The time has come! I need the completely perfect amp

**jakse** · 01-15-2012, 11:53 AM

Hi people!

I'll soon have the money for a great amp! I am selling my dual recto 92 to get the money!
The recto never had the "thing" i liked. I really love a tight punchy rhythm tone as "ashes of the wake", dream theater, metallica and so on... The question is: which amp do i need?
will an engl be able to deliver that punch and tightness?
I missed the "fist of tight bass" with the recto. way too sloppy. Or is it the Mark IV i need? in that case, do i need to use a distortion pedal on the mark iv too?

**Richard W** · 01-15-2012, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by jakse

Hi people!

I'll soon have the money for a great amp! I am selling my dual recto 92 to get the money!
The recto never had the "thing" i liked. I really love a tight punchy rhythm tone as "ashes of the wake", dream theater, metallica and so on... The question is: which amp do i need?
will an engl be able to deliver that punch and tightness?
I missed the "fist of tight bass" with the recto. way too sloppy. Or is it the Mark IV i need? in that case, do i need to use a distortion pedal on the mark iv too?

Trust me: Blackstar series one 1046l6

**tonemonster** · 01-15-2012, 12:05 PM

if your going after dream theater and metallica tones, the mark IV is certainly a good place to start.

**jakse** · 01-15-2012, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by tonemonster

if your going after dream theater and metallica tones, the mark IV is certainly a good place to start.

well it seems like the obvious choice.

i allways associate blackstar with discount amps or something? Can it deliver a nice clean tone ?

**Richard W** · 01-15-2012, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by jakse

well it seems like the obvious choice.

i allways associate blackstar with discount amps or something? Can it deliver a nice clean tone ?

You are thinking of Blackstar's HT series of amps when you think discount amps, which still are great. The series one are the cream of the crop when it comes to amplifiers, they are all handmade. You can get a great Fender clean tone out of it. Also there are two selling points on this amp, the built in power attenuator which let's you play on 100 watts or 10 watts, all you have to do is turn the knob, and it doesn't sacrifice any tone, at 10 watts you still get the great sound of the tubes breaking up. Also, the ISF control, which on one side gets you the saturated METAL Mesa sound, turn the knob and you'll get the British punch of a Marshall.

**jakse** · 01-15-2012, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Richard W

You are thinking of Blackstar's HT series of amps when you think discount amps, which still are great. The series one are the cream of the crop when it comes to amplifiers, they are all handmade. You can get a great Fender clean tone out of it. Also there are two selling points on this amp, the built in power attenuator which let's you play on 100 watts or 10 watts, all you have to do is turn the knob, and it doesn't sacrifice any tone, at 10 watts you still get the great sound of the tubes breaking up. Also, the ISF control, which on one side gets you the saturated METAL Mesa sound, turn the knob and you'll get the British punch of a Marshall.

thanks ! ill go check it out ASAP!

**Richard W** · 01-15-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by jakse

thanks ! ill go check it out ASAP!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=wBkauwciqK0

Check out that vid. I hope you find what you're looking for.

**jakse** · 01-15-2012, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Richard W

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=wBkauwciqK0

Check out that vid. I hope you find what you're looking for.

by listening to your video and others ive looked at, I think this amp sounds better than anything else ive heard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8TzS...eature=related

**Richard W** · 01-15-2012, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by jakse

by listening to your video and others ive looked at, I think this amp sounds better than anything else ive heard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8TzS...eature=related

You can't go wrong with Mesa, have you heard the Mark V? Willie and Mark of LOG test it out on their tour bus in the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=2t9Hax53GNY

**petez0r** · 01-15-2012, 02:40 PM

Mark V

**Nightbat** · 01-15-2012, 06:23 PM

Randall MTS

**straycat** · 01-15-2012, 07:35 PM

The Blackstar amps don't do much for me

**tonemonster** · 01-15-2012, 08:14 PM

I think he is better off to look into the Mesa mark series amps given the tones he is looking for.

**roodyrocker** · 01-15-2012, 10:46 PM

One thing to keep in mind when thinking of Petrucci's Dream Theater tone is that its an extremely complex rig. The Mark IV may be prominent but I've seen Dream Theater live several times, Petrucci has incredible live tone. But that live rig is a multi amp setup with some sounds coming from amps, others from rack gear, and some things processed through pedals while others are through more rack gear. Expecting to reproduce that with one amp, Mesa or otherwise, is unrealistic.
Its a great tone to shoot for though! Great cleans, great distortion that smacks you in the chest, and leads that cut through without being abrasive

What amp to get? Well I suppose the Mesa Mark IV is a good start but I don't see that as being cheap. All depends on what you want to spend. For an affordable amp that can do good cleans and distortions alike, I'll second the recommendation for a Randall MTS. If you want to spend more, there are tons of options out there. I don't own an Engl but I did hear them demo'd at NAMM last year, including by Marty Friedman, sounded great to me!

**jakse** · 01-16-2012, 03:40 AM

Thanks for All the greatest Answers! Yes i know i cant reproduce that Sound, but ive seen tons videoes on youtube that defines that sweet AMP. I cant afford the v but i Can afford the iv! And the iv sounds nettet on YT

**jakse** · 01-16-2012, 03:42 AM

I dont understand your message tonemaster

**tonemonster** · 01-16-2012, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by jakse

I dont understand your message tonemaster

what I mean is, if your going to dream theater and metallica sounds, I think you can get them easier and more accurately with a Mesa Mark IV or V rather than a Blackstar or anything else as most of those tunes during that era were recorded on Mesa Mark series amps. petrucci and the metallica guys were big on them. there is a youtube vid where petrucci is demoing the Mark V, and he gets that "pull me under" tone really close by just plugging into the amp. obviously its set up for the tone, but he has no outboard gear and the sound is very close to what he had on the CD.