Best Amp for an '80s Cover Band?

[SMF]

So, it's my big dream in life to start an '80s cover band. I was in a crappy band in high school, but we never even gigged. We just played in an old shed on the weekends and recorded our songs on a 4-track. Needless to say, we had trouble finding a drummer. :D Now that I'm in my 30s I really want to finally gig--no major aspirations, just local bars on the weekends.

I see the band doing covers from the mid '70s-late '80s. I'd like it to be mostly rock and hard rock (ZZ Top, AC/DC, Dire Straits, Van Halen, GNR, and so on), with some more pop-oriented stuff mixed in (Hall and Oates, Phil Collins, maybe even Lionel Richie!). I'm trying to figure out which amp would best suit my needs.

Right now, I just play in my living room and use a little Vox Valvetronix, which gives me good tonal flexibility at low volumes. If I start gigging covers, I figure I need: 1) A good clean channel, 2) A good low-mid gain sound (think AC/DC), and 3) A Van Halen tone. I really like what I see and hear from Splawn Amps, particularly the Quick Rod. I wonder, though, about that intermediate, AC/DC sound. Would I have to use a pedal in front of the clean channel to achieve that, or would 1st Gear on Channel 2 come close? Also, how good does the clean really sound? I assume 100W would be way too loud for a small venue. The Quick Rod has a half-power switch. Does that power reduction affect tone?

Aside from Splawn, what do you guys recommend? Marshall? Mesa? I'd like to keep the setup as simple as possible--ideally, guitar to amp. I don't want a bunch of rack gear, or even a bunch of pedals.

Btw, I posted this on one other forum, too. I'm trying to get as much feedback as possible. :thumbsup

[Chumbalaya]

The 80's were all about hot-rodded Marshall's, most of time 100 watt non-master volumes.

I'm not sure how easy it is to get hold of one of these nowadays, though I see them often on eBay, but you could try the JCM 800 2205/2210, which is an 80's flavored 2-channel amp. The 2205 can be found at nice prices every now and then. I can say from experience they have a very nice clean channel, (spring reverb!) and a pretty mean OD (boost) channel with controlable gain that can be made meaner with your pedal of choice. I beleive Michael Schenker used one of these. It definitely has on-board versatility.

I would also say the single channel JMPs/800's are nice, but they might not be practical as you can't just kick in a footswitch to go from clean to OD. I tend to use my guitar volume knobs to control this factor. My 50 watt JMP is AC/DC in a box, and with an OD pedal, can hit those VH tones as well.

Good luck!:thumbsup

[Vej]

IMO I think you'll be hard pressed to cover all those bases without a pretty good pedal board or digital effects to go with a versatile amp. I dont think any amp alone will do what your asking.

Think of a "Swiss Army Knife". It can do a hundred things. But if you want to do any of those things really well there are other tools better suited for the job. The same is basically true of amps.

For what your describing. Line 6 stuff may a good place to start looking. I am not a fan of their products in general but they do cover a ton of bases. And for something like a cover band they work well. You can dial up a "close enough" sound for mostly anything you want. There are other tools available that may do more specific things better but none that can be as diverse.

[Chumbalaya]

IMO I think you'll be hard pressed to cover all those bases without a pretty good pedal board or digital effects to go with a versatile amp. I dont think any amp alone will do what your asking.

Think of a "Swiss Army Knife". It can do a hundred things. But if you want to do any of those things really well there are other tools better suited for the job. The same is basically true of amps.

For what your describing. Line 6 stuff may a good place to start looking. I am not a fan of their products in general but they do cover a ton of bases. And for something like a cover band they work well. You can dial up a "close enough" sound for mostly anything you want. There are other tools available that may do more specific things better but none that can be as diverse.

I agree, but I don't think his primary tones are too hard to cover with the right amp and the right guitar(s).

