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Slightly OT: What's the best amp head for...


Loobster

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running clean (1 channel, no master volume preferably) and using for pedals?

 

I currently have a Mesa Boogie single recto head that I use only on the clean channel and get my dirty tone needs from a selection of nice fuzz/OD pedals. There's a number of downsides to this. Firstly, I don't play metal and thus I feel that an amp renowned for it's overdrive channel is totally wasted on me, considering I don't even use it. Also, I find the clean channel to sound really...harsh. It sounds ok, don't get me wrong but doesn't seem to have the warmth and character or some other amps I've played. I've got a feeling that this amp is not allowing me to get the most out of my pedals and I really only got it because it was REALLY cheap. I've got some money on the way and want to get an amp head that I'll be totally happy with. Probably the best sounding amp I've heard with pedals in front was a vintage Twin, but strangely the head version, the Showman, never sounded as good.

 

I'm thinking perhaps a Hiwatt Custom 50? Maybe Dr. Z? Anything else that is designed to just be run loud and clean and is an excellent base for pedals? It's disappointing because I tried my Skreddy Pink Flesh out in the store through a Fender Vibroverb and it sounded jaw-droppingly awesome, I bring it home and play through the Recto's clean tone and it sounds nowhere near as good. Time for a new amp. Sorry for the long post.

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Yeah. I tried a dual showman head but was actually less than blown away by it. But they are nice and can be found cheap. I'm thinking a Hiwatt Custom 50. They sound incredible and are meant to take pedals fantastically, never actually tried pedals through one though.

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Yeah. I tried a dual showman head but was actually less than blown away by it. But they are nice and can be found cheap. I'm thinking a Hiwatt Custom 50. They sound incredible and are meant to take pedals fantastically, never actually tried pedals through one though.

 

 

 

fair do's. one of the rivera amps might be good, not sure really, just heard they have VERY good cleans. i cant say much about the Hiwatt custom 50, but you have only got to look at some of the people who use the hiwatt customs to realise that you probably cant go wrong with getting one. do you have EL34s or 6L6s in your mesa btw?

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Yeah, Dr Z is on my shortlist too. Dunno how much I'd want to take them around the kind of circuit my band gigs on though, they look too pretty for that. The Hiwatt on the other hand looks like a total tank.

 

And I run 6L6s in my Mesa.

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Have had a twin, super and bassman (head). Depending on the cab you run the bassman through, they can be great. Otherwise nothing beats the super in my opinion. The amp just doesn't have to work that hard with 40 inches of speaker to make a lot of pristine clean. Twin ain't bad either...

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An Ampeg V-4 head with 6550's will give you nothing but cleans unless you absolutely crank the {censored} out of it. It's a 2-input amp. Both inputs are exactly the same, and run through the same tonestack. No MV, and takes pedals quite well. You can probably find one on craigslist or ebay for a relatively good price. Much less than a brand new amp, at least.

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