VHT Pitbull CL100

[Joe_Steeler]

Same thing goes for Soldanos and Riveras. Any flaws in your technique and you are exposed like a Central Park Perv.

[HiOctane]

I had a CLX 100 with the EQ option. The CLX is the 3 channel version. They are really loud, very tight with a ton of headroom. The tone is somewhat dry also. In my opinion a greet speed metal amp. If you want crunch, it may be acheivable with low watt speakers. I believe VHT cabs have 50 watt speakers in them.

Jack

I have been playing a VHT 100CLX (no EQ) for many years and it has never let me down. Tons of gain, but retains clarity. Good overall EQ, but features the noted VHT bass response. Not the most forgiving amp, but if you are willing to work with it, you will get a lot out of it. They also record very well.

I use cabs with Celestion 80s and love them. To my ears, high-gain amps sound best with high-powered speakers. Lower-wattage speakers tend to wimp out and don't sound clear enough to me.

[yabba]

I was looking at those pitbull amps too, but its out of my budget range. Has anyone tried the Deliverance amps?

I've had a deliverance 60 for a couple years now and still love it. Easily the most responsive and dynamic amp I've played (though I've never played one of Pete's beloved trainwrecks). It IS single channel with no loop though, so if either of those are dealbreakers for you, look elsewhere.

[tseegert]

Our rhythm guitarist had the exact same head. He (and I) were less than impressed considering the price tag. He sold it in favor of a 5150 II. I liked the warm tone, but it just didnt say "metal" to our collective ears I guess. Then again, he only uses a decimator as far as effects goes. I'm sure a nice hint of overdrive would have heavied it up a bit.

Then again as a great number of us always say, a huge portion of tone comes from the fingertips. Mebbe my rhythm player just has soggy fingertips?

[minh80]

I've had a deliverance 60 for a couple years now and still love it. Easily the most responsive and dynamic amp I've played (though I've never played one of Pete's beloved trainwrecks). It IS single channel with no loop though, so if either of those are dealbreakers for you, look elsewhere.

Would you consider it a metal amp? I'm not an effects kinda guy, more of a plug guitar into the amp and play, as I expect the tone to be the best that way. If not, would the pitbull be worth saving up for? I'm a metal player and use active pickups.

[Twisteramps]

Pete, what exactly do you mean by smoothing everything out? smoothing out what?

I also use the Vetta and am curious what you are referring to specifically...

this is an area where I have a lot to learn.

Modelling amps are just easier to play - more compressed, you have fewer dynamics than a good tube amp and typically more gain. Stuff that would sound fine on my Vetta would sound like crap played the exact same way on the VHT 50/CLs I owned, or the trainwreck clone that I'm gigging now.

Pete

[skorb]

Modelling amps are just easier to play - more compressed, you have fewer dynamics than a good tube amp and typically more gain. Stuff that would sound fine on my Vetta would sound like crap played the exact same way on the VHT 50/CLs I owned, or the trainwreck clone that I'm gigging now.

Pete

cool man, thanks for the info. I'm always learning.

I was kinda wondering how I got so much better once I got my Vetta!

actually I use a lot of cleans and shimmery tones and low-gain classic tones in addition to the heavy patches, so no one-trick Vetta pony here.

[akoch]

Would you consider it a metal amp? I'm not an effects kinda guy, more of a plug guitar into the amp and play, as I expect the tone to be the best that way. If not, would the pitbull be worth saving up for? I'm a metal player and use active pickups.

I have a 50CL and this is my 'go-to' amp, used 80% of the time. I find that with some of my guitars with EMGs it tends to be more compressed than with passives. Overall I would slightly prefer passives with this amp. What does not work, is the 'afterburners' - boosters and alike, that really make the dynamics to go away and introduce some kind of a sag. At least with my amp.

[Fragle]

how does it compare to a framus cobra? esp. regarding metal rhythm, i.e. the cobra's crunch channel?
i'm asking because the framus is also a very dry and articulate amp...maybe anyone here has already played both?

[HiOctane]

Would you consider it a metal amp? I'm not an effects kinda guy, more of a plug guitar into the amp and play, as I expect the tone to be the best that way. If not, would the pitbull be worth saving up for? I'm a metal player and use active pickups.

I think VHTs are GREAT metal amps.

As a general rule, the UltraLead lends itself to intense styles of metal (thrash, death- very precise, super-fast rhythm stuff). The UL has KT88s and they have a great bass response and stay crisp for this type of playing. The 100CLX (has EL34s) and is a BIT more of a traditional hot-rodded metal tone, but with it's own character- tons of gain, but very precise and clear. Just a little more traditional metal, but will also do heavier music.

I think the CL series both feature EL34s as well. So I'd suggest taking your favorite guitar and trying a few out if at all possible to see what works best for you.

[minh80]

I think VHTs are GREAT metal amps.

