Top 5 of the best high gain amps currently (500$-2000$)!

[maloteslos]

Hi guys, this post is for talk about of the best high gain amps currently for you. In the history many companies have created excellent heads that nowdays remain awesome. For me, the best high gain amps currently in the range of 500$ - 2000$) are:

-Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier multiwatt or Royal Atlantic.
-Peavey 6505.
-EVH 5150 III.
-ENGL Fireball 100.
-Egnater Armageddon.

Some pics

For you?

 

[TheWarAgainstTime]

EVH 5150 III
Mesa Rectifier
Peavey 6505(+)
ENGL Fireball
Egnater Tweaker 40 and 88

If you add in the used market, I'd also include a bunch of other ENGL amps as well as the Mark V and Bogner Uberschall

 

[7stringdystymic]

Assuming Used amps are an option
1) Bogner20th Anniv Shiva
2) Bogner Uberschall
3. Peavey 5150

You don't need anything else

 

[Thep]

this thread again....

and not a single Marshall mentioned? lol, kids these days.

 

[RevelGTR]

line 6 spider

 

[RevelGTR]

also triple rec

 

[Jlang]

Anything engl used
Bogner schall used
Mesa dual/triple rec
mesa mark v used
peavey 5150/2/3
Marshal JCM 800/ JVM
Egnater geddon
Randall Satan


Its pretty much an open field with a 2000 dollar limit, with the exception of super boutique / import amps ala diezel.

 

[Sverdugo]

No Diezel? But... but why?

 

[Jlang]

because even a USED diezel will run you over the 2k mark.

 

[Valennic]

My top five,

1. VHT Deliverance
2. EVH 5150III
3. Diezel Einstein (Found one for 2k in a GC)
4. Orange Dark Terror
5. Mesa Triple Rectifier

My VHT is by far my favorite, but the EVH and the Diezel were absolutely fantastic. Sold the Mesa because it just felt choked, great amp though, and the Dark Terror is my go to for anything doomy.

 

[oneblackened]

In no particular order:
-5150/6505
-Powerball MkII
-2 channel Dual Rectifier
-JVM410h
-JCM800

 

[chassless]

and the Dark Terror is my go to for anything doomy.

anything doomy ? could you give an example ? i'm looking into the Terror series and would like to hear a couple of clips ^^

 

[Yo_Wattup]

My top 5 in no order:

Mesa Dual Rec
Marshall JVM410
Peavey 5150/6505
Framus Dragon
Randall V2

I havent played through things like diezels and bogners.. so i cant rate them

 

[Vostre Roy]

this thread again....

and not a single Marshall mentioned? lol, kids these days.

To be fair, it might not be the first thread like this but at least, OP wanted to share his opinion and actually hear what are other's favorite amp as opposed to the usual "this is what sounds good and the rest is shit" thread wich almost always grind someone's feeling lol

And don't assume that everyone has tried extensively or simply love the tone of a Marshall. Arguably, Marshall is one of the major pioneer and leader in medium-high gain amps through maybe 1960 to 1990, but that doesn't mean that everybody HAS to put them in their top 5 list.

For me, the best high gain amps currently in the range of 500$ - 2000$) are:

*pics*

For you?

I agree though that this kind of thread comes up quite often and an search could have brought another similar thread.

And just not to drift offtopic anymore, here's my personnal list based on what I tried/tested/loved:

1: Orange Dark Terror
2: Marshall JCM800
3: Engl Special Edition Preamp E570
4: Randall RM100 w/ 1086 module
5: Engl Thunder 50

 

[myampslouder]

If you include the used market I'd say
VHT/Fryette Pittbull UL
Mesa Mark IV
Mesa Dual Rec
Randall V2
Peavey 5150/5150II

That's based on amps I've either had extensive experience with or I've owned

 

[Runander]

$2000? Can you really get a Mesa Rectifier for $2000?

Here in Europe the price for a Dual Rectifier is closer to $3400.

 

[UV7BK4LIFE]

because even a USED diezel will run you over the 2k mark.

Haha not where I live. Cheaper than a recto If only you guys had 230V outlets just like us, or the other way around...

New Diezel D-Moll, €1799,- which is just slightly over $2000.

$2000? Can you really get a Mesa Rectifier for $2000?
Here in Europe the price for a Dual Rectifier is closer to $3400.

A new Dual Rec is more like $3000 including shipping to Sweden if you order at Thomann. Still pretty steep, any American can pick one up (used) at Guitar Center for $1700 - $2000.

 

[cwhitey2]

Dual rec
5150
5153
Anything fryette

 

[Valennic]

anything doomy ? could you give an example ? i'm looking into the Terror series and would like to hear a couple of clips ^^

Think stoner metal type stuff. The Dark Terror does mastodon, sleep, and other such stuff with ease. I wish I had a method to give you clips, but I don't at the moment . Maybe in a couple weeks i can whip something up.

 

[maloteslos]

Think stoner metal type stuff. The Dark Terror does mastodon, sleep, and other such stuff with ease. I wish I had a method to give you clips, but I don't at the moment . Maybe in a couple weeks i can whip something up.

Share some clips of high gain amps in this thread is a good idea! Play with this! =)