loki_lulamen

Right this is gonna be a tough one.

The last few times I've been at practice I have been struggling to find a tone I like and can get to cut through the mix. I'm not sure whether that its my tastes have changed since I bought the amp or that it's just not that great.

I need something very versatile as I play a lot of styles of music. But if I had to cut down i really need a crushing metal tone and good pristine cleans.
In an ideal world I would have a 6505+ lead channel and a fender twin clean clean.
And a plexi mid gain channel.
So here's my problem. I can't get all that in one amp (or can I?)

I have been looking at the kemper. It's pretty reasonable priced over here. However I'd wait for the rack version. Has anyone here own/use one? I like using a lot of effects and from what I've heard the options are quite limited compared to the Axe-FX. Opinions?

I think my best option is to go with a modeller of some kind. However if I had to go for a real amp my choices would be:

6505+ just one of the best metal tones I've ever heard. But the cleans are shit. I know you can help this a lot with valves, fx, eq etc. but I dont want to drop a load of cash on a very limited amp.

Carvin V3m. I played one of these last month. Really nice amp. Very versatile and seemed to cover a lot of ground. However im not sure if its gonna be another "jack of all trades" type thing.

Mesa mark IV. I've never really been a big fan of Mesa amps (I hate the rectifier series. Dunno why, just do). However this one has grown on me. The high gain tone is really nice. Don't really know about the cleans.

JSX. I've never really been too sure about these. I've tried a couple in my time but never really felt 100% comfortable with the sound. But after seeing everyone here rave about them constantly I feel I should give them another chance.

Any other ideas?

All the relevant info:
Budget: About £1000 for an amp. Or £1300 for a modeller. (Yes it's odd but I can sell pedals if I get a modeller)

Style: Djent, metal, metal core, prog metal. But everything. Anything from Neil young to burzum.

Where: London England.

New/used: used as it will get more bang for my buck.

Gear: see sig.

What do you guys reckon? Save a bit more for a modeller or settle for an amp?

__________________
My Rig
Maverick F-1, Schecter Omen 8
Marshall JVM 410H, JCM800 2x12
Boss PH3, DS1, OC2, CH1, DD20, NS2, TU2
Ibanez CF7
MXR M132
Morley PWOV
EHX Micro Synth
Joyo Vintage OD
Hand built Wee Fuzz & Mastotron

Tom 1.0

Go 2nd hand.

Peavey 6505 Head
Laney vh100 Head or Laney vc50 combo

2nd hand 212 cab.

Happy days.

Should be able to get all of that for under £1k

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Charvel1995

Give the JSX another chance.

With a bit of a boost you can do 6505+ stuff, but even without one if you eq it right and set your paramaters right you can do it.

The cleans are great on it too, not as amazing as Fender cleans, but you can make that happen no problem.

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TC Electronics Hall of Fame Reverb
MXR Phase 90
Peavey JSX 100
Randall XL 4x12

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gerraguitar

out of the 4 amps you listed, i would pick the Mesa,

i too am not a huge Mesa person (or peavey for that matter), i'm into marshall. a lot of people are hit or miss with marshall cleans, i like them a lot, but i also have two extremely clean amps so i guess i'm all set there. i'm always telling people to check out a jcm800, even if its not always the best choice. if you use an od pedal with it you can get some pretty thick gain tones. i think they're a perfect amp for a lot of different things, but there are other solid marshall choices as well.

you'll get a lot of hits on this post though, so you'll get some good info. i still vote for mesa for those 4.

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Epiphone Sheritan
Ibanez Artcore
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Roland JC120
Pedals

loki_lulamen

Hmm I was thinking that the Mesa was the best out of the lot.

I have a JCM800 combo that I'm keeping. I will be selling the JVM to fund the new amp.

__________________
My Rig
Maverick F-1, Schecter Omen 8
Marshall JVM 410H, JCM800 2x12
Boss PH3, DS1, OC2, CH1, DD20, NS2, TU2
Ibanez CF7
MXR M132
Morley PWOV
EHX Micro Synth
Joyo Vintage OD
Hand built Wee Fuzz & Mastotron

gerraguitar

oh hey, look at that, you sure do have one.....man your quick!

nah that's cool, i mean play around with it if you haven't been, i've never played the combo but if its anything like the head then it should be pretty much the same as far as what you can get the amp to do

__________________
Fender Strat Deluxe
Fender MexiStrat
Epiphone Sheritan
Ibanez Artcore
Fender Twin Reverb silverface
Roland JC120
Pedals

Lemoninfluence

I haven't tried one myself but I keep hearing good things about the EVH 5150iii.

