Hey everyone,

I just have a simple question...

What amp would you all recommend for an Alternative Rock/Metal sound or does it really matter?

The thing is that I play in an Alt. Rock/Metal band and right now I only have a little practice amp from Drive. I'm just wondering if maybe there's a certain brand I should be looking at.

Thanks for the help.

Go with Marshall amps if you're looking for a heavy sound. Mesa Boogie is not a bad choice either to cover both Alternative/Metal. VOX is really good for Alternative as well as Fender amps. Also consider certain effect pedals to achieve your sound. You could have a killer amp that gives you killer tone, but effect pedals can add different dimensions as well. Good luck!

Another tip for trying to find this alternative/metal sound. Make sure you have the right guitar. Look for something with humbuckers, it will cover the sonic qualities for both sounds. PRS, Parker, Schecter, are what I recommend, but that choice is up to you!

Z88 wrote:

Go with Marshall amps if you're looking for a heavy sound. Mesa Boogie is not a bad choice either to cover both Alternative/Metal. VOX is really good for Alternative as well as Fender amps. Also consider certain effect pedals to achieve your sound. You could have a killer amp that gives you killer tone, but effect pedals can add different dimensions as well. Good luck!

i am no where near as experianced as many of the people on this site. But one thing i have also noticed is that with a marshall you can get alot of diversity.
a mesa triple rectifier has a great sound, and has alot of balls. But everytime i go to a gig and see a guitarist setting up his rectifier i know already what his sound is like.

but yeah i would go with a marshall, from what i understand they have a bit of longevity as well.

go for a Marshall Mode Four amp.

maybe a Line 6 Flextone or a Randall combo amp.








_________________
Jackson DK2S Custom
Fender Custom strat w/ Dimarzio Evolutions
Ibanez Jem
Ibanez TCM50
Carvin 3212 MTS combo
Line 6 Uber Metal
various Boss pedals
Morley Bad Horsie Wha 2

you might want to get a line 6 spider. You'll save a lot of money and you can use it to figure out what you are really looking for. Get it used, and when you are done with it sell it for what you paid for it

Check Hughes and Kettner triamps they are a little pricy but I love mine!

mesa rectifiers are the dogs balls! (to put it bluntly! lol) they really do show other heads how its done, only down side is price, but ive never looked back since i got mine! just have to match a good head with good speakers! even the rectifier combos can sound seriously heavy if you need them to! with the vintage and modern gain settings too theres a lot of scope for sounds








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Schecter hellraiser C-1

Parker P-38

Mesa Single rectifier

Custom made 2x12 guitar cab

Eminence delta 12 speakers

EMG 81 & 85 pickups

www.myspace.com/crimsondaydream

i have my personal favorites....but you need to get what works for YOU.

go to every music store and try everything.

there are SO many awesome amps out there.....check out used stuff too !

and dont worry about the brand....focus on the tone !!!

a cool logo wont make it sound better.

and dont get a turd amp (that some big name uses) and hope that pedals will make it sound like you want.
get an amp that sounds the way you want it to , and use pedals (if you are into pedals) to "color" that already wonderful sound.








_________________
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
.... Yet with strange aeons even death may die"


proud member of G.A.U.P , and C.G.A.A

Quote:

go to every music store and try everything.

amen to this statement

benitosuave wrote:

you might want to get a line 6 spider. You'll save a lot of money and you can use it to figure out what you are really looking for. Get it used, and when you are done with it sell it for what you paid for it

I am no pro in amp but spiders are not as good as flextones. Mayb u could try out a Vox AD series. Thats an amp which have a tube in it, but its not a tube amp, and price is almost the same as spider. So i would reccomend trying it out.

gazzac wrote:

benitosuave wrote:

you might want to get a line 6 spider. You'll save a lot of money and you can use it to figure out what you are really looking for. Get it used, and when you are done with it sell it for what you paid for it

I am no pro in amp but spiders are not as good as flextones. Mayb u could try out a Vox AD series. Thats an amp which have a tube in it, but its not a tube amp, and price is almost the same as spider. So i would reccomend trying it out.

having "a tube" dosent mean much.
a solid state preamp vs a preamp with "a tube" is almost impossible to tell apart.....
a solid state preamp mated to a tube power amp is FAR better than the typical "hybrid" amp you are talking about.

a tube preamp and a solid state power amp is NOT going to give you true tube tone.

you are just as well off going solid state all the way...no need spending extra money for "the tube" .....it really wont make any difference.








_________________
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
.... Yet with strange aeons even death may die"


proud member of G.A.U.P , and C.G.A.A

chuck wrote:

gazzac wrote:

benitosuave wrote:

you might want to get a line 6 spider. You'll save a lot of money and you can use it to figure out what you are really looking for. Get it used, and when you are done with it sell it for what you paid for it

I am no pro in amp but spiders are not as good as flextones. Mayb u could try out a Vox AD series. Thats an amp which have a tube in it, but its not a tube amp, and price is almost the same as spider. So i would reccomend trying it out.

having "a tube" dosent mean much.
a solid state preamp vs a preamp with "a tube" is almost impossible to tell apart.....
a solid state preamp mated to a tube power amp is FAR better than the typical "hybrid" amp you are talking about.

a tube preamp and a solid state power amp is NOT going to give you true tube tone.

you are just as well off going solid state all the way...no need spending extra money for "the tube" .....it really wont make any difference.

That may not be all true for Vox amps. Vox AD series amps gives u the sound of a tube amp although its not a full tube amp. Plus its price is about the same as the spiders.

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/valvetronix/ad15-30-50-100vt.asp

Hi,

I agree that the vox solid state amps (valvetronix) are the bestz choice.








_________________
...Gmaster treasure

gazzac wrote:

chuck wrote:

gazzac wrote:

benitosuave wrote:

you might want to get a line 6 spider. You'll save a lot of money and you can use it to figure out what you are really looking for. Get it used, and when you are done with it sell it for what you paid for it

I am no pro in amp but spiders are not as good as flextones. Mayb u could try out a Vox AD series. Thats an amp which have a tube in it, but its not a tube amp, and price is almost the same as spider. So i would reccomend trying it out.

having "a tube" dosent mean much.
a solid state preamp vs a preamp with "a tube" is almost impossible to tell apart.....
a solid state preamp mated to a tube power amp is FAR better than the typical "hybrid" amp you are talking about.

a tube preamp and a solid state power amp is NOT going to give you true tube tone.

you are just as well off going solid state all the way...no need spending extra money for "the tube" .....it really wont make any difference.

That may not be all true for Vox amps. Vox AD series amps gives u the sound of a tube amp although its not a full tube amp. Plus its price is about the same as the spiders.

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/valvetronix/ad15-30-50-100vt.asp

dont get me wrong...Vox makes wonderful amplifiers.
but remember this....1 preamp tube will NOT make "real" tube tone....it will make real tube PREAMP tone , but it takes POWER tubes to make real tube tone.
that being said ....there are many many solid state and digital amps that sound great.

good luck on your search








_________________
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
.... Yet with strange aeons even death may die"


proud member of G.A.U.P , and C.G.A.A