AMP TALK: Tube VS. SolidState

[mrbrooks]

Anyone have any input on the Krank Revolution head? Very pricey, but from what I've read, it's the holiest of holies for pure metal tone.

Anyone, anyone?

[Antero]

Side comment: with a lot of fuzzes, you WANT the sort of effect that tubes provide. Totally-clean-reproduction sounds nice on paper, but rounding off the edges with tube compression makes things feel so much more organic.

Of course, the joke in all of this is that I'm considering picking up a solid state combo (Traynor or red knob Fender) to run stereo with my Silvertone - the Silvertone gets the huge low end, aggressive mids and rich highs, and the SS would get the overly-treble blast for the fuzz...

And by the way, jazz choruses are the main go-to for Rhodes people after what I've heard so I don't know about electric pianos and tubes. Rhodes is an electric piano, is it not? I may be talking jive now.

It certainly is. I think most Rhodes people are going for overly clean sounds these days, though.

Best keys tone I ever heard: The Double, Wurlitzer electric piano ---> Big Muff ---> Frequency Analyzer ---> I think a Fender Bassman 4x10 reissue. That sounded like the voice of god, let me tell you. My friends and I were transfixed.

[Antero]

Anyone have any input on the Krank Revolution head? Very pricey, but from what I've read, it's the holiest of holies for pure metal tone.

Anyone, anyone?

Depends what sort of tone you're going for... all my favorite heavy bands are using Orange and Matamp and old Sunn stuff, less chug more grind.

[felix]

If you only want a clean amp, that helps cut down your cost! It also cuts down your selection a bit, but they are out there.

The amount of watts depends a lot on the amplification style. 15-30 watts Class A will be *really* loud (class A tends to be more expensive though). Class AB (most amps are class AB) 30-50 will cut the mustard just fine. 100 watts will be plenty, if not overkill for most people. 150 watts is just stupid...I have a tripple rectifier so I'm not speaking out of jealousy...those 50 extra watts are pointless. Depending on the amp, one might even argue that the jump from 50-100 is pointless...

Anyway, I digress...

I'd shoot for a minimum of 30 with a preference of 50 watts.

[Antero]

30-50 most amps, but 15 watts of type A won't be super clean but it'll still do serious damage. Vox AC15? Loud as hell.

The 50-100 jump is just headroom, really, and so little of a shift that it's really just a matter of character. Beyond 100 is just asinine, if you're rolling tube.

[mrbrooks]

Hey Felix-

Cool input, man. Say are you talking about the Mesa Triple Rectifier? I just spotted one on my way home from work today at a local shop, but they're asking $1100 for it-decent condition-and there's no footswitch included. I've always been curious about the Mesa heads becasue soooo many metal bands use them, but I also fear sounding just like everyone else.
The thing that got my attention about that head was the amount of control offered on deck, Jesus! Knobs and switches every fucking where. Guess I'm really in the dark ages with amps, but that was a surprise to me.

[mrbrooks]

Just a quick heads up guys, I posted a few things for sale in the BUY/SELL/TRADE lounge. Gotta scrape some bread together for this new mystery amp I'll be buying.

[Deathtron]

mrbrooks

Cool input, man. Say are you talking about the Mesa Triple Rectifier? I just spotted one on my way home from work today at a local shop, but they're asking $1100 for it-decent condition-and there's no footswitch included. I've always been curious about the Mesa heads becasue soooo many metal bands use them, but I also fear sounding just like everyone else.
The thing that got my attention about that head was the amount of control offered on deck, Jesus! Knobs and switches every fucking where. Guess I'm really in the dark ages with amps, but that was a surprise to me.

Actually MB are really reliable for shows, good sounding, hum I'm not too sure that allot of metal bands use them but they are good with tube distortion plus flexablitiy with other pedals. But by means of metal .. all it is ..6 different distortions, 1 overdrive channel, and 1 clean. Its rather a really differnent kind of tone, check out the youtube vids. Clean channel is just as good as any other amp. Personally I like the vintage dist on the MB DUAL, but jus think about it to, their are different tastes, you should jus test everything out before making a huge rock decision.

[metalmariachi]

I do like the sound of the Tremoverb (the name was stolen from an old Supro btw).
You can get a very nice clean, although it took several hours of flipping switches, red-orange, modern-vintage, rectifier etc. until we got the exact sounds he wanted when using the foot switch.

I’ve always associated the other triple rectos with industrial bands.

Keith

[felix]

Hey Felix-
Cool input, man. Say are you talking about the Mesa Triple Rectifier? I just spotted one on my way home from work today at a local shop, but they're asking $1100 for it-decent condition-and there's no footswitch included.

Yep, and $1100 seems to be going price these days. They have held their value well. I actually have the older 2-channel version; bought it in '99 for $1500 or so. I forget when they started with the 3 channel version...2002 or something like that...

It's a great amp, and certainly handles metal/hard rock and punk which is what I used it for. People like to talk a lot about it's distortion (which is very nice) but it's clean channel is awesome. Very Fender-like, but with more "rock" to it. Loud and punchy! Agreed with what metalmariachi said about reliability/durabilty...mine has been toured with all up and down the west coast, south west, and gigs all over bay area and has held up beautifully. It even fell off the 4x12 cab once (onto carpet thankfully) and was, very much to my surprise, just fine.

a big +1 on the Tremoverb. Had I a time machine, I'd go back to '99 and point my younger self towards the 50watt Tremoverb instead.

[mrbrooks]

Good info on the Triple Recto. Guess, I'll just have to try it out after work tomorrow and hope there's a layaway plan at the store!

I am currently obsessed with the band High on Fire-guitarist Matt Pike is a friggin' riffing GOD! His tone over the last two albums just melts my face off and I'm really digging the fact that when he palm mutes, there's this crunchy-heavy "chooka chooka" kind of sound to it rather that the typical metal "Jud Jud" when using the same techinique.

I am curious-is the Mesa capable of that kind of distortion? I know Pike plays on things like Orange and Green, but those appear to be out of the short-term price range for me.

[felix]

... I'm really digging the fact that when he palm mutes, there's this crunchy-heavy "chooka chooka" kind of sound to it rather that the typical metal "Jud Jud" when using the same techinique. I am curious-is the Mesa capable of that kind of distortion?

Sadly no, and that's my only dislike with the amp...over the years I've come to want more of that definition in my distortion sound. If you don't scoop the crap out of the mids like many people do and go easy on the bass it gets close, but not quite the same.

Also, my personal advice is to be weary when trying to find an amp that sounds like your favorite tone on record. Chances are the amp used to record is either some small vintage amp, or is a blend of a couple amps, or even tight double tracking of the same amp at a much lower gain setting.

[Antero]

And you're damn sure not going to get other things to sound like the Orange family.

[mrbrooks]

Well guys, it's looking like my only real option is going to be using the Easy Payment Plan through good ole' American Musical Supply.

I can't wait six months to save up for something decent, so I'm gonna have to go this way.

Thing is, their selection is decent, but it puts a bit of a box on my choices.

I've read good things about the newer Marshall heads. They have the Krank heads, which I asked about previously. Hughes and Kettner, THD, Laney and Peavey are other brands they carry. I've been told to stay far, far away from the Line 6 tube heads.

The rub of this situation is not being able to play on anything before buying. Kinda sucks. You guys got any input on the above?

[LowWoods]

I'm waiting on one of these $269 on sale w/ free shipping via tunnelvision music! Solid state 30W (60 + available) - tube like qualities (supposedly)!




I have a Fender Hot Rod tube amp that I absolutely love. Let you know how the solid state compares!