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ok guys I really need some expert opinion here, I don't have the cash right now but I might be able to get a good tube amp soon, so I want to do all my research now. What I need out of the amp is as follows:

General Features -- good headroom, probably 100 or 50 watts, if 50 watts has enough features, at least 2 switchable channels, flexible enough EQ (not stuck with thin cleans on the clean channel, or just heavy metal distortion on on the drive channel).

Cleans -- doesn't have to be sparkling vintage Fender-like, it just needs to actually be clean and not sound like crap. Also it needs to be quite open to EQ changes.

Distortion -- this is where the money is guys, it needs to be defined and not sound like mud, needs to be flexible enough to do classic rock all the way to heavy metal, needs to throw out pinch harmonics when I demand them, palm mutes should have defined, sharp, percussive chunk, should have the qualities that tube distortion has... overall I think the distortion just needs to be sweet!

That should cover it, I looked at a few amps that might be well suited to what I want, these being the Peavey 5150 (good distortion, cleans are decent), Hughes amp; Kettner Triamp MKII (6 all tube channels, heard it has great distortion and cleans), Mesa Dual Rectifier (I don't need to explain this one...), and maybe even the B-52 AT-100 (Guitar World gave it a good review, it's got 3 channels, all tube, supposedly very good tones, design is Recto like). The poll only has the 3 more popular options because I doubt anyone has tried the B-52 yet.

So.... Opinions? Other recommendations?

No Marshall JCM2000? I know I'd take a DSL100 or 50 before I'd buy a Dual Rectifier. The Peavey 5150 doesn't do much for me really but I haven't tried one since '95 or '96. Never tried the B-52 or the Hughes amp; Kettner.

Can't really vote on your choices as I don't care a great deal for any of them.

I'd pick/recommend a MESA F-50/100, MESA MKIV, MESA Stiletto, Rivera Knucklehead, or something from Voodoo/Splawn.

These will have what ya want. $ for $ the MESA F series and Voodoo/Splawn amps would be your best bet, IMO.

Get a used Triamp Mk. 1. You can nail vintage Plexi Marshall tones, get a great clean tone (either bright and sparkling or a darker, more Vox-ish tone and get a heavy, articulate distortion (less Mesa, more VHT if you want a comparison). The Mk. 1 is 100w and the headroom is extremely good. If you need a wide variety of tones and you want great cleans (not ones that are quot;passablequot;) I think it's the best way to go.

Out of the three, I'd take the Triamp. But I went and bought a Marshall DSL100 instead of a Triamp, go figure.

triamp is far higher standard than a dsl in my oppinion, but still id pick a 5150 over those three amps everytime. after using a 5150 for a while ive tried a few mesa's marshalls and other amps as a possible change but i still like my 5150 more, it just owns

Get a DSL 50W with a Marshall 1960AV cab, w/4 Vin 30's. Also, get a quality overdrive unit, not distortion! You'll have a fat clean channel, set the gain channel for heavy palm mute metal gain, then use the OD as your lead boost w/infinite sustain.

The Ashdown Fallen Angel might also be a good one to look at, if you can drop the cash. The DSL used should be around $650.....cab $400......OD $125.

I've got the Mesa Boogie and love it and their CustomerService/Warranty people are great to deal with if you need them, but thats' another story. The controls on the Mesa aren't just crank the High's and low and so on. Each pot after the Treble is controled by the previous pot so I suggest reading up on the Mesa from the site and download the manual that you're interested in. I haven't tried the Hamp;K but the Peavy didn't do anyting for me.

Read up and check them all out and see what works for you. But you'll have to crank these amp up and back away to get the optimal sound out them.

Hmm....I've owned a Mesa and I am in the process of selling it. It was a single rectifier, and I loved it. If you have the cash, I would highly suggest a rivera amplifier. Look at the knucklehead reverb. Awsome amps.


Originally Posted by BigBazztriamp is far higher standard than a dsl in my oppinion, but still id pick a 5150 over those three amps everytime. after using a 5150 for a while ive tried a few mesa's marshalls and other amps as a possible change but i still like my 5150 more, it just owns

Yeah, but then again I could get a DSL100 and a cab for almost half the price of one Triamp head.

