Best Electric Guitar Amp Company

[Caedmonite]

Which do yall think is the best electric guitar amp company :confused:

[ugabugabear]

None o' the above!

I've gone through close to 2 dozen amps...combos w/ different speaker configurations, heads & different cabs/speakers, etc. Have had numerous Marshalls & Fenders, with miscellaneous Peaveys, Laneys, Randalls, Ampegs, etc.

I currently play a Rivera R100-212 Hundred Duo Twelve, which is a 100 watt 2x12 combo, handbuilt by Paul Rivera. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, Paul used to work for Fender and is responsible for generating gobs of tone in many of their amps. He parted company to start his own biz of handmade amps and modifications.

I spent a long time playing, spending $$ and searching for something that would give me tone versatility for whatever style I'm playing. Essentially, the HDT gives me everything from old-style Marshall crunch to high gain overdrive to a Twin sound and everything in between. Extremely versatile and the sound is phenomenal. The mass produced things just can't compare.

Couple that with the fact that Rivera is still small enough that if you call, Paul still answers the phone and will answer your questions without putting you through a voice mail loop to a customer service department. HE is the customer service department. Paul Jr is also around and is a fantastic resource also in case Paul Sr is tinkering and on the crest of creating a new monster.

Yeah, I'm biased, but it's not like I'm getting a cut of the profits! Between the quality and the customer service, I'd be hard pressed to NOT to look at a Rivera. Not to mention the cost! These things are extremely reasonable for handbuilt amps.

I think I'm done now.

[Hezekiah]

Maybe I was reading too fast, or its too late, but I didn't see
any way of contacting paul. Could you post his info?

[Hezekiah]

found it http://www.rivera.com

[nate95366]

I would have to agree with "none of the above" for the most part...

I like the sound of Mesa Boogie (not so much the price, though...) and I've liked the few Vox amps I've listened to. If you can find an old Fender combo tube amp, chances are that it will be good, too. I haven't heard a Crate that I really appreciated, yet. Don't know if I've ever heard an Ibanez, and Marshalls are too hard to get for the way they're built - which I've heard used to be top-notch, but now has slipped significantly.

[Caedmonite]

i must not have been thinking when i made that poll but yeah mesa boggies and voxs are good

[ugabugabear]

<i>I like the sound of Mesa Boogie...</i>

They definitely have a distinctive sound, don't they? I played on a Nomad for a long time and actually considered buying it, but it was so incredibly pricey and didn't give me the the versatility I was after. And Dual Recto's sound so hollow to me. Maybe it's because I've seen them played to death...they're so popular nowadays that it seems like <i>everyone</i> is using them. I don't know...

<i>Marshalls...used to be top-notch, but now has slipped significantly</i>

There's the hammer hitting the nail on the head! Not the first time I've heard that comment. Seems like after the JCM 900 series, Marshall became more interested in <b>quantity</b> versus <b>quality</b>. Just my opinion though. For what I've played, the VS's have never impressed me and after borrowing a TSL head for a gig, I wouldn't give 2 cents for one. Man, I still kick myself for getting rid of my old '72 Plexi...no mods on that one, just all original velvet-like tone.

Excuse me, I'm going to go cry now...

[guyskankrye]

I love Trace Elliott amps! I think they are the best right next to Hughes and Kettner!

Jeremy

[Paul J. is a dork]

My friend Paul J. plays through a Johnson amp. It is way better than any of the other amps that you have listed above. I play bass and love SWR.

[nate95366]

Johnson, that's one I forgot on my list of likes, too.
I like their combo with the all the digital presets, although some of the sounds on it feel more compressed than the amps they're supposed to sound like. You've gotta have some $$ to get a new Johnson, too....

[footstone]

I have an old Fender Twin Reverb with JBLs that has a real nice tone. The JBLs have a uniquely bright sound but the thing weighs over 100 lbs. It's a real beast. I put in some new power tubes last year that gave it a new personality. The mid range notes and chords seem to swell in volume and presence before they start to decay. It's a nice effect in a large auditorium.

Keep rocking on the cornerstone.