However, the delay, flange, phase, etc. etc, will require FX pedals, or like you said, one of those Line 6 models. :thumbsup

[bkeen]

What you don't want to do is get a high gain amp for the music you are looking to play. I would get a JCM800 and make the difference up with pedals.

I run a JMP and a JCM TSL and can cover most stuff from 60s through to current with the help of some pedals.

:thumbsup

[SMF]

I definitely don't want a modeler. I think they're great for the living room, but I don't trust them for live use.

I'm a little confused about the JCM800 recommendation. How can a single-channel amp be that versatile? If you have to use a clean tone, then basically you have the amp dialed in for clean and rely on pedals for any kind of overdrive, right? But if you do that, you can't use the amp's true tube-overdriven tone. I can see using that amp if you just play, say, AC/DC. But if you want versatility and don't mind a bunch of pedals, why not just use something purer like a Fender combo and get a better clean tone? That's why I'm thinking I need at least a 2-channel amp.

Edit: Oops, I just noticed the JCM800 2205/2210 reference.

[BeN5150]

has anyone tried the new Marshall MA's?

pretty cheap, all tube and 2 channels

and Bugera has supposedly gotten better quality control, and their amps always sounded great.

Or you could go the Peavey route aswell

DSL would likely do, or a JCM 900

[errbt]

My covers band covers (pardon the pun :D ) all the same hard rock territory you mentioned, as well as lighter stuff from '60s to today (Beatles to B-52s to Marshall Tucker to Radiohead to...well, you get the idea) and I could not imagine even trying for that range without my Digitech RP-7 (or whatever floorboard processor floats your boat). I agree with Vej...even with an extremely versatile (Say, 3 channel) amp, you'd be hard pressed trying to tweak gains and EQs between songs to really get close to so many diverse tones. Much easier to use a relatively clean, basic amp tone and get your variation in drives and effects from either a floorboard unit or individual stompboxes (or a combo of both as I use). You could also consider an A/B swithbox running to 2 different amps. Having at least one guitar with different pickup options helps a great deal as well! I bring either two S-S-H and one H-H or one H, one H-H, and one S-S-H guitar to each show.

Of course, in the end, as many here believe yet some scoff at, your hands and brain make the biggest difference. I actually use the exact same overdrive setting for most of what we play. When I do Panama, I attack the strings like EVH and it sounds like EVH...when I play Private Idaho (B-52s) on the same setting, I play very differently...or American Girl by Tom Petty (admittedly I have lately started using the coil split on that one to give more "chime")...they certainly don't come out sounding like EVH! :D

Get inside the guitarist's head, hands, and heart and you'll go the farthest in finding their tone/style...

...but a good floor switching system sure helps! :thumbsup

[80's Rocker]

Definately something that says Marshall on it.

I only really play the 70's/80's hard rock stuff and my JCM 800 is the perfect amp for it. I use it with the Ibanez TS9 and I get the perfect 80s sound. If you don't use any effects, and plug straight in and crank it up then you have instant AC/DC. Everything else you get easy with the tubescreamer.

I use a 2204. This was an amp used by many in the 80's (they mainly used the 2203 which is just 100 watt version of mine). Warren DeMartini, Mick Mars, Richie Sambora to name a few. It is a single channel with a low and high output but the high output with a tubescramer and the sound of rock is right there.

It might not be the most versatile amp ever, but the only thing I would ever take instead of it would be a Marshall plexi. Most people obviously don't want to get that due to it being a non MV. I know you want something versatile but unless you just really need channel switching in the middle of the songs I would strongly consider getting the 2203/4. If you really need the channel switching then I would also say that the 2205/10 is the way to go. Just my 2 cents.

[Chumbalaya]

It might not be the most versatile amp ever,

Oh but it is! Sure, there are no bells and whistles, but the tonal possibilities are huge depending on your guitar construction and pickups.

The great thing about these amps is that it allows for the true guitar tone to come through. On top of that, it takes pedals like a champ. They are also very "touch sensitive" (if that's the correct term) and responds highly to your attack and guitar volume.

