New guitarist - Needs new amp

[Orkestra]

Well, i can't say im not jealous because I am but the other guitarist in my band besides me wants/needs a new amp.
He's been swearing by the same Marshall Valvestate head and cab (Used by Death - Chuck and Suffocation of course) to get his tones, but it simply can't compete with my ENGL and he wants a change.

His tone is ballsy, we play thrash/death metal but none of this THUD THUD buzz buzzsaw shite, it's old school, Testament, Exodus, PanterA, Suffocation style shite. The amp needs crunch not fizz. (Thats my spec too) but he doesn't really have the cash for anything really boutique and i have no money to help him out. The bank called in my overdraft and that really has $%&#ed me, just as I was about to get a Boogie Pre-Amp of Joe on here :(

He likes is Marshall's ... it's obvious from his main choices.

I know this place is a wealth of information so here goes...

Vote

OR

any suggestions apart from the ones in the poll

[Twinfan]

Gotta be a JCM800.  Add pedals as required  :D

[Orkestra]

Thats what i keep telling him but they seem to go for a lot of money,

he was looking at the KK model that is coming out, that looks interesting. It's got a noise gate in it, perfect really...

[TwilightOdyssey]

I would recommend he try out the new Mesa Stiletto. Mesa preamp stage, but with an EL34 power amp stage. Very versatile amp, sounds very impressive.

For a modded Marshall tone that doesn't require a pedal or drastic EQ, I would recommend a Splawn Quick Rod.

[Orkestra]

He and I both would love a Splawn... however price wise, it doesn't really work for him... or me.


The Mesa Boogie, S/H might work out

[HTH AMPS]

Get one of the single channel Laneys (GH50L) - they're basically the same thing as a single channel JCM800 but with a 'slightly' hotter preamp.  

I tried one (loud) before xmas and it was a fantastic amp for the money.

Add an SD-1 if you want more grunt.

 :twisted:

[Johnny Mac]

Tell him to get a Koch Powertone II, it lays waste in a big way.

[noodleplugerine]

Anything by Engl.

You can pretty much get an amazing tight high gain sound from all their newer age amps - Perfect if you don't want the buzzsaw flab of Mesa Rectums.

[Dakine]

Or, ask someone who has owned both a Mesa AND an Engl which way to go.

A single recto might work and having owned that and a screamer I can say for tightness it left the screamer way behind. In fact I pretty much had to use an EQ pedal with the Engl to make it tight.

Ya pay ya money and take ya choice.

Maybe get in touch with Ceriatone and buy one of there pre-assembled kits (they now sell the head cabinets too, not just the chassis/amp). Amazing, point to point and quite reasonable.

Or, again, a Laney indeed.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I'd go for the 5150 personally, as it can get very heavy yet stil do nice cleanish tones. Depends on what style of music you play though. If you want crunch, and not fizz then go for an amp with 6L6's not EL34's in the poweramp section, they are much crunchier than EL34's, and the speaker has a massive effect on the sound also. The mesa Dual Rect could be perfect, cos it's like a Fender on steroids, and it has the best crunchy tones I've heard, same with Orange amps, Fender or Vox.

It's totally up to you!

[ailean]

I claim no expertise in this area but I've been reading a lot of good things about Orange amps (I'm considering a TT myself).

Truth is, if he likes Marshall he should buy Marshall, or he'll always be thinking 'maybe...'

[Hell Hound]

Tell him to get a Koch Powertone II, it lays waste in a big way.

I second that, Koch truly rules!

[ericsabbath]

Exodus and Suffocation used the Peavey Triple XXX, so i voted in 5150
i like JCM 800, but without mods it's not so punchy/gainy
a like the DSL too

[Orkestra]

they use the XXX now yeah... but back in the day, on Suffo's PFW anyway, it was all Valvestate. According to Mike Smith anyway.

I've done a silly thing and listened to clips of the VHT Deliverance... now im thinking of selling a kidney.

But yeah, looks like the JCM is winning at the moment

also, Koch's rule; as a Dutchman i'd be very happy if he got one

[TwilightOdyssey]

Or, ask someone who has owned both a Mesa AND an Engl which way to go.

I fall into that category, too!