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Suggestions on some amp brands to try?

T

theweed42

May 1, 2008
36
1
#1
Hi all,

I recently gave up my beloved Orange AD200 for financial reasons. :bawl: Amazing tone, but got dirty way too fast and had no DI. Now I'm looking for something to replace it with that is:

1.) Lighter and more consistent (i.e. preferably not all tube)
2.) Cleaner, and
3.) Has a DI.

I wish I could have kept the Orange but it just wasn't practical. Now I'm on tour down in California and want to try out as many different amps as I can while I'm here.

Brands and amps I've tried but don't like:
Ampeg - SVT3, SVT4 and SVTCL
Ashdown - ABM EVOIII
GK - 700RBii and 1001RBii
Markbass - Little Mark
SWR - 750x

Brands I'm interested in:
Mesa
Aguilar
EBS
Eden

Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
 
#8
theweed42 said:
Hi all,

I recently gave up my beloved Orange AD200 for financial reasons. :bawl: Amazing tone, but got dirty way too fast and had no DI. Now I'm looking for something to replace it with that is:

1.) Lighter and more consistent (i.e. preferably not all tube)
2.) Cleaner, and
3.) Has a DI.

I wish I could have kept the Orange but it just wasn't practical. Now I'm on tour down in California and want to try out as many different amps as I can while I'm here.

Brands and amps I've tried but don't like:
Ampeg - SVT3, SVT4 and SVTCL
Ashdown - ABM EVOIII
GK - 700RBii and 1001RBii
Markbass - Little Mark
SWR - 750x

Brands I'm interested in:
Mesa
Aguilar
EBS
Eden

Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...

You're in Cali, there are lots of CARVIN locations to visit! Have fun!!
 
#10
There are a good few options that should give you lots of power, very flexible tone, and be lighter and cheaper than your orange (not 'dissing' it - but It's pricey and heavy).

I don't know a whole lot about amps... in the next few weeks I'm planning to pick up a GK mb fusion 500 . . . very portable with a tube pre that gives some dirt - but not all out like I've read & heard the orange amps tend to be.

Try to try it in advance - Get a good return policy if you buy new, and above all - consider using pedal / rack mount OD and / or DI if it makes sense.

P.S. there is a 'big brother' of the mb fusion, the GK fusion 550... some people who aren't fond of the other GK like it.
EBS, Mesa and Aguilar are all on the expensive side - I'd look at used!
Eden seems to start at about the same as GK's...
 
#13
Thanks for the advice everyone. I definitely want to try the M9 now. And the terror bass too, if it's cleaner than the AD200.

I'm not super familiar with Genz Benz. Whereabouts do they fall on the tone spectrum? What amps would you compare them to?
 
#14
GENZ for sure. i would say they tend to lean heavily towards hifi, but get dirty if you want. they're very versatile, have transparent DI, weigh almost nothing, and have AMAZING customer service and quality. hell, one of their engineers frequents this forum and can help you if you have questions down the road.
my $0.02 (even though in this economy it's more like $0.015)
 

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