Need recommendation for amp head

[carboxymoron]

Ok, I'm looking to get an amp head I can bring out to gigs, jamming, and also record. Has to be reasonable size for a guy with no car but willing to lug gear around. Price is, for once, less of an issue (gonna treat this as a long term investment).

Sound-wise, my requirement is very simple: I need the amp to provide a nice clean base (and I seriously mean clean, not edge of breakup, not Gearmandude "clean") and then stay out of my way. Don't need more channels or reverb or effects loops or footswitchable crap, but of course no harm having any of these features.

Recently played on the Blackstar HT Stage 100 at Epic Studio and it went perfect with my pedals. I used the OD 1 channel with the gain almost all the way down, but the clean channel is roughly the same. My pedals are quite picky too (mainly the Blackstone Appliances OD) and on most cheapo studios and venues with Marshall or Vox hybrids/valvestates I either end up with scratchy highs or mud. Yes, I can probably use more experience setting my pedals and the amps. Yes, I've heard better amps, but consistent results with the rest of my gear is more important than getting that slightly better tone at a particular setting with your boutique guitar.

So I'm wondering if anyone can recommend something similar. I intend to try out the HT Studio 20H if only because it's the smallest head in the same range but other than that, I have next to 0 knowledge of amps and don't know where to look. Throw me anything - I have no existing biases towards any particular amp design or voicing or type of tube or whatever it is everyone argues about.

 

[dezng]

Axe Fx II. Not exactly an amp but once you try one likely you will won't look back.

 

[J.custom]

What's your budget?

 

[carboxymoron]

Really open, I can save up for longer if needed. But I'm not the kind to pay 100% more for a 10% perceived improvement, you know I'm perfectly happy with affordable, everyman gear.

Thanks dezng, a rack processor is definitely somewhere in my distant future, but let's keep it out of the equation for now.

 

[Ized]

Axe Fx II. Not exactly an amp but once you try one likely you will won't look back.

Axe-Fx? While that I agree is one sick sounding unit, last time I checked, its a rack unit. Rack units are usually heavy and justifiably so- to withstand the rigors of abuse on the road. He already mentioned that he doesn't drive, so that's definitely out of the question.

 

[Ized]

I'd recommend the Egnator Rebel 20 head, or a Rebel 30 if you are able to up your budget some more. Its loud, has lots of clean headroom and loves pedals. Don't let the size and wattage fool you, it has more than enough power to keep up with a drummer, given the right cab size. Pretty compact and lightweight too. Both are available at Ebenex last time I checked, if you'r keen to check out those amps and give them a test run. The Rebel 20 even comes with a nice carrying bag so that you can lug it along for gigs and jams. It sounds better than most of the other amps in its class too, like the orange tiny terror (lack of clean headroom).


Just a side note, I was one of the demo guys for Goosoniqueworx during Baybeats and had the pleasure of demoing the seventheaven through Daniel Sassoon's (yes, the guitarist from IEHAC) Rebel 20, hooked up to a Marshall 4x12 cab. It was plenty loud - so loud until the festival organizers were running over frantically asking us to turn it down, reason being all that racket that little bugger caused was supposedly "spilling" over to the other stages. Now when I still chuckle slightly thinking back about that- its thoroughly amusing that our little get up could actually affect a fully equipped stage with gawd knows how many thousand watts PA system, not to mention the bands who were playing through 100w Marshall and Mesa heads.

 

[Zulkarnean]

Since you liked HTStage 100, why not try the new HTClub 50 Head?

 

[dorngo]

Soldano lucky 13 is nice... Nice clean, nice crunch. Or try the matchless... Dc 30

 

[dezng]

Axe-Fx? While that I agree is one sick sounding unit, last time I checked, its a rack unit. Rack units are usually heavy and justifiably so- to withstand the rigors of abuse on the road. He already mentioned that he doesn't drive, so that's definitely out of the question.

The Axe Fx is only 7kg and I think lighter than most amp head. OP did mentioned about recording too. Well, to each it's own. \m/

 

[carboxymoron]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

@Ized Ah, I remember the demo booth. Will definitely try the Rebel 20 then. Some interesting features too (I like the idea of the tube mix)

@Zulkarnean Yup I'm looking at that range, but thought of trying the Studio 20 first.

@dorngo Both of those are significantly heavier and more expensive than the other two candidates now. Will keep in mind, but need a good reason to consider them.

 

[zesn]

Sorry no suggestions but i lol'd at gearmanndude clean

 

[J.custom]

Actually the orange dual terror takes pedals surprisingly well! When paired with right speakers it sounds amazing, but I've tried it thru a bunch of cabs it still sounds good. Comes with a carrying bag as well like the Rebel 20.

