3/4 Channel Tube Amp Suggestions?

[Larz]

I have a mesa roadster, love all that it can do, really great clean tones with all the multi-switching you can do on each channel, but as you said, if you're not really a recto fan you should probably go in a different direction

[lhrocker]

You can't go wrong with either the Randall RM-100, Marshall JVM410H or the Mesa Road King. All of them do midi, but you'll need an Amp Gizmo to control the Mesa. The Randall can be biased for any power tube, which is really cool. You can get great cleans and dirty's from all of them. I've had the Randall for the longest. I must have sold/bought at least 3 of them as I always miss it after I sell it. But I do like my JVM and Road King also.

[Big Al]

I have a mesa roadster, love all that it can do, really great clean tones with all the multi-switching you can do on each channel, but as you said, if you're not really a recto fan you should probably go in a different direction

Seems like I will need to add the Roadster to my list.
While searching for opinions on the Mark V, I came across the term "Reborn Recto". My experience with rectos was a early to mid 2000's three channel DR. Seems like Mesa has changed the things I did not like about this amp.
I know I just need to sit down and spend some time with some amps to see what I like...and I plan on doing this but I would like to get it down to 3-5 amps. Strange thing is I keep leaning towards the Mesas but I have had three in the past and was never happy with them, even after tweaking them for months, and ended up selling them.
Thanks for the input and allowing me to babble on about "I can't make up my mind" and not telling me to get off your ass and try them for youself! Planning a trip to Atlanta shops this weekend.

[markD]

i feel ya about the mesa's. i have never been able to bond with one. i DO like the triple rectifier 3 channel (not sure why when i loathe the single and dual), but something has always kept from keeping one. maybe the fizz?

i, too, am wanting to grab a 3-4 channel amp. i pretty much have my sights on a TSL or a JVM. i would prefer the JVM, but i am cheap so i may go with the TSL. am more of a modded marshall guy, and i have been able to coax good sounds out of each of those heads rather easily. another one i was checking out over the weekend was the marshall 6100 30th anniversary head. it sounds good too. luckily my local GC has all 3 in stock and i have had a chance to try them...

[tonemonster]

Keep in mind, the Roadking can do MUCH more than just "recto" tones. its not a dual rec solo head. not the same amp. its got its own thing goin on with all the variables and modes. you can get some classic marshall tones out of it. sure, its NOT a marshall, but you can certainly get in the zone. nice cleans, nice ripped up pushed marshall tone too. and of course, chan 4 can do the recto tone if you want it to.

[jgcable]

i feel ya about the mesa's. i have never been able to bond with one. i DO like the triple rectifier 3 channel (not sure why when i loathe the single and dual), but something has always kept from keeping one. maybe the fizz?

i, too, am wanting to grab a 3-4 channel amp. i pretty much have my sights on a TSL or a JVM. i would prefer the JVM, but i am cheap so i may go with the TSL. am more of a modded marshall guy, and i have been able to coax good sounds out of each of those heads rather easily. another one i was checking out over the weekend was the marshall 6100 30th anniversary head. it sounds good too. luckily my local GC has all 3 in stock and i have had a chance to try them...

I thought the JVM sounds pretty good but not worth the money IMHO. It doesn't sound "that" good!
Big fan of the TSL. I owned a 50 watt head and it ripped. Another one of those amps I should hav kept.
Also, the 6100 30th Anniversary is a very nice sounding amp.
Personally for me... I will suggest 2 basics for the gigging musician on a budget
For Rectifier type tone nothing beats the Single Rectifier Solo Series II
For high gain Marshall tone nothing beats just about any version of the Peavey 5150. They all do high gain Marshall really well and are as close to a Soldano SLO100 as you could possibly get. I have owned both. I think they are very similar but the Peavey has a more user friendly effects loop. The SLO100 is quieter. The 5150-II has more gain and its pretty much a 3 channel amp. You can get 3 distinct tones out of it. Clean, Crunch and CRAZY. Fantastic clean channel BTW.
My favorite currently is my trusty Single Rectifier. Great clean channel, outstanding rhythm channel and adjustable footswitchable solo boost.