All I can say, SMF, is if you go the 80's Marshall route, experiement with different guitars and especially different output pickups.

[paul525715]

Randall RM100 with Blackface, Plexi and SL+ modules :thumbsup

[mmmtacos]

Blackstar, any model. Made by former Marshall employees and the prices are great too.

Add a few pedals in front and you're good to go.

Or

Get a Peavey tube amp like a Prowler or Ultra, or even a Ranger. They're all the same family/era and put a GT-6 or 8 in front of it.

You got Marshall, Peavey 5150, Vox, Soldana, Fender amp models,......... a ton of stomp effects, built in tuner, and noise filter...........

Instant 80s tone.

Lately i've gotten VH 1 tone dialed in using a 5150 model, delay and phase into my Prowler. Sounds pretty darned close to the original:headbang

[KramerTRW]

i have a bugera 6260 120watt combo amp people who have played it have compared the gain channel to soldano/peavey 5150 tones and my friend a jazz player who plays a mesa because of its amazing cleans actually says that he likes the tone better on my amp as far as the cleans go.. if you think 120 watts is to much i have pulled 2 tubes in mine to drop it down to 60watts so it compresses faster and breaks up nicely... And you cant beat an all tube, handmade amp for around 500 bucks:thumbsup just my 2 cents anyway

[JGB]

80's = JCM 800

[Kostas Dee]

I agree with most of the guys but i've tried one of these latelly and i was blown fn away..I shit you not..:-x

http://www.digitech.com/products/multi-effects/rp1000.php

Times are changing,this whole new technology is making miracles..I've already bought one and is on the way,its a great solution for a gigging musician.

Plus this one has the option to have it as a classic pedalboard into your amps loop.
You can deactivate its modeling and cab simulation and use your amps sound having this unit for its effects,ods only,pretty cool huh?

But if you got to have a new amp i'd say go for a JCM 900,its an modded 800.
All of the 80's guys had their 800s modded.

[Vej]

First let me say I love jcm 800 amps. Over the years I've had 4-2203/4's. They are great amps but they are far from versatile.

They are single channel, no frills, push it with a pedal tone monsters. But thats really all they do well in my opinion. They have no reverb. The low sensitivity/clean input is flat and lifeless and the High/overdrive input has to be goosed with a pedal to come to life. Also to go from clean to dirty or back you would have to literally unplug your guitar from one input and plug back into the other. (plus adjust your amps volume because the clean input is so drastically quieter than the other). Do they sound good? Yes. Versatile? No...

The 2205/10 is again a great amp. Has channel switching and reverb as well as a built in boost. This amp has a very unique tone. Lets be honest though, the clean channel is less than stellar. And the overdrive/boosted channel while it certainly sounds good. It always seems to have it's own flavor that you cant get away from. Again, this amp excels at some things. Just not very many things.
We are talking about getting a very wide selection of sounds in a live environment here. Without having the ability to have "patches" set up in advance and them being easily/quickly accessible you wont get very convincing sounds for most of them. Having to set your eq and other amp settings between each song just is not practical. You need that time to tune, fix things, change guitars, slap your bassist, drink ect. ect.

If all your looking for is a amp that will cover the general territory than look at a 3 channel Mesa. That will get you in the the ballpark of everything you listed.

[SMF]

Are there any Mesa users here? I know those amps have a stellar reputation. They are also intimidating to look at! :D I've never seen so much crammed onto a control face. I wonder which model would be the most appropriate. I have no use for the super heavy Rectifier tone.

And no Splawn users here?

[Mxzx]

I think you guys are confusing something here on the 2205/2210's.

There is no "clean" channel on these. There are "normal" and "boost". Also has a master vol, presence, and reverb.

The normal channel is run just like a 2203, channel vol turned up, and master down will distort. Vice vera will clean it up. The channel vol is almost like the gain on the single channel ones.

The boost channel has gain and volume, so it can be driven harder. It's almost like a double master.

