New Amp Help

[stratguy23]

I am looking into getting a new amp. I am looking at the Splawn Quick Rod, B-52 AT-100, Krank Krankenstein, Bogner Uberschall, Soldano HR 100, or a Mesa Boogie Trem-o-verb. I have tried some Soldano's and the Uberschall and I have experience with Mesa Boogies. I play all kinds of Rock and Blues. The distortion is more important to me but a good clean would nice as well as I do use the clean channel a fair amount. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Dakine]

Location?

I am guessing USA but still.

Rivera are hard to beat! Would'nt be selling my Knucklehead if were still residing in UK.

[stratguy23]

Yeah I am in the USA.  Also I forgot to mention if anyone has any of these amps, PM me, and I mostly play Strats.

[dave_mc]

isn't the uberschall the metal bogner? I haven't tried it, but that's what i hear- for rock and blues i'd be more looking into the shiva or ecstacy (i have tried those two)...

other than that, at that kind of price it's basically preference...

[machine_of_god]

Yep, the Uberschall is geared towards the really high gain stuff. So... mostly metal  :P

But the Smashing Pumpkins use an Uberschall and a Diezel VH4 for their live shows nowadays, and you can tell when the Diezel is on (crunchy and sweet) and the Uberschall (rips you apart with fat distortion)  8)

[stratguy23]

Does the Shiva have a lot of gain available. I am forming a hard rock band. I need enough gain to play stuff like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alter Bridge, etc. In Guitar World it says that Tremonti uses a Shiva, but I have heard sound demos of the Shiva, and it did not sound like it had that much gain. Is that true or am I totally off? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Dakine]

'Totally off'!

Tremonti uses a Shiva liberally for clean tones.

He has for years used Mesa Triple Recto's.
He has added a Bogner Uber to his rig for more heavy bass sound but still relies on his Recto's for his sound (that and VERY hot PRS HUMBUCKER pickups). Unless you have a humbucker in your strat, good luck ;)

If you want a 'do it all' amp it's gonna cost.

Look at Mesa Road King/Roadster. Rivera Knucklehead. Diezel Herbert. and others.

These are all 3 channel + heads and will surely supply your initial request.

I have a Rivera KR55 in the UK and a Mesa RK here in US and both go from great cleans through to crushing distortion.

[stratguy23]

I have a Tremonti and yeah that bridge pickup is really, really hot. I don't use the Tremonti live because I don't want to beat it up and I prefer 25 1/2 in. scale of Strats over the 25 in. of PRS's. I have a Twin Reverb, so I just need a good high gain amp to A/B between. Can you suggest an amp with really good gain tones but maybe has a slightly lacking clean sound. I don't want to spend over $2,000, but I would prefer to spend less than $1,500. I will probably buy an amp off eBay to save some money. Thanks for all the help.

[Dakine]

Why not buy a Mesa Recto? a dual will be fine from what you say.
Or a Rivera Knucklehead.

I recently played one of these and the gain is insane!;

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rivera-Knucklehead-Tre-Reverb_W0QQitemZ300174718292QQihZ020QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

plenty of these;

http://cgi.ebay.com/1998-Mesa-Boogie-Dual-Rectifier-Great-Shape-2-Channel_W0QQitemZ290184481953QQihZ019QQcategoryZ43374QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

seriously, there are a ton of heads out there.
Try to play some though to see what tone you like.
And don't forget 'craiglist', some good deals can be had there too.

[stratguy23]

I have tried Rectos and I like them. I think I will also try out Riveras too. Thanks again.