Finding amps in London

[nfe]

So I'm in London a week on Friday for Torture Garden, which puts me in London on Saturday too, now, since taking the missus to TG puts me in the good books, I am making a point of going looking for amps on the Saturday.

Currently I'm using a 6505+ which I do like, but obviously it's very much a one trick pony and whilst the vast majority of my playing is extreme metal I do like to be able to actually get great clean sounds too  :lol:

If I find something I like enough I'm quite happy to get rid of my 6505+ and I'm going to be seeing the best part of 2K off a mate soon or a guitar so I've a fair bit money to play with.

Basically I'm looking for some recommendations both of amps to look at and shops where I can find them.

Predominantly my playing sits, as I say, in the extreme metal catagory, black metal, grind for the most part, so plenty gain but crispness and tightness are paramount too. I also play a lot of doom and sludge so I need to be able to cover those sounds.

Any help would be lovely  :)

[noodleplugerine]

Diezel VH4 :>

Check out Electrohill in Palmers Green, they stock Diezel last I checked. Doug at Black Machine also has a few, maybe you could give him a ring or something, I know hes mates with the distributor.

Engl Powerball/Invader.

Check out Rose Moriss on Denmark Street and perhaps Wembley Guitar Center, both stock them I think.

Mesa mark IV.

Check out Rockers on Denmark Street.

All I can think of right now.[/b]

[nfe]

Cheers mate :) , it's probably worth mentioning that I have had a Triple Rectifier and really didn't get on with it, modded and all sorts by their UK Repairer and no avail. Though that;s not nesecarily put me off mesa, just the rectos.

I do fancy a blast of the Diezels, though I do record at home, I'm happy to use an attenuator and have done before and I do have access to a warehouse where I can record guitars but it'd be nice to have an amp that doesn't have to be stupidly loud all the time to sound reasonable. Are the Diezels not mostly daft power ratings?

[noodleplugerine]

Cheers mate :) , it's probably worth mentioning that I have had a Triple Rectifier and really didn't get on with it, modded and all sorts by their UK Repairer and no avail. Though that;s not nesecarily put me off mesa, just the rectos.

I do fancy a blast of the Diezels, though I do record at home, I'm happy to use an attenuator and have done before and I do have access to a warehouse where I can record guitars but it'd be nice to have an amp that doesn't have to be stupidly loud all the time to sound reasonable. Are the Diezels not mostly daft power ratings?

In my experience they sound pretty good at bedroom volumes, and only the Herbert is stupidly loud, the rest are pretty standard ratings I think.

They all sound superb though - I'd sell my soul for any one of them.

In reference to the VH4, just ask Nolly and Scotty what they think of theirs  :twisted:

[ToonLP]

Try Chandler Guitars in Kew - a little way out of the west end but worth the trip. See http://www.chandlerguitars.co.uk/contact.php

Or, if you're going that way, Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience in Hampton Wick (near Kingston on Thames) is well worth the trip. Great amps in there.
http://guitar-xperience.com/onlinestore/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=30
Good luck

[HairyChris]

Mmm, interesting.

I don't know whether there's one in London but the Engl Savage might also be worth a look. The Invader 150 is a good amp, with 2 diferently voiced high gain channels. It definitely covers tightness and has enough gain to get sloppy. However, the Invader has a very EL34 vibe which you may not get on with if you're used to 6L6 amps.

Diezels are great (I have an Einstein and have regular GAS attacks for a Herbert) but I'm not sure whether they're loose enough to do sludge/doom with unless you do something like stick a fuzz pedal in front of it. A mate's looking for a fuzz, so I'll borrow it to see what it's like when he finally gets it.

As a note, Doug actually is the distributor for Diezel in the UK.

[nfe]

Diezels are great (I have an Einstein and have regular GAS attacks for a Herbert) but I'm not sure whether they're loose enough to do sludge/doom with unless you do something like stick a fuzz pedal in front of it. A mate's looking for a fuzz, so I'll borrow it to see what it's like when he finally gets it.

