$800 high gain tube head??

[zeegler]

Let's say I wanted to spend $800 on a used tube head. It must have more than one channel, and have enough gain that I can play any kind of music I want. What is THE amp to get.











...and since almost everyone is going to say 5150, lets count that out right now.

[Chuckracer]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

Soldano HR50+.

Eh...may bend your $800 rule a little, but...right ballpark.

[Souldigger]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

[ QUOTE ]
Soldano HR50+.

Eh...may bend your $800 rule a little, but...right ballpark.

[/ QUOTE ]

+1

[markD]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

rivera m-60 or m-100, used.

[zeegler]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

[ QUOTE ]
Soldano HR50+.

Eh...may bend your $800 rule a little, but...right ballpark.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chuck, could you describe the sound of it? Would you say that it's character is low end heavy, mid-rangey, or bright? Is the gain smooth and sizzly (5150), or grindy (Marshall)?

[jgcable]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

If we are going to stick with your $800.00 rule I would choose a Mesa Boogie Mark III.
Second choice would be a Series 2 Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier.
3rd choice would be a Peavey 6505+ or a 5150II.

[Chuckracer]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

All great choices...so are the Rivera's...I forgot about those.

Gain on the HR's (been a few years), I'd say smooth and sizzly with gain up, Marshall grindy with gain dialed back. Midrangy to bright tone wise.

[charvelguy]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

well from what I recall, a Soldano HR50+ wasn't a real clean amp, but a great high gain one trick pony.

They do roll back but if have em cookin, they do not clean up real well.

[siggy14]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

I would say go for a mesa dual caliber series or the F series. Good 2 channel amps.

My second choice would be a ADA or marshall preamp, or any preamp and a good power amp.

[zeegler]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

Is the Soldano an all-tube signal path, or does it use diode clipping?

[Chuckracer]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

All tube.

[zeegler]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

Am i correct in assuming that you need to crank it to really get it to searing gain levels?

[Firebird V]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

Out of these:

Laney AOR
Rivera M60 or maybe M100
Soldano Hot Rod 50.
5150

The boogies and the Riveras mentioned above will give you the cleans IMO if you are looking for versitility I would go with the boogies or the rivera because of that. The Rivera has a better clean than the boogie IMO. The Rivera can be found still at prices a bit lower than the $800 mark if you look hard enough. That will leave you some dough for new tubes....

[StarRider]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

I tried one of them B-52 AT-100 Amps a while ago at GC
It seems to have plenty of Gain as well
Nice Clean channel too
$699.00 if I remember

[charvelguy]

Re: $800 high gain tube head??

This guy was asking pretty much the same question;

http://206.130.108.2/plexiboard/viewtopi...02b052b62a4c8bd

Having heard the Riveras and the Mesa Simuclass.. I don't think you'd go to wrong with those amps. Even a Peavey will do the trick of getting good sounds with the flexibility & versatility that you'd seek while having plenty of gain.