Yowser, I have about a grand to spend on an amp and a head. I need a nice crunchy thrash tone but I also like LOADS of mids in my sound so it cuts through. Any ideas?

Thanks xiggers.

Atom wrote: xiggers.

quelfpipe!

Tom go downstairs in Virgin in Tottenham court road, you can try out a whole range, try some Mesa's try some Marshalls, try some Peaveys, try some Kettlers, they got a massive selection, its cool...

I suggest you buy my Thrash starter pack!

Tom, you lucky bastard!!!

I wish I had loads of money for an amp!

As Donnie said, try some out until you are hapappy! You'll find the right one and go 'yeah, that's it!'

A nice laney head might be what your looking for, great midrange in their distortion and it doesnt sound like its been through a load of transistors, sounds natrual and fat (huhuh)

Yeah the Lanney GHLs are quite nice.
I'd steer clear of Marshall, especially their new stuff (the vintage moderns).
The Mesa rectos are nice but have a really scooped mid sound.
If you can find them and if they're within your budget try some ENGL stuff.
If you don't mind the gash clean channel and controls that move when the wind changes direction try the peavey 5150/6505's.
Hughes and Kettner stuff is good but i found it lacking in the gain department.
The new Randall stuff is pretty nice.
If you have a big enough budget i'd say go for a Diezel Herbert (my amp ) It's got that really old school crunchy tone but more modern, tones of mid and bass, this amp slays, but at £2200 it's on the pricey side.

DON'T under estimate cabbinets.
They are soo important in getting the most out of your amp.
I would stay well clear of the Marshall 1960 cabinetts that people always seem to go for, they really arn't that nice.

When looking for a cab you wan't something thats got a real solid construction so that the bass doesn't fart out on you. Some good ones atm are...

Orange
Mesa
Soldano

or if you can get an old second hand one

Rivera
Hiwatt (with fane speakers)
Lanney (with fane speakers)

If you can't find one with fane speakers i'd try stuff with Vintage 30's they've got that really nice mid boost you want.

deffo recomend ENGL or 5150 i've played through both, was gonna get a new ENGL but a good 2nd hand 5150 came up so i went with that. The other guitarist uses Boogie dual rec/boogie cab so he goes for basey sounds i take the highs. Both held their own with his setup not totally outpowered unlike the old Marshall Valve state i had before.

Good pickups/guitar help no end too

al_lig wrote:Good pickups/guitar help no end too

*agrees*

*cough*Bareknuckles*cough*

EMG 707's here, never tried bareknuckles but have heard nowt but good reviews about em would certainly think about em if i get another 6 string at some point.

Always check the wiring/earths too if fitting different pickups nothing worse than getting THE killer guitar sound, but having constant noises from the poxy thing.

Wow thanks for all the help yo. I will let you know how my quest continues!

I just got rid of my Line 6 Flextone 3 and got a Line 6 Spider II. It's got a fucking brutal metal sound on there. Line 6 are cool, they're like amps for lazy bastards who can't be arsed buying tons of pedals.

GoreBastard wrote:I just got rid of my Line 6 Flextone 3 and got a Line 6 Spider II. It's got a fucking brutal metal sound on there. Line 6 are cool, they're like amps for lazy bastards who can't be arsed buying tons of pedals.

LOL

90% of people don't know how to use pedals properly anyways.

Pedals suck IMO, the tone comes from the amp/cab/guitar/player not by sticking 100's of pedals infront of it to hide scruffy playing.

The Spider 2's are great little amps for bedroom stuff and small gigs, i wouldn't like to use one in a studio or medium+ live situation but thats just me.

Mikey wrote:

GoreBastard wrote:I just got rid of my Line 6 Flextone 3 and got a Line 6 Spider II. It's got a fucking brutal metal sound on there. Line 6 are cool, they're like amps for lazy bastards who can't be arsed buying tons of pedals.

LOL

90% of people don't know how to use pedals properly anyways.

Pedals suck IMO, the tone comes from the amp/cab/guitar/player not by sticking 100's of pedals infront of it to hide scruffy playing.

The Spider 2's are great little amps for bedroom stuff and small gigs, i wouldn't like to use one in a studio or medium+ live situation but thats just me.

Stupid line 6.

Id stay away from Line 6 personally, when they're cranked they dont sound as sexy as all tube amps.