Need an amp for a metal dude.

[beasleybodyshop]

My vote goes to that Randall SS amp that Dimebag Darrell of pantera used in the early years. Really tight low end to me contributes a lot to the metal sound.

[M Fowler]

I have a Randall SS head and Carvin SS head sitting here collecting dust.

[beasleybodyshop]

M Fowler, guess they didn't sound too good for teh brootalz?

[rp]

no text

[cpollack]

Hmmmm….Metal amp. Just thinking, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1) A clean, loud power amp is useful. Metal solos and rhythms need to be articulate.
2) Metal rhythm sounds are typically chunky and scooped. The higher the scoop center frequency (up to a point), the ‘deathier’ the tone. You also need to move some air on the low notes.
3) Metal leads scream and sustain when they’re not stinging like a swarm of bees. The mids need to be brought back or the solo can get buried in the mix.

Most traditional tube metal amps I’ve seen are Marshall based. The SLO (and recto and 5150) follows the highly-evolved modded Marshall approach. The Boogie MKII (as used by Metallica) has a nice feature for metal: The post OD section EQ can dial in the rhythm scoop nicely. We can mimic that with a pedal EQ in a loop.

My suggestion is to build a Marshall 2550 with 6550s. Add a resonance control to get the bottom end of doom and use a Boss EQ pedal in the loop to go between a scooped rhythm and a lead sound. A Soldano Avenger is a particularly angry sounding amp, too. For a speaker cabinet I’d suggest a single or dual EV TL806 with an EVM-12L or a low-tuned 4x12 of some sort. Gotta move that air.

-CP

[dorrisant]

I would like to see what is inside a Koch amp... They seem to be a magical source of metal.

Did I miss a memo on mirror image signatures?

Tony

[LeftyStrat]

Well, I've done a bit more research. He's not so much into cookie monster metal. His favorite band is Avenge Sevenfold. More research reveals that although the guitarist now plays some branded/endorsement deal amp, earlier he played a JCM800.

My nephew is only 14 but is far along enough to garner a good small amp. I'm thinking November-ish 2x6v6.

A combo with a 15" might be interesting.

If he ever complains about the weigh I can do my cranky old man:

"In my day we only bought amps that weighed 88 pounds or more, and the first thing we'd do is replace the speakers with two 25 pound EVM12L speakers.

And we didn't use girly dollies. Someone would steal our gear unless we carried it all in one trip. We had to carry our guitar case in one hand and the amp in the other while we walked up ten flights of stairs...

And we liked it that way!"

[EtherealWidow]

Well, I've done a bit more research. He's not so much into cookie monster metal. His favorite band is Avenge Sevenfold. More research reveals that although the guitarist now plays some branded/endorsement deal amp, earlier he played a JCM800.

My nephew is only 14 but is far along enough to garner a good small amp. I'm thinking November-ish 2x6v6.

A combo with a 15" might be interesting.

If he ever complains about the weigh I can do my cranky old man:

"In my day we only bought amps that weighed 88 pounds or more, and the first thing we'd do is replace the speakers with two 25 pound EVM12L speakers.

And we didn't use girly dollies. Someone would steal our gear unless we carried it all in one trip. We had to carry our guitar case in one hand and the amp in the other while we walked up ten flights of stairs...

And we liked it that way!"

"And our bassist has 3 crushed disks because of his 8x10 cab."

Why not build a November with EL34's instead? Never heard a 6V6 Marshall style circuit in action, but I can't help but wonder if the 6V6's would get flubby. The actual volume difference wouldn't be too much more either. Or if he's going to be doing mostly bedroom, a Single Ended Lead might be a really good choice as well.

[LeftyStrat]

As I've said to him and my daughter. I will build an amp better than your ability. When you want a better amp, be a better guitarist.

Give them shit for free and you fuck them up. Make them earn it.

[cbass]

My KF50 type thing does metal pretty well

I love to here musicians bitch about having to carry gear.

[Reeltarded]

I have a Randall SS head and Carvin SS head sitting here collecting dust.

FOWWWWWLERRRRRR!!

Is that an RG with the pull treble for gain boost? (1N914 volume dump) I seek the grey carpet heads.

This is a great choice if you have a parametric in the loop and clip the clean channel so it can't bleed.

[M Fowler]

No this is a solid state Randall RG100 Classic.

[briane]

Give them shit for free and you fuck them up. Make them earn it.

yep I learned that one giving away amps to talented young players - easyest way to get them to stop playing (I learned the hard way).

I dont do that anymore - clean my toilet 50 times and I'll give you an amp!

JCM800 or marshall 1987 jumpered channels should work - kid prolly wont even know whats in it for another 10 years!

[M Fowler]

Yeah I got a call yesterday some upstart hot shot guitar player is going off to music school and wants an amp. He isn't afraid of paying the cash but his idea of a good amp is anybodies guess. I'll show him my stacks of amps and he can take them for a spin and decide. I bet he orders a Blackstar.

[rp]

I'm not a metal guy but just thought I'd mention, a good metal sound is as much about speakers as amp. Most around here tend to favor more classic rock or rock & roll speakers like greenbacks, alnicos and all that. I'd guess the typical 80-100W celestions and EVs but maybe someone could recommend some proper metal speakers to get the whole package right - there's a tsunami of speakers out there now.

Metal is a lot less monolithic than it used to be, if I knew a youngster looking to play metal I'd advice f'ing around with many things and developing his own sound, but that's true for everything.