Best 2x12 combo amp

[Mac]

Preferably tube, Price limit is £500 maximum.

Effects loop would be nice. Tried a marshall M series yesterday and have never been more disappointed, no crunch at all and far too trebly.

Listening to all idea, high gain preferable

Line6 users also might be able to chip in. I would love a head version of the "spinal puppet" amp. Ive read around and even though line 6 say its a hot rodded marshal, no one can gauge which one, maybe a JCM800 with a ton more gain. Others say its more pantera ish but for that sound Im looking at solid state randalls :scratchhe

[PacerPete]

These Ampegs are way underrated. This is the head version and is beat to shit(not mine i might add). I curently own the 2x12 combo. For years I used the head with 2 4x12 Jackson cabinets. Played 3-5 nights a week plus countless gigs with flawless performance.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ampeg-VH140c-Amplifier-Amp-Head-Great-Condition-/130446242447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5f33b28f

This has been my solid state amp of choice since the early '90s. Run a BBE sonic maximizer thru the loop and you will have the smoothest clean and the most brutal crunch immaginable. These things eat those old snakeskin Randalls for breakfast. :thumbsup

[Mac]

Hmm you know what, I have a BBE rackmount aswell :D, thanks for the idea, still taking suggestions please

[TommySixGun]

Egnater Renegade....the combo version of this

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zxJt0VvIiHc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zxJt0VvIiHc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[dan]

crate blue voodoo 60watt with vintage 30 speakers:thumbsup

[Rick S]

You mentioned Randall. I really dig my RG200.:thumbsup
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/SuperChunk426/DSC03143-1.jpg

[JoeyM]

Speaking of Randall and Egnater....These are great amps

http://www.randallamplifiers.com/Amplifiers/MTS-Combos/

[rjs1]

randall again ! had a rg75-g3 and it had a ton of gain ! and the clean channel wasn't actually that bad ! should really never have sold it !:toast

[KramerBassFan]

AC 30 :D




How about the JCM800 2x12?

There is one of those, isn't there :scratchhe

[mmmtacos]

Preferably tube, Price limit is £500 maximum.

Effects loop would be nice. Tried a marshall M series yesterday and have never been more disappointed, no crunch at all and far too trebly.

Listening to all idea, high gain preferable

Line6 users also might be able to chip in. I would love a head version of the "spinal puppet" amp. Ive read around and even though line 6 say its a hot rodded marshal, no one can gauge which one, maybe a JCM800 with a ton more gain. Others say its more pantera ish but for that sound Im looking at solid state randalls :scratchhe

Blackstar all the way baby:thumbsup

Not the Artisan series. The HT series:headbang

[eddiedbone]

Vox makes a kickass 2x12 combo. the valvetronics 100 is a great amp. i really like my bugera V55 all tube

[_xxx_]

Since you are a Line6 guy, how about a 2x12" Spider Valve? It literally killed all the similarily sized/powered Marshall, Vox, Laney etc. combos I compared to it in the shop, besides that it was much louder too, great Celestion V30 speakers in there. I bought it on spot (but as 1x12", I hate weight lifting :D) and have been using it as my #1 ever since.

Ifr you don't need the built-in FX, my vote also goes to the 20-watt Blackstar HT. It sounds even better than its 5-watt brother and also has much more gain in reserve and a built-in reverb.

[Chumbalaya]

How about the JCM800 2x12?

There is one of those, isn't there :scratchhe

Those are fantastic. If you shop around and aren't too concerned with aesthetic condition, you can find one at a great price. :thumbsup

[Mac]

Thanks for the input so far guys, I'll check out those randalls, Serj would love to have a spider valve II combo but its £150 over my limit unfortunately. Never seen a JCM800 combo, a few heads on the bay but over here Im yet to see one

[Blix]

Thanks for the input so far guys, I'll check out those randalls, Serj would love to have a spider valve II combo but its £150 over my limit unfortunately. Never seen a JCM800 combo, a few heads on the bay but over here Im yet to see one

You live in Marshall-land, JCM800-combos are plentyful around you! :)

Three of them on ebay.co.uk as I type.

[_xxx_]

No need to get SV2, the SV1 is often seen for <300 slightly used. Mine is SV1 too.

[Mac]

Never tried to SVI so never had opportunity to compare

[Mac]

You live in Marshall-land, JCM800-combos are plentyful around you! :)

Three of them on ebay.co.uk as I type.

Ahh just seen them I was looking for the wrong thing lol :D

Hmm interesting but the price tag again is up there, I'll keep an eye open

[Chucho]

...I'd highly recommend a Peavey Classic 50 (4x10 or 2x12) depending on the application, or even a Classic 30!

I used to own both (original series), now just have the 4x10 left. Hindsight, shoulda kept the 2x12 :)

[_xxx_]

Never tried to SVI so never had opportunity to compare

They're pretty much identical, the SV2 got some minor software-tweaks and new presets but besides that there is no real difference. Give it a shot :thumbsup

[Mac]

Yeah I'll have a look, for a live rig i'll need the matching floorboard which is extra ££ :D

Checked out the differences, No midi out? few more effects etc

[_xxx_]

I bought the smaller board (with 4 switches and one expression pedal, dunno the exact naming), which does the job fine.

Not sure but I think you can use the X3 etc. as a floorboard too? :scratchhe

[Mac]

Nope, its a standalone unit, it literally needs a poweramp and a speaker :D

[RockinJim]

Find a Bugera 333XL 2 x 12, easily the best on the market for the price. And it will smoke amps 2X the price.

