high-end guitar amplifiers

[guitarslinger]

Hi, I'm new here. Besides a newfound wetshaving passion, music is my life.

I've played guitar for almost 14 years. A good amplifier can be the difference between, "Meh, I'm going to go watch TV instead" and "Wow, I can't stop playing."

I play:

CAE 3+ preamp
VHT 2150 power amp
VHT 4x12
Diezel $x12

This setup is VERY similar to what was being used by Dave Mustaine, Steve Lukather, Marty Freidman, Steve Vai, and Kirk Hammett back in the early 90's.

here's a pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/guitarslinger213/amps/PC150140.jpg

maybe there aren't any other guitarists?

[Kyle Stoner]

I am a passionate guitarist with way less money than that. I play acoustically in intimate local community gatherings. It works for me - and my guitar is an acoustic/electric so I can plug in when the time comes.

[ratcheer]

I have a Mesa Boogie Mark II combo. I love it. I'm not sure what you mean by "high-end", but it is high-end, to me. I love the pure tube sound. And overdrive that is overdrive, not grunge injected in by some kind of computer. :cool:

Tim

[TheYoshi]

I have a home-made Fender 57 replica. If you're really passionate you cannot beat a home made amp with vintage tubes, although certainly more of a practice amp than what you have there....

I read an article once written by a guy who was lucky enough to have Eric Clapton show up at a bar he was playing in about picking your gear... the just of it was:

"At the end of my first set someone approached and asked if they could play a song or two, when I turned around I saw it was none-other-than Eric Clapton! I handed him my guitar, he hit a few chords, turned some knobs on my amp and proceeded to play a few songs... How did he sound on my gear? Just like Eric Clapton... maybe, it's not so much about the gear..."

That's pretty heavily paraphrased but you get the just, I really wish I could remember where I read it, very cool article.

[Mottern Man]

I see you are a Megadeth fan :thumbup:

[guitarslinger]

overdrive that is overdrive, not grunge injected in by some kind of computer. :cool:

Tim

I hope you're not talking about my gear. Anything digital in the rack is either operating in parallel or completely routed out of the dry signal when not in use.

There's nothing digital about the CAE preamp or VHT power amp. They actually have a less Metallic sound than a Mark II. Actually, they're pretty similar. Kirk Hammett used the CAE/VHT setup for the Black album and the subsequent tour instead of the mk II stuff.

I have a Mesa Blue Angel anyways, so I'm not here to argue about it. Keep on rockin' bro!!:smile:

[guitarslinger]

I see you are a Megadeth fan :thumbup:

HAHA, yep, my rig isalmost identical to the Countdown to Extinction setup.:biggrin:

BTW, today was my maiden voyage with a safety razor. I LOVED it.

Since my Merkur is still in the mail, I found an old safety in the attic. I couldn't read the brand. It said Made in USA though. I picked up some personna USA blades at wally world. I went though with it this morning. It was the most exhilarating experience of my life. I got a smooth shave and no cuts or anything. no nicks.

the glycerin pre-shave might just be the secret.:thumbup:

[ratcheer]

I hope you're not talking about my gear. Anything digital in the rack is either operating in parallel or completely routed out of the dry signal when not in use.

There's nothing digital about the CAE preamp or VHT power amp. They actually have a less Metallic sound than a Mark II. Actually, they're pretty similar. Kirk Hammett used the CAE/VHT setup for the Black album and the subsequent tour instead of the mk II stuff.

I have a Mesa Blue Angel anyways, so I'm not here to argue about it. Keep on rockin' bro!!:smile:

No, sorry. I wasn't commenting on your equipment at all. I can see how you may have taken it that way, though, so my apologies. :redface:

[HlSheppard]

I've played guitar for about 21 years, give or take (not that it makes me any good).

Since I don't actually perform anywhere anymore; I play my Carvin guitars through a Boss GT-6 routed to a Tech 21 Trademark 60 combo amp.

It's a GREAT little "home setup." Granted, it's not tube (which I would prefer if I had the $ sitting there), but it's also much more suited to 'bedroom volumes' than going out and spending the money on the tube amp and then an attenuator, etc.

