What amp should I get next?

[playloud]

Haha I've been away a few days juggling some things and came back to this very interesting thread!

I appreciate everyone's input including Rick's, I love hearing everyone's perspectives and find it is greatly beneficial in life in general. While it may not be what the OP was about @ricksdisconnected advice is greatly respected. Personally $1,500 is in my opinion doable considering where I'm at and it's not like I couldn't sell other gear to recoup the expense.

So far I'm still debating the PRS and a Ceriatone but maybe leaning more towards the PRS. I'm tempted to get the head and matching 1x12, I personally don't really like PRS' signature on the front but that's meh. The demos I hear are 100% promising as I have no doubt with my touch I can squeeze every bit of Jimi tone out of it. The 20w with MV is really appealing to my wants as I just got new neighbors with a newborne (the old ones just moved out dammit!) and have been unable to really enjoy my SV20 at all anymore. I see the matching 1x12 comes with a V-type but if I do go this route I will also order a Scumback H55-PVC to top it off.

I definitely believe the Ceriatone is a better value but my hang up is having a 50w or even a 100w, even with a MV or an attenuator I still think it's just more than I need or could joyfully use. The fact the unit beside me just got new tenants with a new born is really making me pause on the big amp idea. I could use it for my occasional jams with other musicians but honestly at home I don't think I'll get the most out of it.

Honestly, the PRS sounds like a substitute for the SV20 (having both would be redundant). If you go that route, I would flip the SV20 to get it.

You might also considering just getting a nice load box/reamper with a portion of the $1500. I went down the same route (getting smaller combos to play at home), but now I just use my 100 watters with the TAE for "bedroom playing" - and I'm much happier! I know guitar players have an innate dislike of newfangled technology, but reactive loads are really good now (and don't color the tone like modellers too).

Then when you get the 45/100 (or similar), you'll be able to enjoy that fully too

 

[saxon68]

Yeah sounds like a load box would work for you. Torpedo Captor x is a great unit with a few nice features, and won’t break the bank.

 

[purpleplexi]

@Maggot Brain I dont think you need anything, have you tried a JHS volume box in the loop of your SV20? You can dial in some Hendrix tones at reasonable volume then punch it with a clean boost for anything heavier.

Works for me....

 

[purpleplexi]

Honestly, the PRS sounds like a substitute for the SV20 (having both would be redundant). If you go that route, I would flip the SV20 to get it.

If the PRS really is a 'clever' plexi I might do exactly that. Have to try one first. Only thing that bothers me is how much that bitch Janey is getting out of it....

 

[Wildeman]

Now is the time to invest in precious metals like lead, copper, and brass...not new amplifiers.

Invest in metal.......Soldano, Mesa, Marshall???

 

[ampeq]

I definitely believe the Ceriatone is a better value but my hang up is having a 50w or even a 100w, even with a MV or an attenuator I still think it's just more than I need or could joyfully use. The fact the unit beside me just got new tenants with a new born is really making me pause on the big amp idea. I could use it for my occasional jams with other musicians but honestly at home I don't think I'll get the most out of it.

MB, don’t worry about the 50 or 100w stuff, if they are set up like the KK and Chupa. Using the MV and 2 gain knobs I can drown out the amps with the TV. There is not that much difference in how loud they all are, 20w, 50w or 100w, all can shake the house. If you want to try the PRS amp, just make sure you order it from a good outfit like Sweetwater. Then you can run it for a few weeks and make sure it’s what you really want. If not they will take it right back. If you have a good guy in the store you use ask him if people are keeping these amps or returning them, on the percentage sold. I’m not up on PRS stuff so I don’t know how the quality is. Should be well worth a shot though.

 

[Swampy]

Just take a trip to a store that has some of the amps you're somewhat interested in an go jam. The best amp is the one that makes you want to play and gives your the happy feels.

My favorite amp the past few years has been an odd one for me as an English lad, I've always been into Marshalls, with my old 1972 vintage 50 watt Super Lead being my favorite. Well, it was until I got a little Mesa Mark V 25 and fell in love with the Crunch mode on Channel 1 for lead tones. Those little EL84's give tones that are just like Schenker's on Strangers in the Night when you get the Master Volume around 2 o'clock but that said, it's a f**king loud amp but it retains much of that tone at more civilized volumes. For me it's a little gem of an amp that's so versatile in ways that few other amps are. Want that Fender clean, sure. Marshallesque rhythm, channel 1 crunch mode will do that nicely. Dial the gain back to around 10 o'clock on Channel 1 crunch mode and you get nice open Malcolm Young tones. Want to bring the heavy all the way upto Metallica and Gojira like tones, easy peasy lemon squeezy... Channel 2 Mark IV has that covered. I find that the Mark IV setting is a little tamer than a big Mark IV but a little angrier than a big Mark IIC+

Andy Timmons doing some ace clean playing:


John Petrucci noodling around with the Mark V 25 with Mesa guru Randall Smith.


My only gripe with this amp is a subtle difference between Mark series amps and everything else. It's a very articulate and clear amp. When you play chords rather than a chord you seem to hear the individual notes more clearly than you would on another amp. It's also more reactive to how you play. You can't half ass your playing with it. You want a tight crunch tone, even on Channel 2 you have to give it some spuds. It rewards effort and I've found myself becoming a better guitarist because of it.

The 35 watt version does have a bigger transformer, an extra pair of EL84's (so lunchbox amp with 6 12AX7's and 4 EL84's and an "alternate" Master Volume for setting your level for solos, which if I ever get in a band again I'll probably go for. The 25 watter in a 4x12 is more than loud enough to be heard over a drummer with the Master at noon.