Amp Poll

[Tricalibur]

Hey, im still looking into a future amp purchase and now my choices have gone from being almost entirely Marshall To a few dif. manufacturers. I play mostly Black Sabbath influenced classic Metal with heavy Blues influences. I want a high gain overdrive with lots of sustain and an EXTREMELY powerful low end "THUD". Out of the amps I have listed, which do ya'll think would work best for my sound?

P.S. I'd prob also buy a matching cab or two for the head I choose

[Muttley]

I honestly couldn't say, as I've not had a chance to try any of those.  :(

[Dakine]

I voted Engl Savage, although liking the SE (dunno bout price diff. though).
In my research, aural as well as visual (reading), Engl is v. consistant, Meas is overpriced and Marshall is diff. to find a "good" one :)

[screamingdaisy]

Hey, im still looking into a future amp purchase and now my choices have gone from being almost entirely Marshall To a few dif. manufacturers. I play mostly Black Sabbath influenced classic Metal with heavy Blues influences. I want a high gain overdrive with lots of sustain and an EXTREMELY powerful low end "THUD". Out of the amps I have listed, which do ya'll think would work best for my sound?

P.S. I'd prob also buy a matching cab or two for the head I choose

Hmmm......I vote none of the above.

The JCM2000 is a great sounding amp, but it doesn't have a powerful low end and almost no thud to it.  It's a crunch amp, not a thump amp.

The JCM800 is the same as the above....all crunch no thump.

I'd stay away from the Triple as you say your after classic metal and it's voiced very modern.  If you're after a sound that's similar to Korn, (newer) Soundgarden, (newer) Crowbar, Tool, Rammstein, ect.....that's the cold, ultra modern/aggressive tone that you'll get from a Rectifier.  They're not at all classicly sounding amps....even on their lower gain settings.

My impression of ENGL is that they're hotrodded Marshalls and are ultra tight.....great for high gain shred heads and 80s tone in general, but if you're looking for a more 70s metal sound (big, saggy, fat, bassy) I don't think you'd be thrilled by them.

If you're looking for a classic metal sound, check out classic metal amps.....Marshall (some thump more than others), Orange, Laney, Matamp, Sound City, Traynor, London, Hiwatt, ect.  Not all metal was done on high gain amps.

I have a Laney head (GH100TI) that I feel thumps almost as good as my Boogie MkIII and is a great modern take on a classic sound.  Very natural sounding compared to most modern voiced amps.

[Searcher]

The JCM2000 is a great sounding amp, but it doesn't have a powerful low end and almost no thud to it.  It's a crunch amp, not a thump amp.

I totally disagree.  I owned one of these for two years and it had more low-end thump than probably any other amp I've played through. It even has a "deep" switch for further emphasis on your low-end, though I never used it in a band or recording, because it treads on the toes of the bass.  Through a 4x12 the sound is pretty damn big.

[Skybone]

I would vote for the JCM800, but you have the 2210 on there. If it was just the 2203/2204 then I'd say go for that, I've not heard a channel swithing 800 I liked. Same with the switching 900's.

Have you considered the Laney GH100L/GH50L heads?

[Tricalibur]

I have a Laney head (GH100TI) that I feel thumps almost as good as my Boogie MkIII and is a great modern take on a classic sound.  Very natural sounding compared to most modern voiced amps.

I have also been considering a GH100Ti since im such a Sab nut. But I just don realy want to be using someone elses amp, ya kno?

[Tricalibur]

alright, I think Ive come to a final decision. Im gonna try an save for a used Marshall JCM800 2203/2204 100 watt and then i'll buy a vox cooltron Brit-Boost pedal for the frontend until i can get it voodoo modded. Its gonna take alot of money and time i kno but at least now I have a goal. Ive played on the 800's before and they realy rock but they just dont have enuf drive for my taste so im definitly set on getting it modded eventualy.

[screamingdaisy]

I totally disagree.  I owned one of these for two years and it had more low-end thump than probably any other amp I've played through. It even has a "deep" switch for further emphasis on your low-end, though I never used it in a band or recording, because it treads on the toes of the bass.  Through a 4x12 the sound is pretty damn big.

I play a Rectifier.  To me, the JCM2000 doesn't have a very big bottom end.  It's a very midrange dominant crunch amp.  It sounds great, but compared to what I'm used to it doesn't have alot of thump.  :)

[screamingdaisy]

I have also been considering a GH100Ti since im such a Sab nut. But I just don realy want to be using someone elses amp, ya kno?

Well, if you were to get a GH100TI you'd be playing the same amp as Iommi and a couple of thousand other dudes.

If you were to buy a JCM800, you'd be playing the same amp as about a million other people......not including all the dudes who play JCM800 clones.

Bet'cha never thought of it that way?  

I mean, the JCM800 is basically the Kerry King signature amp.

And it's the Tom Morrello signature amp.

And the Mick Mars signature amp.

and the Zakk Wylde signature amp.

I'm pretty sure it's the signature amp of that dude from Thrice now....

.....I wonder how many other artists use that amp to get their own signature tone?

When choosing an amp you should choose it based on how it sounds.  Not who uses it, or who's signature is or isn't on it.  Or even the recommendations of random people on internet forums.

BTW.....the JCM800 is an awesome amp.  Don't think that I'm knocking them, just the irrational fear that some people have of using signature gear.

[dave_mc]

I didn't vote, because I'm not 100% convinced of my knowledge on the subject, and don't want to skew the results, but I'd go with a savage out of those (judging by my savage se).

Don't forget the invader though, it's due out in september, and should be a similar price to a savage.

I agree on the laney point that daisy came up with too- and if you're willing to go to the price of a savage, there are lots of great amps, lol. EDIT: i disagree on the fact that the engls are hot-rodded marshalls, though- they use different power tubes, for a start!

[Tricalibur]

thanks 4 ur imput guys. Contrary to what I said befor though Im still prty undecided. However, the more I think anout it the more I think about it the more I think a GH100Ti might be just what im after (price-wise and tone-wise).

[Searcher]

I play a Rectifier.  To me, the JCM2000 doesn't have a very big bottom end.  It's a very midrange dominant crunch amp.  It sounds great, but compared to what I'm used to it doesn't have alot of thump.  :)

Really?  Hmm.  I've only ever played through Mesa combo amps and not for ages, so I can't really compare them, but I do remember the Marshall being pretty "thumpy".  ;)  6L6 tubes are supposed to have a bigger bottom end than EL34s, but I haven't noticed that much difference in direct comparisons through the same amp.

I didn't actually vote in the poll, since I don't have enough experience with every one of the amps.