Meatsmoke / Amp design question

[Ugly Nora]

Team,

I may possibly move into a house that will allow me to buy a Meatsmoke which will really be my first real amp. I am thinking of going with a 100 watt version, with a switch to cut it down to 50 watt which is what I would use most. The main reason I was thinking of getting the 100 w over the 50 w is because if I ever wanted to sell it I figured it would be more attractive at 100 w. Going this route will only cost me an extra $150 as opposed to buying a 50 w. I am also going to have him add an fx loop for $50.

Since these are custom built amps, and I am new to this whole guitar/amp thing, are there any other features I may want him to add that I don't know I want? What would you add?

Here are the particulars from the site:

• 300 TUBE WATTS FOR BASS OR MASSIVE GUITAR

• TUBE SIGNAL PATH FEATURES SIX TUNG SOL 6550 POWER TUBES

• LOADED WITH OVERBUILT TRANSFORMERS AND FAN COOLED

• 2 FOOTSWITCHABLE CHANNELS (HEAVY DUTY CHANNEL SWITCH W/ LED INCLUDED), NORMAL CHANNEL RANGING FROM CLEAN SMOOTH TUBEY BASS, TO PUNCHY POWER TUBE GROWL. THE OD CHANNEL BREACHING GROWL INTO LOW END RICH SUSTAINING OVERDRIVE AND ALL OUT LOW END FUZZ AT THE TOP OF THE DIAL.

• 3 BAND EQ, BASS AND TREBLE SHIFT SWITCHES, INDEPENDENT PREAMP VOLUME AND MASTER VOLUME CONTROLS FOR EACH CHANNEL

• SUPPORTS 2, 4, AND 8 OHM LOADS

• HAND-WIRED, ASSEMBLED AND TESTED IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON USING HIGH QUALITY DISCRETE COMPONENTS

• 14 GAUGE COLD ROLLED STEEL CHASSIS HOUSED IN AN ENCLOSURE OF BALTIC BIRCH DOVETAILED TOGETHER, STAINED, CLEARED, AND FEATURING A FRONT BAFFLE OF BEAUTIFUL NORTHWEST SPALTED (DISEASED) MAPLE, BRANDED WITH THE VERELLEN LOGO.

Thanks

[AxAxSxS]

I'm a little confused, are you wanting a completely custom amp that has the meatsmoke pre and only a 100 watt power section? I think part of the attraction for that amp is that it's 300 watts. getting a louks or skyhammer might be a better option if you want 100 watts.

Or am I missing/not aware of something?

[skullservant]

I think the preamp of the Meatsmoke is a little bit different than the Louks and Skyhammer in terms of break up and drive.
The idea of your amp sounds pretty awesome though if that's what you're going for.

I personally have a custom Verellen myself, which has the preamp of a Fender Champ going into half the power section (2x6550) of a Model T for around 45-50w.
The only thing that I could see him adding if you wanted it would be a dummy load with a recording output (I have one on my amp) although I'm not sure how much that would cost.
I like your idea of going for overkill with the 100w so you're prepared if you need it, and then having the switch to go down to 50w. I think that's a smart move for sure.

I can't really think of any other ideas in terms of adding anything. If you end up getting it I'll be stoked to see it!

[Ugly Nora]

Correct team, from my understanding the Loucks and Skyhammer are crunchier amps/break up faster. I would prefer something big and clean (although the Meatsmoke also has a dirty channel).

I have no need for 300 watts so why pay for it? I would rather put money into other mods (even ones I don't know I may want yet). Here are the prices he quoted me (without the mods) above:

50 w - $1900
100 w $2000
300 w $2500

As you can see the difference is negligible from 50-100 w, but a decent size jump up to 300 w.

[skullservant]

Part of the Meatsmoke staying so clean is the wattage though, I give it that much. But I still think the structure of the preamps are different from the Meatsmoke and the Loucks/Skyhammer. Since the preamp has a footswitchable boost/fuzziness to it I think that'll work in your favor to keep it clean

100w is a pretty decent amount for most places unless you're trying to pull off not being mic'd

I can see that price jump though. Probably at least another pair of tubes, along with bigger iron to get the last of that wattage in there

[skullservant]

I really am curious to see how much a Meatsmoke weighs though, for real. My custom is in the 'small' headshell which is deeper than it is tall, and weighs every bit of 40-50 pounds, and that's just for 50W. I can't imagine the size of the iron and all of those tubes how much it weighs

[Ugly Nora]

I work out, so that really shouldn't be a problem.

[D.o.S.]

Well then don't be a git and snag the biggest one you can afford.

[AxAxSxS]

Yeah if big and clean is what you are after. 300 will give it the headroom and low end power that 100 wont quite do. 100 is respectable for sure though! I think at 100 watts with the meat pre you will find it behaves similarly to the other 100 watts verellens but will just sound more similar to the meats own flavor.

If I could scrape together $2500 to buy an amp, thats what it would be. those things sound damn good!

[whiskey_face]

a 100 watt meatsmoke?

sure ill take a VW motor in a Veyron.

:edit:

I would have him add the 300 watt power section AND matching 300 watt power amp as a mod.

[Ugly Nora]

Well then don't be a git and snag the biggest one you can afford.

Why can't I do both? Why does it have to be one or the other?

Yeah if big and clean is what you are after. 300 will give it the headroom and low end power that 100 wont quite do. 100 is respectable for sure though! I think at 100 watts with the meat pre you will find it behaves similarly to the other 100 watts verellens but will just sound more similar to the meats own flavor.

If I could scrape together $2500 to buy an amp, thats what it would be. those things sound damn good!

100w is plenty for me. I don't play in a band, this is just for my own enjoyment and insanity. As long as it doesn't break up at a reasonable volume I will be quite happy with it. If the time ever comes where I actually need more powe I would just buy a new one at the regular 300w or have him upgrade my existing one if that could be done.

[skullservant]

It'd take a decent amount of work to convert it from 100w to 300w. But honestly 100w should be enough for you to get a sane volume without much break up

[Ugly Nora]

Great, I should be quite satisfied then. Now I just need to decide color and if I want a tube tremolo installed. Trem is my favorite effect so I guess I might as well. I need to get more info regarding what it sounds like....

[Ugly Nora]

Deciding on a color is tough! I have been thinking about this all day. I was thinking about something with pink to reflect the less masculine 100w version I will get. I don't know if Ben offers that though.

[Holy Schnikes]

Emperor made some pink stained cabs for Buzzo so Verellen could probably manage that color as well. It's a striking look, I'll give it that.