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All Tube Heads - which one?

#61
Ampeg or Science amps. The build quality of a Science is on par with a Reeves or Dunwich, far better than a newer Mesa or Orange or Ampeg for that matter. And you'll still save a few bucks depending if you were planning on going new with the currently available amps.
 
#62
waltdogg said:
Ampeg or Science amps. The build quality of a Science is on par with a Reeves or Dunwich, far better than a newer Mesa or Orange or Ampeg for that matter. And you'll still save a few bucks depending if you were planning on going new with the currently available amps.
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So what exactly is poor about the build quality on a Mesa or Orange Amp? Just curious.
 
#65
Love my Prodigy. As people say, it has a modern tone, with basically no preamp overdrive. But, cranked up it has that magic. With the dual power levels I've been able to run it cranked quite a lot of the time. It has distinctively "Mesa" tone controls. I like them but it's a personal thing. Sounds good into a full range cab. Very sexy. Small and light, solid.

Of course, I'd love to have one of each in your list, so this can't be *that* much help. (and the Peavey is also on my wish list).
 
#66
Stranger Danger said:
So what exactly is poor about the build quality on a Mesa or Orange Amp? Just curious.
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Orange: the components, design and assembly are focussed on budget and not much else, pcb mount stuff that shouldn't be, push conectors, not very good transformers. Mesa are missing fundamental stuff to the correct operation of a fixed bias amplifier so I don't allow them in my workshop, so not studied them so hard.
 
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#67
Mr. Foxen said:
Orange: the components, design and assembly are focussed on budget and not much else, pcb mount stuff that shouldn't be, push conectors, not very good transformers. Mesa are missing fundamental stuff to the correct operation of a fixed bias amplifier so I don't allow them in my workshop, so not studied them so hard.
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I think it would be a long list of bits to beef up before it took my fancy too.
I should declare an interest, I am in love with Mr Foxens Matamp 300 Slave amp.
Show us a dirty pic of it go on.:-)
 
#68
Living outside the United States, you pretty much need to compare any modern build
against a good running vintage Hiwatt DR-201 or DR-405.

For tone quality, build quality, component quality, quiet operation, outstanding reliability and value retention.

A forty year old relic that will still leave most amps in the dust.

It made better economic sense for me to buy the Reeves 225 if I wanted a new amp.
I tried the 2009 Ampegs and came away really unimpressed.

I was warned off doing business with MG Hiwatt U.K. and even Clayton with VHR told me if I wanted a new Hiwatt
Reeves was the way to go. He was only building kits at the time.
 
#69
Transformer porn alert time, do you chaps want to see a really big pair:-)
image.jpg

Ohh err Misses! As they say in jolly old Blighty.:-)
 
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#74
FFTT said:
I would not put the V4b in the same class as the 200+ watters.
Great lower volume amp, not quite enough clean headroom in my experience.
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Depends if the OP wants headroom or not. The Orange is actually a little less than 200 watts, as I recall. V4Bs can get very, very loud through efficient cabs if you like overdrive.

waltdogg said:
Ampeg or Science amps. The build quality of a Science is on par with a Reeves or Dunwich, far better than a newer Mesa or Orange or Ampeg for that matter. And you'll still save a few bucks depending if you were planning on going new with the currently available amps.
Click to expand...
Haven't heard of "Science Amps." Link?

Stranger Danger said:
So what exactly is poor about the build quality on a Mesa or Orange Amp? Just curious.
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Don't know about Mesa, but Orange mounts tube sockets directly to PCBs. That is not a great plan.

Mr. Foxen said:
Orange: the components, design and assembly are focussed on budget and not much else, pcb mount stuff that shouldn't be, push conectors, not very good transformers. Mesa are missing fundamental stuff to the correct operation of a fixed bias amplifier so I don't allow them in my workshop, so not studied them so hard.
Click to expand...
The Prodigy I'm pretty sure is adjustable bias.

Also my D-180 has an internal bias trim pot mod, as I recall.


