best amp for metal

[cheese0tron]

sorry about all of my trolling history on this website lol but this is a serious question, i went to guitar center today and play a engl fireball 60w and loved it i'm pretty sure i'm gonna buy it but i was wondering if you guys had any suggestions of other amps that i should try out before i make my final decision no one say a 6505+ i hate that amp i don't know why lol and no one say a 5150 iii cause my dad already has one i like to play really heavy pantera riffs and as i lay dying, judas priest, iron maiden, ozzy, dio anything that is really thrashy and heavy and has a good melody i play a gibson explorer and a jackson rr1 so yea i'm looking for a amp that has tonz of gain and has lots of attack and low end you know a amp that is really chuggy and heavy and has a good lead tone ONLY TUBE AMPS

[Larz]

What type of budget do you have to work with?

Is your guitar center one of the ones that carry the Mesa Boogie line? Did you try any Marshalls?

Lots of great metal amps you won't find at GC though.

[DK2M92]

Amen on the 6505+ my man. Most lifeless tube amp I've ever played. I'd say check out the new Randall Thrasher, looks pretty killer from what I've seen, and Randall's new stuff in general look pretty killer. I have yet to play any but from what I've seen/heard they seem pretty cool. And designed by Mike Fortin.

[veemagic]

Yeah, budget? Lots of great boutique stuff. Ubers are awesome, and you can't get much more "chuggy" gain than them.

[markD]

it's not tube, but you should check into the Ampeg VH140C. Brian Hoffman used one for years and created some VERY brutal tones. living in the birth place of death metal, I have seen MANY VH140Cs in action and letting out some heavy ass tones with mega "chugga-chugga" ness going on.

cool part? you can get one under $500.

[roodyrocker]

Uberschall is at the top of any metal list of amps

[Grim]

The Fireball... sounds like an ENGL. Owning a Powerball, and having owned an Invader, there isn't much that has that sort of gain structure (Mind you, the Invader is a bit different). The Uberschall is kinda the "best version" of that sound. You can get close with a Rectifier (which has the added bonus of multiple channels with individual EQs compared to the Fireball. It also takes much more tinkering . If a 5150 isn't up your alley, but you dig the Fireball, I'd jump on it.

EDIT: Noticed you mentioned As I Lay Dying. Last I checked they played Framus amps. The Cobra might be something to look into.

[cheese0tron]

my budget is $1200

[cheese0tron]

and i have another question i'm gonna be using a marshall jcm 900 cab is that cab fine i don't really know anything about cabs is there any other cabs that might sound better with the head?

[cheese0tron]

Amen on the 6505+ my man. Most lifeless tube amp I've ever played.

yea everyone tells me get a 6505+ i hate that amp i'd rather play my dads 5150 over that amp anyday

[Grim]

and i have another question i'm gonna be using a marshall jcm 900 cab is that cab fine i don't really know anything about cabs is there any other cabs that might sound better with the head?

The 1960A is a fine cab. You may prefer the tighter, brighter Celestion Vintage 30 to the G12T-75s that come in those for metal, but I wouldn't worry about it. Be more worried about annihilating your neighbourhood via amplifier

[dannyr]

Per your budget, I'd suggest a used Marshall JVM410. It will do it all, plus has more gain than you will ever need.

[Grim]

my budget is $1200

Either the Fireball or a used Recto would be my picks.

Per your budget, I'd suggest a used Marshall JVM410. It will do it all, plus has more gain than you will ever need.

The JVM is a great amp, and will indeed do most of the artists you mentioned in your post. It does have a very different character than the amps discussed so far, however

[zeegler]

There's really no such thing as the best amp for metal. It all depends on your playing style, how you dial in your amp, the guitar you play, etc.. I could get a great metal sound out of any of the 6 amps sitting behind me right now. I've never played a 6505+, but considering it's basically the same amp as a 5150, I imagine it would be pretty damn good for metal. The problem with the 5150 is there isn't really a proper clean channel. I think if I was playing in a band that played all metal, I'd be fine with a Mesa Dual Rectifier, Rivera Knucklehead II or Tre, Marshall JVM, 5150, 5153, etc, etc...

Just try out a bunch of stuff. You'll find something you like.

[TKEblue]

Can't help much amp wise, but for cabs, a friend just got n avatar 2x12 with the hellatones to go with his dark terror and its outstanding. Great quality, sound, and price.