[Barry]

I play a Line 6 POD into the effects return of a Peavey Delta Blues, it's not the greatest, but, for the money it is suitable and gives a wide range of tones. If I had my choice and the money I'd probably go for the Riveira as well.

Barry

[EJGam]

I feel the same way, if I had the cash I'd get rid of my Marshall.

[EJGam]

By the way, how do you guys feel about the Gibson amps?


E.J.

[Basstyke]

I'll stick with Crate.

[ConsumingFire16]

i like line 6 and crate amps...but i love the sound of mesa boogie amps...by the way...i know this is off the subject, but how do you get a picture under your name when you post a thingie? im a virgin at all this stuff...

[Philden]

It's hard to decide I like both line 6 and fender amps.:(

[SenorPapaCabasa]

Line 6 has the best combo amps and marshall has the best cabs. There are others, but thats what i chose from the list:D

[GuitarmanforGod]

im kinda unsure. I dont have any income so i dont have the opportunity to check out all the amps so i look for the cheapest thing that is a beast. loud enough sounds good enough but still CHEAP. so i went with a crate 2 x 12 i havent got it yet still on backorder at musiciansfriend.
i saw that Fender cyber twin and watched a video at there wesite. and it seams tight. have any of you tried the cyber twin? its beyond my price range but just like to know what you all think

cya later
God bless!

[EJGam]

Hey the JCM 900 is pretty decent too. A Rivera half stack is way beyong my dreams, and probably better than the JCM 900 but as soon as I get the cash it's gonna be an all tube amp.


E.J.

[SenorPapaCabasa]

The CyberTwin is pretty cool...but i found an amp that blows it outa the water. It only cost 1700 bucks though:( Its called a Johnson Millenium. It can emulate any amp....any! And it has all the effects you use and its all digital. If you want top of the line check that out!

[Avalanche 126]

i dont see what the big deal is over marshall's. i love them, they have a nice warm tone and great sound. i gotta 65 wtt valvstate and its great. my friend despises me because it sounds better than either one of his amps. they sound really good. some of the older models r better than some of the new ones but the new line of marshall the ummmm rvt or somethin like that r really good, alotta power.

johnsons r really good for onboard effects, i played one the other day and is really nice.

[Avalanche 126]

sorry bout that, the new avt series is what i meant couldnt think of what it was called.

[EJGam]

Your right AVT are pretty discent compare to other high bread amps. I like my avt275, but would love to trade for an all tube marshall. Been tempted to get somthing from ebay but not sure if I should trust those guys, what do you guys say?



E.J.

[aaron_guitar]

I think Fender's have the best sound and price. Marshall's are too expensive. Crates are too clean, they have no bite. I've never played an Ibanez. Line 6's are too digital. Their sound is too digital.

[Avalanche 126]

EJ do not get anything off of ebay. at all costs dont. their stuff gets broken when they send it out alot. my friend bought this nice acoustic guitar, and when she got it, the head with the tuning pegs was totally ripped off. but try and find a music store that matches prices, and then take some net prices to them if they have an amp u want and see if theyll match, they should.

[EJGam]

Thanks for the tip Avalance 126

[thesteve]

If you find a store that does price matching, and most do, chances are they won't match eBay praices, but they should match like musician's friend prices. The reason they don't match eBay prices is because part of what oyu pay for when buying form a store or company is a warranty and the ability to take it back to the store.

[smoothguy53]

i like the cool stuff on line6 amps but i don't like all that digital crap.....i think marshall is the best

[N.tm]

Of the options given, I have to vote Line 6.

I don't like Crate or Ibanez amps. The quality of new Marshalls that I've tried in the last few years seems to have been 'variable' (to put it politely), so I'd be cautious about buying one even though they obviously have their classics. I like Fender clean tones.

But for amateur players that can only afford one amp I think Line 6 is a great way to go.

Having said all that, my amp is a Rivera M60 combo - very flexible, and about the only thing I don't like about it is that it can't do a really clean sound that is loud (but that's the way it was designed, and isn't too much of a problem when there's a mic in front of the amp).