[docslytherin]

I have a Vox AC-15 with 2x10" speakers. I love it!!

[guitarslinger]

I have a Vox AC-15 with 2x10" speakers. I love it!!

I hope you're using a Bigsby Tremolo and some Filtertron pickups.:001_tt1:

[Stan The Man]

Here is an amp thats all the rage if your into jazz guitar

http://www.jazzamp.com/

[PeteW]

I've got a Voodoo custom amp that I use when I play out and need that hard and heavy sound.

I also have a Carvin Valvemaster that I have completely modded and it sounds amazing for everything shy of the most brutal tones. I use this for most of my gigs and studio sessions.

Lastly, I built an 8 watt practice amp that I play through a 2x12 3/4 back cabinet at home and this is the amp that gets the most use by far.

Oh, and with any good tube amp, the tubes make all the difference.

[NurseMedic]

Say what you will about the directions the company has taken recently, but I still find the most pleasure out of playing on a 2 or 3 channel Marshall half-stack. :w00t: Doesn't seem to matter which head, so long as it's tube-based. On my list of "Wants" once I have a decent paying job.

Mike

[ratcheer]

+1 on the Marshalls. If they were good enough for Hendrix, they're good enough for anybody.

I chose my Mesa Boogie because I was (and am) a big fan of Carlos Santana.

Tim

[poopons8n]

61 reissue Les Paul Custom (sg body)
through a

Hot Rod Deville 2x12

sub 12au7 for cleaner sound

when I want a cleaner sound

[norman931]

I am a drummer, but I bang on guitars occasionally. My stuff:

Martin DM Custom
Fender Standard Stratocaster
Squier P-Bass
Polytone Mini-Brute IV
Ludwig Drums! (60s vintage):lol:

:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Smedley]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good small amp? The kind you can carry around in one hand and put on a coffee table without breaking the table,

[Opus_Y_&_Z]

My all time favorite was my Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi. I wish I still had that thing. The Mesa Trem-o-verbs have great sound too. Ah, I miss the ole' guitar days of my life :)

[Dennis]

I had a few guitars way back when I used to play. My last guitar that went out the door was a Martin J35 Maple. Before that was a Les Paul or two, a couple Fender Strats and a 60s Music Maker, and a really old Greco. All went through my old Peavey practice amp when it was just me or my Marshall stack when with others. I eventually sold everything when I didn't have the heart in it anymore and wasn't getting better.

Dennis

[guitarslinger]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good small amp? The kind you can carry around in one hand and put on a coffee table without breaking the table,

do you want a head or a combo???

how much do you want to spend??

some heads:

orange tiny terror
matamp minimat
epiphone valve something or other

[Smedley]

do you want a head or a combo???

how much do you want to spend??

some heads:

orange tiny terror
matamp minimat
epiphone valve something or other

Thanks. Was thinking of $300 or under.

[BrianP]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good small amp? The kind you can carry around in one hand and put on a coffee table without breaking the table,

Vox DA5 or a Boss Microcube.
Both are small little solid state guys with effects and amp modeling. Great for a simple little plug in and play kind of thing.

I got the Vox for Christmas so I could keep an amp tucked away in the living room.

[BrianP]

Let's see, here's what I've got in the amp department


THD Flexi-50
Peters Dual Channel (http://brinonymous.googlepages.com/front.JPG/front-full.jpg)
Vox VC-30 and matching 1x12 extension cab.
Vox Tonelab SE
Vox DA-5
Mesa Studio Pre-amp
Tech 21 Power Engine 60.

No more amps unless I sell something or start gigging again.

