350 second hand just over a year ago.
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also i noticed you just said the laneys were half the pirce- i just had a look for them and their bascially identical price to the jsx if not dearer. i dunno maybe they've risen or something.
the jsx head normally goes for around £1000 (rrp around £1200)
the laney tt and vh heads can be got for around £600, even slightly less. RRP around £700 or so.
HJM: i didn't crank the jsx, so there was no power tube stuff going on, but i really wasn't too fussed in it. It, as i said, got wiped by the laneys, which were a lot cheaper.
It's always nice to have someone who knows their stuff back you up, thanks! (it's hayden, isn't it?)
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Hey guys. I'm not satisfied with my tone anymore. The JCM900 doesn't cut it for what i'm looking for now. It's great for that 80's metal tone, but not so great for the sort of style i play (7 string grindcore i guess). I'm getting an E.Q pedal at the end of the month to see if that will help at all. If not, i've narrowed it down to these amps:
ENGL Fireball
Laney VH100L
JCM800 re-issue (i played through Tims re-issue with a Keely SD-1 and Squier 7 string with a Warpig, sounded damn good)
What i want it something with great clarity, power, tight low end but a nice thick lead tone. The lead tone i have now is a bit too thin i think.
So from those 3 amps, which would do you reckon would better suited for my style of playing?
Obviously, getting up close with the amp would be a better idea than asking for opinions from a message board. But this is all i can do for now.
(I should be a Rep for this firm!!) but if you get a chance try a Koch Powertone II. For the style you play in it should blow your socks off. It's got loads and loads of gain and sounds great clean but with a seven string and a warpig you could really take advantage of the speaker damping settings, which are: High, Low and Ultra Low! Look at the H.C reviews http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Koch/Powertone_II_Head-1.html
www.koch-amps.com
Are you in London? If your nearby you could bring your gitar and plug in to mine if you want as you might find trouble finding a dealer with one in stock.
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That JSX amp is one of the worst amps I've ever played.....
Agreed.......have to say I actually thought it was passable the first time I played it, 'cos I couldn't help but have the Guitarist mag quote ''...one of the finest heads we've played all year'' firmly lodged in my brain. It's really quiet as well :? :? :?
Someone at college told me JS actually uses Cornfords on the sly. I certainly wouldn't be surprised!
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sorry it's ''The Peavey JSX is without doubt the best-sounding head we've had the pleasure of hearing all year''.
bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch etc.
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JS was going to have a Cornford signature amp, but he went with the $$$$
He used to use a company called Wells once.
Nick Guppy didn't review the JSX to be fair, and the review read like it had been written by a big JS fan!
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If you've got enough cash then you could try a Cornford. I've got a 6W Harlequin and it's the best amp I've ever used. If I was gigging again I'd try out their bigger amps.
The Laneys maybe cheaper but they are very unreliable.
I used gig professionally 3-4 times a week and they could not hold up to the constant loading and unloading.
I used have a deal with them and had to keep sending them back for repairs. They also sound very bright. I had a GH50L and a VH100R.
Another good choice would be a Mesa Dual Rectifier for the type of sound that you are after.
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If you've got enough cash then you could try a Cornford. I've got a 6W Harlequin and it's the best amp I've ever used. If I was gigging again I'd try out their bigger amps.
The Laneys maybe cheaper but they are very unreliable.
I used gig professionally 3-4 times a week and they could not hold up to the constant loading and unloading.
I used have a deal with them and had to keep sending them back for repairs. They also sound very bright. I had a GH50L and a VH100R.
Another good choice would be a Mesa Dual Rectifier for the type of sound that you are after.
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maybe i looked up the wrong peavey :S ??? but i definately found a jsx for £600-£700.