Choosing the "right" amp for you (me)

paulphoenix

Later this year I will be looking to purchase a luxury (read: dream/expensive for me/once in a lifetime) amplifier later this year. 

But it frightens the bejingo's out of me to read so many NAD posts along the lines of "best purchase I ever made" "I've found the sound in my head" "tonal nirvana" "cured my amp GAS", only to see said amp in the Amps £ section weeks/months later (YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT!). 

I've searched myself in circles on the internet trying to decide upon a "lifer" (and I have a shortlist) but, how do you avoid buying something you regret/realise is not what you were actually looking for?

When looking for "the one" should you choose the bestest most amazing one trick pony or do you buy something that'll do everything well enough (as who knows what I'll be playing when I'm in my 70's)?  and what to do if you can't try before you buy ? 

What's your experience of the finding the only amp you'll ever need/want?  How did you find and decide upon the one? or did it find you? 



Of course if you'd rather just hand out suggestions of the best amp in the world based on my requirements or your own opinions then you might just steer me towards an amp I haven't yet considered. 


15-25W 
master volume
cathode biased
prefer hand-wired/PTP but PCB not 100% ruled out. 
mainstream manufacturers only - no self build kits/custom builds


I play in a covers band (60's to current - clean to hard rock), I like to ride the guitar volume for cleans, and I mic up at gigs. I set my amps up a little crunchy and use pedals to boost/add colour and extra gain when needed. 

ecc83

I DO know who you mean! But I am still going to say "Artisan 15" (not to be confused with the Artist 15 tho' they are pretty good I have read) . You might have to fit a 100dB speaker for gigging if you are not micing up and want loud cleans. (Creamback?)

I cannot promise it will be THE amp to last your lifetime but I CAN pretty much promise that the amp will outlive you! (except valves but they are not that hard on them even tho' a CB amp)

Dave.

welshboyo

Don't get caught by the PTP bit, there are plenty of PCB amps out there that sound just as good - don't get sucked into t'internet wisdom....

My thoughts:

1. Bogner Atma - 3 channel 18w monster - will do anything you can chuck at it - doesn't have reverb though if that floats your boat.

2. Mesa Rectoverb 25 - 2 channels, 25w, mega loud, don't let the "rectifier" bit trick you into thinking it only does djent....it fooled me, and I ignored anything with the words Mesa + Rectifier in it purely for that reason!!

3. Slightly bigger amp but what I currently use and can't see or find anything that does it better - Mesa Stiletto Ace - 50w combo (mines the lighter 1x12) - 2 channels, Master volume + Solo boost - does the whole Marshall Plexi thing, does the whole Heavier Mesa thing and has great cleans - I use one in a covers band much like you and it covers it all with ease and plenty of poke to boot and the fun bit is that they can be had for very very decent money.

4. Friedman Dirty Shirley or Pink Taco - Single channel tone machines - next on my list to add to the arsenal.

5. Victory V40 - again, never been on my radar as they are not one of the big brands - but make some nice noises

sweepy

Try a S/H Badcat Hot Cat,  covers all those bases nicely

stickyfiddle

The short answer is "Buy a Badcat"

The long answer is "have you considered all the variables, and played a load of different things, to be sure your feature shopping list is exactly right, and that you're not missing anything, or being too specific about something you actually don't care about?"  

*Then* go and buy a Badcat

****

FWIW, I know I like single channel combos with good master volumes, generally in the Voxy-corner of tone but a bit more well-rounded and able to lean in a Marshally direction if pushed, with reverb, and rarely enjoy anything over 20W. 

tone1

ecc83 said:

I DO know who you mean! But I am still going to say "Artisan 15" (not to be confused with the Artist 15 tho' they are pretty good I have read) . You might have to fit a 100dB speaker for gigging if you are not micing up and want loud cleans. (Creamback?)

I cannot promise it will be THE amp to last your lifetime but I CAN pretty much promise that the amp will outlive you! (except valves but they are not that hard on them even tho' a CB amp)

Dave.

I still think my Blackstar Artisan 15 Combo at home with a few pedals was the best sound I’ve had. Wonderfully room filling, 3d sound. I did stick a DRz brake lite in the back of it though as it was pretty loud 

BintyTwanger77

+1 from me for @welshboyo suggesting the Mesa Rectoverb 25. The cleans on it are so so so good, beautiful reverb, and some stunning blues and thicker rock sounds as well.

