Versatile Gigging amp needed

[sambo]

Ok, i need a versatile amp... preferably a combo... bands properly up and running now, posting from necessity for advice more than anything...

needs to be capable of-

nice cleans (quite important- not fender jangly just a nice acceptable clean)

decent crunch (AC/DC kinda stuff... classic rock kinda tone...)

heavyness (hard rock.. evil sounding grind... not extreme metal saturation.. a lot of grit and low end needed...)

of course its not gonna be fender cleans, marshall crunch, and mesa metal... but you know what i mean hopefully.

budget = around £500 probly...

ENGL is all ive thought of so far...

any ideas?

thanks guys,

sam.

[deg0ey]

:lol: Lovin the new sig Sam...

I'd go for the ENGL myself - my screamer is pefection in a beautifully sized, black tolex covered speaker enclosure...

Obviously there are other options that could be considered, but unfortunately I've not tried many amps so can't help on that front - but +1 for the ENGL :)

[sambo]

:lol:

yer the ENGL sounds perfect for what i need from what ive heard from loooads of people...

just wondered if there was any alternative...

just checked out Diezel amps... goodness gracious... although you cant really call them 'alternatives' to a petty ENGL screamer  :lol:

[38thBeatle]

Nice to see you back Sam.

[deg0ey]

I know, their Diezel engines are nothing compared to the Petrol power of the Screamer!

TBH, I'd take the Screamer just for its cool name - Same reason i'd buy a Nailbomb over a HolyDiver :lol:

Thing is, there don't seem to be many (if any) similar high gain amps to take as an alternative in the same price range as the Screamer - if that's the tone you want then it's really the only option, unless you've got an extra £500 to spend (on top of the £700 it already costs)

I was very fortunate at LGS, as I was perusing the options at BK after reading reviews of them in Guitarist to see the amp I had been dreaming of for weeks (and attempting to save up for) with a piece of paper stuck to it saying "S/H ENGL Screamer - £500" - After much coaxing i managed to borrow the extra money needed (about £50) from my dad, and then nipped back to make a quick purchase from Mr Tim

I'm looking to get some basic recording gear soon, so I'll get you some soundclips online when I can

[dave_mc]

yeah, screamer would be good.

other options (off the top of my head): laney tt combo, maybe ashdown fallen angel and marshall tsl if the money's tight. But the screamer (in my opinion at least) owns the ashdown and marshall. The laney is closer, but then it's almost as dear...

you back then sam?

:drink:

[sambo]

meh.. back schmack... i dunno...


yer must check out that ashdown... sounds cool...

hmmm screamer does look good then...

what about a Hughes and Kettner? i was VERY impressed with the sound of one of their cheap combos i played through... and ive got a POD patch based on a H&K which is very close to the sound id want from an amp...

anyone had any experience with them?

oh and a pipe dream of mine- got to play through a £1500 Mesa Boogie Nomad combo at an open-mic last night.... jesus... it was glorious...

[deg0ey]

haha yeah, I tried the Nomad at LGS before buying my screamer and it was pretty special...Different tone to the ENGL completely though

*ties sam down* now lets see you try and leave :twisted:

[sambo]

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

lol in what way different? this is interesting actually... as we have a benchmark to compare the ENGL to now....

[_tom_]

If Hunters clips are anything to go by (which I'm guessing they are as you have p90s in a similar guitar) then the screamer would be awesome for you. Johnny Mac also swears by Koch amps (I think), they are meant to be really versatile, plus you get the hilarious name to go with it.

[dave_mc]

the H &K edition tube (think that's the one) is meant to be nice, but I haven't tried it- i've only tried the duotone (£1500)- great cleans, unique overdrive tone. You'd need to try one, basically.

I'd say screamer or laney tt is the best bet, if you can stretch to it...

the ashdown and marshall are decent tube amps, but not much better... whereas the screamer is a very good little tube amp. Maybe not amazing compared to some of the super-amps, but still really very good (assuming you like the engl tone).

:drink:

EDIT: i haven't tried the nomads, but engls are kind of bright, while the mesa's i've tried are kind of dark sounding. They just sound different- think killswitch engage's tone (somewhat like engl) compared to petrucci's tone (mesa).

haha, koch are nice, but dear. the multitone is £1300, i think. Great, though, IMO.

[sambo]

If Hunters clips are anything to go by (which I'm guessing they are as you have p90s in a similar guitar) then the screamer would be awesome for you. Johnny Mac also swears by Koch amps (I think), they are meant to be really versatile, plus you get the hilarious name to go with it.

ah yeah forgot hunters clips!... thats a good point... hmmm....

yup Dave i really should try an ENGL some day  :lol:

i thought the TT series was blues-orientated though? at least thats what i thought it said on the Laney site...?

[indysmith]

don't know much about them other than what I've read in magazines (not usually much to go by), but the Rivera pubster and clubster amps look like tasty combos! The rivera name is also one to trust; i've never heard anyone get bad tone playing through one of those...(Tony MacAlpine 8) )

[Searcher]

I was gonna recommend a H&K, but their tube amps are a bit out of your budget, I think.  The solid state amps are still good, but, well, you know . . .

[hunter]

The only thing I'd like to have is a post preamp bottom eq (resonance at 5150 and similar at others). Presence alone is a little limited and some dial at the end of the chain to kick in some butt would make it the perfect little amp. But then again, backing off presence also brings bass in, so no big deal.

Sambo, my first amp was H&K, more than 15 years ago, and I haven't touched another one since ...