Multi-channel amp with series FX loop needed

imalrightjack

Ideally two channels, to be used with an overdrive, distortion and boost to give me the ability to go from a clean channel to one moving into broken up and from there using the pedals to push as necessary. 

I use a T-Rex Soulmate, although not averse to moving it on if there's an amp which makes it redundant. A serial FX loop is necessary for delay/reverb.

I think the sound I'm aiming for is definitely more vintage than modern but honestly not sure. I wish i understood better the difference between what people describe as Vox, Marshall, Fender, etc. 

Heavily edited following indecision and idiocy. For which I apologise profusely. 

digitalscream

If you're going to be using pedals anyway, why not get a clean single-channel amp and use a Bogner Ecstasy Blue as your "amp" channels?

imalrightjack

Interesting idea. I'll have a look. The other option is learning to use the volume knob on my guitar! Long overdue...

digitalscream

imalrightjack said:

Interesting idea. I'll have a look. The other option is learning to use the volume knob on my guitar! Long overdue...

Why not do both? I do exactly that with my Bogner Red. They're amazingly amp-like pedals.

Have you seen my pedalboard? It's an alternative view on this; got a Fender Twin-alike AMT preamp at the end of the chain with the Bogner providing the dirt. That way, I don't really care what amp I'm using...I just need to use it as a power amp, so as long as it has an effects return I can plug into I'm golden.

I'd imagine one of the Amptweaker Pro pedals would do the job, too; probably the Tight Drive Pro.

The reason I went down the pedals route (for the first time ever) is that I got tired of being restricted in the choice of amps which do what I want...they always fell down on the kind of gain I wanted, or features.

ICBM

Doesn't the MkV25 have a low power mode? 5W or 10W, I can't remember…

Also set the channel gains much lower, that will give a more 'vintage' sound. Just because it's capable of that much gain and volume doesn't mean you have to use it - amps have controls that can go down as well as up . You don't *have* to crank an amp, and you're not "wasting" the power if you don't. The Mesa is a really versatile, high quality amp too.

If you're determined to change it, how about an Orange Rocker 15? OK the clean channel has no controls other than volume, but going by the older Rocker 30 it takes heavy distortion and fuzz pedals very well, and the dirty channel takes overdrives and boosts too.

imalrightjack

Thanks, both. 

I'll try and dig in a bit deeper on the Mesa, by lowering the gain further, but didn't get much joy even in 10w mode. It's possibly its famed 'hard to tune in' EQ that I'm most struggling with, as a regular 12 o'clock and minor tweaks player.

I've been offered some interesting trades. Rockerverb mkiii, AFD100, Dr Z Remedy, etc.

ICBM

imalrightjack said:

I'll try and dig in a bit deeper on the Mesa, by lowering the gain further, but didn't get much joy even in 10w mode. It's possibly its famed 'hard to tune in' EQ that I'm most struggling with, as a regular 12 o'clock and minor tweaks player.

Start by doing the unexpected - or perhaps not if you're a teenage bedroom player - bass full, middle off. That will likely not sound good with much gain on, but work back from there towards more conventional settings and you might find it less typically 'Mesa' than you expect.

imalrightjack

Haha. @ICBM Interesting suggestion. I shall try that. 

timmysoft

have you checked out the Panama Amps?

imalrightjack

timmysoft said:

have you checked out the Panama Amps?

Hi, @timmysoft I haven't. Feel free to educate me

TheBigDipper

digitalscream said:

If you're going to be using pedals anyway, why not get a clean single-channel amp and use a Bogner Ecstasy Blue as your "amp" channels?

I tried something similar a few years ago with a T-Rex Spin Doctor. Didn't work out that well, but I think that was the Spin Doctor, or me,  not the idea itself. It was hard to get sounds I liked, so I gave up. 

djspecialist

Have you considered a Victory V40?  Admittedly only single channel - but vintage voiced, and has serial loop + built in reverb + the option to run in low power (7W) mode.

imalrightjack

djspecialist said:u 

Have you considered a Victory V40?  Admittedly only single channel - but vintage voiced, and has serial loop + built in reverb + the option to run in low power (7W) mode.

