Time to start thinking about a decent amp or two

[genocidal tendencies]

In the latter half of this year I'm looking to buy either one or two amps (with a budget of about 2500-3000) to cover pretty much all genres. Jazz, blues, country, classic rock, old school metal, modern metal, nwobhm, all of it. I'm thinking the best bet is probably two amps, one geared towards rock/metal and one for the cleaner stuff, although something like an engl se, if it's as good as it is expensive, might be more practical.

I'll have a week or two off work in July which I can use to get around the country and try some stuff out. Obviously a trip to the matamp factory is essential, other than that, I'm really just looking to make a list of amps I need to test drive. That I can think of:

Diezel Einstein/Herbert
Engl invader/se/savage/powerball
Bogner ecstasy
Rivera Knucklehead
Koch Powertone
VHT Deliverance
H&K Triamp
Marshall JVM

No doubt there are loads I'm missing...

Also, where is good for testing amps? I know some shops are awful for worn out valves and low volumes, and just finding stockists at all probably won't be easy for some amps...

edit - added a few to the list

[dave_mc]

wembley guitar centre is pretty good- engl, laney, mesa, peavey, hughes and kettner, marshall head to head. they have a sound proof room too, so you can crank (might want earplugs for those 100 watt heads, though).

oxford guitar gallery is extremely good too, loads of boutique stuff.

i guess chandler's is worth a travel to too, haven't been there myself.

guitar guitar isn't bad either (edinburgh/glasgow/newcastle)...

probably loads more, that's what i know of offhand.

as for the brand, at those types of prices it's very much personal preference... and you'd need to try something like an se versus two amps at half the price (but aimed at the different ends of the spectrum you want) to see which you prefer...

i'd have thought 2 £1500 amps would do better than one amp aimed at "it all", just on the principle of what makes a good metal tone generally makes a cr@p vintage tone and vice versa, there's going to be some compromise... depends on how much room you have, of course... EDIT: and obviously if something just happens to do the exact tone you want at £3000, lol.

but £1500 should buy you pretty good kit in anyone's book, you're already in cornford etc. british/european-built boutique territory. just maybe not USA-built boutique territory.

[noodleplugerine]

Take a roadtrip to Germany and check out the Thomann village :D

[Johnny Mac]

Check out the Koch range at Holiday Music in Leyton east London. Specifically the Powertone II, which does lovely metal and rock tones with really good clean tones too. 1250 for the head, 700 for a 4 x 12.

[Simon D]

I know it's not exactly a boutique amp, but the Marshall JVM has had nothing but glowing reports from every source I've seen. Might be worth considering as the more rocky amp, and have something like a Cornell or a Cornford for the cleaner stuff.

[genocidal tendencies]

^ ^Cheers, I forgot about koch.

^ ^ ^ ^Yeah, I tend to think two amps is probably going to be the way to go. Most of these 4 channel midi monstrosities don't seem to have an 'edge'.

^I'll add it to the list. I have actually heard a lot of good reviews about them too.

^ ^ ^Trying to understand a word people are saying is hard enough in Aberdeen, let alone Germany

[Johnny Mac]

There's some new reviews in HC on the koch powertone II

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/product/Koch/Powertone+II+Head/10/1

[Twinfan]

If you're trying Marshalls, also check out the Vintage Modern.  Very nice amp for classic rock.

[HTH AMPS]

Here's how I'd spend the money (i.e. best bang for the buck)...  

Get a 2203 JMP-era Marshall for the more vintage side through 70s rock.  On a good day you'll get one for £400.  For clean tones and mega-gain get a 6505+.  total spend for heads approx = £1300

If you want to blow the lot...

Get a pristine plexi 50w head, that's gonna cost £1250 easy.  It'll be both a great amp that will work well with pedals and also a sound investment.  For Fender cleans and filth-levels of gain, get a Diezel Herbert (£2300).  I'm sure you can get the Diezel a bit cheaper if you shop around - last time I emailed an ebay shop based in Germany they quoted £1600 for a Herbert so thats a decent saving over the UK price.

 :twisted:

[LazyNinja]

+1 on vintage Marshalls. If you have money to buy more amps and hence versatility is not an issue, there are no other better amp to play rock.

[noodleplugerine]

+1 on the Plexi and the Herbert.

Both phenomenal.

[dave_mc]

Check out the Koch range at Holiday Music in Leyton east London. Specifically the Powertone II, which does lovely metal and rock tones with really good clean tones too. 1250 for the head, 700 for a 4 x 12.

worth a look, no doubt, you can check out cornell, cornford, wolfetone etc. while you're there. though worth a ring, both times i was there, they didn't have the powertone (nor the full range of cornell or cornford).

coda and charlie chandlers stock some nice uber-boutique stuff too... might be worth a look.

[Crazy_Joe]

Engl's are great, a good Engl will cover all metal and all kinds of rock. But i'm not sure about the country and jazz.

[dave_mc]

^ they'll do it all... i'm an engl fanboy, and even i admit that they won't do it near as well as an amp aimed at those tones.

EDIT: what i mean is, engl are great if you have between about £700 and £1500, and need one amp to do everything, but with a bit of bias towards modern high gain.

but if you have 3 grand as genocidal has, rather than get the dearest engl, i'd go with one of the slightly cheaper engls (or equivalent similar brands), and then throw the other half at something more vintage-orientated (assuming you want vintage tones, as genocidal does).

to be honest, i'm glad i didn't blow £2000 on the se head and went with my (admittedly great deal) savage se instead.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

if you really need two amps go for two, but if I were you, i'd go for a Custom Audio 100 watt head and 4x12 cab, I believe that they can cover any tone, in any style and they are indestructable + Scott Henderson uses that amp on world tours, have you ever heard the kind of tone he can get??? (without BKP's!). Personally I think you only need 1 very very good amp and not two OK amps, but that's just my opinion! If you want a heavier sound then you can use an overdrive pedal or change channels. You can afford THE best amps in the world with that kind of budget.