N.™

[BowoW]

~return of the old posts~ *screams*

they're fun :p

i loooooooove marshalls.. i tried a couple at guitar center.. i like it.

mesa/boogie.. geez.. how can u guys afford that stuff. i heard (saw) plenty of pros use it.. so eh.. i'm guessing it's nice.

crate is decent.

-jamie

[BowoW]

~return of the old posts~ *screams*

they're fun :p

i loooooooove marshalls.. i tried a couple at guitar center.. i like it.

mesa/boogie.. geez.. how can u guys afford that stuff. i heard (saw) plenty of pros use it.. so eh.. i'm guessing it's nice.

crate is decent.

the new fender cyber-twin sunds AWESOME.

-jamie

[Rocguitar]

I havn't played any amp that was good enough at on board effects to give up pedals. And since i play pedals i want a clean amp. I have to like Fender. Marshalls seem to have a lot of buzz, at least the ones i'v played.

[thesteve]

i really like the Fender overdrive...it suits some of the stuff i do. Crate OD is fun too.

[Jael]

I know you guys have alot of obscure amp favorites, but I really think that Vox MUST be added to that list! Vox made the standard class A amp for all other too follow. Rock and Roll was built on their sounds! I know you might think that only the Beatles, Stones, The Who, and all of the other Brit Invasion bands played Vox, but even old-skool R&B legends like little Richard and James Brown ran that sweet, sweet,clippy Vox tone.

[GMartin2R]

I'm a fender person.

got a stage 160.

nothin fancy, just a 160wtt powerhouse. nice having all that power.:kgrin:

through an rp-2000 you can get some serious tones out of that thing.

clean tones are good and the distortion is okay. i use it more for a volume booster.

[thesteve]

it's a powerhouse alright...i can't even imagine it right now. i ran a stage 100 in GC at a volume of like .5 and i was hurting my ears. it was hilarious.

[smitty2622]

VOX ROCKS VOX VOX VOX THE BOX THAT ROCKS :kgrin:

[nate95366]

Old threads...............:kwink:

Well, if you read my post on page 1, that was before I picked up an older Mesa/Boogie Studio .22 that someone else had dropped on its head (not literally, but I had to take it back to Petaluma for repairs right away to get it working properly). That amp just seems like it's the soul-mate for my Tele. It's class A only, so it gets quite warm in there and it's a set of power tubes every 6 months (which isn't too bad, considering what I spend on strings....). People I've talked to say it will do anything well besides "new metal." I've never played "new metal" and I don't suppose I will start as I get older....:kwink: So right now, I'd have to say that a little M/B combo, given some TLC, is the stuff!!!

Nate

Of course those Riveras and Soldanos are cloud 9.......

[Jael]

Vox amps just have the best tone, feel and body. PERIOD. Every note rings true on a Vox amp distorted and clean. It's so true.

[stratocaster70]

i have a fender hot rod deville 2x12 and i love it. for a good clean sound fender 65 reverb is the way to go. now for a tough dirty sound the mesa boogie dual rectifier is it.:D

[96-speed]

Mesa: 50w Single Recto with a 2x12 vert recto cab. Mesa is what I chose.

Pick an amp you like with your ears, then save up and buy what you want, not what you'll settle for, unless you don't plan on using it much...

My .02


Ryan

[Jael]

Vox or Mesa, which are two of the most used amps today are still not in that poll... please..... put Vox in there!!!!!

[EJGam]

I'm currently using marshall's avt but I've been experimenting with a pre-amp emulator GT-6, and I've been really pleased with the Vox and Fender tones. Each has it's own characteristics and are proper for different scenarios.
I wish a could afford the real stuff.
Thumbs up for VOX, FENDER, AND MARSHALL!!!!!!!


E.J.

[Spydog1985]

I'm sorry to be so rude...but whoever made this post is retarted......HOW CAN U NOT PUT "MESA" ON THE LIST?!??!?!?!??
they are by FAR the BEST AMPS EVER MADE.....For those a little slow, EVERYONE USES THEM........AND THAT"S BECAUSE THEY ROCK!!!!!FENDER BASSMANS come close, even mabye better on the clean, but Mesa is definatley the best over fender and even the "good" marshalls.....as for line six, dont get me started....stupid synths.....notice noone uses them? hmm.....wonder why...anyways..that's my soap box....