I have. One came up locally last week with a cab, latest model, for around £1,000. Bad timing. I can't help but think it'd be a close fit. 

bazxkr

I just posted in another thread about my love of the laney vc15 and vc30. I have the vc15 small footprint with big loud sound. 2 foot switchable channels and a decent reverb. Has effects loop and speaker out, go to a 4x12 if you need to go huge. Takes pedals well. Shame, perhaps other the the iommi laney don't seem to get much praise. 

I also have a black heart bh5 mini stack full rat modded and nearer 11 watts now too. You can crank it to get the tone you want then back it off on the opr power reduction. Another underestimated series of amps. Both these low cost too.

shame you not local you could check em out

dindude

The new Orange rocker fits the bill maybe.

vale

ICBM said:

If you're determined to change it, how about an Orange Rocker 15? OK the clean channel has no controls other than volume, but going by the older Rocker 30 it takes heavy distortion and fuzz pedals very well, and the dirty channel takes overdrives and boosts too.

no effects loop on the rocker 30. that's one of reasons i sold mine. you can't have orange dirt before your modulation, which is what i wanted. & what's the point of a clean channel on an orange really?
if you are not into pedals it might be ok. just put pedals into clean & save dirt for dirt only.
the rockers are nice amps but limited. & v loud, if you wanted to max out & not pull plaster off the walls maybe the 15. if you can live with the hideous traffic-cone orange vinyl.

ICBM

vale said:

ICBM said:

If you're determined to change it, how about an Orange Rocker 15? OK the clean channel has no controls other than volume, but going by the older Rocker 30 it takes heavy distortion and fuzz pedals very well, and the dirty channel takes overdrives and boosts too.

no effects loop on the rocker 30. that's one of reasons i sold mine. you can't have orange dirt before your modulation, which is what i wanted.

The 15 and the new 32 do have FX loops though.

vale said:

why the hideous traffic cone orange vinyl? i was never into that.

Maybe something to do with the name?

You can get some of them in black, too.

english_bob

Laney Lionhearts are worth a look. In another thread someone was saying that the preamps for the clean and drive channels were based on JTM series Marshalls and JCM 800s respectively. It's certainly true that they give a pretty convincing low/mid gain "British" tone that can hold its head up with some pretty lofty company. 

On mine, which is an older UK made 20w 1x12", the effects loop is shit. It's a parallel side-chain thing that you wouldn't wish on the worst amp you've ever tried, but it can be modded with two wires and a component removal to work in series, at which point it's well worth considering for your needs.

I think the current Chinese made model has a different loop which might be less awful, but it also has a Chinese-made Celestion speaker which is almost certainly not as good as the G12H Heritage that the UK ones have. 

vale

ICBM said:

vale said:

ICBM said:

If you're determined to change it, how about an Orange Rocker 15? OK the clean channel has no controls other than volume, but going by the older Rocker 30 it takes heavy distortion and fuzz pedals very well, and the dirty channel takes overdrives and boosts too.

no effects loop on the rocker 30. that's one of reasons i sold mine. you can't have orange dirt before your modulation, which is what i wanted.

The 15 and the new 32 do have FX loops though.

vale said:

why the hideous traffic cone orange vinyl? i was never into that.

Maybe something to do with the name?

You can get some of them in black, too.

on fx loop. mine was ten years ago so old type. neat that they've upgraded that aspect.

on orange. cheeky boy! it had occured to me, yes. but def nicerer in black, don't you think?
& i have seen white ones (maybe custom or ltd edition) & they are handsome. tho probs look grubby-as after a couple of gigs.

digitalscream

djspecialist said:

Have you considered a Victory V40?  Admittedly only single channel - but vintage voiced, and has serial loop + built in reverb + the option to run in low power (7W) mode.

The low-power modes on the Victory amps are more or less useless for the purposes of reducing volume. They still have exactly the same volume curve, they just hit breakup much earlier.

richardhomer

Mesa Lonestar Special? Each channel can be run at 30, 15 and 5 watts.