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  • Amp advice sought

    I'd like to improve my sound, looking at spending up to about $1500.

    My current rig is a Jem or Soloist to Pod XT Live to Marshall Valvestate 8008 stereo power amp to Marshall 1960A 4x12. It sounds good to me, but actually, the Pod sounds better through my $150 Klipsch computer speakers than it does through the 4x12. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

    I'd like a huge, 3 dimensional, dynamically alive, hot-rodded Marshall, open, hard rock/metal sound, conducive to harmonics, ranging from early Van Halen to Zakk Wylde. A nice Fenderesque clean tone or SRVish bluesy-clean tone would be nice, too, but is not nearly as important as the hard rock/metal tone. I'm a lone basement jammer right now, but may join a band if the situation is right.

    Here's what I'm thinking about:
    Plan A: Get a tube amp to run with the 4x12, and use the XT for effects, e.g.:
    Soldano HR50 ($1360)
    Mesa Stiletto Deuce ($1600)
    Mesa Single Rectifier ($1200?)

    Plan B: Get a tube power amp to use with the XT, e.g.:
    Carvin TS100 ($500)
    Mesa 20/20 ($450 used?)

    Plan C: Get full-range powered speakers for the XT, e.g.:
    Carvin PM15A ($700 pair)
    Mackie SRM450 ($1400 pair)
    Behringer B300 ($600 pair)
    JBL Eon G2 ($1400 pair)
    Bose PAS ($1700 + $300 for subwoofer in the future)

    I know I should listen to these myself, but living in the great north woods, none of our stores have any of this stuff. Oddly, in my many years of playing, I've never had a tube amp. However, I've read lots of rave reviews about their benefits - some of which seem to address some of my wishes above. On the other hand, the P.A. speaker route would give me stereo separation and let the Pod XT Live do its thing.

    Your opinions are appreciated! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

  • #2
    Re: Amp advice sought

    Get a good tube power amp and you should be all set. The Carvin T100 is a good choice. So is the Peavey 50/50 and 60/60, the Mesa 20/20. A good tube power amp does wonders for the POD XT.

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    • #3
      Re: Amp advice sought

      if you are planning to gig with it, i'd get at least 50 watts +. just for the headroom for live. the 20/20 is great but you'll wish you had more headroom if you play live in a metal band.

      after reading jgcables reviews, i'd go for a carvin mts3200. then you can choose to use the pod as the pre (run through the fx return) or for just effects.

      damn jg, you got me wanting so many amps.
      Widow - "We have songs"

      http://jameslugo.com/johnewooteniv.shtml

      http://ultimateguitarsound.com

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Amp advice sought

        Good point Reb. The MTS3200 is so inexpensive it is worth it just for the power amp portion of it. Sambencuda is coming over tonight to test out my newly retubed (E34L's) MTS3200. It rips. I was running a Boss GT6 at the front end of a Carvin X100B and I did a few gigs with it along with many really loud rehearsals. It worked out really great. The POD XT live should also sound good.

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        • #5
          Re: Amp advice sought

          yeah, i don't like pedals or processors in front but in the loop, or should i say as the pre and using the pwr section only, is a different story. otherwise i like any good tube amp straight up.

          jg, you know of anyone selling a marshall 4x12 for cheap?
          Widow - "We have songs"

          http://jameslugo.com/johnewooteniv.shtml

          http://ultimateguitarsound.com

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Amp advice sought

            Not at the moment but I will keep my eyes open.

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            • #7
              Re: Amp advice sought

              i'm using the xt live through my boogie's pwr section and loving it.

              i have way more control of the vol vs. tone. and the models presets sound great!

              (i don't like the california crunch model - it doesn't sound anything like the mark series to me, but the 800, slo, and rec models kick ass.)
              Widow - "We have songs"

              http://jameslugo.com/johnewooteniv.shtml

              http://ultimateguitarsound.com

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Amp advice sought

                Just a thought - what about finding a JCM800 and picking up a boost pedal if you need to slam the front end some more? It wouldn't do cleans real well but would definitely nail the distorted tones you are looking for.

                Otherwise I'd agree with the rest and look for a tube poweramp and run with it.

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                • #9
                  Re: Amp advice sought

                  i think the 800 sounds great on its own. all that extra gain sounds good when you play by yourself, but in a band situation just ends up washing out your tone. even more so with 2 guitars.

                  my suggestion to you is the carvin mts3200. you can use it by itself or as just the power amp. either way its truly affordable and versitile and can hold its own again most anything out there.
                  ~JW
                  Widow - "We have songs"

                  http://jameslugo.com/johnewooteniv.shtml

                  http://ultimateguitarsound.com

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Amp advice sought

                    Thanks for the tips, everyone. Yeah, a JCM800 would be cool, too. In fact, my XT Live has various distortions and compressors built in, which I suppose I could use to add gain if necessary. The Carvin MTS3200 really does look like a bargain, too.

                    It's too bad the Stiletto isn't getting better reviews (from what I've read, anyway). On paper, it sounds like Mesa has built the ultimate VH amp, with the Variac built in and everything, but the reviews I've read have been mostly lukewarm. Oh well, that was stretching the ol' budget anyway. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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                    • #11
                      Re: Amp advice sought

                      I hate to say it, but I didn't like the Stiletto. Not nearly enough gain for metal, and the tone was more bright than I'm used to. It was a cool amp, to an extent. Just not 1600$ cool.

                      Have you looked into the JSX head? Or maybe a used ENGL?

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                      • #12
                        Re: Amp advice sought

                        Not yet, and actually, that's the one thing our local music store does have (a JSX head), though it's displayed like a showpiece (kinda like the "Holy Grail" Strat in Wayne's World), and they'd probably faint if I turned it up. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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