Amp suggestions? 3 channel, separate eq-great Rhythm and Lead

[witeter]

Hey guys-just wanted some advice regarding a good amp that has a great metal rhythm tone AND a separate channel where you can dial in a great lead tone AND a clean channel (this doesnt have to be pristine but has to be clean).
Ideally i would want them all with separate eq's.

My problem is that countless heavy metal amps have a 'rhythm' and 'lead' channel but i tend to find that the rhythm channel never seems to be tight and chunky enough for metal imo-seems more of a crunchy rock channel while all the metal gain has been chucked onto the 'lead' channel; so inevitably I end up using the lead channel for everything metal leaving me with not as many options as i would like for a channel only for solos/leadwork. The one I have found so far that ticks the boxes is the Peavey 3120-any other suggestions? thanks

[JacksonRR]

Framus Cobra
ENGL PBall or Pball 2
Randall/Egnater modular stuff
Something custom from a small builder
using a Tubescreamer type as a boost on your current crunch channel, ideally one that cuts a lot of bass perhaps consider a clone built to your needs by one of the pedal guys here. Pre-preamp shaping/boosting is as important as the amp/cab, IMHO.

[Twinfan]

A Diezel.

[witeter]

Cheers guys- Ive just seen that the Engl Invader has also what im after. I use a boost already but the thing im after is having a lead channel with own eq so i can make my lead sound different from the rhythm rather than sharing the channel-so i can cut bass  enhance mids and treble while adding more gain using the lead channel-as for rhythm i always want it punchy and tight with not as much gain dialled in.

[Brow]

I don't know if it'll have enough gain for you, all depends what you mean/refer to when you say 'Metal', but the Fender EVH III has 3 independent channels with a fair amount of gain available.

[witeter]

Hey Brow thanks for that-im afraid that i would probably find channel 2 (rhythm) lacking as its more a 'brown sound' crunchy style

[FELINEGUITARS]

+1 on Randall Egnater modular

Get a Randall RM100 - you might be able to get one cheap-ish
then load up 3 modules of your choice

Look here for some wicked custom modules - esp for Metal
http://salvationmods.com/

Get maybe
loneclean
Angel B
And select a lead channel of your liking

Then you can dial in exactly the amp of your dreams
AND if you collect other modules you can make it a different amp whenever you choose, so if you wanted to do blues, classic rock etc just for a short time you can and then put it back to Metal for when you need the METAL amp

[JacksonRR]

 :o The price of those modules...
Still, you can't buy an amp with an ENGL inspired channel AND a Diezel-esque channel any other way and the amount of work he does is extensive. Worth the price when you think about it like that. That Diezel-like channel is derived from the Herbert, just in case you were wondering what model was used as inspiration.

[Dmoney]

I like the idea of the modular stuff.
wonder how easy it would be to mod say... the power stage in the RM100? variable negative feedback, bias, valve choice... maybe even a reconfigurable phase inverter.

[JacksonRR]

Probably not too bad for the power section. I've seen gut shots, but haven't seen schemes. Dunno about the PI. The thing that gets me is being stuck with 2 valves per channel. Sure there's a lot you CAN do, but you're never going to do a spot-on VH4, Deliverance, Mark IV, 5150, etc on Egnater or Randall boards.

[Dmoney]

are there schems for the modules kicking around?
I just did a little googling. I didn't realise that ALL the modules share an input stage mounted in the chassis.
So V1 is shared by all modules, then there is a valve buffered loop and a PI which is also shared.

That being the case, I guess you could do a fair bit, but you'd still be restricted. I'd like to get hold of one and have a play about with it.

[witeter]

That Randall looks incredible!! complete customisation! i love it cheers guys-has anyone had experience with the it? what are the pros/cons?

[Dmoney]

ive heard the RM100 can be a little hissy, noisey. But I've played Felines Egnater setup which is a 4 module rack unit and it sounds really good. One thing to keep in mind, buying any off the shelf multi channel is amp is always going to involve some compromise, you might not like something about 1 or 2 of the channels but you can get by with em... thats what i've always found with multichannel heads. The modular stuff gives you a bit more freedom. There must be some good forums that guys using these things hit up?

[JacksonRR]

This thread has some schemes: http://mtsforum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=4324&highlight=rm100c
That input stage burns one triode. Must not have run that one by Steven Fryette first.  

Witeter, the pros are there's a huge amount of sounds to be had and the cons are there's a huge amount of sounds to be bought. You might develop a similar sickness as Feline. I wish I could find a thread with a pic of his rack(s). Very impressive collection.

[Dmoney]

damn. why do schematics hate my mac!
cap files?

so it has a spare triode at the input? yeah why not just run it parallel, even if its just for the 3dB noise reduction?
there is an RM50 on ebay. hmmmmmm