Oh boy..I need an amp.

[DonP]

Buy at GC, try it out for 30 days and return it. Keep borrowing until you find the amp you like, then go shopping for the best deal on it.

[jgcable]

With $2000 you have lots of choices. Go to a store with a nice selection and don't be afraid to try out amps you've never heard of.

I'd look for something with 3 channels, or 2 if your lead tone is just a boosted rhythm tone.

Personally I hate the 5150 tone as well as the JSX, but everyone's ears are different. It just sounded too processed.

I agree the JSX sounds processed. I thought so too. The 5150 is as far from sounding processed as you could get. It gets a monster organic tone. The only issue I have with the 5150 is the noise. Its an extremely noisy amp.

[Strangletooth]

The only issue I have with the 5150 is the noise. Its an extremely noisy amp.

I agree 1000%, I could never get passed that and the sole reason why I sold em all. Even the newer gens that I tried were the same way.

[Jacksons Shred]

You have a ton of choices with 2K to spend.

Great lead amps include:

Carvin Legacy/legacy 2
5150/5150II/5150III/6150/6150+

Mesa Boogie Mark IV

Most of the newer high end Marshalls

Personally.. I think you should stick with the 5150 and go with some outboard processing for your solo noodling. I suggest some quality stomp boxes and a good noise gate.

Less than $2000 doesn't mean $2000 though, I'm just giving rough numbers and I'm going to be needing a cab also. I was playing one of my friends marshall and the lead sounded fantastic, but the rhythm was plain terrible.

"I definitely feel that it lacked in the lead department, sounded a little too sterile and thin." (Cheap quote)...

Huh?
Educate me...I wouldn't describe the 5150 as thin.

Maybe I didn't give my 5150 enough time, but the amp doesn't process lead articulation well, It's really good for the 80's rock solo, all the pentatonic shit because it makes it sound like notes are flying around everywhere, but I noticed it didn't sound too hot with yngwie shit. Maybe it was just mine, or my playing, I ran it through a 19060AV cab.

Thanks for the all the suggestions, everyone, I've never played one of those randalls but I'll definitely check it out if I can, I'm not a big fan of the JSX, they sound very processed to me and fake.. My GC is practically useless, all they have is a bunch of line 6 shit and a few way over priced amps.

[diablomozart]

pretty much the only thing thats gonna give you a sound like yngwie's is a marshall period...what you're looking for is what i call a "singing mid-range" (a nice full mid range without the annoying clunk of too much high end on it)...and it's tougher to find than people think...so i'm gonna give you the piece of advice i never thought i would give anyone...hit all your local stores and try out EVERY marshall they have...concentrating on the jcm 800 series if you can find one...but make sure you play all of them (you never now what you will find) and spend a little time with each...marshalls are funny...not all of them sound best with everything cranked on 10 so you'll need to have time to play with eq and all the settings...but in the end i would guess you'll end up with a marshall if i am understanding what tone you are looking for...d.m.

and remember every marshall even if it's 2 jcm800's (ie:same model) will sound different...so you have to try them all

[Jacksons Shred]

pretty much the only thing thats gonna give you a sound like yngwie's is a marshall period...what you're looking for is what i call a "singing mid-range" (a nice full mid range without the annoying clunk of too much high end on it)...and it's tougher to find than people think...so i'm gonna give you the piece of advice i never thought i would give anyone...hit all your local stores and try out EVERY marshall they have...concentrating on the jcm 800 series if you can find one...but make sure you play all of them (you never now what you will find) and spend a little time with each...marshalls are funny...not all of them sound best with everything cranked on 10 so you'll need to have time to play with eq and all the settings...but in the end i would guess you'll end up with a marshall if i am understanding what tone you are looking for...d.m.

and remember every marshall even if it's 2 jcm800's (ie:same model) will sound different...so you have to try them all

That's funny, because I did plan on buying a marshall, but the band I might be joining is a thrashy/groove/death/melodic band, and a marshall doesn't really have that tight bottom end that would be necessary.. But yeah, the marshall lead tone is fantastic..I'll take your advice as well though.

[diablomozart]

really?...anthrax, megadeth, and slayer all used marshalls...the biggest hurdle i have found with marshall is that you have to find "the one"...and that can be a royal pain...d.m.