MESA!MESA!MESA!MESA!(etc.)

[GMartin2R]

I'm sorry to be so rude...but whoever made this post is retarted......HOW CAN U NOT PUT "MESA" ON THE LIST?!??!?!?!??
they are by FAR the BEST AMPS EVER MADE.....For those a little slow, EVERYONE USES THEM........AND THAT"S BECAUSE THEY ROCK!

Well here's one guitarist who doesn't use one. and doesn't mind. I use the digitalized version and am satisfied with that. i need flexability. my amp does that.

it's a powerhouse alright...i can't even imagine it right now. i ran a stage 100 in GC at a volume of like .5 and i was hurting my ears. it was hilarious.

Yeah I have the gain in 4 and the volume at 1\2 and it is as loud as my clean channel with the volume on 4 and my EQ barely cracked.

It it's nice. I love having al that power:kgrin:

[teleman]

Played most all of them but in todays setting, smaller venues, the need for increased flexibility, and portability the Line 6 outdoes them all. Played a little spider through the sound system at an outdoor event and it kicked and never had the vol over 3. At the end of the service I picked my 30lb amp up and went home. The problem with the big boys is you have to push them to almost maximum to get the tone and then your driving everyone else up the wall. Look at the spider, the flextone series and if you really want a all out amp go for the vetta

[Lightinthedark]

I think that the Crate FX series are pretty good for someone who doesn't have the money for pedals, or a Cyber-Twin type amp. The GFX-15 is an excellent at-home amp. I'm looking in to the GFX-20 or 30. I anybody knows of anything seriously wrong with either of those, plese tell me. Real problems only please, not just anti-Crate prejudice. They're not the highest quality brand, but good affordable stuff for the recreational player.

[Spydog1985]

ok...
lemme clear this up...
Anyone IMPORTANT uses Mesa....I sure as heck don't, jsut cause i'[m no milionaire, but just look at mesa's web page/list of users. Everyone has somethin by them...Any decent guitarist knows Mesa is the best made amp equip. now...

Peace in the Middle East!!!lololol

[nate95366]

I use Mesa, and as far as guitar goes, I don't consider myself all that important :kduh: And as an aside, Mesa does make good stuff, but I think I'd trade mine for a Crate if my ears liked the Crate better - know what I mean? (so far, I haven't found a Crate that was up to the task, but hey...?)

Oh, and I'd trade for a Matchless sight unseen. :kwink:

Nate

[Jael]

Sooooooo..... Vox and Mesa are going up in the poll right?

[nate95366]

Dunno. It looks like our wonderful moderating people either don't have that ability for this (old) thread anymore or have chosen not to exercise that ability or are just plain unaware that there's a request floating out there.....

Nate

[thesteve]

actually spy...i talked to a guy the other day who hates Mesa's...it's funny. he's in a band, but finds them practically useless because the drve on the rectifier (according to him) as screaming highs and lots of low range, but very poor mid-range, which is what he wants in his sound. last i talk to him he was using a Marshall AVT combo to drive a 4x12 cab i think...he said he liked his Marshall alot more than the Mesa he'd used.

[BowoW]

Originally posted by Spydog1985
ok...
lemme clear this up...
Anyone IMPORTANT uses Mesa....I sure as heck don't, jsut cause i'[m no milionaire, but just look at mesa's web page/list of users. Everyone has somethin by them...Any decent guitarist knows Mesa is the best made amp equip. now...

Peace in the Middle East!!!lololol


1. not everybody good uses it
2. it's personal preference.. not u gotta get this cuz it's cool.
3. not everybody that has it is important :p
4. at least play it more than just at the shop to justify please, if u just HEARD it.. don't judge, PLAY it.
5. mesa is nice. but i doubt the best.

-jamie

[jguitarfreak]

Why is Ibanaz even on this list? They make the worst amps ever. I have a 10watter and it is pathetic. My friends Gorrila sounds better.

