Metal + jazz amp recommendation?

[tpl2000]

I'll try to make this concise:

Need an amp head! Looking for one with a good metal tone, as well as a good clean tone. Seeking recommendations around the $1500-1600 range.

Preferences:
Amplifier head
6l6 tubes in the power section
More than 25 watts



Any and all recommendations are appreciated. I currently have a 4x12 cab with only one input jack, 8 ohms/140w limit.

 

[prlgmnr]

So sometimes I feel like I don't post anything on here other than "Get a Mark V" and "Get an Edwards". Oh, and "Try an MIJ Fender".

But if ever there was a question for which the answer was "Get a Mark V".....

 

[InCasinoOut]

So sometimes I feel like I don't post anything on here other than "Get a Mark V" and "Get an Edwards". Oh, and "Try an MIJ Fender".

But if ever there was a question for which the answer was "Get a Mark V".....

Well now we can say "Get a TC-50" too!

edit: I was gonna suggest Mark V too. Even the 35 watt version, but that doesn't have 6l6s. But for real, I knew the Mark was for me because I also needed great cleans and great high-gain, and the ability to tweak for all the sounds in between. It delivers.

 

[scrub]

Yup. Mark V was the first that came to my mind as well.

 

[pearl_07]

May want to also consider a Dual Rec Roadster. Clean channels on the Roadster easily do jazzy cleans. I would suggest something other than Mesa, but they're all I've ever known

 

[mongey]

I'd say dual or triple recto. I think the clean channels on them are underrated.

 

[Omura]

Just here to repeat what others have said above. Get a Mark 5.

Then I decided to try and say something else. Then I realised that the Freidman Runt 50 is only $1799 and generally sounds outstanding. you'd probably want a clean boost infront of it for the hi-gain tone, but It's based on the BE100 so it should do metal like a champ.

 

[Wolfhorsky]

Just here to repeat what others have said above. Get a Mark 5.

Then I decided to try and say something else. Then I realised that the Freidman Runt 50 is only $1799 and generally sounds outstanding. you'd probably want a clean boost infront of it for the hi-gain tone, but It's based on the BE100 so it should do metal like a champ.

Runt has got internal gain boost. And another vote for Friedman.

 

[InCasinoOut]

I thought I wouldn't want another amp after getting my V:35, but damn, guess I want a Friedman Runt now...

 

[tpl2000]

I think it's worth noting, that neither of those amps really fits my criteria?

The Mark V sounds great, but I can't find one with 50+ watts in my price range.

And the Friedman doesn't actually seem to have a metal tone, really. Heavy blues, maybe? Reminds me of SRV.

 

[Descent]

Maybe a Traynor? It might need an overdrive for metal but the YCV50B or their heads are great. The cleans are really nice and the dirt is akin to JCM800. The Vai Legacy - the original one if you can find it has great clean and Marshall JCM800 dirt.


but do get the Mark V, it is the amp for what you mention.

Also maybe a JSX combo, I think they made 50 watt ones.

 

[scrub]

I think it's worth noting, that neither of those amps really fits my criteria?

The Mark V sounds great, but I can't find one with 50+ watts in my price range.

And the Friedman doesn't actually seem to have a metal tone, really. Heavy blues, maybe? Reminds me of SRV.

Guitar Center in Dayton, OH has a used Mark V for $1400. Unreal price. Apparently it needed some work, but they got it repaired. Absolute steal. May be worth a call.

 

[Wolfhorsky]

I think it's worth noting, that neither of those amps really fits my criteria?

The Mark V sounds great, but I can't find one with 50+ watts in my price range.

And the Friedman doesn't actually seem to have a metal tone, really. Heavy blues, maybe? Reminds me of SRV.

Also You can put Boss EQ pedal in its loops and make total facemelting sound.
Just sayin'.....

 

[prlgmnr]

I was meaning a used Mark V if you were after the full 90 watts.

 

[oracles]

It doesn't happen often, but you can pick up an ENGL Invader at that price point, I scooped my Invader 150 for $1300 with a brand new set of Winged C EL34's included. Alternatively, you can find a Powerball II or Artist Edition in that price range as well. Check out the Laney GH100L/VH100R too.

 

[Jaxcharvel]

You can find a used MV for around your price point, and in my opinion the only thing it doesn't do exceptionally well is a Marshall flavored crunch. I've had mine for 5 years and it's the only amp I think I'll never part with.

 

[Sumsar]

I guess a valid point would also be to ask: what kind of metal tones? I don't know much about Jazz tones, but many of the Engl amps have nice clean channels with lots of options for shaping them.

Also are you going to use them both for one band, or do you have situations where you need metal as fawk tone and then others where jazz is needed? Then getting two one trick ponys might be the best way to go.

 

[tpl2000]

I guess a valid point would also be to ask: what kind of metal tones? I don't know much about Jazz tones, but many of the Engl amps have nice clean channels with lots of options for shaping them.

Also are you going to use them both for one band, or do you have situations where you need metal as fawk tone and then others where jazz is needed? Then getting two one trick ponys might be the best way to go.

The metal tone I prefer for rhythm, is Periphery (of course.) Not as much of a fan of going completely out of any remote idea of a key, but I love the tone they get. For leads, I particularly like Obscura's solos from Cosmogenesis. Very high gain, lots of tapping, but it almost seems like a mix between fusion and metal at times.I have a 10 band eq I could probably use to help transition between those tones, as well as the volume.

So far as bands go, not in one. It's just that my personal taste seems to go between opposite ends of the spectrum. I love having a warm clear clean tone on an amplifier, and it means that whenever I actually play jazz I don't have to do much in the way of switching. (I happen to know a gentleman that can actually mod the footswitch for an amp to add an independent FX loop, so I can switch my overdrive/noise gate pedals on or off at the same time as I switch channels.)

I do really appreciate the questions on this.

 

[Sumsar]

I think Periphery is using modellers, but I have seen Misha use a peavey 6505 on various vids to get that tone. The problem is that the peavey 6505 does basicly not has a clean sound. I think the 6505+ has, but I am pretty sure that it still sucks and won't get you near a jazz tone (I might be wrong though).

On a budget you could go peavey 6505 MH mini head, think it is 20 watts, but 20 tube watts is still a lot. The mini has a clean channel and is only like 500$ and I assume it would get you fairly close to the periphery tone, and it also has a clean channel (again I dunno if it is any good).

Obscura is using Engl amps I believe, so again you might wanna try them. Though they are priced pretty high in the US since they are built in Germany. In europe they are one of the cheaper choices for awesome metal tones.

A last bet might be the EVH 5150 50 or 100 watt. It is kind of a warmer version of the peavey 6505. Again I have no idea if the clean channel is worth anything.

 

[Jaxcharvel]

Whenever I saw Periphery live a few years ago (It was when Alex was still in the band) Misha and Alex were both using Invader 100's and Jake had just started using an Axe (think he said it was an Ultra). Misha and Alex's tone was bone crushing, and Jake's drastically lacking in comparison.