The 5150's are also good amps. Great distorted sounds. I find the cleans a little lacking, though.

i'd reccomend a peavey xxx actually, with some gt 12ax7c's in the crunch channel. The ultra, set on loose, actually gets some really good ac/dc tones

maybe a jsx, if EL's are your thing

JSX or XXX.

out of those amps, i'd say go for the dual rectifier (maybe throw some EL34's in it, it gives you a sweeeeeeeeet crunch that sounds just awesome). it can do everything you asked for very well, and you can get a number of other tones out of it that the rectifiers aren't even known for.

the B-52 actually wouldn't be a bad route to go either. it has almost all the same features as the dual rectos, only i'm not sure that you can switch between 6L6/EL34 on those amps. but they sound great nonetheless. i played one at a show one time when we just used another band's gear, and it could easily compete with a recto IMO.


Originally Posted by muttonchopsruleout of those amps, i'd say go for the dual rectifier (maybe throw some EL34's in it, it gives you a sweeeeeeeeet crunch that sounds just awesome). it can do everything you asked for very well, and you can get a number of other tones out of it that the rectifiers aren't even known for.

the B-52 actually wouldn't be a bad route to go either. it has almost all the same features as the dual rectos, only i'm not sure that you can switch between 6L6/EL34 on those amps. but they sound great nonetheless. i played one at a show one time when we just used another band's gear, and it could easily compete with a recto IMO.

What you say about Rectos with EL-34's intrigues me.... but I love the 6L6 recto tone I hear so often. I could always try one out with EL34s....

About the B-52, It really was almost as good as a recto??


Originally Posted by DeadSkinSlayer3JSX or XXX.

1

Both have good cleans and 2 great distortion channel's and if you look around you can usually get a xxx for 999, jsx for 1199(ish)

IThe B-52 AT-100 was my brainchild, so if any of ya'll have questions, feel free to ask me. Also, thanks for the compliments I've read here about the AT-100. It feels REALLY good to know that a lot of players are enjoying it. I wanted to come up with an amp that kicked ass and took names without raping the wallet! LOL It sells for $699 new at G.C.

Here's the link to the Harmony-Central reviews: from : localhost/the record, I don't work for B-52 anymore, but they're a fantastic company. I run Rotosound strings here in the US.)

Johnny Birkey

Hamp;K Duotone

A 5150 clean does suck, but thats because the stock valves/tubes arent very good and thier biased way too cold, i didnt like it much when i first had it, but i replaced the preamp and power amp tubes with JJ's all around and had it biased hotter and now the clean channel is great, its still not a fender bassman or twin reverb but its a much nicer sounding clean than say a Marshall Tsl. i find it has a better sounding distortion than the XXX and JSX (maybe not better but more to my liking) though its a different sound probably the most metal sounding amp out of the three and the least versatile, but still my favourite gigging amp ever. the 5150 stays tight always and has enough gain for anyone ever it articulates brilliantly and highlights the playing, ie. doesnt hide mistakes well, its a very dyncamic sounding amp. i love the marshall dsl also its a good option, i wouldent ever use one for metal but for rock/hard rock id love one, i find they have a nice growl to them far better sounding than a stock Tsl (IMHO)

The reason why I mentioned the Hughes amp; Kettner Triamp is that it can be found for right around a grand. If you're shelling out close to $800 for a Marshall DSL and an overdrive box, what's another $200? The channels on the Hamp;K will blow away anything you'll hear from an overdrive box, period. The DSL's cleans aren't the greatest, like the Mesa, so if you can spare a couple extra hundred, it should be a no brainer.

The Duotone is a great amp; it's pretty much a simplified Triamp with channels 1a and 3b in it. Strangely enough, I seem to find the Triamp used for cheaper than the Duotone.

It all goes back to priority. The Triamp has really great cleans and I think the overdrive is great (it's heavy enough to be used by bands like Three Days Grace). I find it to be less muddy than the Rectifiers and doesn't get quite as much gain (most musicians won't need to put the gain dial past 1 o'clock on it... it's instant Alice In Chains).

I'm all about Rectifiers, so that's my suggestion.....pretty good cleans, great overdrive, and killer distortion. You can even get rid of the mud if you practice some restraint on the bass knob.