what all tube amps would you guys suggest for metal, someone told me the peavey jsx, and i also heard mesa boogies are great as well, any suggestions?

__________________

engl : powerball, savage se, savage
framus : Cobra, dragon
Mesa boogie : Roadking, single, dual, triple rectifier
Peavey : 5150, XXX
marshall : jcm 2000, 900 ( Imo )

__________________

thanx ill look into them, any idea on prices?

Of all the heads that he listed, Peaveys are the only "cheap" heads, with a 5150 running you around 500$.


I want to mention the Crate Blue Voodoo.

thanx ill look into the crate as well, i was lookin at the jsx its supposed to be like a modded XXX, but the head alone is like $1200, then i wouldnt know what kind of cab to get, any ideas on good cabs?

__________________

Ever played a JSX? In my opinion it was'nt as good as the XXX ...


Any cab that matches the quality of the head on top of it will do well, like a Marshall 1960, Genz Benz 2x12, Avatar 4x12, Mesa, Peavey's 5150 cab, etc.

If the looks of a cab is'nt all that particular to you, then scour for a Marshall 1960 cab on E-bay, there are tons of them with rips in the tolex and whatnot which drives the price down.

thanx a lot, im tryin to write a big list of shit to look into, and to be completely honest with you ive never played on a tube amp period, yes call me stupid, but ive never really had the oppurtunity as for not many guitar stores around here sell tube amps, or any good ones. so i need all the info i can get, and so far you guys are helpin out tons i really appreciate it.

__________________

I've never played on a tube amp either. I also would like to eventually get a tube amp. Here's a question... Why are solid state amp head running around 300 - 500 watts, but yet tube amps run generally around 50 - 100 watts? Will a 100 watt tube amp push as hard as a 500 watt solid state amp? Anyone ever heard of THD? Are they good amps? What are the cheapest tube amps available out there besides the 5150?

__________________

ditto, good question davie, also glad im not the only one in here who hasnt played a tube amp

i think that a 300 watt ss amp is as loud as a 100 watt tube amp... or something like that

__________________

the wattage at tube amps is measured when the tubes only distort to a set amount.
so for example my 100W ENGL Powerball uses 310 Watts maximum, not 100

Check out Laney too, such as the GH50L, GH100L, and VH100R (increasing in price). Good priced gear

__________________

thanx ill take a look into those.

__________________

Playing my Crate 350 watt head on 75% volume can make my ears hurt for an hour. I think my favourite moment experimenting with the volumes has been when an empty potato chip bag/empty Mountain Dew can flew off of a shelf, and it was at the height that the head was at. Talk about pushing air ...

Most everyone agrees, for every 100 watts of solid-state power, that's about 30 watts of tube power.

But the two accomplish different things : Solid-state has a sterile sound to it, but its super tight and even. Tube amps have warmth and dimension, but are'nt quite as tight, and of course there's the issue of price and maintenance. Dimespider, for good examples of the two, listen to Dying Fetus, Suffocation, old Cannibal Corpse, and Pantera to hear solid-state amps in action. Listen to Morbid Angel, Nile, Unearth to hear tube amps in action.

I know, those are'nt the only bands who use tube amps, but I feel that the tones those bands have are very demonstrative of the distinct characteristics of the equipment they use.

Good post. Great info.

__________________

and ss is usually cheaper.If you're gonna buy an amp you look at prise of course. And all tube heads are just more expensive than a solid state most of the time

__________________

thanx a lot for the info it really helps, and thank you John Holland, ill take a look into those bands and have a listen for myself.

also i found this site, i beleive there mostly Engl's i haven't scrolled all the way down yet, but it gives examples of their sounds and some have cover songs through the particular amps, so if anyone else is lookin to hear some tube amps, its a good site:

http://www.rocksolidamps.com/sounds.php

__________________