Lets talk amps...

[jgcable]

I am looking for another amp. I have cash... and I am ready to buy immediately. I have owned just about every amp on the planet.
I absolutely dig my Trademark 300 for everything but soloing. It just doesn't have enough sustain or drive for solo's. Its almost painful to get notes out of it.
The amps I enjoyed the most soloing out of were the Vetta or the Boss GT6/GT8 through a stereo poweramp. The reason is is I like the saturation and the ability to put instant "schmutz" on a lead tone.
Pretty much the exact tone I am looking for live is John Petrucci's.
I am thinking about a Dual or Triple Recto, I would like to get a Bogner Ecstacy but they are a little out of my price range. I need a 2 channel amp. I really like the way the VHT Pitbull sounds live but the ones I have heard were being used with a ton of outboard pedals.
I heard clips of the Genz Benz Diablo that are killer but I never heard one live.
I was also thinking about going with another 5150.
I wouldn't mind digging into a Vetta again but I don't want to deal with all the tweaking to get it to sound great live.
I was also thinking about that Bogner Alchemist. That sounds right up my alley but I have no idea what one would cost.
I'd like to get my old Soldano Clone back but that doesn't seem possible.
I'd like to get a new amp for my gig this Friday. That would be really cool and fun too. I like to take chances live!!

[T@rgetDrone]

Going direct with whatever you are comfortable with is not a bad thing. Boss, Zoom, Line6, Axe FX, what have you.

Lead tone is so subjective, but anyway, here goes. Splawn Nitro. If that is more than you're looking to fork up, the 5150 is tough to beat, though it can be a bit noisy. I like the combo better than the head.

Good luck with your amp search.

[jgcable]

I am thinking about a Dual or Triple Rectifier. If I can find a newer one with the solo boost feature I can throw my delay in the loop and be good to go.

[toxikdeth]

Same as taarget drone get a nitro. Its the best way to go. Splawn makes the best amps ever IMO. But if your trying to get johns sound you should just get a mark iv even though a splawn will destroy it.

[toxikdeth]

happy birthday
now treat yourself to a splawn

[Outlander]

This !

3 channel,variable gain solo boost, switchable effects loop, but if you use the switching effects loop I believe you lose the solo boost feature.
These amps are far more versatile than I hear most people giving them credit for. The clean channel which is usually overlooked has a great driven rock sound in the pushed mode.

[T@rgetDrone]

Good point about the Mark IV. I completely forgot about that. It fits the main tones he is after. But I am sticking to the Nitro for pure lead tone. It needs no pedals in front of it, with maybe the exception of an ISP Decimator. I WISH I could afford one. If I ever decide to bite I will have to move the Carvin V3 out to help afford moving the Nitro in. But, this thread isn't about what I can't afford ATM........

Mark IV would be an excellent choice for what you're after.

[nor]

Just throw an AMT California Sound pedal in front and yer good to go!

[toxikdeth]

Good point about the Mark IV. I completely forgot about that. It fits the main tones he is after. But I am sticking to the Nitro for pure lead tone. It needs no pedals in front of it, with maybe the exception of an ISP Decimator. I WISH I could afford one. If I ever decide to bite I will have to move the Carvin V3 out to help afford moving the Nitro in. But, this thread isn't about what I can't afford ATM........

Mark IV would be an excellent choice for what you're after.

I used to have a v3 but sold it a couple of years ago. The nitro has the best lead tone I've ever heard and I love having it. It cuts through pretty well too. Save up and sell your v3 and do what I did and buy used gave the seller 1 grand and an old ibanez I didn't care for.

[MakeAJazzNoiseHere]

Well, since I got my Mark V, I have a Crate BV60 for sale.

:ROTF:

Seriously, they sell the Alchemist at Guitar Center, they have 2 or 3 at the one near me... You could try one out, and they have the price posted on their web site (it's expensive, but not "boutique" expensive.) I haven't tried one out, so I have no idea if they're what you're looking for.

[Grandturk]

What about a 5150 III? I played one for an hour or so. I dug it - great chunk for rhythm sounds, and the lead channel had gods of gain and sustain - that "blooming" note thing, for you chord-sniffers.

Actually, I was really most impressed with the rhythm sound - chung-a, chung-a, chung-a!

[lhrocker]

John - I got the amp for you - Randall RM100 - modular, sounds great. Let me know...

Also have a XXX

[Hellbat]

I dig my combo model that I just bought. This head seems like it has the versatility you are looking for, I don't know about how well the sound would appeal to you though.

http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?type=1&cat=60&id=411

The only thing about the boost on the Traynor's is it's a gain boost and not a volume boost so you won't get a 5 or 6db jump when you hit it, just more gain/sustain with a slight volume bump.

**EDIT : In looking at this model it looks like the "Solo" control and footswitch actually do a volume boost after all, in addition to the normal gain boost the lower end models have.

[jgcable]

I am looking seriously at the RM100. I am thinking that the modules Blackface, Rectifier and XTC would do it for me. The Bogner Ecstacy 101B is the tone I am looking for. I saw Rascal Flatts and their guitar player was using the 101B. His guitar tone was exactly what I am looking for. I am also very interested in that Mr Scary module. Who doesn't like GL's tone!!
If I ran with the RM100 and 3 modules I could have clean blackface, rhythm Rectifier and solo XTC (or maybe visa versa with the Rectifier and the XTC modules)
I could throw my SPX90 in the loop for a little delay, my Lil Alligator in the loop for solo boost and my wah pedal out in front.

[toxikdeth]

awww no splawn