I really miss having one... *sigh*

paulphoenix

my shortlist might start getting longer after a few more suggestions. thanks so far

colourofsound

Nothing has made me lust so hard after an amp than offerings by @RiftAmps. Chris can, as far as I can tell, basically build what you want, at the price you want it. Forget big name brands, its about the componentry and the build quality. Once you take the name off the front thats what matters.

drwiddly

I'd have a serious look at MJW too.

shaunm

Erm I’m going to give a boring answer. Peavey Bandit.....

I’m joking

In all honesty my favourite day to day amp is a Laney Lionheart 4x10 combo. It just works for what I need from an amp and it makes the sound I like. 

Its not expensive, it’s not posh but it works for my needs and that’s the point. Find what you need, take what everyone here says as a recommendation and then spend a few weeks trying out as many as you can using your guitars and pedals. You will find what you want. The looking is great but get in front of the amps rather than YouTube as you need to use your own ears rather than the quality of a video presentation.

RandallFlagg

Been through quite a few amps and the current box in the corner is digging in as a bit of a favourite.

MESA Express+ 5:25.

2 channels with 2 separate voicing choices each, fully independent gain, volume and tone controls.

Plus a graphic EQ that can be applied to either or both channels, a foot switchable and adjustable solo boost control and a 4 switch footswitch for channel change reverb, graphic EQ & boost.

Plus, multi-watt settings for both channels 5w/15w/25w

It can do sparkly cleans, to warmer fatter cleans, to light bluesy clipping to AC/DC style crunch to higher gain Santana type lead.

£1800 won't get you a new one but it's close. 

mistercharlie

One problem is that amps suit certain guitars. I have a beautiful hand-wired Princeton Reverb clone, and I hardly ever used it until I plugged in my partscaster Strat. Now it’s pretty much the only amp I use. It’s so perfect with that guitar.

I also have rather odd EQ settings on the amp, which I only came across after owning the amp for quite some time (bass and treble both around 2-3).

This probably doesn’t help at all, other than to say YouTube videos are almost useless, and that you should play your own guitar through an amp when you test it. 

sweepy

As mentioned above, I can heartily recommend a visit to Chris @RiftAmps , there are so many options though you might leave with 2

paulphoenix

RandallFlagg said:

Been through quite a few amps and the current box in the corner is digging in as a bit of a favourite.

MESA Express+ 5:25.

2 channels with 2 separate voicing choices each, fully independent gain, volume and tone controls.

Plus a graphic EQ that can be applied to either or both channels, a foot switchable and adjustable solo boost control and a 4 switch footswitch for channel change reverb, graphic EQ & boost.

Plus, multi-watt settings for both channels 5w/15w/25w

It can do sparkly cleans, to warmer fatter cleans, to light bluesy clipping to AC/DC style crunch to higher gain Santana type lead.

£1800 won't get you a new one but it's close. 

This amp is on my shortlist though I was a little worried when you commented about the noise floor @RandallFlagg . 

vasselmeyer

If you're not sure what you want and all these suggestions are getting a bit too much then talk to someone who can build EXACTLY what you need. Contact Martin of MJW amps @martinw or Chris at @RiftAmps who will list to what you want out of an amp and build you exactly what you are looking for. If it's a lifetime purchase then why not have it made for you?

paulphoenix

also shortlisted are:

Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini 
Soldano Astroverb 16 

paulphoenix

vasselmeyer said:

If you're not sure what you want and all these suggestions are getting a bit too much then talk to someone who can build EXACTLY what you need. Contact Martin of MJW amps @martinw or Chris at @RiftAmps who will list to what you want out of an amp and build you exactly what you are looking for. If it's a lifetime purchase then why not have it made for you?

wis'd - though i did say mainstream manufacturers?

fields5069

You lucky bugger. If I get any PPI payout it'll be going on my overdraft!

gordiji

I recently bought a fender supersonic 22. I've added a well broke in vintage 30. Love it. Deluxe' ish cleans with fat boost & an overdrive channel going from more of the same to more than you'll need.
Mesa v 35 was sent back as i was underwhelmed for its price.
I wanted to buy from Thomman due to good service from them in the past.(3 yr guarantee which they honour.)
Add it to your list .

John_A

@ellwood has a little Marshall combo in the classifieds that fits your requirements, an odd set of requirements though why cathode biased?  Do you need 1 or 2 channels? Really you need to get out and try some, opinions, or even demos aren't the way to choose a purchase this big