Doom/stoner/metal amp; need OHM help from amp gurus

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:47 am

Come on then. Give me some suggestions. I'm looking at a budget of about Â£400-Â£600, possibly more and hopefully including at least one or two 12" speakers (maybe even Â£800 for a full head+2x12cab setup). I was considering the Tiny Terror. It's low wattage but I'm going to be playing shitty pubs, maybe one or two large clubs, so I was wondering if it would handle the POWAH or if I might need to graduate to the Dual Terror. Another option was one of the new Ampeg SVT 15watt heads, or even the 1x12 50 watt combo in the same range. Unsure of any other decent options. I'm tuned low to A standard, so it needs to be able to handle some fairly low tuned sustained notes.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:26 am

Matamp - secondhand bargains abound in that price range. There a good forum with a healthy classifieds, mainly UK-based too.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:28 am

Inb4 some fucker suggests a Peavey Bandit, as ALWAYS.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:39 am

Surely the best bet would be that Dark Terror thing and a cheapie 1x15" cab.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:51 am

Fucking +1 for Matamp, always loved them, no idea why I didn't think of one straight away.

I love the look of the 1224 MKII, I'll keep an eye out for second-handers but how much would they be brand new? They don't say on the site.

Mike, the Dark Terror + 15" cab was another idea I'd been toying around with. I was worried it would just sound too metal, though, which was why I was looking more toward the regular TT (more versatile too?). All of this would mean potentially selling the Classic 30 off as well, if only for the fact that I just won't have space for it anymore.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:00 am

My dual terror can handle those kind of sounds like a champ.
If you don't want a clean channel, just a dirty one, a tiny is probably enough. I use the tiny terror channel has my main dirt, and i rarely have the volume control over 9 o'clock in band rehearsal.

Post by **Mike** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:13 am

ekwatts wrote:Fucking +1 for Matamp, always loved them, no idea why I didn't think of one straight away.

I love the look of the 1224 MKII, I'll keep an eye out for second-handers but how much would they be brand new? They don't say on the site.

Mike, the Dark Terror + 15" cab was another idea I'd been toying around with. I was worried it would just sound too metal, though, which was why I was looking more toward the regular TT (more versatile too?). All of this would mean potentially selling the Classic 30 off as well, if only for the fact that I just won't have space for it anymore.

Nah, the TT has a shit clean sound anyway, don't compromise.

If you're BAD ENOUGH to play Stoner Metal then that's ALL you should play.

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:17 am

4x12 or 2x15 - MINIMUM.

dub · Post by **dub** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:32 am

Loudest amp you can find. It's really more about the groove. Metal amps work fine for all those southern sludge bands.

Secondhand Laney probably your best bet. Cheap as chips.

MrJamesBrown · Post by **MrJamesBrown** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:59 am

How about the Dual Terror?

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:20 pm

MrJamesBrown wrote:How about the Dual Terror?

Already discussed.

I've sent a price enquiry off to Matamp for a 1224 MKII without effects loop or built in reverb (half because I never, ever use such things, half because I'm wondering if it will save moneys). I asked for it in black and gold. Was considering white tolex and gold as well, but I figure getting a matching cab would be a big fat pain in the dick. I was also considering asking if they'd make a 1x15" unloaded cab to match but I'll leave it for now and wait to see what they say about the amp. There's not much on eBay just at the moment.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:39 pm

I played with quite a lot of Stoner bands and the popular theme was Matamp, Orange and Les Pauls or SGs.

But I think its more about your tuning and how you play than specific gear. The only thing that seemed essential to me was a 4x12 for that low end.

Ben79 · Post by **Ben79** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:41 pm

If you don't need tube distortion then you could always go for a silverface bassman and use pedals. Or an old Sound City or Carlsboro or Selmer etc. Obviously you won't be respected though. For that you will need a Matamp/White/Green/Orange. You can get a S/H Matamp for that money. Personally I would keep away from little Chinese PCB machines in favour of something sturdier and handwired.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:58 pm

On a budget, I'd say Crate Blue Voodoo.
Once you get passed the Cratelolz and the fairly shitty cosmetics (black it out with acrylic paint) , you'll find that it's a very capable metal amp with power to spare.

Their low pricepoint lets you invest in what I think is really the key factor in coping the kind of sounds you describe, a good quality 4x12 loaded with nice speakers.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:04 pm

I'm still considering enlisting some poor sucker to build me a 1x15"+1x12" in a single cab, do you think that would be a good stand-in for a 4x12?

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:11 pm

ekwatts wrote:I've sent a price enquiry off to Matamp for a 1224 MKII without effects loop or built in reverb

I'd be interested in hearing what they say. This is something of a dream amp for me.

I understand they're pricey now, though, like around a grand for a head.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:12 pm

I can't tell you it won't but it's probably not te easiest route to "that sound", if you know what i mean?
The easiest way I've come across making things sound Doomy/Stonery has involved pushing speakers to the point of breakup.
This requires a lot of power from an amplifier and a speaker cabinet/array that will sound good when implemented in that way.
The golden rule for that seems to be 1, large speaker surface (so either a lot of speakers or a couple really big ones) and 2, a nice sounding closed back cab.

George · Post by **George** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:13 pm

ekwatts wrote:I'm still considering enlisting some poor sucker to build me a 1x15"+1x12" in a single cab, do you think that would be a good stand-in for a 4x12?

You could buy a harley benton 212 and cut a new baffle cheaply enough. Closed back and everything.

EDIT: Oh wait I read 1x10" and 1x12" for some reason.

Ben79 · Post by **Ben79** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:19 pm

Secondhand Laney probably your best bet. Cheap as chips.

ebay

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 1:30 pm

dub wrote:Secondhand Laney probably your best bet. Cheap as chips.

+1

also don't go for just 15W