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Well, hello!

I'm new here, so I hope, I choose this forum topic correctly.

I play in a post-metal/sludge/post-hardcore band, similar to french and belgian scene (Amenra, Time to Burn, General Lee, I Pilot Dæmon, Celeste, Birds in Row, etc) and not so long ago we decided to build our own rehearsal room. It is obvious that we have no gear at all, and try to find some good deal with it. But theres a lot of options, and not enough money for it, as usual.

So here is my question - please advise any amplifiers with vintage and heavy tones, but for reasonable price.

At the moment we stopped at Sovtek amps (Mig 50/60/100) with 4*12 cabs pulled with Vintage 30, and Acoustic b600 head for bass with 4*12 or 4*10 cabs. But day by day more difficult to find these amps for good price and in good cond. And I'm sure, there is a lot of options more.

As for me, I really exited with Dunwich and Hovercraft tones, but there is some problems - price and shipping to Ukraine, where I actually live.

Thanx for all answers!

I play similar music to what you're talking bout. We're not soundwise as hardcore based as Birds in Row but we've been compared to Amenra (though none of us listen to them) and our drummer really likes Celeste... Anyways, I use a vox ac30 for cleans and pedals for distortion. I love the clean sound of that amp and it takes those pedals awesomely. They only thing you can't get (compared to the Marshall Jcm 800 I used to play in my hardcore band) is that low end chugga chugga cab thump. Dirt pedals can sound really heavy too, but not as tight as proper distorted tube amps. To me, that's something I was willing to sacrifice for that clean tone. Our other guitarist uses a Blackstar HT-60 combo, both for cleans and distortion.

I don't consider myself an expert on this, but we're very happy with our sound so far. Listen to it on http://helioscopenoise.bandcamp.com and feel free to ask me if you want to know anything else.

PanicProne wrote:Anyways, I use a vox ac30 for cleans and pedals for distortion. I love the clean sound of that amp and it takes those pedals awesomely. They only thing you can't get (compared to the Marshall Jcm 800 I used to play in my hardcore band) is that low end chugga chugga cab thump. Dirt pedals can sound really heavy too, but not as tight as proper distorted tube amps. To me, that's something I was willing to sacrifice for that clean tone.

Well, I really like Vox AC30 sound, and somewhen, I'm sure, I'll buy it. But for my band i need more dark and dirty tones. I have a tubescreamer clone and muff pi, but not sure, that it can give that sound with amps like AC30.

PanicProne wrote: Our other guitarist uses a Blackstar HT-60 combo, both for cleans and distortion.

Is this amp was used on your bandcamp song? Well, not bad, I think. But dont you think, that stack/halfstack is more convenient to use on rehearsal, gigging and record sessions? I mean, that we did not consider this option (using a combos) as an acceptable for us.

PanicProne wrote: I don't consider myself an expert on this, but we're very happy with our sound so far. Listen to it on http://helioscopenoise.bandcamp.com and feel free to ask me if you want to know anything else.

I liked "Noir", especially clean vocals. Sounds great!

I noticed, that you are from Sweden. Did you know Amalthea? I hope, Erik (he plays drums there) will do for us some mixing and mastering of our debut EP.

Are you looking for amp dirt or pedal dirt?

skullservant wrote:Are you looking for amp dirt or pedal dirt?

Amp.

About pedals - now I'm using TS9 clone into muff pi, or TS9 standalone -> lead channel on some Krank head, and it sound dirty and dark, but too modern for me.