[BowoW]

Originally posted by jguitarfreak
Why is Ibanaz even on this list? They make the worst amps ever. I have a 10watter and it is pathetic. My friends Gorrila sounds better.

yea.. ibanez should stick with making guitars .. i like their sweatshirts though :p

-jamie

[thesteve]

yeah yeah...guitar company clothing is rad...i have a fender shirt...i love it.

[GMartin2R]

I need to get one but haven't yet...

ideally a fender one and a martin one...

[Spydog1985]

ok....for defense....
Ok, yeah...
1.everyone who uses mesa isn't important(i'm getin a 3 rec. in a month), BUT everyone important(almost;) ) uses mesa....

2. Mesa is EXTREMELY HARD to drive well....just a touch of one of the knobs changes the whole sound....it takes soooo much time to make one sound right, but it's the MOST flexible amp out there that is total tube....(so basically, the guy who hates Marshall doesn't know jack, especially since he's using an AVT, which, ask anyone, are TERRIBLE!!).....dont belive what i've said? take it from tons of other people...goto www.harmony-central.com and click on user reviews. check out the 3 channel triple rectifier(most popular) and u'll see exactly what i've said, jsut from peole that actually have experience w/one..(u'll even see a few bad ones from stupid new guitarists!!!lol)

3. If u like Crate, play it, but everyone knows that Mesa is sooo much better than Crate and, at least for now, even marshall(look at marshshalls AVT150 head ratings too)....i dont think anyone w/experience would say Crate is better than Mesa....

that's my soapbox...sorry, i just had to let it out of me......

:)

[BowoW]

stop basing things on popularity.. it doesn't mean much.

-jamie

[jarhead]

My vote's gotta go to marshall, love my Jcm-900 cab and g-100rcd head. However, it is quite heavy so if anyone has any suggestions to a lighter travel amp that has similar tone and not incredibly expensive I would be all ears, maybe a 20watter avt?? Or how would vox compare in tone??

[SenorPapaCabasa]

Marshall... just cuz its what i have


every company has their top of the line amp that is good

[thesteve]

it's pretty hard to say that my friend doesn't know jack...he just knows what sound he likes for the money he has. seriously...i've heard his AVT, and for the sound he wants, it works perfectly fine. in fact when he told me it was an AVT i was hecka surprised.

the fact that Mesa's have all that range was one of the reasons he didn't like it. i mean there are guitarists who play all sorts of styles all at the same time, so an amp with alot of range would be good for them...however if you use your amp for your band that has a certain sound, then there's no reason to buy an amp that covers lots of sounds you'll never use.

and yeah...popularity doesn't mean very much out in the guitar world. in fact popularity doesn't mean much of anything at all. remember the ford edsel? it was not very popular when it was made. was it good? probably...but it had features that people just didn't have much use for at the time so it wasn't popular.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

I like the vintage crate GX 40-C I have

200 Watts in a combo with great tone and drive.

The clean is ok, but needs major proccessing to sound good

[teleman]

oh me, lets not forget the guitarist and the gift behind the guitarist and the giver of the gift. oh to make such broad statements. most of your tone comes from the player and their ability to elicit the tone from the instrument of which the amplifier does just as it name implies. One of the great blues players Albert King (which Clapton got a lot of his stuff from) was a solid state user. Peavey solid states are good amps. And I don't care who you talk to solid state does clean better than any tube amp can imagine. There is a lot of hype about tubes and most solid states don't get the credit they deserve. Technology is good, it brought about the electric guitar to begin with and tube amps followed suite because that was all they had. Lay odds you don"t have a turntable with vinyl albums playing through a tube amplifier. I'll bet you listen to your albums (with tube amp recordings) on cd's through a solid state sound system. Now come on.
I play for One and really not to appease or to be popular. Again if the focus is on the gear then we are focused on the wrong thing as christian musicians. The Giver of the gift will let His sound come through a pignose practice amp if He wants and it will sound awesome. And He doesnt need defending :) Peace

but it's the MOST flexible amp out there that is total tube....(so basically, the guy who hates Marshall doesn't know jack, especially since he's using an AVT, which, ask anyone, are TERRIBLE!!).....

[GMartin2R]

i'm pretty satisfied with my SS amp.

it does my job quite well IMO.