Some of these amps also have the "channel bleed" problem, which is remedied by turning the non-used channel to zero.

FWIW

[Kostas Dee]

I think you guys are confusing something here on the 2205/2210's.

There is no "clean" channel on these. There are "normal" and "boost". Also has a master vol, presence, and reverb.

The normal channel is run just like a 2203, channel vol turned up, and master down will distort. Vice vera will clean it up. The channel vol is almost like the gain on the single channel ones.

The boost channel has gain and volume, so it can be driven harder. It's almost like a double master.

Some of these amps also have the "channel bleed" problem, which is remedied by turning the non-used channel to zero.

FWIW
+1
Plus Purists banged Marshall cause that boost is a clipping diode not a tube.
It sounded really well though,Marshall just saved guitarists some $ from buyin'a Tube Screamer.

This Laney Pro Tube series 1 thats on the photo has a Tube driven boost,same 3 12ax7s as the JCM plus a 4th preamp tube as a boost,no clipping here :nono

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy199/K_Dee/DSC01939.jpg

Those old Laney AORs are amazing amps and very affortable too.
The 50W 8 knobber tonewise is easilly side by side to any modded 2204.:thumbsup

[Chumbalaya]

I think you guys are confusing something here on the 2205/2210's.

There is no "clean" channel on these. There are "normal" and "boost". Also has a master vol, presence, and reverb.

The normal channel is run just like a 2203, channel vol turned up, and master down will distort. Vice vera will clean it up. The channel vol is almost like the gain on the single channel ones.

The boost channel has gain and volume, so it can be driven harder. It's almost like a double master.

Some of these amps also have the "channel bleed" problem, which is remedied by turning the non-used channel to zero.

FWIW

You are right, but I guess that depends on your idea of clean, and these units might have tonally varied. I know mine was prety damn sparkly on the normal channel. It's not exactly a Fender clean, of course.

Another suggestion that I don't think anyone has made as yet is the Marshall Jubilee. I have not played one personally, but I have heard nothing but good/great things about them.:thumbsup

I dunno what your budget is, but they tend to be on the pricey side.

[Chumbalaya]

Plus Purists banged Marshall cause that boost is a clipping diode not a tube.
It sounded really well though,Marshall just saved guitarists some $ from buyin'a Tube Screamer

I beleive the Jubilees used the clipping diodes too.

[mrcrazyhimself]

Hey Man! Your not gunna believe this...i'm actually about to sell my splawn competetion head. It's the 50 watt version of the quickrod...has the effects loop, built in boost and everything. And you can switch it down to 25 watts. Send me a PM :thumbsup

[SMF]

The Competition looks pretty cool, but it's single-channel. I haven't decided on a Splawn, anyway. Thanks for the heads up, though.

[BeN5150]

keep in mind, the best thing you can do is go try amps out.

Also, everyone sounds different through the same gear

for example:I personally, think JCM800s sound like dogballs, which isn't good :D But lots of people love them.

So just try out whatever you can. and decide also whether you want to use pedals or not. I don't like using pedals, so it took me a while to find an amp sound I like.

Just go try out a bunch of amps and see what you find

[styxer06]

I say keep your marshall and put the line 6 PODXTLive in front of it. the pods can be modelers or used as FX boxes. I've used the POD live and went direct to the board. not alot of Tube feel but if put infront of a marshall should work well and if your Marshall goes belly up you can easily get by using the XT alone. hahaha
Jim:thumbsup

[Robert Blake]

80's = JCM 800

x 2. Yes, not versatile, but it's the required starting point for 80s rock/metal guitar.

Now, if that's just too much trouble to start with, have you considered an ADA MP-1? Tons of the 80s guys used those, as did I. You'll have to consider getting some more rack mount stuff if you want a "plug and play" situation (to be honest, between an MP-1 and a Yamaha SPX-90, I think you'd cover 95% of the tone/FX you need for 80s rock/metal).