[markD]

john, i agree. the JVM is WAY too much money. my sights are on the 6100 or the TSL. again, i will probably end up with a TSL.

regarding the others you mentioned....i HATE 6L6 power tubes. i do not enjoy the way the react as the amp gets hot. give me a hot EL34 any day. i like the mid range characteristics much better. i, too, have had most of those amps, including the SLO and they just don't do it for me.

in all honesty, i wish rivera made a 3 channel S120. then i would be happy!!!

[Big Al]

I love my 5150 for that high gain sound. BBE in the loop and nothing else.
Thoughts on the Mark V?

[metal4you]

The Blackstar HT-Stage 100

I played the Blackstar HT stage 60 and it sounded good to me. I might buy one

[jgcable]

I love my 5150 for that high gain sound. BBE in the loop and nothing else.
Thoughts on the Mark V?

The Mark V is an outstanding amp but it can't do the 5150 thing. I don't like amps with too many knobs, switches and push pull pots on them. Even though the Marshall TSL has lots of knobs, its very straight forward. The 5150 is simple.
If you need lots of quality tones its hard to beat a Mark V. If you only need clean, crunch and lead, grab a Single Rectifier or a 5150-II

[jgcable]

john, i agree. the JVM is WAY too much money. my sights are on the 6100 or the TSL. again, i will probably end up with a TSL.

regarding the others you mentioned....i HATE 6L6 power tubes. i do not enjoy the way the react as the amp gets hot. give me a hot EL34 any day. i like the mid range characteristics much better. i, too, have had most of those amps, including the SLO and they just don't do it for me.

in all honesty, i wish rivera made a 3 channel S120. then i would be happy!!!

I used to hate 6L6 power tubes. I was an EL34 guy all the way. I really like the tight bottom of the 6L6. I do agree with you about when they get hot though. My EL34 amps sound better and better the hotter it gets. My 6L6 amps don't. They get a little "honky", midrangy if I am really pushing them. I also find that 6L6 amps are more user friendly when it comes to cabinet selection. My EL34 amps are very reactive to the types of speaker cabinets and speakers I am using.
I will tell you what Mark, an amp you should check out is the Peavey Triple X. You would be very surprised. I have a 60w 1 x 12 combo. Its really quite amazing. I paid $400.00 for it used and it flat out rocks. 3 channels. All 3 are outstanding. The best out of all of them is channel 2 which is the crunch channel. You could play any genre of rock on that channel by itself. Very quiet amp too and built like a friggin tank.
This amp thumps really hard and because it has 3 switchable voicings you can turn it from a loose blues amp to a classic rock amp to a metal amp with a flip of the switch. It also has the best effects loop I have ever had in an amp and external bias and test probe points on the back. Footswitchable channels and effects loop too and an large tank accutronics reverb.

[Big Al]

I have not been able to try out any amps, but will do so on Saturday. Trying a Mesa Mark V and Roadster. What about the Marshall JVM 410H? Any negatives?

[Grim]

I have not been able to try out any amps, but will do so on Saturday. Trying a Mesa Mark V and Roadster. What about the Marshall JVM 410H? Any negatives?

I wasn't crazy about it personally. Too buzzy and dare I say it, Marshall-y.

[DonP]

What is considered high price for the JVM410H? I've seen them as low (used) as $900 + shipping and pp fees. I came very close to taking it, but I don't like having an amp shipped to me or me shipping an amp.

I went RM100 and it seems like a great idea. With the modules if you want a certain tone, just get one made.

[Learn Guitars]

I was in the same situation. Wanting a 3-4 channel amp. I have a TSL now in a combo. After a few weeks of research I went with the Kustom Double Cross. 3 Channels with boost on each channel. Plus it has midi so it will make my effects scenarios much easier to tap dance out.