What Are Your Favorite Amps To Play?

[Wyzard]

Ya know, it was one of those amps that I never really liked before getting this one.

Dunno if I was just dumb the first time around or if this one is “special”.

They do vary IME. I could happily use just about any of the ones I've owned or just tried out over the years, I reckon, but there was one that stood out.

It's not that surprising, I suppose. There's the PT, a decent handful of small triodes, two separate EQ circuits, and the whole "power tubes/OT dance" to wrap it all up...... it might have been purpose-built to aggregate entire sets of differing non-linearities.


Not to mention the speaker and even the combo shell itself: the best setup I can recall having played was that of a MkIVA head on top of a two-cab stack comprising 1x EV and 1x Celestion Black Shadow.

That rig was definitely a step up from my current MkIVB combo, regardless of whether I run it with an EV or a Celestion inside (I've tried both), and/or with an external cab/cabs (I have an EV Thiele and an open-back 1x12 cab, in which I've variously tried both a Celestion and two different EV speakers......).



But my MkIIC+ sounds better anyway

 

[Bogner]

Bogner Helios Eclipse Day

 

[VHTStark]

I have read this entire thread with much interest
one thing makes me curios
not a single mention of a Hughes and Kettner

Why no love for H&K?

They just don't seem to have a big following in North America.

I got a good deal on a Triamp mk2 in 2010 and loved it. Ended up as my main amp in the band I was in until 2019.

Speaking for the Triamp, it was super versatile: I remember using 1A for clean 1B for slight break up, 2A as a jcm-ish rythm tone, 3A for leads and 3B for the heavies.

 

[FatFingerBlues]

They just don't seem to have a big following in North America.

I got a good deal on a Triamp mk2 in 2010 and loved it. Ended up as my main amp in the band I was in until 2019.

Speaking for the Triamp, it was super versatile: I remember using 1A for clean 1B for slight break up, 2A as a jcm-ish rythm tone, 3A for leads and 3B for the heavies.

Thank you for the response
I was looking at one but will wait for a bit before I pull the trigger

 

[László]

not a single mention of a Hughes and Kettner

Why no love for H&K?

Hey, you just mentioned them, so ya fixed the thread for all the H&K fans.

Plenty of killer amps haven't been mentioned yet in this thread. It's purely due to the luck of who happened to respond to the thread. The amps section of this forum isn't all that busy.

 

[László]

I only have four amps, but they're connected a switcher, and four cabs are also connected via the switcher, so I never have to mess with cables.

There are 4 cabinet combinations for each amp at the touch of an electronic toggle, or via MIDI.

This creates an irresistible sandbox situation.

Seems I have to play through all the amps and cabs, and mess with the various combinations every time I play. Eventually I even get busy with practicing or with my actual recording work, but really, this damn switcher = Laz' Playhouse. It's more fun than I'm allowed to have.

This is another reason I'm going to hell in a hand basket.

 

[GGJJGG]

i have enjoyed

Mesa California Tweed
Matchless HC-15 (someday a 30)
PRS HXDA 50
Hi Tone DG 50
/13 EDT

i just wish I could enjoy them more with a heavy job schedule and a 5 year old.

 

[VHTStark]

Thank you for the response
I was looking at one but will wait for a bit before I pull the trigger

The Triamp mk2 is the only H&K I am familiar with, but if you have any other questions, I would be happy to help you!

What I can tell you from my experience with that particular amp is that for the prices they go for now, they are an absolute steal of a deal for essentially a 6 channel flagship amp. Something like a 2 channel Rev G Rectifier goes for more than a mk2 Triamp and the Triamp SMOKES a Rev G. IMHO.

 

[László]

i have enjoyed

Mesa California Tweed
Matchless HC-15 (someday a 30)
PRS HXDA 50
Hi Tone DG 50
/13 EDT

i just wish I could enjoy them more with a heavy job schedule and a 5 year old.

Great amps. I've been interested in the Hi-Tones; they're pretty cool.

 

[Bogner]

Sound City Master Lead 50 Kind Of Day Today!

 

[László]

For me it was an HXDA and Lone Star morning.

 

[Wyzard]

Back on the Two Rock Custom Reverb Sig V1: Cornish SS-3 in front, and FTT Ambi-Space in the loop. Celestion Black Shadow cab on the end.

It's pretty hard to make a bad noise through this rig

 

[László]

It's pretty hard to make a bad noise through this rig

I can make any rig sound bad - all I have to do is play!

 

[Wyzard]

I can make any rig sound bad - all I have to do is play!

I somehow doubt that

 

[Mark Ray]

I have read this entire thread with much interest
one thing makes me curios
not a single mention of a Hughes and Kettner

Why no love for H&K?

I've been gigging my Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister18 for years!

An original tube went out the first month. Once I replaced all of them with some good stuff, it's been a trooper.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

I can make any rig sound bad - all I have to do is play!

Yeah but you’re passable on the keyboard

 

[Mark Ray]

Here's the Tubemeister18 in action. I was using the head into an H & K 1x10 Celestion loaded cab. On the 5 watt setting. The built-in Red Box is the secret sauce. The volume in the room was very low, but Mickey was able to get a nice, full tone in the mix.

*Listen on some decent speakers if possible

 

[Bogner]

Bogner Shiva 20th (KT-88's) Today!

 

[FatFingerBlues]

Here's the Tubemeister18 in action. I was using the head into an H & K 1x10 Celestion loaded cab. On the 5 watt setting. The built-in Red Box is the secret sauce. The volume in the room was very low, but Mickey was able to get a nice, full tone in the mix.

*Listen on some decent speakers if possible

That does sound good!

Thank you for posting

 

[László]

Here's the Tubemeister18 in action. I was using the head into an H & K 1x10 Celestion loaded cab. On the 5 watt setting. The built-in Red Box is the secret sauce. The volume in the room was very low, but Mickey was able to get a nice, full tone in the mix.

*Listen on some decent speakers if possible

You guys sound great!