I know the 6505+ is the spiritual successor to the peavey 5150, but I'm not too sure how close the dirty channels are between the 6505+ and the EVH. And with Fender fiddling with the clean channel, it sounds like your ideal amp.

The head is £750 and I'm sure you could pick up a used 2x12.

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Rhythm in Jump. Dancing Close to You.

loki_lulamen

Ahh forgot about that one. Shall check it out.

Also looks like I forgot to mention that I already have a 4x12 cab with v30/t75 mix

__________________
My Rig
Maverick F-1, Schecter Omen 8
Marshall JVM 410H, JCM800 2x12
Boss PH3, DS1, OC2, CH1, DD20, NS2, TU2
Ibanez CF7
MXR M132
Morley PWOV
EHX Micro Synth
Joyo Vintage OD
Hand built Wee Fuzz & Mastotron

DarthV

For the most part, you're describing the 5150 III.



I have a Kemper and don't regret selling my 6505 + 4x12. Not one bit. I've bought a few commercial profiles (Amp Factory's metal producers pack) and I have my 6505 in digital form now

The available effects are pretty good, but if you're looking for insane flexibility (routing, number of effects etc), then the AXE II would be better. I use a little bit of delay, reverb, chorus, phaser and OD. Those all sound great on the KPA. But I'm a metal head, I bought it for the killer amp profiles.

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POD HD500
Kemper KPA

Dazzl1113

Mesa Mark V

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Dean: Performer E Acoustic/Electric
Vox: DA5
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Digitech: GNX4 Workstation
Digitech: EX-7 Distortion Factory
Boss DR-880
MAudio Bx5a Deluxe

loki_lulamen

Mark V for less than a grand? I wish!

Tbh I'd be hard pressed to find a mark iv for less than that.

__________________
My Rig
Maverick F-1, Schecter Omen 8
Marshall JVM 410H, JCM800 2x12
Boss PH3, DS1, OC2, CH1, DD20, NS2, TU2
Ibanez CF7
MXR M132
Morley PWOV
EHX Micro Synth
Joyo Vintage OD
Hand built Wee Fuzz & Mastotron

ikey_

sounds like you said it....mark. i mean the v3m is like the mark...just like 5X less good. for a reason, i mean its not designed to compete in that price range. rice rocket and ferarri.

or....do i see a stereo setup as an option? i mean run 2 heads? now your getting into a more complex setup. but damn how sweet that is. i want a 2x lunchbox stereo rig into my 2x12 cab (run stereo). F me i would be in heaven.

plop a barron snot watt right on top of my egnater/avatar quarter stack.

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Epiphone les paul custom
Walden G630ce Acoustic
Egnater Tweaker 40 Avatar vertical 2x12 WGS Reaper, vet 30
(crybaby, GFS tune, CMAT Signa Drive, xotic booster, lovepedal trem, mem toy)

GABarrie

Mesa Mark V, or EVH 5150 III, or the 5150 III 50W if you wanna save some cash.

Those are pretty much exactly what you are after

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Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-III
Jet City JCA5212RC
Archer "Nuns in Poses" Distortion
Archer "Dry Ice" Overdrive
EHX Deluxe Memory Boy

loki_lulamen

So it's been a rubbish day really. Went to Denmark street to try out amps. Wow what a disappointment. Got to try a 6505+ and a mark v. There was a JSX but it was broken and they are waiting for it to get fixed.

Didn't really like the mark v. Was all a bit convoluted and only really sounded good with a really heavy mid scoop on the graphic. Cleans were a bit sterile as well. And dat price tag!

I'm seriously leaning towards the 5153 ATM but with nowhere to try it out I'm uneasy with taking the risk. Anyone in or around London know where there is one to try out?

All in all the modellers are still looking good. But I'm still open to suggestions.

__________________
My Rig
Maverick F-1, Schecter Omen 8
Marshall JVM 410H, JCM800 2x12
Boss PH3, DS1, OC2, CH1, DD20, NS2, TU2
Ibanez CF7
MXR M132
Morley PWOV
EHX Micro Synth
Joyo Vintage OD
Hand built Wee Fuzz & Mastotron

ragingkitty

Framus Cobra?

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Lemoninfluence

The Andertons' website says they have one in stock but it may be on display.

They're based in Guildford, but I don't know how far you're willing/able to travel. There might be somewhere closer, but that's where I checked the price yesterday and I knew they had it in stock. Although I'd ring up and check before setting off.

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Rhythm in Jump. Dancing Close to You.