software

Im borrowing a head for the time behind (Marshall JCM800) i got it for another few months while i save up for a brand new head. Im looking for something 1500 and below, something thats loud, has clarity, and can be reliabe, and tube. My Musical Tastes are Saosin, Thursday, Atreyu, In Flames, Dead Poetic, Underoath, The Used, My Chem. Ne suggestions? thanks.

Hello, I was into thursday for quite a while and I've heard a bit of the other bands you mentioned. I'm pretty sure both guitarists in thursday use JCM's and I'd bet the rest of those bands use something similiar atleast. Marshall basically invented the sounds that I think you're talking about so you can't go wrong with them. For $1500 I'm sure you could get a DSL Head with a decent 4x12. My one word of caution however would be to go for the 50w head, especially if you do choose a 4x12. nobody needs 100w, ever. On the extremely rare occansion when 50w isn't loud enough you're gonna be mic'd up anyway. Thing is with tube amps, especially for the type of sounds you're looking for, you need to really push them. And if you get 100w this just isn't feasible, it's too loud. What do you make of the JCM you've borrowed?

If I had to choose one production head to buy, it would be a Two Rock....even over Bogner. The Two Rock Emerald to be exact. Seriously the best sounding amp I have ever heard. I've seen them go used for around $1500, and this is the only way you can buy an Emerald. New ones like the Custom Reverb are a little over $2k new.

Seriously, these are the most amazing sounding amps ever. Here is a list of what I consider to be great amps in the same vein as your Marshall.

Two Rock
Bogner (Shiva will be in your price range, Extacy will be over $2k)
Splawn Amps - 2 and 3 channel amps based on Plexi tones...Killer amps. Rake, ect.

I'm not a Mesa fan, but there are plenty of guys here to recommend some of their models to you.

Good luck.

I don't know anything about 'em, but the guys that work in my local guitar shop all play ENGL's and they were trying to convert me. So I plugged in and they are awesome, just way out of my price range. So I'll second Jeff's suggestion of ENGL, if you can afford one. I've no idea what they sell for in the U.K. let alone the U.S.

you could probably get a Mesa Single Recto for about $1300? I think my Head and cab together were about $2000 and tax. The cab is $850. That should put the head at about $1150 or $1200. You could also go after a Line6 HD147 its not tube but for some it comes close enough with its amp models, not for me tho. Not head to head anyway. You could also get a JCM 2000 for that $1500 and still have cash left over. You also really don't need more than 100w. 50w is more than i can use past 1 or 2. I turned it half way up once and scared the sh*t outta myself.

Marshall DSL, Jubilee, or Slash. Bogner Shiva EL-34. ENGL Fireball or Powerball.
Soldano 50 , 100 , Decatone, or SLO 100. Splawn amps.

They all cost money, but if you want highgain and versatility, those are the ones to go after.

ENGL POWERBALL...nuff said, i just got one and i'm in love! it's a bit more than you want to spend but i'd wait it out a bit longer and get the powerball...you'll never look back!

-Mike