[_xxx_]

Nope, its a standalone unit, it literally needs a poweramp and a speaker :D

No, I meant maybe you can use it *only* as a floorboard? The HD-pods can be used as a floorboard with the new amps, so I ass-umed it might be possible with X3 too in some form.

[Mac]

No, the HD floorboards were designed to compliment the new DT range of amps, this is the first time its really been done with Line6 since the AT range in 1997

[_xxx_]

That's a pity, though it would require just a minor software update technically. I guess they don't want it on purpose.

[Mac]

Its a good idea the fact you can Amp/effect emmulate then simply amplify it through a PA or fx loop of a real amp AND you can use it as a stand alone floor controller for a Tube amp that does all the emmulation anyway.

What are your views on an old Peavey classic 50 watt 2x12 combo, I have an offer to pick one up for peanuts but ive never quite looked into them, views? Pro's/Con's

[Blix]

What are your views on an old Peavey classic 50 watt 2x12 combo, I have an offer to pick one up for peanuts but ive never quite looked into them, views? Pro's/Con's

The Classics are quite good. The clean is decent, and a great drive channel. I've had lots of fun with them through 4x12's, not that punchy in the open back combo.

[Chucho]

...the Classic 50 2x12 & 4x10 combos are very nice sounding & versatile general purpose amps! I've owned a 4x10 for years, and my buddy has had a 2x12 also - they sound AWESOME in stereo!

I prefer the 2x12, more ooomph!

[_xxx_]

They're nice but they sound rather "vintage", nothing for high-gain sounds.

Oh yeah, forgot one candidate - look also for a used Peavey Triple XXX 40W combo, they are great - basically a cheaper Mesa copy with added transparence. The speaker used is so-so but it shouldn't be a problem to upgrade it later.

[Mac]

I was considering a Bugera XXX clone speaking of them :D

[_xxx_]

Go for that if you're on a budget, otherwise stay away from cheap chinese electronics where possible. Bugera are ok for the money but nothing more. Not worth it IMO, you can get a way better used amp for the same money.

It's built way cheaper and less durable and of course the one with built-in multi-FX (the XXX "EFX" version) can not be copied that easily. Used peaveys are cheap, you should be able to find an XXX combo for around 300 rather easily. I sold mine (the EFX) last year for 400 including footswitch and all.

And why I sold it - because the Spider Valve made it obsolete. I did love it, but SV essentially contains a copy of it in the blue "Metal" setting.

[Mac]

Its so true that we keep coming back full circle to the spider valve, I think I may just invest in a poweramp and run the XT live into the input or fx loop lol

[_xxx_]

That would definitely be the most affordable option :D

Oh and BTW Spider Valve is AWFUL as a pure poweramp. It totally kills all the highs and sounds like crap regardless of what you run into it. Whatever they did to that poweramp input circuit is just abysmal.

[Mac]

Advice taken :D

What do you recommend in the poweramp would you recommend. Also I have marshall 4x12 so it has to be able to power that at 8ohms, but I could also do with a 2x12 combo to take to practice so advice there is also welcomed :D

Guess in the longrun atleast I could upgrade a rack unlike a cabinet ampifier :D

[Blix]

I see the Axe-Fx crowd is praising the new-ish Rocktron Velocity 300 as a great and inexpensive power amp with good tone. I'm thinking of trying one myself for my coming wet/dry/wet rig. Of course a Fryette tube power amp would be ideal, but my budget isn't quite there yet... :)

[_xxx_]

I'm not the right guy to ask about rack gear, I really never was into that (I hate weight lifting as you already know :)). I always hear good things about the Velocity line in terms of price/performance, but never tried one myself. They're dirt cheap for sure, I often see the 50/50 model for barely over 100 on eBahhh.

[Mac]

True but no offence to anyone else here but I value serj's opinion in terms of brutal honesty :D

I'll check the rocktron range soon, are they valve?

[Blix]

True but no offence to anyone else here but I value serj's opinion in terms of brutal honesty :D

I'll check the rocktron range soon, are they valve?

They are 1U Solid State with circuitry to mimic tube response, which is said to be working rather well.

http://a1.images5.thomann.de/pics/bdb/242146/2668682_800.jpg

http://www.thomann.de/gb/rocktron_velocity_300.htm

[Mac]

Ok that looks reasonable, whats with the 6 knobs if its just a poweramp, is there a 100 and 200 series aswell?

2x12 cabs? recommendations?

[_xxx_]

Yeah, you don't really need 300W, but - those extra knobs are for adjusting the speaker-emulation character (reactance mimics the tube power amp/tranny/speaker interaction, definition makes the sound more loose or tight, kinda like what Mesa and Peavey have for the speaker). There is a Velocity 100 but it lacks that feature, it has only left/right volume controls. Basically you can make your 2x12" sound like a full stack or a single 10" or anything in between with that.

I have that reactance/definition in the speaker sim in my Utopia and to me it's the best speaker sim I ever used so far :thumbsup

"Brutal honesty", lol :toast Yeah, I know I'm not the most sensible/politically correct type of guy :lol

[Blix]

I wouldn't go with the Velocity 100, it's only 2x40watt at 8 ohm, and don't have the reactance controls. The 300 is 2x75watts at 8 ohm, so it's not that powerful. :)