Still waiting to hear from the OP what kind of tone he/she is after. Would kinda suck to get the Reeves only to discover that he/she really wants overdrive, or a more Ampeg-like tone.
 
#76
Ive gotta second the Fender SuperBassman ( and not because I have one for sale... seriously because if it doesn't sell I'm more than happy to keep it. I just have more gear that I need)
It has the lush wool of the Orange if you want it, and the muscle of the Ampeg if you want that. Its got features that are awesome (DI, Auto Bias, Selectable Channels etc). It has a ton of clean headroom and enough versatility and dirt in the OD channel that my board of 4 fuzz pedals and 3 overdrives gets put aside with it. AND its only 65lbs. I love it.

I just love my 300 pro more, and wish I didnt because its 20lbs heavier and its bigger.


of your list, I havent tried the Reeves, but trusted sources love it. The Ampeg VR is awesome, but not for me. Everytime I see some other musician play one I am in love with their tone, but its never quite been "it" for me when I had one. Its a standard for a reason. The Orange, with its design shortcomings, was an amp I LOVED. It sounded awesome live. It was thick, throaty and for me was exactly at the point where my playing dynamics made the difference between clean and wooly grit at live volume. Plus, its rather lightweight.

Ive had a Morgan too. It was a very nice tonal amp. I didnt like the extra deep bass on it because those low frequencies ate up the clean headroom and it would overdrive sooner than I wanted volume wise. Also, getting it serviced can be a REAL headache. Lets just say the world works on one calender system, and Joe Morgan works on another. Morgan seems to believe he invented an entirely new thing under the sun that everyone is chomping at the bit to copy and clone because he WILL NOT release schematics to your local tech. You HAVE to send it to him. argh.

As for the new Mesa... i just dont dig the aesthetics and I cant get past it.
 
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#79
eyeballkid said:
Ive gotta second the Fender SuperBassman ( and not because I have one for sale... seriously because if it doesn't sell I'm more than happy to keep it. I just have more gear that I need)
It has the lush wool of the Orange if you want it, and the muscle of the Ampeg if you want that. Its got features that are awesome (DI, Auto Bias, Selectable Channels etc). It has a ton of clean headroom and enough versatility and dirt in the OD channel that my board of 4 fuzz pedals and 3 overdrives gets put aside with it. AND its only 65lbs. I love it.

I just love my 300 pro more, and wish I didnt because its 20lbs heavier and its bigger.


of your list, I havent tried the Reeves, but trusted sources love it. The Ampeg VR is awesome, but not for me. Everytime I see some other musician play one I am in love with their tone, but its never quite been "it" for me when I had one. Its a standard for a reason. The Orange, with its design shortcomings, was an amp I LOVED. It sounded awesome live. It was thick, throaty and for me was exactly at the point where my playing dynamics made the difference between clean and wooly grit at live volume. Plus, its rather lightweight.

Ive had a Morgan too. It was a very nice tonal amp. I didnt like the extra deep bass on it because those low frequencies ate up the clean headroom and it would overdrive sooner than I wanted volume wise. Also, getting it serviced can be a REAL headache. Lets just say the world works on one calender system, and Joe Morgan works on another. Morgan seems to believe he invented an entirely new thing under the sun that everyone is chomping at the bit to copy and clone because he WILL NOT release schematics to your local tech. You HAVE to send it to him. argh.

As for the new Mesa... i just dont dig the aesthetics and I cant get past it.
Click to expand...
What? Won't release schematics? That's stupid. There is nothing new under the sun. I would be tempted to figure out and draw out a schematic, or have one drawn out, just due to being pissed off by a policy like that.

I actually like the aesthetics of the Prodigy/Strategy.

waltdogg said:
http://scienceamps.com/
Alex makes a wide array of amps but the Mother is his 200 watt bass amp. Here's my Super Lead clone, the Hellhawk. This what the inside of an amp *should* look like, just saying. ;)
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What's the EQ on that like?
 

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