Help finding a kick ass amp?

[Shayla]

Hello hello! I've posted on a few forums already and was pointed this way. So... here's the low down. I'm going to college this fall for music and so of course I'm going to be jamming and maybe even doing a couple small shows. I have a 50 watt all tube traynor at the moment and it's not cutting it. I need something better suited for heavy metal. I've been checking out mostly engl's and mesa's thus far. Hopefully when I go into "the big city" in a couple weeks I'll try some out. Anywho, I have a couple concerns and I don't know what to look at! first is that I'm a wimp... I can barely lift my 50 pound amp, if I want a separate head and cab I'd fall over... i think the place I'm staying at has stairs, it would fall on me! Second is that I don't want to spend a bunch of money on something that yet again isn't what I need. And I'd also like to keep costs under $2,000. I have a Gibson SG '61 reissue. I'm mostly a thrash girl, I like arch enemy, lamb of god, jeff loomis's solo album is growing on me. So what do you all think, because I'm having one hell of a time!

[MFB]

You'll find most of use on here use Mesa, so don't be surprised if you get them as a big recommendation. Unfortunately, based off the bands you listed they all use different brands of amps that all have a unique/individual sound. Lamb of God used Mesa Mark IV's and are now endorsing the Mark V (which the combo version can be found for around the $2K mark), Arch Enemy uses Randall V2's or if you want you could get something like the RM100 with XL module which Michael used for a while. Jeff Loomis has used a few different amps in his day and his albums are usually 3 or 4 blended together (like on This Godless Endeavor - see the pic below). I believe right now he's using the ENGL SE but the head alone is I believe around the $2500-3000 mark. I'd say right now use netmusicians.org and listen to clips of Randalls, ENGL's, and Mesa's and see which you prefer.

Jeff Loomis mixing amps for This Godless Endeavor :


5 total

[giannifive]

I've considered the lightweight amp thing recently, too. If you're not set on a tube amp, the Tech 21 amps sound good and are pretty light. If you're into tubes, an older Mesa 1x12 combo, with perhaps a few judiciously chosen pedals, should do the trick.

[Josh]

Mesa RectoVerbs have a big following around here, and can be found used for within your price range. They're big and heavy though! It's always worth looking around on Cragislist or eBay for Mesa deals, as a lot of people have them and if you look hard enough you can get a really killer deal on one (MFB up there got a Mesa Mark III for $700 USD!)

Mesa also makes the Express series, which are small and versatile but may not have the sort of bottom end you're looking for.

Peavey just released a 1x12 6505 combo which is lighter than the old 2x12, but not by much. That also won't get you much in the way of clean sounds, but 5150s and 6505s have been used on countless records in all metal genres.

It's also worth looking in the "Music Gear Classifieds" on sevenstring.org, as the community there is always buying and selling lots of mid- to high-end stuff and you can get some great deals.

Whatever your choice, I'd recommend budgeting in some extra for a Tubescreamer or RAT pedal (since you're into thrash) and some sort of noise gate/suppression like the ISP Decimator, MXR Noise Suppressor, or Boss NS-2.

[Leon]

I actually get by pretty well with a vintage style one channel tube head, a 2x12 closed back cab, a quality distortion pedal (I had to try out MANY before I found *mine*), and an OD pedal (again, tried out many). The head is the heaviest thing in the rig @ 50lbs, and the 2x12 can be awkward, but it's very portable.

I would actually steer you clear of any tube combo. They're heavy, but mostly bulky, which makes lugging it around pretty difficult. Myself, I prefer to make two trips with smallish, heavy things, than one trip with a heavy AND large thing.

If you can go as high as $2000, there's no reason to get an amp that is "too much" of an amp. Chances are good that you'll just end up wanting more down the line. Getting all you can for $2000 may end up saving you money down the road. Figure, getting that super-sweet amp that does it all for $2000, versus getting this one to get you by at $800, another with the next feature you want for $1000, nah, you want to downgrade, $900... etc ad nauseum

[Humboldt Squid]

Originally Posted by TemjinStrife

Mesa also makes the Express series, which are small and versatile but may not have the sort of bottom end you're looking for.

They have great clean channels, but absolutely NO gain.

[giannifive]

Originally Posted by Leon

I would actually steer you clear of any tube combo. They're heavy, but mostly bulky, which makes lugging it around pretty difficult. Myself, I prefer to make two trips with smallish, heavy things, than one trip with a heavy AND large thing.

My Studio 22 is probably only 40 pounds or so. Easy enough to carry in one hand with the guitar in the other.

The Mesa Express 1x10" is only 30 pounds or so, but as has already been mentioned, the Express series doesn't have tons of gain.

[Leon]

I guess I'm used to my Mesa Nomad 2x12, which is a pain to lug around at about 60 lbs

[Shayla]

Thanks!! So far I've heard some sweet stuff from the mesa mark series I'v heard the V and IV so far... I really dig some of that, especially the lead stuff. The engl blackmore, and fireball, and SE (the BEST!!!) are nice too. After hearing what I have though I think I lean towards something from the mark series, since I can't afford an engl se... but what's really the difference between them all, the marks that is. Or is there any way that another engl will sound that amazing? Because I reeeally dig that SE!!!

[darren]

I'd say try to find an old Mesa Dual Caliber or F-series. I have an F-30 short head with a pair of 1x12 Thiele cabs and it sounds awesome. At full-tilt, it gets close to Recto territory with the gain. Put a boost in front of it, and you're sailing.