If you need more versatility than that (slipping in some 90s covers or odd sounds) I'd just get an 800 and start a pedal board.

[RacerR]

You may want to consider the Krank Nineteen80:
http://www.krankamps.com/products/nineteen80-1734

It's an 80 watt 2 channel amp, that in theory sounds like a modded Marshall. They are releasing both 20 watt and 50 watt "Jr" models sometime in March 2010.

The 1980 amp sounds really nice in the demos from the 2010 NAMM show.

[mrcrazyhimself]

Almost every multi channel amp i've played sounds like poop. You can get some nice clean out of a single channel if you know how to set it up right and you knnow how to use your volume knob on your guitar. It makes your playing much more responsive. I've also never heard an amp that has a great clean and great distortion and doesn't cost atleast $3000...

[bcrich1975]

I know you said you weren't looking for rack gear but this setup here will nail all the tones you are looking for and keep everything simple. This is the best most versatile rig I have used in 20+ years.
Mesa 50/50 power amp
The key ingredient: Digitech GSP1101 processor
Ground Control 2 foot controller
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll158/bcrich1975/rackgear.jpg
Shopping wisely of course, a complete rig like this with 2 4x12 cabinets can be had for about two thousand dollars.

A rig like this will suit you perfectly. Plugging straight into a Marshall will not give you all the options you need to cover the musical territory you want to. I switched to a rig like this to simplify in the first place and sold my heads and have no regrets. If you want to be greedy, run it stereo through 2 cabinets. For small gigs, I run it through 2 1x12's. Sounds too good to be true.

[hunter008]

I know you said you weren't looking for rack gear but this setup here will nail all the tones you are looking for and keep everything simple. This is the best most versatile rig I have used in 20+ years.
Mesa 50/50 power amp
The key ingredient: Digitech GSP1101 processor
Ground Control 2 foot controller
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll158/bcrich1975/rackgear.jpg
Shopping wisely of course, a complete rig like this with 2 4x12 cabinets can be had for about two thousand dollars.

A rig like this will suit you perfectly. Plugging straight into a Marshall will not give you all the options you need to cover the musical territory you want to. I switched to a rig like this to simplify in the first place and sold my heads and have no regrets. If you want to be greedy, run it stereo through 2 cabinets. For small gigs, I run it through 2 1x12's. Sounds too good to be true.

that looks like a killer setup.i noticed that mesa has a 15 watt option and a 50 watt. hows it sound in low gear? btw, i used to own a jcm 800 and i got rid of it immediately because of no channel switching.you have to be able to go back to a clean channel.

[bcrich1975]

I use the 50/50 on full power setting...for rehearsal, volume is on 5. Anything more than that and it drowns out the drummer. On low power setting, you can have the amp volume up and still get the full sound out of it at relaxed volume levels. I can play this rig at bedroom volume or crank the hell out of it and it sounds great both ways.
As for channel switching, the "Ground Control 2" (designed for the 1101 processor) is just about the best pedal board I've ever used. Gives you the option to control individual effects in each parameter plus an expression pedal. Best part, it runs off a single cat5 cable. No looking for additional power outlets at the front of the stage or running a lead cord. Only one wire from the amp to the pedal and setup is done. I can't say enough good things about this setup. Everything is in one 'container'/rack...amp, processor, etc.). The 1101 is so user friendly, almost didn't even need to refer to the owners manual when I got it to program my settings.

[lonewolfsx]

Hey man, good to see another person from sav ga on here!

I'm doing the EXACT same thing you're doing... using a 30-watt VOX Valvetronix on various settings looking for good 80s tones. Usually end up on the "UK 80s" setting with varying settings and a tubescreamer in front to drive it when I need VH/Winger/Ratt/BonJovi/Whitesnake stuff.

Really it's the built-in speaker that bugs me. It sounds like total garbage, but I have Logic Pro on my Mac and the speaker sim on that makes the amp sound SOOO much better. Direct line-out sounds horrible too, so through a PA directly or something wouldn't work well.


