Question:
Now i love my mesa, well at least the Rythem 2 and lead channel. I just don't think any thing sounds better than the lead. But here comes the problem. I am really movong into country music, and the clean channel just doesn't do it. I have played with it for more than20 hours and just not getting the sound i want. I am really looking for that Brad Paisley, brent Mason tone(go figure). NOw i know that half of it is in the hands, but the mesa is murdering me, well least to my ears. Its the most annoying thing having the tone in your head and then no even getting close. I know getting a new amp won;t be perfect but maybe it will get me in the same ZIP code. Right now i am considering a DR Z., Vox AC-30, or a Bad Cat. I am really looking into the DR Z. Prescription ES, StringRay, and Maz 18. With the Prescription being in the lead. I plan on trying to have something done by my birthday April 16, give or take a month. I will not be selling my boogie mark IV. For the other amps are not high gain that then would leave me wanting for my mesa not solving a problem. SO this is the paln. I would like some input on these amps, possilbe other choices, and just overall your thoughts and opinions. Thanks for the help. Here is the links to the sites.
http://drzamps.com/
http://badcatamps.com/
http://www.voxamps.co.uk/
Answer:
all of your options are excellent suggestions. bad cats are nice, but i think that the dr. z will NAIL that Brad Paisley tone.*does he not use one himself?* from my experience, they take effects very well and have that overly clean feel that you're thinking of. The Bad Cats are not a poor option by any streach of the imagination, but i think the Dr. Z will get you closer. The AC-30 type amps tend to be very colored, and dont offer the transparency of the BC or the Dr. Z. A good tele and that Prescription ES will get you 80% of the way there. good luck.
Answer:
I know I have a different Mesa (Studio .22), but I'm able to come fairly close to that sparkly country tone by keeping the gain really low, with the master volume cranked and dialing in a lot of presence and high-end EQ.
The amps you've mentioned sound like it might be easier to replicate this tone with. I've heard good things about all of them. Of the 3, I've only ever played through an AC-30, but that was a while ago. The amp I've played through most recently that seemed to be saying "this machine is built for good country tone" was a 1960's era Fender Vibrolux Reverb Amp. It was an "I could sound like Brad Paisley if I only had the chops" moment for me... I don't think many of those old Fenders are in great playing shape anymore, though, so it would probably be better to find a newer amp. Anyways, just my thoughts...
Nate
Answer:
Look no further. Carvin v3.
The 2x12 combo was just put up on Carvin's site for ordering today. Check out my thread in the Amp forum.
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I would look hard at the new Fender SuperSonic that was introduced at the NAMM show this year. The new SuperSonic is the new replacment in the Fender line for the Prosonic and should have a KILLER clean with high gain crunch in the same amp. I have one of the Prosonics designed by Bruce Zinky that I have used in a new Country band with success. The Super has created a BIG buzz in the Prosonic fanatical fan base and promises to be a real killer. The SuperSonic promises to have the better cleans than the Prosonic and a smoother high gain crunch with the addition of dual eq`s. At least give one a spin as the MSR price of $1495 for the 1/12 combo and arround a grand or so out the door is in the ballpark.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Building429_Boy Look no further. Carvin v3.
The 2x12 combo was just put up on Carvin's site for ordering today. Check out my thread in the Amp forum. Way to many knobs, that reminds of my mesa. I am just looking for an am to give me that country tone. It just needs to go from clean to hair on it.
Answer:
If you're moving into country you should get a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or any other Fender tube combo amp.
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Originally Posted by nate95366 I know I have a different Mesa (Studio .22), but I'm able to come fairly close to that sparkly country tone by keeping the gain really low, with the master volume cranked and dialing in a lot of presence and high-end EQ.
The amps you've mentioned sound like it might be easier to replicate this tone with. I've heard good things about all of them. Of the 3, I've only ever played through an AC-30, but that was a while ago. The amp I've played through most recently that seemed to be saying "this machine is built for good country tone" was a 1960's era Fender Vibrolux Reverb Amp. It was an "I could sound like Brad Paisley if I only had the chops" moment for me... I don't think many of those old Fenders are in great playing shape anymore, though, so it would probably be better to find a newer amp. Anyways, just my thoughts...
Nate THe Mesa does clean great, but its not the country tone i am looking for. I can hear it my head and on every country CD, but i just can't get it with the mesa.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Building429_Boy Look no further. Carvin v3.
The 2x12 combo was just put up on Carvin's site for ordering today. Check out my thread in the Amp forum.
i was under the impression that these were more "nu-metal"ish amps. and i personally am not a fan of carvin amplification. maybe im just scared of too many knobs. but at any rate, brad paisley is another world here. and i think that combo is a bit under his budget, is it not?
Answer:
Originally Posted by omensixaxe i was under the impression that these were more "nu-metal"ish amps.
Definently not. They have Fender cleans and Marshall/Mesa distortion.
Originally Posted by omensixaxe and i personally am not a fan of carvin amplification. maybe im just scared of too many knobs. but at any rate, brad paisley is another world here. and i think that combo is a bit under his budget, is it not?
What's wrong with versatility?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Building429_Boy Definently not. They have Fender cleans and Marshall/Mesa distortion.
What's wrong with versatility? Well the carvin is ruled our a couple reasons. I want an amp with EL-84 tubes. The carvin does not. And no there is nothing wrong with versatility, but i have learned more knobs does not mean better tone. My mesa has a tone of knobs and a then most of them are push and pull. After while it becomes hard to just to walk up and get the tone you wnat. You play around along enough you will get it, but not quick. Everytime i change one thing i have to change another ten. I want something simpler. I don't even want to switch channels, i do it myself. Another reason the carvin wouldn't work for me is that all i would want on its the clean channel, i just might as well buy the fender that will sound like a fender and not act like one.
Answer:
Originally Posted by wesley7777 Well the carvin is ruled our a couple reasons. I want an amp with EL-84 tubes. The carvin does not. And no there is nothing wrong with versatility, but i have learned more knobs does not mean better tone. My mesa has a tone of knobs and a then most of them are push and pull. After while it becomes hard to just to walk up and get the tone you wnat. You play around along enough you will get it, but not quick. Everytime i change one thing i have to change another ten. I want something simpler. I don't even want to switch channels, i do it myself. Another reason the carvin wouldn't work for me is that all i would want on its the clean channel, i just might as well buy the fender that will sound like a fender and not act like one.
Then if you want simplicity, I'd look into BadCat and Dr.Z amps like you said above. I think Carvin's only true "versatile" amp is the V3. I have an MTS (almost) and it is very simple:
Channel 1 (lead): Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble, Volume.
Channel 2 (clean): Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble, Volume.
Master Controls: Presence, Reverb.
Same with the Legacy, which sounds incredible. If I was doing gigs and had some more money, I'd have my hands on a Legacy.
Answer:
I also used to own a Mesa Studio 22. It couldn't get me close to the cleans that the Dr Z amps provided. I love both of my Zs (Carmen Ghia and Z28) but for cleans, I would have to suggest the Z28 (although not EL84s) or a Prescription ES/Stingray.
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I think you want a Fender Twin amp. The 100 watts will give you plenty of headroom for those clean sounds. My Bandmaster Reverb is 40 watts, but it still has a lot of headroom.
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You mentioned Brad Paisley - what I read was that he used a 60's AC30 for quite some time, and fairly recently had DR Z put together a more road-worthy / reliable amp for him. I played thru one of the AC30 CC's at Sam Ash a while back, it is impressive ! And simple contols too... I want one, but have absolutely no justification to get one. yet.