[patrisVII]

I have a home-made Fender 57 replica. If you're really passionate you cannot beat a home made amp with vintage tubes,

Indeed! It's easy to do and you can build better than you can buy for a lot less money (I build tube home audio but the principles are identical)


Basics:http://www.oldradioz.com/manuals/rdh4/

Soldering: http://www.kingbass.com/soldering101.html


Schematics:http://www.triodeel.com/schindex.htm

guitar specific: http://www.diyguitaramp.com/

[Leonardo]

Hm, tubes... :drool:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/139/401137027_bd1cee3b7f.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/leo_rodrigues/401137027/)

[dawgball]

Vox

[farace]

I'm a bassist, although I don't get to play much anymore. I keep it simple. Not-so-loud, '68 Ampeg B-15N. A bit louder, '72 Ampeg B-15S. Loudest, '93 Ampeg SVT-III mounted in an SVR-215 cabinet. (Other Ampeg stuff include several Ampeg basses, Ampeg effect pedals, Ampeg picks(!), Burns/Ampeg guitar, Ampeg Jet.) Favorite bass, though, is an '82 reissue of the '57 Precision. Favorite guitar is a '65 Fender Jaguar. (Bought it cheap back when nobody wanted them!) Lots of other stuff around here; before I was married, music gear was my acquisition disorder. Now I have to think smaller. :glare:

[jamacdon]

I had a MB TriAxis pre and Simul 2-Ninety power amp, it got super clean and dirty sounds. For effects, there were a few -- Lexicon PCM 70 reverb, TC 2290 delay, and Eventide Harmoziner. For a slightly different crunch, a Marshall head was in the mix.

I only go with tube amps, the solid-states just don't do it for me.

[reverendyo]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good small amp? The kind you can carry around in one hand and put on a coffee table without breaking the table,

For a small amp, you can't beat the Epiphone Valve Junior. Class A tubes putting out 5 watts, and less than $150.00 Authentic tube sound and tube distortion without breaking the windows or the eardrums. Sure you couldn't gig with this, but the sound recorded is truly awesome! And if you gig, just mic it!

[BrianP]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good small amp? The kind you can carry around in one hand and put on a coffee table without breaking the table,


Vox DA-5

The Vox has amp modeling and effects built in. Great little practice amp. It's got a 5" speaker and pretty much sounds like it but I plugged it into a Tech 21 power engine 60 with a 12" speaker and it sounded very cool.

[Midnight Blues]

Ah, one of my other loves. I play a modded 69' Tele Thinline thru a stock 65' Super Reverb. Talk about tone!

As far as a small amp, I partial to Fenders' Pro Junior. You can pick one up for under $300.00. Dan

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/medium/Thinline1.JPG

[TheSonicFedora]

I am a recording engineer by trade. My main instrument is trombone though. It doesn't get much use here in Nashville. I have found that when the instrument sounds good it is easier to record so I have been collecting guitar pedals and amps, drums, basses everything for some time now.

I have worked with some of the worlds finest guitar players and you would be shocked at how small there setups are. The fender pro junior gets used just as much as a 65 plexi in the studio.

Billy Gibbons, Duane Eddy, Dan Baird and Brent Mason all plug straight from a guitar into an amp. That is the most important thing to me. Want some overdrive? Sometimes you gotta plug in a pedal but normally we just turn up the amp. The only pedal that is always in use is my Peterson Strobo-Stomp... and usually when the red light is one we don't have it plugged in.

Simple is better... it's all in the hands.

[TheSonicFedora]

Vox AC30
Early Fender Deluxe
Marshall Plexi
Highwatt 100
Fender Pro Jr.
Anything Dr. Z makes

But if I could only have one amp... it's pricey but 65 amps are the best I have ever heard. Think ac30 meets marshall 18watt.

[ratcheer]

I have worked with some of the worlds finest guitar players and you would be shocked at how small there setups are. The fender pro junior gets used just as much as a 65 plexi in the studio.

Billy Gibbons, Duane Eddy, Dan Baird and Brent Mason all plug straight from a guitar into an amp. That is the most important thing to me. Want some overdrive? Sometimes you gotta plug in a pedal but normally we just turn up the amp. The only pedal that is always in use is my Peterson Strobo-Stomp... and usually when the red light is one we don't have it plugged in.

Simple is better... it's all in the hands.

Yes. The great guitarists are playing the amp almost as much as they are playing the guitar. Hendrix was famous for it.

I chose my main setup (Mesa Boogie Mark II combo) because I loved Carlos Santana's sound so much. I can't even approach what he did, but I can dream.

Tim