Do I Need A New Amp?

[CharvelRocker]

Surprised no one has mentioned Orange. Their line of tube amps are fantastic, and like Splawn, they out-Marshall Marshall. They pretty much nail that classic Marshall sound from the 80s, like an a JCM800 with a little more gain and two channels. Very well built (and cool looking!) amps too.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

don't get rid of the Cobra -get the cobra cab for it instead and you won't ever want to get rid of it. it'l do everything you want it to.

[shredmonster]

don't get rid of the Cobra -get the cobra cab for it instead and you won't ever want to get rid of it. it'l do everything you want it to.

Dude I have Bag Ends. Don't know if you have ever heard them but nothing can touch them.

[shredmonster]

Orange huh - might have to check them out.

Also looking at the BLANKENSHIP VARIAC 50 WATT.

[shredmonster]

Horns - already have a high gain beast - the Uber is not going to sound like a Marshall.

I want that classic 80's lead sound - I know there are many variations of it but you get the idea.

Marshalls seem to have limitations, be fizzy, undefined bottom end etc... I may try the JVM410H at GC this weekend for the hell of it.
The older ones though seem to be where its at but you can't rely on them. There are a lot of plexi clones out there.

Gotta go play some this weekend. Wish I could find one of those Blankenships around here.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

unless your Bag Ends have greenbacks in them... you're not gonna get the beautiful tones that the Cobra was ment to produce. there is a reason amp manufacturers sell matching heads and cabs.

[Partial @ Marshall]

Horns - already have a high gain beast - the Uber is not going to sound like a Marshall.

I want that classic 80's lead sound - I know there are many variations of it but you get the idea.

Marshalls seem to have limitations, be fizzy, undefined bottom end etc... I may try the JVM410H at GC this weekend for the hell of it.
The older ones though seem to be where its at but you can't rely on them. There are a lot of plexi clones out there.

Gotta go play some this weekend. Wish I could find one of those Blankenships around here.

The older 2203s rock (81-83...before they got stupid with changes to bring down the manufacturing costs), there will be breakdowns until you find the culprits. It took about a year to get my 2203 to the point where I don't bring a back up head (but should). You may want a pedal to push the front end a little harder (I'm using a keeley metal zone). It is the best tone I have ever had and quite versatile. If your handy with a soldering iron then maybe build one, spec how you want (mercury magnetics transformers are a must), change things out if you don't like them...that's kinda where I'm at now. It's really fun to sniff flux and I am learning a lot

[organelle67]

I have a Laney Pro Tube Lead 100 watt head made in the 80s...it's commonly described as a Marshall JCM 800 on steroids...especially when you kick in the AOR function (Advanced Overdrive Response) these vintage amps can be bought off Ebay for $350-$500.

Even the new Laneys are killer, talk about tone! Check out info on Laneys at the Laney Forum www.laneyforum.com , see what the owners say about them.

[Venomboy]

Shredmonster, check out the thread on the Tiny Terror on the DRG Forum. I played Dave's and it's pretty nice. Not super high gain but it does allow sustain to happen.

VHTs are dry and very unique feeling. Probably not what you're after.

I don't like the XTC. I liked the Uber but you already have a beast of an amp.

[Endrik]

Cameron modded Marshall

[Shawn Lutz]

XTC - cool amp I would think but probably between the Marshall and Cobra tones. I think the Cobra would eat it for dinner.

VHT - to dry or something. Had a friend that had a couple and don't really like 'em. I want a little more sag and compression for leads using just the amp not a processor and EQ.

SLO - I may try one out. Heard they have their own voicing though.

The others I may look at are Metropolis or Mojave if I can find them.

But I am definitely going to try a Quickrod.

Yeah I would not get rid of the Cobra unless the other amp was really good and was very versitile.

I don't have to sell the Cobra before buying another amp. Its not a matter of money.

The Cobra is a really great amp. I have read and read lots and lots of feedback on the Cobra and tone is opinion and for heavy tone the Framus is one of the best. I got mine in about 2002. Does not have the external bias on it.

In the end I might not even consider selling the Cobra.

I might have to go around here to a store and try the Splawn. Not the Nitro but the Quickrod correct?

The Cobra will only eat the Ecstasy of your into de-tuned nu-metal...otherwise no comparison. Super hi-gain and bass are not what the Ecstasy is all about.

VHT, dont base you opinion on one amp, yeaht hey are dry and not forgiving to sloppy playing technique but they do the modded marshal VH tone rather well imho. They have a bunch of different models that are all somewhat different.

Splawn is good..OR kicks ass

the only one mentioned that I do not own is the SLO, but from what i know its no t a good moderate volume level amp.

If your looking for Marshall tone why not keep the Crobra, snag an old JMP or JMC 800 2203/04 and go old school with a TS or SD1 in frint? That is where the MS tone is from

[fuel0707]

Just throw out another few ideas, check out a Rivera M/S-series head and a Mesa Boogie Stiletto. With the Rivera, there's a sample setting available in the owner's manual that will put you just about right into prime '80's rock/metal territory. The Stiletto is very cool, too, and probably has the sort of midrange response you are looking for.

Sorry to give you another couple of ideas to consider, but if you can locate either of those, they're worth your time to check out.

Good luck on your amp hunt.

[thenine]

this will do what you want.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MINT-MARSHALL-1987x-DAVID-BRAY-MOD-1_W0QQitemZ230248980110QQihZ013QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[shredmonster]

unless your Bag Ends have greenbacks in them... you're not gonna get the beautiful tones that the Cobra was ment to produce. there is a reason amp manufacturers sell matching heads and cabs.

I ain't gonna argue that point. I will get a matching set of speakers with the next amp.

But the Bag Ends sound really good. I have had them with several amps and they are really warm and articulate.

[shredmonster]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Gonna take me some time to get to them all.