[Strangletooth]

If you want to hear some of the Randall mods, Pete's got some clips on his site, check it out... http://www.gigmods.com and also Randall's site to hear the difference before a stop at Pete's.

http://www.randallamplifiers.com/products/amplifiers/mts/modules.asp

It would be well worth your while checking out the Randall mods, they range from a dozen Marshall/Fender tones to some brutal Mesa/Bogner tones with the flip of the switch. the heads and combos will give you 3 channels (mods)

Good luck!

[Jayster]

wow lots of good advice here, but if I may add:

1)Make sure to bring your primary guitar with you for trying the amps out(if your picky about your tone the guitar makes a difference).

2)Keep in mind the size of the room your playing in - this does make a difference as well.

3)Try not to rush your decision(you know, I've already driven all around town and played 6 heads,4 combos and that thing that looked like a toaster - fuck it this ones good enough).

4)When you find one you like, wait and go back the next day and try it again - if your ears still say yes, then get it.


I'm basing all of these ideas on that your wanting to get something you'll be happy with, you don't have oodles of expendable cash laying about and my own personal mistakes. My personal peave is when I switch guitars, then I'm changing my EQ, gain and presence(maybe I'm alone here, but every guitar gives something different(I have 7 kellys and they are all tonally different)).

Good luck and happy hunting(fuck getting stressed out - save that for when some chick comes up and says do you remember me and when you look down there is a triplet stroller).

[hippietim]

For $2k you should be able to score a JCM 800 head and a Marshall 4x12 no problem.

In fact, you should find a Straub Cantus. I have one and it's fucking brilliant. Everyone that has heard the amp is blown away with it. Used they sell for $1200-1500 on the Gear Page. And Marshall 4x12 cabs seem to be dirt cheap these days.

I'm not a JSX or XXX fan at all. I wouldn't get a Carvin V3 either - it's moderately better than the JSX/XXX but not enough to buy.

[horns666]

I just said this on Zeeg's thread and I can only say the same thing here.

Luckily, I found the tones that work best for me and stuck with them. Free at last..free at last..horned god almighty..I'm fee at last.

People, including myself can shout our favorite amps/gear all day long, but that won't help really..other than suggesting options, but not solutions. We can only wish it was that easy, and to some it may be.

We all have the perfect tone in our heads. Trying to actually hear it can be an expensive, mentally draining, cold and lonely quest that can lead to erectile disfuntion and possible death.

No matter what amp we settle on, we are going to sound exactly like ourselves anywhoo..which could be a good thing.

There is some good suggestions here IMO..some agree, some dont. Tim suggested saving some coin and I think that is a good idea considering your age. The old Marshalls are a great start, and you won't lose money with them if you get into one right. Personally, I get along with most Marshalls (except DSL/TSL), Peavey 5150, JSX, VHTs. I like many clips of Splawns, Framus and ect..but I actually really liked a cheap B-52 half stack that surpised me. I like various decent rack tube poweramps with anything from voodu valves, Pod pro, tech 21, and my fave JMP-1. You may be able to put yourself rack system halfstack for around a grand.

Try everything and anything you can..you'll know when you hear it. If I had to grab any amp out of a GC..I'd go right for the JVM because I know we get along, and thrash the fuck out.

Lately, I'm loving my Uberschall..but that's a big nut to crack.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

what about the new carvin x100b reissue?

[6string40]

what about the new carvin x100b reissue?

I love my X100b reissue...but I'm not sure it's the right answer to this thread...80's metal maybe, but today's scooped out BS maybe not. The extra eq section is a great addition to this very inexpensive beast.

[6string40]

shit...posted before I was done

anyway...the randall modular system is gonna be your most versatile.

others to consider for all-out metal are Engl (several) and Rivera Knucks.

[Jacksons Shred]

I planned on getting a carvin x100b reissue, but the band I'm playing it, the amp just won't do. I for one (and I'm definitely the minority on this one), cannot stand the generic, sterile, and monotone tones that come from ENGL. I've heard a few powerballs and they all sound EXACTLY the same. They give out 1 tone, not matter what preferences you adjust, they always sound like an ENGL, and they cover sloppyness up very much, which I don't dig.