rhcp33roxx

For christmas im looking into an upgrade from my valveking in terms of metal tones. Cleans are somewhat important but the best high gain tone is what im after.My limit is $800 and i see the 6505+ and the krankenstein jr 20 watt have good metal sound. Which is the better choice, or are there any better amps for the price i didnt list? thanks

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ihartfood

you'll get far better results answering all these http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/foru...d.php?t=1387138

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My Rig
Like Telecasters?

rhcp33roxx

I see the last post was from 2010 though.

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rhcp33roxx

new or used i play metal anywhere from all that remains to BTBAM, and just playin in my room so im worried the 60 watt peavey might be a bit muh considering i never have my valveking 112 above 2 on volume.

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Robbgnarly

I prefer the Krank Rev Jr over the Kstein Jr. But have you thought about the Krank 1980 Jr?

You can always get a Hot Box from switch doctor switches and run it in the FX loop. It is a secondary volume and it works great so you can still get the tube saturation at extremely low volumes.

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2002 PRS CE22
197? Sanox Sound Creator LP clone (GFS Fat Pat)
2009 Epiphone G-400 (SH-4)
Marshall JCM2000 DSL100
Krank 1980 Jr 20watt
Krank Rev 4x12 (eminence V12)
GFS Greenie/Digitech Bad Monkey
Morley Bad Horsie 2
MXR Smart Gate

rickyvanh

I have a 5150 2x12 combo and it is too much of a beast for bedroom use.It sounds great but I rarely use it.I wish I could get that kind of sound at a low volume.

GeetarHeero

I own a 6505+ 112 and I think it sounds pretty good at bedroom volumes, certainly usable and certainly better than the 6505+ model on my brother's Peavey Vypyr combo for example. Add an overdrive pedal and it's even better. Whether your amp is 20 watts or 60 watts, you aren't going to be able to crank it at bedroom volume at all. Both of those amps (and your VK for that matter) will be impossibly loud if you turn them up enough.

That being said, I wouldn't shy away from the 6505 just because it is high wattage. Yes, you can't turn it way up at home, but if you ever want to play out or play with a drummer you have that capability. Also, you don't need to worry about volume attenuators and getting power tube saturation. The modern metal sound comes mostly from the preamp. While it will sound better at higher volume, a 6505 will be just fine at lower volumes, too. Mine starts to sound good at 1 to 1.5 on the "post" knob which is the knob for the power section.

In that price range you might be able to score a used JCX combo, too. Those are awesome amps, will do the metal you want and lower gain tones as well. Worth a look if you can track one down and get the right deal.

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Die troll

Dean VMNTX (EMG set)
Peavey 6505+ 112
+ a buncha teh pedlulz

MatrixClaw

$50 more gets you an EVH 5150 III mini w/ a 15% discount code from MF/Music123/Zzounds/whatever. MUCH more versatile, great clean channel and a very nice crunch channel, with a lead channel that can get as brutal as you want.

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KailM

^^I'll agree, that 5150 III is more versatile, but to me, the lead channel didn't sound near as ballsy as my 6505+. And I played the 120 watt head, not the mini.

I can't speak for the Krankenstein, never played one.

If you have $800 to spend, you could get a 6505+ 112 and do a full tube upgrade AND a speaker upgrade which makes it hard to beat in terms of metal tone. I've found that running a lower gain tube in V1 and V5 really helps "clean up" the cleans, especially if you're using medium-output pickups. With actives, the cleans are acceptable but will never be Fender cleans. I also add reverb and slight modulation to my cleans and am very happy.

As for the 60 watt thing, I think you DO want that for metal. You may not be able to crank it all the time but at some point you'll be able to use it to its full advantage. I think mine sounds great even at low volumes, it's just that it sounds even better when cranked a bit. If you take your time with the post gain knob you can get it to a very acceptable volume level. But somewhere between 1 and 2 it suddenly jumps to the "very loud" stage. I've also found that adding a Tubescreamer helps maintain that "cranked" tone a little better at the low volume levels, but becomes less necessary as you turn it up.

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I march to the rhythm of a different blast-beat.

Schecter Blackjack ATX V-1
Epiphone LP Studio w/ Dimarzio D Sonic bridge pup
Peavey 6505+ 112 w/ Eminence Governor
TC Elec. Hall of Fame 'Verb/Flashback Dly
Ibanez TS-9/MXR 10-band EQ
Boss HM-2

R45VT

Never played a 515III.

The Krankenstein + has pretty good cleans. Massive distortion with a huge low end while still having clarity. Huge gain on tap. I love it.

I hated the original Krankenstein as it was thin.

I have not played the Jr version.

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rhcp33roxx

Well the valveking has a vintage 30so iwas gonna swap that into the new amp and throw the sheffield in the valveking. Soi think im gonna look at the 6505+ thanks guys. Will it be a noticable upgrade from the valveking?Dont really run any pedals but i will lookinto that tube saturator

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rhcp33roxx

I see alot of hot boxes which do you reccomend?

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rhcp33roxx

Btw guitars are a Gibson Les Paul standard plus and a Schecter avenger 7 string with 707s. Intrestingly enough the gibson is way better for metal imo

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R45VT

Big upgrade.

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MatrixClaw

Interesting - Cause I'd describe the 5150 III as much more ballsy than the 6505+, the original 5150/6505 design however, that's a different story, but the 6505+ is significantly more smooth and not nearly as brutal

Different sounds, I suppose, the 6505+ is more low-mid oriented, while the 5150 III is more higher mids, but it can cop a very similar sound if you play with it. Not to mention the clean channel completely destroys the Peavey's and the crunch channel kills.

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Tremolo Bum

With most of the high gain heads out there, most of the distortion comes from the preamp. Powertube distortion on my 6505+ 120 watter doesn't happen until the post gain is up at around noon which requires hearing protection and is way too loud for any venue I have ever played. Having the amp at 9 oclock is generally too loud. Once you get it above 1-1.5, you will get decent tone, at least in my 6505 experience.

The 120 watter is no bedroom amp though for sure. Can't say about the 60 watt, but something to consider.

R45VT

Krankenstein sounds great at bedroom levels. Master volume. You can get that chugga chugga in your gut without plates falling off tables.

Thanks for your input tremolo. That can be a make or break for some people.

I know a few guys here who have the 6505s also have vypyrs for late night.

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MatrixClaw

I use my 5150 into a 2x12 or 4x12 for "bedroom levels."

Bedroom level is a pretty relative term.


If I wanted to play at speaking volumes, I wouldn't even bother playing through an amp, and just plug into my Kemper. There's not a single amp at speaking volume that can even hope to sound half as good as my Kemper does through headphones

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rickyvanh

I haven't heard of a Kemper,but I am very interested.How much do they cost?