NEW: What amp do you use and why?

[Musiclogic]

Trace Elliot AH500X, 26 years and counting. Why, the sound is everything I wanted in an amp. The first day I heard it, I bought it. I had been searching for a year previous trying to find "that sound". Well worth the wait, Only the Ashdown MK500 ever came close.

[Means2nEnd]

My Mesa Titans were my favorite amps hands down for everything but reliability issues so they were let go and same with my Mesa M9 same thing. Now for live shows my Aguilar DB750 is simply the best most reliable easy to use tone monster that even though it says 750 watts it will eat most any other amp out there for headroom and big fat huge tone. I love it and the DI on the front is awesome.

For a permanent fixture in my studio to keep up with my guitar players I use my SWR SM1500 it is too heavy to be practice for gigs but it can knock a 10 story building down and then yawn. It sounds amazing and is sooo versatile and a tube 4 knob on board compressor is great too.

[sratas]

To the OP, you forgot to list the Thunderfunks!!!

I use the 550 B.
Why? It's built like a tank, AB traditional power stage, very clean and clear, detailed, quick, very warm, almost tubey. The most awesome EQ on the planet, effective and musical. Immense connectivity options, fabulous sounding recording outputs. Works wonderfully with very different instruments. It looks cool with that retro vintage vibe...

[BassKitty101]

Ashdown ABM 500 evoiii and two 410 cabs because it looks... nice. And it does other stuff.

[Low Sound Love]

I have an Ampeg V4bH and an Aguilar TH500 that I play through a Mesa/Boogie PH212. The Aguilar was bought mainly as a backup amp, but there are times when I prefer it to the Ampeg, which doesn't do the loud & clean tones very well.

And as a side note: a cranked 100 Watt Ampeg does a great job as a guitar amp if you're into dark stoner tones.

[jj4001]

Acoustic Control Corp.

* Cuz I like old stuff
* Undervalued and usually affordable on the used market
* They sound great
* They look cool
* Practical, well thought out design
* Built like tanks / reliable
* Being heard is never an issue
* The big knobs on the graphic EQ's make it super easy to dial in tones for specific songs on the fly or to compensate for different sounding venues
* I'd get like no exercise if I wasn't using heavy gear

[RNV]

Carvin BX1500.

Why? It has been a reliable (besides the ribbon cable scare) amp in a severe situation. I run it bridged @ 1500W in an un air conditioned warehouse in South Florida. It can easily get 100*F+ in out practice spot and I run her hard. She hasn't failed me in her 4 years of service. I originally rolled the dice and bought it for the bang for the buck/decent review here on TB.

It pushes my 1515/66 like a dream too!

[darren1970]

Genz Benz STM600 cos I love the driven valve overdrive and it produces a crushing low-mid tone with the Genz Uber 2x12

[giacomini]

I use Ampeg because JimmyM told us all to do so.

[Basically Bob]

Without a solid distribution network, proven, exceptional customer service in Canada I won't touch it.

Genz Benz has both.

My Shuttle 6.2 through my composite, compact, thunderchild 115 melts me. It's not too bad through the crazy 88, either. The Streamliner 600 through one or two Bergantino AE112's is amazing.

[Orangeclawhamme]

I have a GK MB115 and an Acoustic B20. I find that I use the Acoustic more than the GK despite the GK's better sound. I do not understand why I find the Acoustic so much easier to carry around given that it is only 3 1/2 lb lighter (if one believes the spec sheets) and not really that much smaller. I even find this amp easier to carry than the Line 6 Studio 110 that I used to have.

[BBQV]

I use a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout for portability and sound.

[Lunchbox4u_6]

I don't see an "other" up there. I play a ThunderFunk TFB550-B because I feel I can get any sound I want out of it and it's a great compliment to my 2 DB112's.

[chadds]

Originally Posted by giacomini

I use Ampeg because JimmyM told us all to do so.

I didn't get the memo.

[HydrasBreath]

Ampeg Micro-VR for practice and informal jams where I might not want to lug some of my heavy gear.

Ampeg SVT-VR for when I need more cleanish sounds for my faster metal band

Orange AD200B for when I want filthy creamy OD sounds to do Experimental/Psychedelic/Stoner/Doom stuff.

[FrenchBassQC]

Originally Posted by chadds

I didn't get the memo.

I did but it went straight to my delete folder, you know inbox rules?

[Jebberz]

Genbenz Shuttle 3.0-10 for the portability and the small size.

[delta7fred]

Peavey IPR1600.

One side = 325W into 8 Ohms, bridged = 1000W into 8 ohms (IIRC)

I needed a lightweight powerful amp to drive 1 or 2 fEARfuls, usually 1 but 2 for outside gigs. (No PA support.)

[tabdog]

I got an Acoustic B20 in my bedroom
and a Fender 350 head with a 1X12
Fender cab and a Peavey 1X12 cab.
It's all easy to move around for an
old fart,

Tabdog

[petermca17]

Mesa Boogie M9 Carbine here ... totally happy with the tone from this beast. Probably more power than I'll ever need but I just love the way it sounds.