seriously having a mass debate with myself over amps...!

[varkunus]

As some of you might have seen on UG i have made countless threads about a new amp to buy. I have just purchased a blade classic series guitar which is quite frankly insanely good. But my DSL401 still isnt pleasing me with its fuzzy sound and lacking low end. So I am looking for a new amp although I dont have much money, pretty much what ever I sell my DSL401 for...which looking on ebay wont be much. I want a HUGE variety of sounds from george clinton, funky cleans, to rock, to gritty SRV blues, to gilmour bite (solo), to smooth gary moore/eric johnson type tones to vintage sabbath, to chunky AC30 cream type tones, to full out mesa recto chug chug. Now I understand I wont get all these sounds perfectly unless i splash some serious cash, but I would like all these sounds as best as I can get, the hard rock/mesa metal sound, and smooth and rich liquid neck pickup lead tone is the most important though I would say.

Now Ive looked at virtually everything, laney vc30s (not enough gain and wrong voicing), laney lv300s (proably not good for lower gain stuff), plexi/800 clones, bugera 333xl and 6262 (the 333xl being the favourite as it seems more versatile but possibly still to fizzy, also comes with poor tubes, ok speaker and has rumored reliability issues as well as being a huge un crankable 120w). Now I saw george clinton and parliment the other weak and although there a funk band as you probably know (infact the don of funk) their lead guitarist was using a mesa dual recto and was getting a great sound out of it, very smooth and thick. But then i stumbled across the roland cube 60w and has initially over looked it, now from sound clips it sounds pretty good, should be versatile enough and is in my price range. Now i know its not a tube amp, and will probably get slagged of due to the tube elitist, but if it sounds good quite frankly I dont care. Although I am sure here as BKPs you wont be like on UG. Basically just wondering what I should do, what should I buy. Im confused and looking for you guys to help...!

Thanks Richard

[Twinfan]

You need a modeller.  That's all I know......

[varkunus]

so the cube? Unless i get like a hughes and kettner triamp or something

[Will]

I agree, start looking into modellers.
Pod, Tonelab, Sansamp stuff

[varkunus]

I was looking at gt10s but there expensive, plus id have to buy a decent amp to use it on which would work well with it. And i dont really like pods, and i did check the trademark 60 amp (sensamp) but even in the mesa mode its still just meant to sound like a hotrodded marshall. Anyway what do people think of the cube because that seems the most popular option along with the bugera

[Spitfire]

fender have a modeling amp, ive not used it but the blurb on the site about it sounds quite impressive.. could mean nothing tho. http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=2290000010

Try an orange AD30 aswell.. or a Rocker 30 if you want a bit more gain

[varkunus]

i did look at them and  i dont think the rocker 30 will quite have the right voicing for some of the stuff i play though. Shame, plus its to expensive because for metal i would have to buy a seperate pre amp

[varkunus]

i just remember what about the vox ad100vt?

[AndyR]

I agree with the other folks - you're definitely a candidate for a modeller.

I use a VOX Tonelab LE into a mixing desk and powered studio monitors - this is for home use only, I don't gig anymore. I'm using it mainly for JTM45, AC30, and Fender Blackface type sounds (in that order). It does more "metal" but I only dabble in that direction.

I also have a PODXTLive that seems better for more distorted tones to me, I also prefer its delay and modulation effects to the VOX, but it just can't do justice to the JTM45, AC30, and Fender Blackface type sounds like the VOX does.

You'd still have the problem of amplifying the wretched thing. If "amplifier" is the driving force - ie you want to use it live or in rehearsals - I'd suggest looking at the VOX amps that use the same modelling technology as the Tonelab.

I've not tried the Cubes (nor indeed any amp in the last x years!), but I would recommend that you try modelling amps quite extensively before committing. I'm a confirmed "modellor", but I am very aware that it is a compromise.

What I really want is one of them re-issue Marshall 1974X 18 watt combos, and an AC30, and a late 70s Marshall 50 watt 2x12 m/v combo (not sure what amp that is, but I'll know it when I see/hear it), and a JTM45, several types of vintage Fenders, and some assorted 4x12 and 2x12 cabs, and a house to put them in, somewhere to turn them up good and loud, a bassist and drummer who do what I want, a van to transport them with, someone to drive it, ... etc.

So I play through modellers instead :lol:

[Stevepage]

Not really, I tried a Rocker 30 with a Blues Driver for a gain boost and got a great metal tone (played with a Schecter too). Not Mesa kind of gain obviously but it can do metal.

The only other thing I'd suggest is a Laney VC50. It's like the VH100R but in a combo. Used, they go for around £300 - £400.

[phlip]

Absolutely a modeller as said above try out various ones to see which tones you like the most BUT I would also reccomend keeping the or an amp (assuming the FX loop does 100%wet) modellers sound great with DSL's when used to replace the pre-amp, which I think is the weak point of this Marshall.

[varkunus]

for metal i really do love mesa type sound though, i know im hard to please!!! That vox ad series really does does much more "organic" than the cubes, i might settle for one of them. Would 50w be to quiet for band reharsals for dsl401 gets to 4.5 master volume

[varkunus]

oops forgot to say but whats the difference between the ad100vt and the xl?

[sambo]

I think the Vox AD series would be a good choice. It won't nail everything, but then nothing will in that price range.

You could try looking for a second hand ENGL Screamer or Thunder if your budget can go that far.

[varkunus]

no not really and i didnt like the voicing of those engls only the blackmore really. And what wont it nail? Aslong as it gets a decent cleans tone, smooth creamy and thick neck pickup lead sound, a raunchy marshal roar, and a chugging mesa recto it should be good enough! Although i cant seem to find many mesa clips online. And i assume id have to get the 100w?