amp shopping.. need help

[charvelguy]

Yes, Sheffields I believe are the speaker in the 5150 cabs.
They're the EVH series of those.

[IrfaanSE801]

Hehe, yah dude, the PM thing wasen't working, I didn't think any of em went through, sorry. With the head vs. the rack and VHT or good poweramp, I only chose the rack because I love the VHT power section. The KT88's give a lot of headroom and the voicings it has really gives a tight and agressive feel. That's not to say the Randall's power section in the head is in any way inferior, I actually like to crank the power tubes and keep the preamp at a lower volume because it gets a bit more raw in terms of sound. There's a bit more gain when the EL34's are driven and it's a great tone in general. The other reason I went rack is because I don't use a lot of effects, but when I do I just wanna hit one button and have the chorus/reverb/delay and whatever else switch on in one shot with the midi thing. I still have to read up on how to do it, but it's just convenience more than looks. I honestly didn't want the rack because there's just too much cool stuff to add and I know it's gonna be a huge mess of wires, but I never had a setup like this, so I'm goin for it.

[Inazone]

Thor, if you can make time to drive to Bloomington, you can try out a 6505, XXX and JSX side by side at Groth's Music...and their prices are lower than I expected. I was digging the XXX a lot, but I've already exceeded my gear spending for the year unless I sell something.

[jgcable]

5150 with matching cab...F those Genz bendovers..

you haven't TRULY tried the 5150 yet..IMO

best bang for your metal buck..if you get a nice used one..

BTW...what's a clean channel..?? k/d...

and believe you me... the clean channel on the 5150 ain't bad at all unless you are in a Beatles tribute band.

[Thor Von Clemson]

Right now, I am trying to decide between two setups. I was considering a Vetta, but with all the options and stuff I think I would rather go with something more simple.

The Randall RM100 head with the 1086, Blackface ,and TBD modules into 2 2x12's with Boss GT-6 for fx (4 cable method) and midi channel switching or a PV 5150 with a BBE into 2 x12's and the gt-6 for fx and possibly cleans. The latter setups of the two would be less expensive and simple, especially since I have no clue what midi is or how it works. I am sure I could figure it out at some point if I had to.

I have never heard what a 5150 sounds like with the BBE but obviously many around here rant about it.


I will have a chance to play the Randall, and using the 4 cable method with the GT-6 enables me to use the GT strictly for fx. I owned one for a while, and the FX are sweet and I am pretty familiar with them. I would trade/sell my pod for it. There goes my direct recording, but oh well... I can always mic stuff up right?

Question for any of you MTS users; Do the stock tubes in the RM100 head sound good? I have heard a lot of clips with people using a VHT 2/90/2 w/KT88's and those clips sound amazing. I am not sure if it is the VHT poweramp itself or just the KT88's that make such a big difference but I am definately willing to re-tube the head if it will help that much.

Questions for you 5150'ers; I have a 2x12 with Sheffield 1230's in it. The cab itself seems fairly old and I know the speakers are an older Sheffield model. I'm at work now, but when I get home I can take a pic for yas. Anyways, does the 5150 respond best to Sheffields? I think PV uses Sheffields in most of their cabs. I would get another 2x12 cab and I am wondering what the best speakers would be to put in it

Also, would I be better off looking for a used one and would I be better off leaving the stock tubes in it assuming the tubes have not been changed to another brand and that they are fully functional? I am sure I could find one around here or from somewhere other than ebay.
I would probably want to start dialing in tones with the BBE in the loop and add fx from there as needed right?.

[IrfaanSE801]

Ya got some good choices to go with right there. Good luck and have fun trying the amps

[pfrischmann]

I have a queston,
What volume will you be playing at most of the time. I ask this because some amps sound better dimed. And 120 watt amp dimed won't work for a lot of people.

Based on the clips you posted, I would suggest a couple of amps. One is going to sound really weird.

1. Something solid state like the Randall Warheads. I know this sounds crazy but the type of riff driving metal I heard requires a lot of really solid bottom end and very little sag. A really stiff amp is better at this. Dimebag used solid state amps until he switched to the KRANK amps.

2. VHT is really good at the solid bottom end thing. They are amazing tube amps but VERY unforgiving. You have to have serious chops to keep up with a pitbull. BTW the deliverance is more of an old school amp, probably not the overall best choice for your style of music. All of Steve Fryette's amps have serious bottom end. The pitbull can be a monster. You can probably find one used for a good deal. I would consider the VHT a step above the other stuff you mentioned from a build/quality perspective. It's also truly designed to be put in a band situation and cuts through the mix really well...IMHO

3. I played the JSX. I think it could do what you want but it will have to be pretty loud. This amp seems to really need to open up to sound good.

4. The MTS stuff is pretty cool but a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none kinda thing. Great for bedroom playing or studio work but if you are after a very specific sound, I believe their are better choices.

5. Try a Krank out. I have no personal experience with them but have heard good things.

6. Try Voodoo amps as well. trace is a cool guy and does some pretty impressive things. Resale may be tough though.

Thanks,
Paul

[Thor Von Clemson]

Heres another question regarding the 5150. Has anyone considered sending one to Voodoo amps to have it modded? I was reading what they do to it on their website, and though it is more expensive the mods they do to it seem to be the same as what a BBE might do to it...

Anyone?

[pfrischmann]

I'm not sure my opinion is going to be very popular but....

The BBE Sounds very good initially and it really does expand the range of the amp but if you really listen, it does so artificially. This may not matter to you but I stopped using one in the 90's when I realized how much tone was being robbed by all of the processors i was using. What trace does is actually mod the amp to get the best out of it. The voodoo amps I've heard have been pretty impressive.

IMHO,
of course

Someone also metnioned Splawn, pretty heavy stuff as well.

[Thor Von Clemson]

which splawn models should I check out?

[rfazano]

Randall MTS amps are a jack of all trades? I'm telling you, get a RM100 with a 1086, Mr. Scary and one of their clean module and you are in tone heaven. I could not wait to unload my overrated Marshall TSL 60 for one of these!

[IrfaanSE801]

Someone here I think actually had a 5150 with a Voodoo mod and loved it, but I can't remember who it was. That might be a great thing to look into also.

[IrfaanSE801]

Randall MTS amps are a jack of all trades? I'm telling you, get a RM100 with a 1086, Mr. Scary and one of their clean module and you are in tone heaven. I could not wait to unload my overrated Marshall TSL 60 for one of these!

+1 Have you tried the Mr. Scary yet? I'm gonna put one on order as soon as I get my initial order through, the RM4 is 4-6 weeks backordered. Gives me time to save for the 2.90.2 though...

[roodyrocker]

The clip of the Mr. Scary on the MTS Forum sounded very impressive! I need to eventually pick up one of those for sure.

Rudy

https://www.wickedrocks.com

[Thor Von Clemson]

what exactly is the Mr.Scary mod?