Cheers again for replies folks.

On this note, I do have some worries about getting an amp that will happily do black metal, grind and thrash as well as doom etc with equal greatness, I do own a few great fuzz pedals though, Fuzz Factory, a couple DAM stompboxes...

I did wonder whether I'm maybe better keeping the 6505+ and getting another amp specifically for other sounds, but I'm still quite keen to upgrade it to something a bit more exciting.

[HairyChris]

As a follow-up, my bandmate has the Invader 150 (and is searching for the fuzz). He went that route from a 50w JCM800 for the versatility, midi, added gain & tonal range. You're more likely to cover all bases straight off the bat with something like this.

I went to the Einie from a Dual Recto becasue I wanted something tighter, and the Einie is that in spades. The VH4 is tighter still even at relatively high gain levels. A lot depends on pickups, mind you. My C7 Hellraiser with 707s sounds pretty massive, as does a PRS with stock HFS, but Blackmachine with Miracle Man is too surgical and doesn't sound right playing big open chords, etc - great for thrash, though.

On the other hand, neither the Invader nor the Diezels are as downright dirty and aggressive as the Peavey. If you want primal then you've already got a great amp for it!

Another 2 cents...!  :P

[Nolly]

You've got a bit of a predicament really, since you're looking for tight modern metal tones, as well as loose vintagey doom sounds in one amp.

The Diezels are incredible, but they aren't for everyone. Definitely try them if you get a chance though. It's worth noting that the VH4 and Herbert need a MIDI switching floorboard if you want to be able to change channels remotely.

If you can find one, try a Bogner Uberschall. I have a feeling it might be exactly what you're looking for.

[dave_mc]

if you're willing to go as far as kew, machinehead music isn't any further (in a different direction, though  :lol: )and would also be worth a look.

:)

[nfe]

It's worth noting that the VH4 and Herbert need a MIDI switching floorboard if you want to be able to change channels remotely.

I didn't realise this, well, I knew they were midi, but I assumed they'd come with a least a basic controller that let you switch channels. I think the fact they don't is really a bit ridiculous.

You've got to be a bit of a cheeky devil to sell £2000 amplifiers and expect folks to chuck another couple hundred about for the privelage of being able to gig with the thing.

[ailean]

You've got to be a bit of a cheeky devil to sell £2000 amplifiers and expect folks to chuck another couple hundred about for the privelage of being able to gig with the thing.

Cheeky or just very confident that you'll sell your amps ANYWAY, I'd buy one...

[MDV]

Ok, my recommendation, inspired by nolly, cos hes nearly on teh money IS an uberscall, but with a TS808 as well.

Without the 808 it wil deliver doom in spades.

With the TS808 is nearly as tight as a powerball, and much brighter and better for thrash/more modern metals than stock. Makes a remarkable difference.

[nfe]

Ok, my recommendation, inspired by nolly, cos hes nearly on teh money IS an uberscall, but with a TS808 as well.

Without the 808 it wil deliver doom in spades.

With the TS808 is nearly as tight as a powerball, and much brighter and better for thrash/more modern metals than stock. Makes a remarkable difference.

This will be one to have a nose at then, I have a TS808 anyroads, as well as a few fuzzes and I quite fancied a look at one of the bodenhamers....

Cheers guys, I'll get a shot of one.

[Nolly]

I didn't realise this, well, I knew they were midi, but I assumed they'd come with a least a basic controller that let you switch channels. I think the fact they don't is really a bit ridiculous.

You've got to be a bit of a cheeky devil to sell £2000 amplifiers and expect folks to chuck another couple hundred about for the privelage of being able to gig with the thing.

Haha, I wonder what you'd think if you knew that they don't come with a kettle lead or manual...

Ok, my recommendation, inspired by nolly, cos hes nearly on teh money IS an uberscall, but with a TS808 as well.

I actually meant to put in a sentence about using a boost with it to get the modern tight tones, but must've forgotten..  
:drink: