Played a Rockerverb 50 MKII combo today in a local music store. LOVED the dirt channel but the clean channel was really disappointing though. I had heard it sparkled a bit better. I was playing a Fat Strata lot like mine through it. Now I want the MKI but I can't really imagine the sound of the clean channel is really much different between the two. The only difference is EL-34's instead of 6v6's. Could this really affect the clean tone a lot? I've never been able to play a MKI.

Secondly I plugged into a Fender Hot Rod 112. The cleans were absolutely perfect. Drive channel left something to be desired (but as far as a gritty bluesy sound, it nailed it. My only problem is it didn't get dirty ENOUGH) and they have a shared EQ. The whole shared EQ factor used to really turn me off about the Hot Rood's but I don't really care much now. The drive channel doesn't really betray the tone you get by EQing in a tone with the clean channel. I just wish I could just push these two amps into each toher ad have the cleans of the Hot Rod and the dirt of the Rockerverb. A Rocker Rod if you will. I wish I knew how to build amps!

To the point. I play in a band that needs that clean tone and doesn't call for heavy distorion but I have other projects I'm working on that get pretty heavy. I go from grunge type sounds to progressive almost metal. (Metal out of a fender amp... Yeah right.)

My question in all this is, with effects pedals could I get a good prog-y and heavy sound out of the Hot Rod? I mean...at least until I can get my hands on enough money to own both amps.

Not to mention the Hot rod is MUCH cheaper than the Rockerverb. What do you guys think?

metal out of a fender amp isnt hard to imagine actually. Mesa started out with modified fenders and fender actually made an amp called the m80 that was a high gain heavy dist amp if im not mistaken. Ummm but as far as diversity i would look into either a good modelling amp or an amp that has a good clean that takes well to pedals.

__________________
Hamer Sat2 or Jackson JRR-94 Rhoads>Laney gc80a or hc25(practice).

Hamer(standard tuning) Ernie ball Slinkies
Rhoad JRR 94' (still fiddling with)
Alvarez Dana Scoop (standard tuning) D'adarrio 10's

Thats weird that the Rockerverb didn't have great cleans, my friend has the 50W head version and it has an amazing powerful clean tone. Not sure what revision it is though.

__________________
Fender Strat
Fender Blacktop Tele
TB FX Loop/Channel Switcher > (in loop) > Mojo Hand Analog Filter > EQD Dream Crusher Fuzz > Subdecay Liquid Sunshine > Frazz Dazzler > Line 6 M9 > EHX Memory Toy > (end of loop)
Soldano HR50+

Rig Thread

I'll be trying out a Fender Supersonic combo tomorrow or the saturday after - the 22 watt one whose clean channel is based on a Deluxe Reverb's and has a gain channel too. iirc the eq for the channels is separate and the distortion tones are pretty good. I'll keep you guys posted about how it sounds because it might be what you're looking for too.

__________________
Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster -> TU-3 -> Fulltone OCD -> RV-5 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> Small Clone -> MXR Carbon Copy -> DD-3 -> RV-3 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> Boss LS-2 -> custom RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-5 -> USB preamp/mixer

Not really wanting a modelling amp. You don't think the Hot Rod will take pedals very well?

Well it wasn't with my guitar and I could crank it up too awfully loud. Still though I was just as surprised. I had heard it had wonderful clean tones. The Head I played one day at another shop sounded pretty good actually. But I'm thinking the Rockerverb may be out of my price range for now anyway.

Yeah thanks! I'd appreciate that. Only problem is I want a little more push than 22 watts. Need lot's of headroom. The Hot Rod I was looking at was 40 watts.

Was not impressed with the Orange Rockerverb 50 MKII. I played the MKI head version, and well, definitely had mojo for days. Clean channel had that fat fenderish sound because of the 6V6, and the 2 band EQ Look into it, don't think you'll be disappointed! I was testing high gain amps one day, as I was replacing my Dual Rec. Played a Mesa Lonestar that was awesome, especially boosted, had great metal tones, JCM800, that well, I had the guy at the front of the store telling me to turn it down, even though I was in a sealed room, Mesa MKV, which was cool, too many features. If I'd had the money that day, I would've walked home with that Orange!
Tested all these in a back room cranked, all through the same cab.

The amp you want is out there, but don't settle if you know there's something better for you!

I prefer the Hot Rod Deville 4x10s, but I always like being called the loud one

__________________
ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

Hot Rod Deluxe takes pedals extremely well. For your not so heavy band a tubescreamer(ish) drive and Rat will cover just about everything and both these pedals sound great with that amp. As for the prog metal side, I think it would be doable, it's just a matter of finding the right pedal. I'd look at some of the "amp in a box" type distortion pedals that have cropped up like the Wampler ones or the Sansamp character series things. I haven't tried any of the Wampler but I was watching a video demo of the SLOstortion and it sounded great and could be worth investigating for prog metal.

__________________
Crustaceo ergo sum

I didn't really care for the Lonestar. Played it the other day when i played the other amps. I honestly want a MKI head. I just am gassed up I guess haha. I just want a new amp so bad. I was actually playing my Bandit today and found a really nice tone on the dirt channel which I've not really been able to do so before. The MKI is just out of my price range right now. I only have about $1000 to spend. Maybe I'll just save up. Because I'd have to get a cab for it anyway.

I use a Danelectro Fabtone right now for my main distortion. I'd like something that sounds like that but with a little more control over the tone.

What do you guys think of the Boss OS-2? I was playing it at a guitar store on one fo those walls of Boss pedals and thought I had hit the DS-2 and thought "Man...that's pretty heavy. Doesn't sound like the DS-2's I've played before." I actually liked it a bit but I'm wondering what kind of impressions my fellow geeks have.

If it's your thing, do it, I've always kept a Rat on hand just in case, as my distortion has mainly been amp, but I boost them as well. I've never really been a fan of Boss pedals, but well, if anything

Daniel Ekeroth Demonstrates Swedish Death Metal Guitar Sound - YouTube

Best of luck dude!

__________________
ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

Haha. NOT the sound I'm going for but hey to each their own. I really like my Fabtone honestly. Maybe it just needs some modding to make it a little less fizzy. There's just so many boutique distortion pedals too. It's hard to find one. I want amp distortion but...it'll be a while before I can get that Rockerverb.

You could try adding an EQ pedal in the mean time, it will add a ton of flexibility and probably hold you over until you can get the amp you want.

I second Supergrunged about waiting for the amp you want. Not that it isn't fun to try new gear and change it up, but if you find something that you know will work best its worth saving up for. Especially in the amp department.

__________________
Fender Strat
Fender Blacktop Tele
TB FX Loop/Channel Switcher > (in loop) > Mojo Hand Analog Filter > EQD Dream Crusher Fuzz > Subdecay Liquid Sunshine > Frazz Dazzler > Line 6 M9 > EHX Memory Toy > (end of loop)
Soldano HR50+

Rig Thread

This guy ^ beerski, has an amp I'd have sex with. I'd like an Avenger, but if they made the SLO in a 50 or 60 watt head, I'd be all over it like a free lapdance from a stripper. For now, I'm second best with Laney, until I can afford a Soldano.....

I second the EQ, though I use a boost with everything I plug into.....

And the link was just for a laugh I don't like Boss pedals, I prefer true bypass, just me though. Just don't cut yourself short, or you'll be paying double just to get what you want.

BTW, my distortion tone for 3 years was a DOD Grunge even when I had a Carvin X-60B head, or a Mesa Studio Preamp. Thinking of another Grunge pedal now Just didn't get my dream of a Dual Rectifier, until it was infront of me, and I sold everything for it. Besides my best guitar of course.

__________________
ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

I have no idea why i didn't think of an EQ. It would help tons with the Fabtone! Thanks!

And yeah I'm going to use the money for a better laptop so I can start using it for my recording projects in school. I nee d a MacBook. The Rockerverb will have to wait.

An amp is no good without a guitar...I guess unless you're playing keys through it or just want to make random noise.

Either way I'm going to 1. have to check out this Amp beerski has and 2. Inform you that it was not a Lonestar I played through the other day it was actually a Transatlantic. The point is I didn't like it.

And the buffers in Boss pedals aren't so bad actually. The only 2 Boss pedals I want for sure on my board are a DD-7 and CE-5 so I'll be alright.

Thanks again everyone! I can always depend on my fellow geeks.

So, I'm not much of a metal head, and I've probably mentioned these amps a couple of times but I can't really get over their versatility. Check out Blackstar! They are extremely versatile (IMO) as far as cleans and distortion.

I've only messed around with the lower wattage (20 watts and less) on the distortion, because I've never really wanted to crank up the 40 watters in the store. But I've heard the higher wattage versions have GREAT gain channels and I loved the 40 watter's clean channel and I'm big into Fender's cleans.

Just another idea you may want to look into.

__________________
Fender American Deluxe Strat/ Michael Kelly Deuce Phoenix (With WCR Betset)/Epi Les Paul (Pearly Gates)> Garmopat Mod TS9> ED Hoof Fuzz> Garmopat Mod Crybaby> MXR Dyna Comp> Ibanez FL9> BYOC Phase 90> Ernie Ball VP JR> MXR Carbon Copy> Fender Blues Deluxe

Well, you can never have too much gear. I'll have to check them out. I've heard some good things about Blackstar as well but I've never had a chance to play one. Never even seen one honestly.