[smitty2622]

I use a 10 watt ss amp at home and a 30 watt VOX at Church, I dont care for Marshall either, my home amp is apevey decade not bad I've been playing that amp for about 18 years and I can get all kinds of sounds out of it. But I love my VOX if it broke tomarow I'd buy another one tomarow..

[Jael]

VOX!
I'm about $635.00 dollars away from getting the New AD-120! Mmm.... I can't wait....

VOX!

[GMartin2R]

how much is that amp?

you have more now then i spent on mine.

[nate95366]

I'm about $635.00 dollars away from getting the New AD-120! Mmm.... I can't wait....


Keep in mind that he might be talking about Canadian dollars, of which everything costs significantly more of.

Nate

[Pete_H]

Originally posted by nate95366
Dunno. It looks like our wonderful moderating people either don't have that ability for this (old) thread anymore or have chosen not to exercise that ability or are just plain unaware that there's a request floating out there.....

Sorry guys, I haven't read this thread before. I usually stick to the acoustic stuff. If you guys want something added to a poll just e-mail me or contact one of the other mods. I haven't been on in a few days so I didn't know you wanted this poll edited. I added Mesa Boogie, and Vox. If you want anymore just let us know.

[GMartin2R]

Originally posted by nate95366


Keep in mind that he might be talking about Canadian dollars, of which everything costs significantly more of.

Nate

good point

never thought of that.

[Jael]

Keep in mind that he might be talking about Canadian dollars, of which everything costs significantly more of.
LOL! Sad but true.
The amp will come up to $1400 after taxes. That includes the floorboard. Which is $200. I've been going hungry for a while... I need that cash! lol...
VOX ROXZ

[Jael]

Hey, Thanxz Pete!

[Jc]

You forgot Carvin, I refuse to vote.

I would vote Marshell, but I only know them for good acoustic amps.

[JonnyBoy]

how come roland was never even mensioned in this whole forum er whatever? what do you guys think of it? I have the JC120 and I like it a lot!

I also have a friend that says marshells and boogies are pieces of poopoo. ok I know that touched a few hundred nerves. he has his tone and style and in his eyes he thinks everything else is bad I guess.

what do you guys think about rolands?

[nate95366]

I'd say that one of my favorite amps to listen to (I don't own one) is a Roland Blues Cube, but I still like my little Boogie better.......

Nate

[mesabooger]

I like my little boogie too.

[JaredR]

crate is crap.......I dont care for fender.......My fav are the JCM marshalls.......I might change my mind if I ever played one of those custom made........but theres no way Id pay that much for an amp

[hippyfoot]

lemme remind some of you younger ones that praise mesa boogie and marshall who gove them there kick start. both were hot rodded versions of fender amps. the marshall was built to the exact specs as a fender bassman buit because of the difference in parts jim marshall could get it turned into the famous marshall sound. mesa boogies were fender princeton reverbs that were serioulsy jacked up. and santana and jerry garcia were the first two big artists that used mesa.

i would love to get a

dumble
solando
mesa boogie mark 2 c+ (listen to any old 80's metallica)
matchless= i think i would trabde my ability to have children for one of these

dang who wouldnt love to have a bogner or a harry joyce amp

[Michael]

trace elliot all the way

[strangeperson11]

i voted crate, but i like my little peavey...

[Daniel Horney]

I spend way too much money of guitar stuff...incidentally i have either owned or played through all of these amps and I say none of the above/fender. I run 2 amps on stage...i use a fender hot rod deville for my clean channel but for any kind of dirty sound, I go with a peavy 5150. Its just rediculously good. I overdrive the tubes on the rythem channel for a nice smooth distortion and the lead channel is just plain hoss! Its got an in line fx loop and i can set the volume on 3.5 to fill a room without a PA sysyem.. just my two cents.

[Griffon]

Originally posted by Basstyke
I'll stick with Crate.

Yay!!!! Another Crater like me!!!!

I have a crate 120 watt 2x12 that will fill my church gym at like 3.5. I mostly use it as a monitor for my acoustic and it puts out nearly perfect acoustic tones. The amp itself will outplay my churches PA system.

[Nathanael]

where's peavey?