I've got a Mig 50 which rules for amp dirt. Not much of an amp dirt guy myself, but I like having the capability of being able to have a dirty amp. It's loud as hell. As long as you keep up with the amp and whatever repairs it might need (caps, new jacks, switch or whatever) it's a great amp

skullservant wrote:I've got a Mig 50 which rules for amp dirt. Not much of an amp dirt guy myself, but I like having the capability of being able to have a dirty amp. It's loud as hell. As long as you keep up with the amp and whatever repairs it might need (caps, new jacks, switch or whatever) it's a great amp

Thanx! Yet another voice for Sovtek amps. Perhaps, this is the perfect option for me. Do you have any experience with other Sovtek amps - mig 60/100?

dennisredneck wrote:
Is this amp was used on your bandcamp song? Well, not bad, I think. But dont you think, that stack/halfstack is more convenient to use on rehearsal, gigging and record sessions? I mean, that we did not consider this option (using a combos) as an acceptable for us.

I liked "Noir", especially clean vocals. Sounds great!

I noticed, that you are from Sweden. Did you know Amalthea? I hope, Erik (he plays drums there) will do for us some mixing and mastering of our debut EP.

Thanks for the nice words on the music.
I have never heard Amalthea, I'll give them a go for sure.

All guitars on Noir are the two Vox and Blackstar amps mentioned. The dirt on the Ac30 is either a Keeley BD-2, a Hot Cake or a combination of both. We use these amps for recording, rehearsal and gigging. Like I said before, the ac30 perhaps lacks that low end tightness (which is ofc down to how you play and your choice of guitars, pickups etc too) but it plays very loud. I've never had to run it past noon. So unless you're doing big arenas I reckon both these amps will work well. Not saying these are the ultimate amps, there's so many sounds out there, even within specific genres, but they certainly do the job for us. But if you're looking for amp gain as priority one, perhaps none of these are the best choices. Blackstar is very versatile but hasn't really got that downright sludge sound, if you ask me. It all depends on what you're after..

dennisredneck wrote:

skullservant wrote:I've got a Mig 50 which rules for amp dirt. Not much of an amp dirt guy myself, but I like having the capability of being able to have a dirty amp. It's loud as hell. As long as you keep up with the amp and whatever repairs it might need (caps, new jacks, switch or whatever) it's a great amp

Thanx! Yet another voice for Sovtek amps. Perhaps, this is the perfect option for me. Do you have any experience with other Sovtek amps - mig 60/100?

Nah. Just the 50h. I got it a few months ago and I love it. It's got beautiful dark cleans as well

I had a MIG100H for a long time--great amp. The only technical problem I ever encountered was a blown fuse.

If you're looking for amp dirt, those things stay clean for a pretty long time before they break up. They also happen to be really awesome pedal platforms.

For the last US tour Bart (Birds in Row) played a Sunn amp, either a Solarus or Sceptre, I'm not sure which alongside a Verellen Model V (Model T Clone). When they came through with Loma Prieta I know he used a Ampeg V4 and perhaps something else.

I'm sure the Sovtek stuff can all get into the territory you're talking about.

Maybe the RedBear stuff if you can find any available over there?

I had a MIG100H and absolutely loved it for anything heavy and big sounding. I actually got more of an Ampeg V4 tone out of it then a Marshall tone, which everyone seems to compare them to. I would just dime the master and control the volume with the gain knob. I miss that amp sometimes. Definitely moth worth what some people around here are asking for them, but if you can get them cheaper closer to you then they are worth it. Also look into old Sound City ps which can be found around Europe for cheaper than over here, if that makes a difference. Of course you can keep an eye out for lower priced V4's, or Traynor YBA-1A or 3, though most those are on this side so shipping will be rough. Carvin XB100? Red Bear MK120? Laney? Selmer?

Simms Watts get a lot of love, too.

Sims watts is great but its going to be another amp that stays clean until it's painfully loud. as in ear damage loud. I love mine though but I go for the clean pedal platform approach.

If you have not allready done so, have a gander at the DR rig thread. Lots of different approaches in there.
http://ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php?f=227&t=33505

You could look into Peavey VTMs or Butchers (not the new ones, the 80's ones). Great old school amp gain sound. Loud as christfuck, too. I'm not sure if you can get the deals on them that you once could, such as when I got my Butcher, but just a thought.