Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Combo amp help please

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Combo amp help please

    Hey All,

    I'm on the hunt for the elusive "can do all" combo amp (1X12 maybe a 2X12). I've read a lot of the stuff here and on Harmony, but aren't any closer to a decision. Thought some people might be or have been in the same boat, could lend some advice. Plus I trust and respect the opinions here more than what I read on HC, everything’s a "10" [img]/images/graemlins/eyes.gif[/img].

    Anyway I'm after a 3 channel or really good 2 channel combo. I'd like to stay $1000 and under if possible. I've put some Mesa's on the possibility list - Nomad 45 and DC-3, but am open to other brands. I love EL84's, but 6L6's are great too. I currently have a few old Fender amps and a Yamaha/Soldano T100-C. The Yamadano is great, but it has to be cranked. So good sounding bedroom level is a must. I've had quite a few high gain amps, 5150, Bogner, and VHT. I'm looking for that kind of quality sound in a combo plus a descent clean channel. I play everything from blues to 80's hard rock (Def Lep, Halen) and more modern stuff such as Nickleback.

    Some amps I've tried that I didn't connect with were Peavey's XXX and ultra tube. I tried a Nomad 4X10 and wasn't thrilled by the bottom end response; too big also.

    So that's about it I think. Thanks in advance for the help. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

    -Jason

  • #2
    Re: Combo amp help please

    Mesa/Boogie DC-5 Combo. Very versatile litte combo. Great clean channel, can get nasty on the lead channel, nice reverb and 5 band EQ. It's 50 watts of 6L6 that sounds pretty good at bedroom volumes and can be a beast if you want to crank it up.

    I can't say enough good things about the DC-5 amp and is one of the best bang for the buck out there. I have a few other amps and this baby keeps up with them.

    shawnlutz.com

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Combo amp help please

      Thanks for the input Shawn. I use to own the 2 amps in the middle of your pic. Had to sell to pay some bills [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]. That's the type of sound I want out of a combo.

      -Jason

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Combo amp help please

        I recommend the Mesa F-30. Gotta love EL84s. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_In.../F-series.html
        I feel my soul go cold... only the dead are smiling.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Combo amp help please

          That's a cool amp, I like the fact that the reverbs are on the front instead of the back like a lot of boogies.

          -Jason

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Combo amp help please

            I was in the same situation a couple of weeks ago in looking for a versatile amp with features that I wanted. I have selected the Mesa F30 to be my next amp based on these features:

            -Individual bass/mid/treble controls per channel
            -Individual reverb controls per channel
            -2 footswitchable channels, plus footswitchable Contour mode to kick channel 2 into high gear
            -A 1x12 tube combo, only 30 watts, perfect for me in my situation

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Combo amp help please

              Spider II
              Widow - "We have songs"

              http://jameslugo.com/johnewooteniv.shtml

              http://ultimateguitarsound.com

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Combo amp help please

                For a combo under a grand I would suggest a vetta I combo and update the software for something that can do it all.
                I did see an F-50 1x12 w/a 1x12 ext. cab on the bay for a bin of 1200US.
                Good luck.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Combo amp help please

                  Thanks for the help guys, I'm going down to guitar center [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] tomorrow to check out those f series Mesa's. Keep the suggestions coming. Thanks!

                  -Jason

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Combo amp help please

                    If you need some of my settings for the F30, go to this thread:

                    http://www.jcfonline.com/ubbthreads/...&Number=413070

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Combo amp help please

                      I owned a Nomad 45 2x12 for a little while and it was a VERY versatile amp. However, I couldn't get a good thrashy rhythm tone out of it no matter what I tried. The lead tones on the 2nd channel were great though and the clean kicked ass too. I traded it for a Rectoverb 1x12 and this thing does thrash a lot better though the lower gain tones aren't as good.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Combo amp help please

                        Torched, that was my experience with a 4X10 nomad. It just didn't seem to be heavy sounding or I guess you could say it wasn't very raw, more well rounded.

                        NOTP, thanks for your sample settings, I'm just getting ready to go to GC.

                        -Jason

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Combo amp help please

                          Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the Nomad Series is tailored towards more vintage styles... I think that's what my 2003 Mesa catalog describes the Nomads as. That's perhaps why you couldn't get as extreme a crunch with it as the Rectoverb.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Combo amp help please

                            I am suprised you didn`t like the Peavey Ultra series. I loved my 2x12 and love my 1x12 60 watt Ultra even better, especially when Bob from Eurotubes hooked me up with some great JJ tubes. Heavey enough for most stuff, over the top with a Boss MT-2 pedal. The tubes make all of the difference in these amps. Jack.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Combo amp help please

                              Hey Jack, I liked some of the sounds from the ultra tube, just not quite the sound I was looking for. I seemed to really only like the crunch channel and not much else.

                              I played the F series amps and liked them, but they were too close to what I already have at home. I ended grabbing a used Rectoverb. Just the sound I was after, for now. [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] I probably will end up getting another Bogner XTC after tax season [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

                              -Jason

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X