However, I do want to mention some amps.
1- Obviously the JCM 800, in any variation, is an awesome amplifier. Personally I'm a little afraid of buying used amps... a lot of people treat their stuff very poorly to my standards.. which are very high.

2- I've played through a mesa/boogie dual rectifier head on a cab with 4 Celestion vintage-30s and thought it was intensely spectacular. The clean tone is great, the pushed mode works well, and channel 2's "raw" mode I felt like I could get close to AC/DC, and the vintage hi-gain mode is spectacular, no pedals attached. I don't particularly have a use for the extra presence of channel 3 and the modern modes, though they sound good as well just in case you need to cover something else.
Anyway, as a college student, the dual-rec head was a little ridiculous, and I should be shot for ever considering getting it just to line in to my computer for recording.

Anyway,
3- I demo'ed a Mesa Rectoverb (Single Rectifier) 1x12 combo here in statesboro and was blown away. It's not only loud as anything, but has speaker out for a cab (my vox doesn't have this), but sounds great turned down (not sure if that matters to you but my neighbors care). To me, it sounds just as good as the dual rectifier and since I don't use channel 3, I get both channels I want, with cool features, the same FX loop, and the addition of a spring reverb. It's great. I don't need a pedal to get the drive I want (though I'll keep my tubescreamer for some different colorings), can change channels, reverb, and solo boost on the footswitch, and all in a combo amp that isn't too massive.

There are a few things though
-If you decide you like the tone on "raw" ch2 better than "pushed" on ch1 for AC/DC type tones, you'd need to walk over to your amp in-between songs and flip the switch over to "vintage" when you want to go to van halen or whatever.
-It also comes stock with 6L6 Power tubes, but can be switched (very easily) to EL34's for a more british (AC/DC, Van Halen, etc.) Character.

I know that was super long to read, but I'm really impressed with this amp. I'm in amp-buying mode and I've demoed at least 20 different amps in the past 2 months. If I wasn't so afraid of dumping money, I'd buy the rectoverb hands down.

One honorable mention: The Egnater Renegade. Sounds awesome online, looks to have a lot of the features I want, etc., but I can't find any place who has one on the floor to demo, and I won't buy an amp without playing through it myself first.

Good luck man, tell me what you pick because I'm looking for the same tones and haven't committed to an amp yet. :thumbsup

[SMF]

Wow, another KF bro in Savannah. Who knew? Where do you go to school?

Thanks for the feedback, everybody. I think I have my heart set on a Splawn Quick Rod. With the addition of a few basic pedals, that amp should nail everything I want. A modeling unit like an Axe Effects would probably be more versatile, but an actual high-watt tube amp, especially the hot rodded Marshall variety, is the most appealing to me. And based on everything I've read and heard, the Quick Rod beats Marshall at its own game.

[lonewolfsx]

I go to georgia southern. Was hoping to get an apartment next semester so I can play a little bit louder, the walls in my dorm building are psycho thin, the people above and below me even bang sometimes even when I'm playing quiet. Like, extremely quiet. Headphones quiet.

I'm kind of a lurker here, usually read a lot and don't say much. Seems like anything I'd say will already be covered haha. Had to on this thread though, no one mentioned mesa!

I'm gonna have to check out this splawn quick rod thing, I've never seen one but if it does the hot-rodded marshall thing I might have to ditch my I-Want-A-Mesa plans.

[SMF]

Cool. I have a cousin at Southern. Yeah, a dorm is a bad place for playing, and an apartment isn't much better. If you know some people, you should try to rent a house. :toast

[PacerMedic]

Back in the 80's, I played through a JCM 800/2203, and later a Mesa/Boogie Mk III head. The Marshall is the simplest amp there is in terms of getting a seriously good (and LOUD) metal tone. The amp is your rhythm channel; a good OD pedal is your lead. I had an old MXR and then a TS-808 that was bitchin. I tried a Rat and it didn't work well for me.

