Recommend a head.

[NJW]

I thought I'd do something a little differently, and rather than making my mind up by looking at pictures and words to make up my mind I'm gonna ask if anyone could take some time to listen to some stuff and recommend me an amp that would suit the music I play.

I'm a lover of tube heads, but love tight, round, punchy bottom end and am not a big fan of toppy distortion. In the UK amps that are readily available are Ampegs of all varieties, Mesa 400+, Orange AD200s, etc.

I have played a new SVT-CL, but only heard a vintage. It was nice.
I have played an AD200 and loved the tone, but am concerned about its lack of flexibility.
I have only heard a 400+, and really liked the tone, but haven't yet played one.

I play on songs here

Link Removed - 'between the lions' was recorded through an SVT2PRO with an Avalon u5 for the DI and the mic'd track being compressed with an empirical labs distressor.

Link Removed - 'juniper green' was recorded with an FMR audio RNP preamp through a tech21 poweramp. A lower budget recording with my existing live rig.

What would you think would sound best in the context of these songs? Something tells me the smoothness of the 400+ would be most suited, but I know a lot of you have a lot more experience with specific amps than me.

Thanks,

Nico

edit - i better make it clear that I do intend to go out and a/b all of these, but it involves travelling to the other end of the country and back to manage this.

 

[Zakk007]

Ashdown ABM. WIll give you a big thick sound but with lots of definition not all valve but think would suit you perfectly.

 

[broadbandit]

look on ebay for a head called lab systems. theyre an aussie company, i think. i used to rent one. theyre quite simple but they sound great. look on ebay there'll be one there

 

[NJW]

Ashdown ABM. WIll give you a big thick sound but with lots of definition not all valve but think would suit you perfectly.

I'm not a fan of most ABM heads but haven't tried them through my ampeg 6x10 before. Just to expand, I play through an ampeg 610 cab with a fender MIA jazz at the moment. The head is a tech21 and it just aint cuttin' it!

My budget is pretty much without limits, i'm prepared to wait whilst saving for what is ideal.

 

[macahan]

I play through a VBA+ampeg 8x10+MIA jazz setup..
i seriousely think you should check that amp.. 400w all tube and quite versitile compared to my orange ad200(which sounds sooo good that you don't need tweaking it).

it should be fairly cheap in the UK aswell.. save some £ at the same time..

 

[Der Bluten Kat]

i'd go with the svt... deep and it'll work great with your speakers and your bass.... fender + ampeg =

 

[barroso]

marshall VBA, ashdown ABM & tech21 landmark

 

[NJW]

barroso, I am terrible at putting enough detail in my original posts! sorry!

I play a tech21 landmark at the moment and it is nowhere near cutting it. I went and tried a new SVT-CL next to a 400+ today, and i'm loving the 400+ although it is hard to dial 'that' tone in quickly. Perhaps my mind is made up!

 

[barroso]

sorry!

i sincerely think that the landmark are one of the strongest sounding and cutting thru head on the markets.

maybe you are looking for a different sound. give the ashdown a try!

 

[rodl2005]

+1 for the SVT CL U just CAN'r go past that sound IMHO. The Mesa Bass 400+ is very bloody good BUT the svt just has THE TONE- even more so than the Marshall VBA I reckon. Rod. Wish I could afford one meself!