Need Brit-type crunch, and good cleans too...

[nosajwp]

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My Mesa DC-10 just has too much gain for what I need. I love the clean channel, but the drive channel just doesn't have what I'm looking for. Say I have the drive channel with gain on 5, and my guitar volume on 5. I can turn the volume of the guitar up higher, and all I get is more compression/distortion at the same volume. Seems the Mesa was made more for very hard rock and metal on the drive side, and I need something more along the lines of classic rock (and the occasional hair metal song, but I have OD for that!!!).

What are some good amps that have a great clean channel, and can do some pretty good British crunch as well, without all the heavy saturation that the Mesa has?

I'm considering the Rivera M60/M100 series, and the Mesa Stiletto (not sure about the lower drive settings, but that may have too much gain too). I'd also consider any other suggestions you guys have.

By the way, the Mesa is available!!!

 

[Platypus]

Orange, Vox...

 

[pmb]

A DSL? Or Laney (I don't know how their cleans are)

 

[Guitarzan]

The new Orange Rocketverb 50. Killer amp, sports 4 6V6's

 

[RR]

I'm not too familar with DC-10 but before looking at another amp, did you ever thought about changing the V1 tube from (I would assume 12AX7) to a 5751? This will lower the high gain saturation you are experiencing.

I have a Studio .22 and currently have a 5751 and I may further change to a 12AU7 (or whatever next on the less gain list of the preamp tubes). It previously had a 12AX7 and I would run the preamp gain to like "2-1/2" and it was still too much gain saturation (for me). So I currently have a 5751 and I could run up to "5". I prefer going even less gain so I could find settings from "1 to 7" all useable for my use.

But of course, the trade-off, I do lose some of that "Metallic " (set the graphic in the 'V') tone.

 

[Guitarzan]

Stilletto Ace may also work for you.

 

[cvansickle]

The two best amps I've played this year have been the Stiletto Ace and an Orange, not sure of the model. Both get great crunchy gain and great clean too.

 

[Guitarzan]

The two best amps I've played this year have been the Stiletto Ace and an Orange, not sure of the model. Both get great crunchy gain and great clean too.

Agreed!

 

[disassembled]

There is another tube option that will cost you about $13 to atleast try before you go shopping. The tube is half 12AX7 and half AU7 so it still retains the feel of a 12AX7 and lowers the circuit's gain at the same time. This tube is known as a 12DW7 or ECC832. I used this on my Peavey Triple XXX which turned that from a lackluster amp into something I could have sworn had JCM 800 plastered all over it. Before you take all of this advice into consideration please give Bob at eurotubes a ring and explain your situation. Then hang up and call Doug at dougstubes. Compare what they say and you might be on the right path to making your DC10 exactly what you want. I still think the ECC832 is a cool tube to have in your collection and may certainly fix your gain woes.

 

[fatboy135]

+1 for vox

 

[pmb]

The problem with vox is they don't have lots of crunch, when you put the drive on ten it will give a very soft crunch. For good brittish crunch you will need marshall or orange I think (or Laney). I don't know rivera actually but I heard the would have the cleans of fender and crunch of marshall so that would fit you too

 

[tele_jas]

How about these amps:

* Traynor YCV series
* Rivera (just about any)
* Valvetech Hayseed http://www.valvetechamps.com/ (this is one of my Dream amps right there). Check out the clips on the "reviews" page.


I'll let you know about the AC30 in a day or so, my AC30 comes in tomorrow and I'll play around with it over the weekend. I don't forsee a lot of crunch though.

 

[fatboy135]

ufff I never met the perfect amp with the perfect clean and the perfect saturate, but this is not a bad thing because if it was the perfect amp all the others amps will be disappeared on a couple of months
I recomend to get the most beautiful clean amp and then try to modelate the crunch tones with some pedals like rat or ts9

 

[fatboy135]

tele--- a vox ac30??? a real vintage ac30???? maybe win the lotto ?????? did you sell your home????
let us to know about your gas syndrome

 

[tele_jas]

tele--- a vox ac30??? a real vintage ac30???? maybe win the lotto ?????? did you sell your home????
let us to know about your gas syndrome

Heck no, not a REAL ac30, one of the new AC30cc's that explode :lol: . Yeah, I've read the reviews on them and about 1/2 of them have issues, but I've been GASsin' for one now for about 2 years. Don't worry, I still have the Road King and I may be going with the 2 amp set up if the AC30 is what I'm hoping it is.

If I wanted a real AC30, I'd go with that Valvetech Hayseed. For about $1600 I can get a reliable AC30 built off the same specs as the original, but with a few added goodies. Plus I'd get to pick the custom covering and grille and it's PTP wiring.

Heck no...... Not a real one, only a crazy person would spend $2800 on an amp.



















Oh wait, the Road King combo is a $2800 amp .... Guess I'm crazy :wink: .

 

[fatboy135]

ok then when you are bored of the road king remind me as a very good friend :wink:

 

[tele_jas]

The road king has been the amp that has not suffered the fate of GAS and the only thing I think that I would ever replace it with would be another Road King set up (like a Road King II). I've had it a year next month and I'm still not tired of it. When I get bored of this amp, I turn a couple of knobs and change the tube configuration and I'm 110% happy again.

Great amp!

EDIT: I just woke up this morning when I started typing these replies... Man, this one made no sense at the end so I changed it. :wink:

 

[fatboy135]

I know what you mean, it happens the same to me with my triaxis :wink: so no vox ac30, only boogie amps 8)

 

[Guitarzan]

I heard a really cool boutique amp at Summer NAMM this year...Tele check them out...65 Amps. If you like Vox's these are more reliable with a similar sound. I like the way it looks and they come with mixed speakers in the 2x12 version.

 

[pmb]

ufff I never met the perfect amp with the perfect clean and the perfect saturate, but this is not a bad thing because if it was the perfect amp all the others amps will be disappeared on a couple of months
I recomend to get the most beautiful clean amp and then try to modelate the crunch tones with some pedals like rat or ts9

I think overdrive always needs to come from the amp. And for me mesa markseries have great cleans. So for me that's the great solution.
And I think a pedal will never sound as good as an amplifier overdrive