The Mesa was a cool amp that you could actually practice somewhat quietly on. The cool thing about it was the clean tones Mesa is known for as well as the growly, high gain distortion made popular by Cinderella and others. The Mesa didn't need as much hit on the front end as the Marshall and neither have the gain that today's amps have, but those tones can not be bought from any other manufacturer. Modellers come close, but they don't stand the hair up like a 100 watt head does.

Another important thing is the cab. I had a Mesa halfback with 2 EVM-12L's and replaced the stock black shadows with two G12M-70's. That cab had the range covered from thumping lows to screaming highs. The V-30's hadn't caught on back then, and 300 watt EV's are hard to come by today.

Getcha something like that and you will own the 80's metal sound! :toast

[Tricky]

I don't think these have been mentioned yet,
but the Carvin X60B - X100B were used by many in the 80s.
Zappa & Vai to just name a couple.
Zappa was a perfectionist.
If you ever run across one, check it out.

[errbt]

I don't think these have been mentioned yet,
but the Carvin X60B - X100B were used by many in the 80s.
Zappa & Vai to just name a couple.
Zappa was a perfectionist.
If you ever run across one, check it out.

Somehow Carvin always flies under the radar, but I've never heard a single bad thing about their amps or guitars. They seem to really have a high level of quality control. :thumbsup

[warbrill]

Are there any Mesa users here? I know those amps have a stellar reputation. They are also intimidating to look at! :D I've never seen so much crammed onto a control face. I wonder which model would be the most appropriate. I have no use for the super heavy Rectifier tone.

And no Splawn users here?

I use a Mesa single rectifier 50 watt 1x12 combo for most performances (other than very small venues) called a Rect-o-Verb. It's extremely versatile, having two channels but five discrete sound profiles. The A channel has a wonderful clean sound (which I don't actually use very often) and a "pushed" which is perfect for the bluesy sound, or I find it really useful for our country songs, using a bridge humbucker to simulate a Tele through a Twin turned to 11. On the B channel there is another clean, which is much like the "clean" in my TSL60, not really clean per se, but like a Marshall clean. Then comes the really useful 80s setting, which is the "vintage" overdrive. With 6L6s installed, it sounds like a cranked tweed, and I can control the squaring of the sound wave perfectly with the volume on my guitar. I don't find the "modern" setting of any use, which is what you mean by the "rectifier" sound. But there's also a "lead" button on the foot switch that adds another stage of gain, but it's at the output side, so it doesn't change your sound envelope - it just adds volume. Therefore, all of the control you have using the volume on the guitar isn't compromised - it's just happening at a higher volume (very useful if you want some controllable feedback, by the way).
I have a couple of Marshall amps too, including a TSL, which is really nice for when I need it loud, but I don't find the three channels to be more versatile than the two on the Mesa.
Our band plays 60s to 80s classic rock, plus we have a completely separate "country" persona for different gigs. However, we will cross over while doing either kind when we get requests, so I need the versatility. I use very few pedals - just a digital delay, a chorus, a wah wah and a tuner. The rest of the sound envelope is the combination of what I play and the gain profile.
If it sounds like I'm recommending the Rect-o-Verb, you're reading correctly. It weighs a ton, but most good amps do. I see that I'm not the only one who's impressed with it ... it's a great amp!

[DTRguy]

Are there any Mesa users here? I know those amps have a stellar reputation. They are also intimidating to look at! :D I've never seen so much crammed onto a control face. I wonder which model would be the most appropriate. I have no use for the super heavy Rectifier tone.

And no Splawn users here?

that is what I was wondering! I have made a soft decision to sometime purchase a Mesa Roadster. With 4 channels that have multiple modes plus a solo boost it is hard to say that you couldn't find various sounds! That and each channel can be run in 50 or 100 watts independently. How could you go wrong?! Only pedal you might need would be a chorus pedal and a Wah I'd think. That is my vote. REAL tube sound with lotsa sound options.