Best sounding low watt high gain heads
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- griff
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Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Hey guys. For high gain recording into a load box, what suggestions do you have for good sounding tube heads in the 2 to 10 watt department? I not fussed on TYPE of gain really at this stage (i.e American vs british sound etc)
- willow13
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Honestly you don't need to go as low as 10watts. Pretty much all modern amps with a MV sound great at all volume levels......so
EVH lunchbox.. 15watts but you won't get a better high gain sound than that thing.
If $$ are an issue there is a second hand jet city 22h on facebook ($390 I think) ... 20 watts ... great little amps
EVH lunchbox.. 15watts but you won't get a better high gain sound than that thing.
If $$ are an issue there is a second hand jet city 22h on facebook ($390 I think) ... 20 watts ... great little amps
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Laney IRT-Studio may be worth looking at. A bit cheaper if I remember correctly.
- The Scarecrow
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
I'm selling a Blackstar HT5-watt head if you're interested. Does a pretty bloody good high gain tone at lower volumes, plus the ISF-function allows to basically sweep the EQ to sound more Brit or American depending on taste. Let me know if would suit.griff7628 wrote:Hey guys. For high gain recording into a load box, what suggestions do you have for good sounding valve heads in the 2 to 10 watt department? I not fussed on TYPE of gain really at this stage (i.e American vs british sound etc)
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- AiRdAd
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
If you're going into a loadbox, do you need a low wattage amp?
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- griff
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Thanks guys. The 22h is actually the amp that I use and it's great but the OD channel does get a bit fizzy and quite loose in the bass, but cuts through like a motherfucker in a live situation. Maybe I'll just need to experiment with it a bit once I get that load box.
Thanks for the blackstar offer there Scarecrow. Will let you know.
Thanks for the blackstar offer there Scarecrow. Will let you know.
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
That was my question too.AiRdAd wrote:If you're going into a loadbox, do you need a low wattage amp?
Regardless, I guess in the low wattage/high gain area, I think of Orange (Tiny/Dark/Dual Terror), but I don't think of that as a particularly tight gain sound. For modern metal I would think maybe more about the Blackstar, possibly even the HT-5 Metal, although I haven't got experience with it. Otherwise, something like the Carvin V3, which I believe is switchable down to 7 watts, or the Mesa mini rec.
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
I think telling us a budget would help? As there are a lot of options
- godgrinder
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
If it's just for recording might as well consider a tube preamp like the Engl E530. That way you won't even have to bother with a loadbox. (I assume you haven't bought one yet?) Just load an IR in your DAW.
Most EL84/6V6 high gain amps sound a bit anemic to me when compared to something loaded with bigger power tubes.
Most EL84/6V6 high gain amps sound a bit anemic to me when compared to something loaded with bigger power tubes.
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Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A
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- willow13
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
agree...so maybe when you said gain type doesn't matter it actually does ... don't be afraid to scoop the mids and up the presence with it. At low volumes I had no problems keeping the bottom tightgriff7628 wrote:Thanks guys. The 22h is actually the amp that I use and it's great but the OD channel does get a bit fizzy and quite loose in the bass, but cuts through like a motherfucker in a live situation. .
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- griff
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Mainly for the lower cost.AiRdAd wrote:If you're going into a loadbox, do you need a low wattage amp?
Interesting. I'll look into this.godgrinder wrote:If it's just for recording might as well consider a valve preamp like the Engl E530. That way you won't even have to bother with a loadbox. (I assume you haven't bought one yet?) Just load an IR in your DAW.
Most EL84/6V6 high gain amps sound a bit anemic to me when compared to something loaded with bigger power valves.
Not much haha $300 and under.Mattallica wrote:I think telling us a budget would help? As there are a lot of options
- griff
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Indeed. I am currently looking at someone who can mod the SLO channel on mine to tighten that bass up. Than we might have a winner. Or maybe get a tubescreamer to do it. But it's always a gamble of how well it'll work. i think a mod will be better.willow13 wrote:agree...so maybe when you said gain type doesn't matter it actually does ... don't be afraid to scoop the mids and up the presence with it. At low volumes I had no problems keeping the bottom tightgriff7628 wrote:Thanks guys. The 22h is actually the amp that I use and it's great but the OD channel does get a bit fizzy and quite loose in the bass, but cuts through like a motherfucker in a live situation. .
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Re: Best sounding low watt high gain heads
Just remember that it'll save you from buying a US$400 loadbox (which is a bit of a cart-before-the-horse if you're using cheap practice amps).griff7628 wrote:That Engl tone is awesome. Something like that would be great. But the e530 is pretty expensive.
For under NZ$300 there isn't many options, might as well just stick to plugins. The free LePou ones are actually pretty sweet.
Amps:
Soldano SLO100 x2 | Wizard MC1 & MC2 | Diezel Herbert
Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A
Rack stuff:
VHT/Fryette GP3, GP/DI & 2/90/2 | Peters FSM/Chimera
Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio
Soldano SLO100 x2 | Wizard MC1 & MC2 | Diezel Herbert
Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A
Rack stuff:
VHT/Fryette GP3, GP/DI & 2/90/2 | Peters FSM/Chimera
Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio