Which amp(hopefully my last amp question)???

[dave_mc]

if you don't play much modern stuff, i'd avoid the engls almost as a rule (bar the classic tube, which, if anything, isn't modern enough!  :lol: )- they pretty much all sound modern (bar classic tube  :lol: ).

I'll second the guys above, and say get something made in the states, you'll get the most bang for buck that way- and in your price range, you could get a reasonably high quality american-made amp, or a medium-quality import, basically...

[love_o_rock]

I just realized I live about 4-5 hours away from the rocksolidamps.com warehouse :) . I might do that later on this year.

So far people have suggested Mesa F50/30, Rivera clubster, 5150, and engl screamer, thunder and classic. Remeber, vintage=good. So which of these would you suggest.

Also, whats a good web site to buy Mesa or Rivera. No one selld them around here.

[The amazing Phil]

If you're after Vintage and don't wanna buy from outside the US I'm suprised you've not considered Fender. I played a tweed Blues Deluxe with a few different guitars a while ago and I was pretty impressed, I still prefer my Matmap, but I imagine that's even less of an option considering the stuff you've said. But Fender's also got the new "Supersonic" out, I'm itching to try one of those at some point, apparently it can do vintage Fender and more modern sounds too.

[March]

I would stay away from the DSL401. I had one, had nothing but problems.

In Mesa, Rivera territory, a VHT Pittbull 45 combo is also worth trying if you can find one. IMHO, it's a much better amp than the F series Mesa's and therefore better value for money.

Rivera build excellent amps, I've jonesed for a R30 for a long time!

[love_o_rock]

Can you give me an idea of the vht's gain as far as how much it gets and also what the cleans sound like? Looks like a nice amp, but it goes back to "if you can find one". And it would be nice if you could give me some ideas of how much they cost, I can't find that anywhere.

[dave_mc]

^i haven't tried the vht 45 combo, but i have tried the super 30 combo, and vht UL head (think that's the one). The cleans are almost "piano-like", I think that's the best way to describe them. They almost don't sound like a guitar, but they sound awesome (if you like them). Very clean (not much break-up).

the super 30 is more of a rock amp than a metal amp, while the vht UL head does rock and metal, but doesn't get uber-saturated like, say, an engl powerball. EDIT: the vht is also very tight and dry sounding- but in a good way- it still sounds organic!

[love_o_rock]

Well I only play uber saturated on a bad day :D . Piano like cleans, I'm guessing it's not a one trick pony. Also I've read several reveiws saying that it (VHT) can get a plexi tone well, if so thats great.

[dave_mc]

well, i haven't tried a plexi, but it did seem to have a lot of range on the gain control.

Of course, all this is meaningless, since i haven't tried the one you're looking at, and it may be different :D

[love_o_rock]

Can you find some sound clips, you seems to know your amps VERY well. And what type of tubes does it use?

[dave_mc]

I seem to remember being unable to find any decent VHT clips a while ago, when i was looking into amps.

here's the website, it should tell you which tubes it uses here: http://www.vhtamp.com/

[love_o_rock]

Based on Reveiws alone, Rivera chubster, clubster, Rxx and Vht 45 look good now since they "are much better value for the money". The more I read on one particular model the more I want it. Good thing? Yes. Going to bother me all day during school thinking about it? Of course.

[Johnny Mac]

Well i still stand by my Koch Powertone II with a 4x12 Koch cab fitted with Jenson speakers. In the US that will cane your money though. Why not try Mesa's Stilletto which is EL34 like all the good amps!

[love_o_rock]

^ How much is that? And can the R55 get a good lead tone?

[Johnny Mac]

About £1150 fro the head and £600 for the cab

[love_o_rock]

Thats probably a little out of my price range.