Amp advice

[Slartibartfarst42]

I thought I'd ask some opinions here as an amp has come up that I know little about. I've always been a Marshall man and I'd anticipated my next amp being a Marshall JVM410H as it's so versatile and can do anything I realistically want. They seem to go on Ebay for about £600. However, I may have the chance to get a Laney VH100R for £400 and as it seems to be well thought of I thought I'd ask about it.

I play in a Rock covers band so I do need a range of sounds but overall I'd say I am looking for 4 core sounds:

Clean
Bluesy crunch
80s Metal (Whitesnake, Iron Maiden, Saxon etc.)
Metal (Metallica, A7X etc.)

I need to be able to boost each of these core sounds for solos and if it helps, this is the gear I have on my pedalboard at the moment:

Weeping Demon
MXR Super Compressor
Hardwire Metal Distortion
Bad Monkey
Hardwire Chorus
Hardwire Delay
MXR Boost

So, is this a really good amp that is a serious alternative to the JVM and will it be possible to get all the things I'm after?

Many thanks

EDIT: Just been looking on Harmony Central and it seems to get some very mixed reviews there.

[Telerocker]

I think for your purpose to cover lots of grounds, the JVM is good choiche. Decent tones and a practical amp. Maybe not the best Marshall, but versatile and affordable. The Laney is nice, but not that versatile, I think. I like the Hughes & Kettner Trilogy, but there are not so many around.

[Stevepage]

You could get all those sounds on both amps (I've owned both) and while the Laney can do it, they'll be easily accessed by the JVM's midi switching which is where the JVM surpasses the VH100R. You'll have a lot of hassle trying to get all your tones out of the Laney without having to physically switch buttons on the head, where as you can change things with a click of a switch with the JVM.

The Laney's clean tone is a hair better but the JVM is where it's at for distortion. Not to say the JVM cleans are bad because the cleans on the JVM are great but the Laney seems to have more head room.

[Slartibartfarst42]

It was an attractive proposition due to the price, which seemed reasonable but I think on reflection I'll hold out for the JVM.

Thanks a lot.

[hunter]

With all those pedals a 2 channel amp might be enough. Only thing that would turn me off a JVM is too many controls to get lost in tweakerland. I like the Egnater Renegade or what about a Jet City 100?

However then you could end up in tap dancing land if you have to switch channels and pedals ...

[Slartibartfarst42]

Yes, I agree. Part of the appeal of the JVM is that the distortion and boost pedals can probably go. It seems to me that the first three buttons on the JVM footswitch can be set to clean, 80s Metal and Metal with the second 3 buttons set the same but with more volume and then the Bad Monkey can be there for a little more grit on the clean channel for the Bluesy crunch I'm after.

[Denim n Leather]

Egnator is a brand you should look into also. A lot of cover band guys are getting much mileage from the versatility. I don't remember the model, however, not an Egnator guy

[Keven]

i think it's the egnater renegade? 65w or 18w iirc. you can mix between 6l6 and el34's.. it's kind of strange but i'm curious to hear it. i haven't myself. just seen a flyer in a magazine.

[Slartibartfarst42]

They certainly look good. The Tourmaster looks like the dog's danglies, though it will clearly be harder to find used than a JVM and more expensive. Nevertheless, all the clips I've listened to sound fantastic.

[Brow]

They certainly look good. The Tourmaster looks like the dog's danglies, though it will clearly be harder to find used than a JVM and more expensive. Nevertheless, all the clips I've listened to sound fantastic.

A tourmaster was on my list of amps to try last year when I was looking for my new amp.

It seemed like quite a versatile amp with it's 4 channels and then a contour control on each channel (would help with the scooped tone you may want for Metallica etc), but something was just missing with it if you know what I mean? Then again, it was the 2nd amp I tried that day (the 1st being the Splawn Quick Rod) so maybe Id've liked it more had I not tried the Splawn 1st  :lol:

[MrBump]

I have the Renegade 65 - great tones, great switching options also - effects loop can be assigned to either channel or both, as can reverb and second master volume.

Takes pedals very well too - red channel + germanium treble booster - tone heaven...

[dave_mc]

what's your budget?

engl blackmore would also work, presumably (i'm guessing used, but then if you're willing to go used for the marshall and laney...)

koch multitone (again, used)

laney tt (might be a bit smoother than the vh for a wider range of more modern tones)

probably a bunch more options

[Telerocker]

I had the Multitone, but my Orange Rockerverb 50 head sounds way better and fatter. More tone. With some pedals this amp does everything I need in a coverband. Don't need a 4-channelamp. But the JVM is a good tool for a rockcoverband. I like the distorted tones better then the Egnater.

[hunter]

Well thinking about this again, I think a used Mesa MkIV might actually be the perfect amp for you. Takes a while to dial in as unlike some other amps, the controls are VERY interactive and have a VERY wide range. But it definitely does great cleans, great 80s shred and great metallica, and with a nice pedal on the clean side there'll be great blues sounds too.

[Stevepage]

Mark IV would be perfect but they're still pretty pricey used. I've not seen one for under £700 for quite some time now.