I'm looking for a new SS amp. The thing is that I don't have money for a good tube amp (Peavey 5150, Engl), but I desperatly need new amp, cause my amp is too fuckin treblish at high volume and also too quiet for band practice. So I'd like to buy an 100+ Watt Solid State, which will be later (read: next year) replaced for a better all tube amp. Price: around 400$ for head + cab or combo.

Here are the tones I'm looking for:
- Children Of Bodom
- Old Metallica (especially Kill em All and Master)
- Some black or death metal like darkthrone, dimmu borgir, immortal, cannibal corpse or deicide

It doesn't have to nail the tones perfectly, but it should get close at least with a eq pedal.

And here are the amps preferences:
- At least 100W
- Effect loop
- at least one good high gain channel (so I could ditch my MT2)
- decent cleans
- good eq
- cab extension
- preferably head, but the combo is also good
- footswitch
- two inputs are very welcome

The amp must not be muddy, it shuld be decent built and it shouldn't produce a lot of hum.

Any spam is welcome as long it is in europe.

I was thinking about Crate GX130C, but I keep hearing they're muddy, can that be somehow fixed with eq pedal or something? I can get head+2X12 cab or combo for 300& next week used.

BTW, for the tube amp, I would like to have Crate GH50L head, I think they're in my price range, since they're only 50W. Or? How much are they new and and how much used?

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for a SS amp its a monster I think the whole thing including Cab is round 800 US.,Its a very kick ass amp ,Ive played it and its a gain monster , its loud as fuck and for SS I feel it has good tone.

If you poke around on ebay you could get a peavey ultra plus for REAL cheap. Or even the Harmony Central Classifieds. they go for $200 USD, and i'm sure there's a few people with 'em in europe...

If you really want SS (ultra plus = tube...it's basically the poor mans Triple XXX/metal setup) get that crate you have your eye on. If you're going SS, go Crate, Ampeg, or Tech 21.

I actually like Randall SS better then Crate. I got both and I absolutely love the Randall distortion. The stock cleans are better on the Crate but with a Boss GT-8 I can make the cleans much sweeter on the Randall.

I got a Randall 300W Cyclone head and I have yet to clip the signal. At high volumes the thing still sounds great. If you want to use SS amps then make sure it has lots of Watts for head room or else you will run into problems at high volumes. I haven't played a Crate Shock Wave but I'm guessing it will do you right as well.

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if you get the crate gt3500h shockwave head will do you good.

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Marshall makes the AVT...its available in 150W...but I guess Im just partial...

You're thinking about a Crate GX130C?

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It may be more like a $1000 now head and cab , but for a SS its a nice amp IMHO , I never played a Randall so I cant compare.

Randall makes some fine stuff for metal, but it may not be your thing.

Good luck finding a cheap amp that nails pretty diverse sounds with those options you want with it

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Ampeg Vh 140c \m/

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used crate blue voodoo...

the 60w 2x12 would be like $300 off ebay..

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I have a Cyclone as well but it sounds muddy as shit when turned up. At low volumes it sounds great but competing with my drummer, bassists Hartke, and other guitars Ampeg ss-140c, the cyclone can't handle it. Do you play live? How is it that yours doesn't break up at high vol.?

I'm not sure my setup is the same as yours but I use EMG pickups and EQ everything depending on the volume I'm playing. I think it all has to do with EQ. I can make it muddy if I boost the bass to high or cut the mids to low but for the most part I have never had those problems with mine. Not sure why.

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Make sure you know your ohms : It can make all the difference at higher volumes.

Crate GT3500H \m/

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Same thing from what I've heard. Give me Randall regardless. I believe I can complement any band tone with mine... imo. EQ is the key for me.

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what EQ do you have?? ive been looking for one...

I got a parametric mid sweep with active treb and bass, 9 band EQ on the amp alone, plus a Boss GE-7. I have used the GE-7 to boost lead sounds but the amp has so many EQ features that I really don't even need the GE-7 for anything but leads.

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I need something...Im playing through a JCM 800...and...well...they dont really have that much to choose from when youre talking EQ...i mean..besides the basic three band...
but back to the subject...i have experimented all i possibly can with the three band...and i still havent found what im looking for...i really wouldnt mind running it through something like a 32 band rackmount or something...anything to fine-tune my sound...