As a general rule, the UltraLead lends itself to intense styles of metal (thrash, death- very precise, super-fast rhythm stuff). The UL has KT88s and they have a great bass response and stay crisp for this type of playing. The 100CLX (has EL34s) and is a BIT more of a traditional hot-rodded metal tone, but with it's own character- tons of gain, but very precise and clear. Just a little more traditional metal, but will also do heavier music.

I think the CL series both feature EL34s as well. So I'd suggest taking your favorite guitar and trying a few out if at all possible to see what works best for you.

Thanks, I'd love to try out those Deliverance amps, but there's none around my area to try. From what I've been hearing so far, I think this amp would fit my budget and style of playing.

[yabba]

I think VHTs are GREAT metal amps.

As a general rule, the UltraLead lends itself to intense styles of metal (thrash, death- very precise, super-fast rhythm stuff). The UL has KT88s and they have a great bass response and stay crisp for this type of playing. The 100CLX (has EL34s) and is a BIT more of a traditional hot-rodded metal tone, but with it's own character- tons of gain, but very precise and clear. Just a little more traditional metal, but will also do heavier music.

I think the CL series both feature EL34s as well. So I'd suggest taking your favorite guitar and trying a few out if at all possible to see what works best for you.

the deliverances use KT88s as well, but are designed to give a bit more power section sag when pushed hard

Would you consider it a metal amp? I'm not an effects kinda guy, more of a plug guitar into the amp and play, as I expect the tone to be the best that way. If not, would the pitbull be worth saving up for? I'm a metal player and use active pickups.

I think the deliverance is great for metal! I've never tried active pickups with mine, but I bet they'd work very well - it's got plenty of gain (and the gain knob(s) are actually usable all the way, it doesn't turn into fizz at the top range of the knob), but it's less saturated and compressed than many other high gain amps (this is probably true of most VHTs), and some people perceive this as a lack of gain or dryness/stiffness. For brutal death sort of stuff, I use a tubescreamer in front of the amp (set as a boost, gain low and level high) to add some compression and saturation - active pickups may give some of this character on their own without the boost.

the only downside to using the deliverance for modern metal sorts of things is if you need crystal clear cleans as well as high gain - it cleans up _amazingly_ just be rolling back the volume knob on your guitar, but when set up for death metal levels of gain, it's definetely a clean with some hair on it, not fender twin 'pure' clean.

I've seen a couple used deliverances pop up for sale on ebay and on the harmony central forums for very good prices, meaning you could sell if without any loss if you decided it wasn't for you, which is a great way to try one out.

if you're not in a rush (and don't mind spending considerably more), VHT is going to be coming out with a new multi-channel amp that's supposedly very deliverance-like, but it's anybody's guess as to when it will actually materialize.

[Robert Burns]

I always preferred the 50/CL over the ultralead - just crunchier to my ears. Be advised, they are a microscope for your playing. Not as bad as my trainwreck, but pretty bad - what you put into it is exactly what you get out. If you're too used to coasting with a modelling amp, it might humble you for a bit.

Pete

Boy..is that a true statement! No hiding behind a wall of Delay like
i used to do... It HAS really made me concentrate more, and work harder.
Regards...Robert "Coaster"!

[minh80]

the deliverances use KT88s as well, but are designed to give a bit more power section sag when pushed hard


I think the deliverance is great for metal! I've never tried active pickups with mine, but I bet they'd work very well - it's got plenty of gain (and the gain knob(s) are actually usable all the way, it doesn't turn into fizz at the top range of the knob), but it's less saturated and compressed than many other high gain amps (this is probably true of most VHTs), and some people perceive this as a lack of gain or dryness/stiffness. For brutal death sort of stuff, I use a tubescreamer in front of the amp (set as a boost, gain low and level high) to add some compression and saturation - active pickups may give some of this character on their own without the boost.

the only downside to using the deliverance for modern metal sorts of things is if you need crystal clear cleans as well as high gain - it cleans up _amazingly_ just be rolling back the volume knob on your guitar, but when set up for death metal levels of gain, it's definetely a clean with some hair on it, not fender twin 'pure' clean.

I've seen a couple used deliverances pop up for sale on ebay and on the harmony central forums for very good prices, meaning you could sell if without any loss if you decided it wasn't for you, which is a great way to try one out.

if you're not in a rush (and don't mind spending considerably more), VHT is going to be coming out with a new multi-channel amp that's supposedly very deliverance-like, but it's anybody's guess as to when it will actually materialize.

Wow, that's what I definetly want in an amp. I had a Peavey 5150 II and it had plenty of gain, but you can't turn it all the way up..it sounded terrible and I could only use it about halfway to get that nice gain..but it was missing something there that I can't put my finger on. Could it be tone as well? I like amps where I could turn the gain all the way up..and hear it in all its glory without getting too muddy and over saturated. I do want that modern metal sound.

[DumpyWumpy]

If the damn Deliverance had an FX loop I think I would already own one... Yeah, bare bones is cool but man, you don't have to go THAT bare!