Check out the Laney Lionheart and Cub 12 heads. Really like the cleans of both of them and they take pedals really well too! The VHT special 6 and special 6 ultra are both pretty affordable as well. Great for modding, but sounds good stock as well.

 

[lifele55]

I'll be watching the recommends here... I myself am looking for a suitable portable head to bring to jams.

 

[Ized]

The Axe Fx is only 7kg and I think lighter than most amp head. OP did mentioned about recording too. Well, to each it's own. \m/

haha nice. Didn't know it was that light. Honestly, about the recording bit, with all due respect the Axe isn't the end of all solutions to record. Some guys will still prefer the mic-ed up sound and thump of recording the old school way, with some serious air moving the speaker cabs aye? Although I doubt you'll be able to do it at home, most of the artistes I've observed using the Axe (with the exception of Periphery and Animals) are mostly using the Axe to colour their sound, while most of drive sounds are still coming from their tube amps.

 

[Ized]

Actually the orange dual terror takes pedals surprisingly well! When paired with right speakers it sounds amazing, but I've tried it thru a bunch of cabs it still sounds good. Comes with a carrying bag as well like the Rebel 20.

Check out the Laney Lionheart and Cub 12 heads. Really like the cleans of both of them and they take pedals really well too! The VHT special 6 and special 6 ultra are both pretty affordable as well. Great for modding, but sounds good stock as well.

I've tried those amps you mentioned, and with the exception of the dual terror, most of your recommendations don't have enough clean headroom to keep up once you introduce a drummer into the mix. The Lionheart is only 5w and I hardly think the 20w version is worth the money- I can buy 2 rebel heads with the cost of one and still have more clean headroom to spare at gigging volumes. I haven't tried the dual terror but I prefer using most Orange amps the way they'r originally intended for - tube driven amp gain.

Another amp head to check out if you manage to find one here:

Carvin v3m. Lunchbox size, pretty lightweight, 3 channels with boost and reverb. 50 watts of EL84-tube driven power. MADE IN USA.

The demos on youtube actually sound pretty good. Clean channel dosen't break up unless you engage the drive switch, and the lead channel is pretty modern sounding. Not sure whether it would do the djent thing but from what I can hear from the clips there's more than enough gain to go from Metallica to Dream Theater.

I don't think anyone here brings them in though

 

[carboxymoron]

I agree about Orange amps being better on the dirty side, but will try out the Dual Terror if I get a chance.

The Carvin... that's probably the most features you can ever get in that size man. And good price too. But not so sure about the demos I'm hearing though.

 

[J.custom]

The new Jet City 20H with the programmable MIDI function looks killer!! Would love to try one myself if they get ever get here.

Speaking of which, the Jet City 20 should have enough clean headroom if you swap out the tube in V1 to a 12AY7. I played some gigs with it in a 3 piece band before and it didn't break up

 

[dezng]

haha nice. Didn't know it was that light. Honestly, about the recording bit, with all due respect the Axe isn't the end of all solutions to record. Some guys will still prefer the mic-ed up sound and thump of recording the old school way, with some serious air moving the speaker cabs aye? Although I doubt you'll be able to do it at home, most of the artistes I've observed using the Axe (with the exception of Periphery and Animals) are mostly using the Axe to colour their sound, while most of drive sounds are still coming from their tube amps.

Most certainly! I totally agree but for home recording it's hard to beat. Here my little random noodle http://soundcloud.com/dezng/evil-pvh6160-fw5 I do run my Axe Fx thru a power amp/cab setup as well and it can really move some serious air! Hee... If you keen to try just give me a PM. But then again all these is another thing altogether, sorry for going off topic. I shall cut it out now. Haha

 

[CyanideJunkie]

Having the proper amp head is one thing, but your choice of speakers is an equally important part of the equation as well. If you really want to maximise your headroom you should ensure that your speaker has enough handling power, else even the cleanest of signals will distort.

 

[Ized]

The Jet City is another good recommendation. However its not as versatile as the Egnator and the soldano clean sound is pretty unique- its pretty grainy and may not be one's cup of tea.

I think Orange amps here are kind of overpriced, especially with Yamaha as its distributor. If possible get it used, or get David from Ebenex to ship in for you.

Mesa also has its mini recto and trans alantic series but these are not available locally and cost quite a bit of $$$. But they are probably the best you can get in this class of amplifier, if the youtube clips I've heard so far are anything to go by.

Dezng- that clip sounds totally sick, what poweramp you'r running it through? Cab and speakers? Thanks for the offer man you peaked my interest there. So far the people I know who are using it here are only running it through studio monitors, while sounding good and will probably work well live, lacks the moving thump of serious air being pushed through a speaker cabinet. Your setup I assume will naturally combine the best of both worlds.

As for the trying bit, I will drop you a PM. I've got something big coming in myself and maybe it would be cool if we could do a through A/B for gear trying's sake!