I discarded buying a 100watter because of my back problems. I want a unit that I can take home after jamming with my band. The other guitarrist has a Powerball 100w, so I don't think anything smaller that 40-50watts will suit me. I want a metal beast with good cleans, so the most versatile head with huge and crushing metal sound. I don't want to spend more than 1200€ and I also need a cabinet, I think a 2x12 might be enough. So far, I've been considering:
- EVH 5150 50w. Most common option, great sound, but cons: I've heard there is a big jump problem from volume 1 to 2 and the clean channel is much lower than the crunch ones. I forgot, They recently experienced a big price rise of 200€ I think, otherwise, I'd go for this one
- Victory Kraken 50w. Great distorted sound, but no clean channel. Putting down the gain in the first channel might create a clean sound similar to JCM800, I've heard, but I was hoping for more clear cleans.
- Randall RD45 head. I've heard this is in a lower league compared to Engl, Orange, Peavey, etc, but I only have experience with the RG100Plus combo which I owned for a couple of months. God knows I hated that amp, but this is probably a different beast.
- Laney, I've been told the IRT series are like Randall, not first class tube heads, but someone told me I should look for the VH series, don't know much about them. Maybe I'll wait for the GH50R
- Engl Thunder/Screamer 50w. Don't know too much about them
- Others I've heard about, the DV Mark and Carvin V3 Mini, but don't know about the price of the latter neither their suitability to make metal. I've heard demos with good cleans but I mostly play heavy distorted sounds.
Opinion, options, advice?
- EVH 5150 50w. Most common option, great sound, but cons: I've heard there is a big jump problem from volume 1 to 2 and the clean channel is much lower than the crunch ones. I forgot, They recently experienced a big price rise of 200€ I think, otherwise, I'd go for this one
- Victory Kraken 50w. Great distorted sound, but no clean channel. Putting down the gain in the first channel might create a clean sound similar to JCM800, I've heard, but I was hoping for more clear cleans.
- Randall RD45 head. I've heard this is in a lower league compared to Engl, Orange, Peavey, etc, but I only have experience with the RG100Plus combo which I owned for a couple of months. God knows I hated that amp, but this is probably a different beast.
- Laney, I've been told the IRT series are like Randall, not first class tube heads, but someone told me I should look for the VH series, don't know much about them. Maybe I'll wait for the GH50R
- Engl Thunder/Screamer 50w. Don't know too much about them
- Others I've heard about, the DV Mark and Carvin V3 Mini, but don't know about the price of the latter neither their suitability to make metal. I've heard demos with good cleans but I mostly play heavy distorted sounds.
Opinion, options, advice?