Author Topic: Amp advice... Please!! (Read 4944 times)

Norm Fireland · « **on:** May 10, 2006, 11:43:31 PM »

Hi everyone, my current set up is as follows:

Gibson Les Paul Supreme (Stock pickups at the moment until i get some new BK's!!.. i have a set of nailbombs i might throw into it)

Old Marshall bass cab re-fitted with Greenbacks

Marshall 30th Anniversairy Head

No effects and No Noise Supressor

Im using channel 2 on this amp, but the thing is i just don't think that 'newer' Marshalls with more than one channel sound as good as the old ones.. I don't know what it is, they just don't have the same bark or dynamics.

Anyways, the tone im looking for is like the following:

Trouble, Gary Moore, Zakk Wylde but with good clarity for riffin but kind of raunchy for soloing (á la Leslie West) with plenty of sustain.

Ive tried a JMP 100 watt head and a JCM800 and been impressed by both, particulary the JMP but i think the guy is looking too much at £700. Can anyone think of other amps to try.. What are laney's and orange like and how much could i expect to get for the 30th Ann head?

Dakine · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2006, 11:52:48 PM »

I would recommend Orange but also an Engl Blackmore (which I will be getting when return to UK). Four channel and simple layout.
Matamp is a good choice too but may be abit expensive.
As for Anniv. Head, no idea,sorry. Good bet is to do a search on Evilbay for past auctions, should give a good idea on worth.
Nick

check out this site for some info. sounds btw

www.rocksolidamps.com

Norm Fireland · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2006, 11:57:56 PM »

Thanks for that!! Im really looking to get a single channel amp, i should have mentioned i've had the following amps

Engl Thunder
DSL100
Mesa Dual Rec
JCM900

None of them really impressed me that much! :lol:

Dakine · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:04:58 AM »

AHA
no worries, but not able to really recommend a single channel amp :(

Although what about Matamp.

Looks like they have some singles and actually reasonable.

http://www.matamp.co.uk/amps.htm

Jamieh · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2006, 10:17:05 AM »

You are looking for a single channel amp, but you want to sound like Zakk Wylde and the like?

I take it therefore that youre gain sounds are generated by pedals? Rather than a dirt channel on the amp?

So really you're looking for a nice clean tone out of your amp?

Try a Vox or a Hi Watt Custom (depending on budget!)

EDIT: If you are looking for a single channel pure drive amp then I think you might be stuck! Your Marshalls are probably the closest you will get. IMHO of course!!

Personally, my suggestion would be, stick those Nailbombs is your LP, get a really really good dirt pedal and a nice sounding, large cab driven by a Hi-Watt head... not sure which one, test them!!!! That would be pretty nice I should imagine.

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2006, 11:28:35 AM »

Laney GH50L might fit the bill? A JCM800 with more bass, gain and clarity is what I've heard. I've just scored one on eBay and I pick it up on Saturday. Brand new the heads are £400 and I've got the head plus a 1960A Marshall cab for £436.

I'm sure I can post a review over the weekend if you ask nicely ;)

dave_mc · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:41:25 PM »

splawns are meant to get great hot-rodded marshall tones, but they aren't single channel- and assuming you're in the UK, you'd probably have to buy one without trying it... (edit: just seen you're in belfast- woot!)

that's about all I have to add, lol.

:lol:

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:56:10 PM »

Quote from: dave_mc

splawns are meant to get great hot-rodded marshall tones, but they aren't single channel-

There is a Splawn that is single channel. It's called the Pro Stock.

Splawn are the best modded Marshall style amps out there, in my opinion.

Of the amps you mentioned, Norm, Laney really has a different voicing, and isn't anything like a Marshall.

A great amp with a really unique sonic characteristic but stellar gain is the Matamp LX. If you're looking for a killer single channel amp, the Matamp GT1 will do everything from dead clean to power metal.

Norm Fireland · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2006, 03:34:04 PM »

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated... I have to say im not looking for massive amounts of gain just something with good character and it has to really project the sound, i don't know what it is with the 30th Anniv. head, it sounds good but it just doesn't have the oomph, i really want the notes to jump out (maybe its poor technique... lol)

indysmith · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:16:37 PM »

sounds like its time to put your Nailbombs in your LP mate :P
Why not get the jcm800? yu said you were impressed, and you'll get plenty of great sounds with plenty of great overdrive pedals! Also - the combos are ridiculously cheap on ebay.

dave_mc · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2006, 05:44:30 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

Quote from: dave_mc
splawns are meant to get great hot-rodded marshall tones, but they aren't single channel-

There is a Splawn that is single channel. It's called the Pro Stock.

Splawn are the best modded Marshall style amps out there, in my opinion.

Of the amps you mentioned, Norm, Laney really has a different voicing, and isn't anything like a Marshall.

A great amp with a really unique sonic characteristic but stellar gain is the Matamp LX. If you're looking for a killer single channel amp, the Matamp GT1 will do everything from dead clean to power metal.

aha pwnt. :oops:

I agree on the laney thing too. I haven't tried that one, but the ones i have tried you wouldn't confuse with a marshall...

Underground_Player · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2006, 06:58:04 PM »

Guess what I'm gonna recommend guys..!

Quote

something with good character and it has to really project the sound, i don't know what it is with the 30th Anniv. head, it sounds good but it just doesn't have the oomph

Sounds exactly like a Matamp King Street head to me! Matamp are all about single channel amps. I'd take the KS over a JCM800, but then there are a few on this board who could easily do that but don't, so I suppose it's all personal preference as usual. Saying that, at 700 quid new, every old Marshall fan should at least try one!
Only 15 watts but it's still plenty loud enough when overdriven.
I'll add that I've spent a bit of time with a 30th Ann. so I know where you're coming from I think. Good choice on the second channel, its twice as good as 1 or 3!

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:16:43 PM »

From what you've described, you're looking at either a 2204 or 2203 Marshall. They come in JMP and JCM800 cosmetics and are pretty much identical as far as the circuit goes until they started mounting the pots on the PCB.

Use some fairly hot pickups (like the Nailbombs you have) plus an SD-1 and you'll be in heaven. There are some very easy resistor/cap changes that can be done to these amps to wring more gain from them too.

:twisted: