Whether you’re in the market for a new high-gain head or you just spend your free time searching for heavy riffage on YouTube, you’ll want to bookmark this article for reference. This month, we gathered 13 of the hottest high-gain amps on the market, brought in ace guitarists Misha Mansoor (Periphery) and Ty Dietzler (Thousand Foot Krutch), and let the cameras roll. Listen to both guitarists tearing up each channel of each amp listed below in CD-quality sound, and get a rundown of each amp’s main features. If you’re looking for a stripped-down metal machine or an amp stuffed with high-tech tools, there’s surely a monster for you.
Blackstar Series One 200
Watch:
Street $2199.99
Watts: 200
Tubes: KT88
The Series One 200 is packed with features, like Blackstar’s DPR (Dynamic Power Reduction) system, which allows users to reduce the power of the output stage from full power (200 watts) down to 10 percent (20 watts) and any power output in between.
Features
• Four footswitchable channels (Clean channel with Warm “Plexi” and Bright “Class A” type modes; Crunch channel with Crunch and Super Crunch modes)
• High and low output damping on two overdrive channels
• Two ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) equipped tone control sections, which allow the user to infinitely adjust the response of the tone control network
• Presence and Resonance controls
• Master Volume
• Series effects loop
• MIDI switching
• Speaker emulated output
Blackstaramps.co.uk
Diamond Nitrox
Watch:
Street $2199
Watts: 100
Tubes: EL34
The Nitrox claims more lows than Diamond’s other high-gain offerings, but remains tight across both channels, making it perfect for heavy rhythms and precision playing.
Features
• Two fully independent channels (Clean and Crunch)
• Volume, Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble, and Presence on each channel
• Dual Volume/Gain control on Channel 2 (switchable, allows for two gain settings with two volumes for level adjustment to match volumes)
• May be wired for 100v, 120v, 220v and 230/240v output selection
• Front panel Effects Return control, which acts as an overall master when loop is engaged for quick overall volume adjustment
Diamondamps.com
Diezel VH4
Watch:
Street $4700
Watts: 100
Tubes: EL34-BHT
The VH4 is compatible with a range of tubes (6L6, 5881, 6550, KT88), features four unique, independent preamps, and includes a number of signal routing options for the ultimate in versatility.
Features
• Four completely independent channels
• Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, and Volume on each channel
• Bright switch on Channel 2
• Switchable insert loop on each channel, with parallel and serial returns
• Master Volume, Mix, Presence, and Deep controls
• MIDI compatible
diezelamplification.com
ENGL Powerball II
Watch:
Street $2149.99
Watts: 100
Tubes: 6L6GC
The Powerball II picks up where the first one left off, giving users four channels, ENGL’s Power Tube Monitoring (PTM) system, dual masters, and a footswitchable noise gate.
Features
• Four channels (Clean, Crunch, and two Leads), each with Volume and Gain controls
• Bottom sound switches on Lead channels; Bright and Bottom sound switches on Clean and Crunch channels
• Bass, Middle, Treble EQ controls on Clean and Crunch channels; Bass, Middle or Middle-Boosted (switchable), and Treble controls on Lead channels
• Dual Master controls
• Presence and Depth Punch controls
• Footswitchable noise gate
• Footswitchable effects loop with Balance control
• Electronic Power Tube Monitoring system (PTM) with LED indication
Engl-amps.com
Framus Cobra
Watch:
Street $3973
Watts: 100
Tubes: EL34
The Cobra sports three channels, two switchable Master Volumes, and a Deep control, which allows users to dial in the amount of low end in the power amp stage.
Features
• Three channels (Clean, Crunch, and Lead)
• Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence controls for each channel
• Notch switches for Crunch and Lead
• Parallel effects loop
• Effect Mix control
• Deep control to set the amount of low end in the power amp stage
• Switchable dual Master controls
• Integrated MIDI interface
• Switchable speaker output impedance
Framus.com
Fryette Pittbull Hundred/CLX Master Built
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Street $3799
Watts: 100
Tubes: EL34
With its fat, warm sound and touch-sensitive feel, the CLX is a highly-refined tone machine packed with highly specialized features.
Features
• Three channels (Lead, Rhythm, and Clean)
• 6-band graphic EQ
• Gain Stacking, which allows users to add an additional “flying” 4th gain stage to the Lead channel for even more gain.
• Dual-Class Mode, where the two outside power tubes are Cathode Biased, while the inside two remain in Class AB. This produces a fatter midrange and smoother top and bottom end response.
• Half Power Mode
• Power Amp Mute
• Variable Line Out
• Series/Parallel Effects Loop
• Global Presence and Depth controls
Fryette.com
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Watch:
Street $2499
Watts: 100 watts
Tubes: EL34
Amp tweakers and tech geeks will love the Coreblade, which features four distinct channels, digital effects, USB-backed up amp presets, and H&K’s Tube Safety Control (TSC) system.
Features
• Four channels (Clean, Drive, Ultra I, Ultra II)
• Downloads amp presets directly to USB; also allows for backup of all amp and effects settings to USB
• 128 user presets
• Three independent Digital-FX processors: Reverb, Delay, and Modulation (giving users chorus, flanger, phaser, and tremolo effects)
• Serial/parallel effects loop
• Built-in MIDI capabilities
• Adjustable noise gate
• Tube Safety Control (TSC) system, which automatically biases the amp (allowing users to also run 6L6s) and shuts down defective tubes
Hughes-and-kettner.com
Krank Nineteen80
Watch:
Street $1299
Watts: 80
Tubes: 6550
The Nineteen80 channels the classic hard rock tones of the late ’70s and ’80s, but adds a footswitchable active effects loop with individual level controls for both the send and return.
Features
• Two footswitchable channels (Kleen and Krank)
• Separate Volume and EQ sections per channel
• Footswitchable tube-driven active effects loop
• Gain and Sweep control on Krank Channel
• Global Presence Control
• Ohm Selector
Krankamps.com
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Watch:
Street $1799
Watts: 100
Tubes: 6L6 or EL34
The latest iteration of the Dual Rec features three independent channels with eight different modes, a bold/spongy “Variac” switch, and Mesa/Boogie’s Multi-Watt technology, which allows users to assign either two or all four power tubes to each channel.
Features
• Three fully independent channels with eight modes (Channel 1 can be set to Clean or Pushed; Channels 2 and 3 can be set to Raw, Vintage High Gain or Modern High Gain)
• Each channel features Multi-Watt Power Switch (50/100 Watt), independent Gain, Treble, Mid, Bass, Presence, Master, and channel-assignable Dual Rectification with Recto Tracking
• Bias Select Switch (6L6/EL34)
• Footswitchable, fully buffered effects loop with Send Level control
• Output Level control
• Footswitchable Solo Level control (over all channels when activated)
• Bold/Spongy “Variac” Switch
• True “Hard” Bypass switch that removes effects loop, Output Level, and Solo Level controls from signal path
• Tuner Output with footswitchable mute
• Slave Out with Level control
• External switching jacks for Channels 2 and 3
Mesaboogie.com
Orange Rockerverb 100 MkII
Watch:
Street $2299
Watts: 100 watts
Tubes: EL34
This British powerhouse includes two channels and special bias switch that enables you to use 6CA7, 6L6, 5881, or KT88 tubes in the power section.
Features
• Clean and Dirty channel
• Output valve fusing system
• Bias switch, allowing users to plug in quartets of output valves of different types
• Unique “Reverse Snake 8” output transformer design
Orangeamps.com
Peavey 6534+
Watch:
Street $1159.99
Watts: 120
Tubes: EL34
The extreme gain of the 6505 Series lives on in Peavey’s 6534+, but it also incorporates a new design aimed at minimizing the noise that high-gain amps typically generate.
Features
• Footswitchable Lead/Rhythm channels
• 3-band EQ on each channel
• Resonance, Presence, Pre Gain, and Post Gain controls on each channel
• Footswitchable Crunch boost on Rhythm channel
• Bright switch on Rhythm channel
• Preamp output
• Effects loop
• Bias test point
Peavey.com
Randall RT 100
Watch:
Street $999.95
Watts: 100
Tubes: 6L6
The RT 100 offers users three channels of all-tube tone, plus a user-friendly bias section on the back, which allows users to replace and match tubes with a run-of-the-mill voltmeter.
Features
• Three footswitchable channels (Classic Clean, Classic Overdrive, Modern Overdrive), each with Bright switch
• Bass, Middle, and Treble controls
• Master Volume and Reverb controls
• Series effects loop
• User-friendly bias section on back
Randallamplifiers.com
Soldano Avenger
Watch:
Street $1820
Watts: 100
Tubes: 5881/6L6
If you want the overdrive of the legendary SLO 100, and that’s all you want, this is the amp for you. High and low gain input jacks provide the option of using the full SLO lead circuit or skipping the first gain stage for a more vintage crunch.
Features
• 3-band EQ
• Master Volume, Presence and Depth controls
• Selectable for 4-, 8-, or 16-ohm cabs
• High- and Low-gain inputs
Soldano.com
 | Download Example 1 Clean, bridge pickup |
| Download Example 2 Clean, neck pickup |
| Download Example 3 Dirty, bridge pickup |
| Download Example 4 Distortion, neck pickup |
| All clips recorded with a Gibson Les Paul Custom | |
The Specs
The 80-watt Nineteen80 head features two 6550 power tubes and five 12AX7 preamp tubes. The 6550 power tube was a popular choice among early amp mod gurus, as it’s known for a big low end and a lot of power and reliability.
The front panel features (left to right) Power and Standby switches, a Krank channel with Presence, Sweep, bass, Midrange, Treble, Master, and Gain. Following the Krank channel is the Kleen channel with Volume, Treble, and Bass controls. A channel selection switch is located between the two channels, and Input and Footswitch jacks round out the front panel on the right. The knobs are a white chicken-head type, which, combined with the “salt and pepper” basketweave, makes for a nice vintage look. Black grille cloth is also available.
The back panel is fitted with an effects loop featuring Send Level, Send and Return jacks, FX Boost button and Return Level. To the right of these controls is an ohm selector switch with selections of 4, 8, and 16 ohms, two speaker output jacks, and a voltage selector for 115 or 230 volts, allowing the amp to be easily used in other countries.
The Effects Loop
Guitarists as a whole have a love-hate relationship with effects loops. Many feel they change the sound of the amp by affecting the degree that the power section is pushed when they are not unity gain. Other concerns are that there are different level requirements depending on the effect used. If you are running an old analog delay pedal in a plus four or line level loop, it will distort the front end of the pedal and reduce it to a very undesirable tone. Meanwhile, line level rack effects usually have input and output control settings and work well with these types of loops.
Over the years, many brands of amps have tried to address this issue. Krank has finally done it. Theirs is a series tube-buffered loop with input and output levels.To further ensure that the effect level requirements are met, the FX Boost switch is provided to give the user the ability to match impedance levels specifically to whatever effects unit being used. This loop design, although it is not a new idea, remains my personal favorite. It is easy to plug and unplug your effects from the return jack and adjust for the unity gain needed to drive that power section properly. The loop also sounds very good because of the design of the tube buffering circuit. If one is so inclined, this type of loop is great for linking a couple of these monsters together. The footswitch with the amp not only controls channel switching functions, but effects loop bypass. This means that whether you are using effects or not, the levels can be set for a volume boost for solos.
Plugging In
Starting with the clean, or “Kleen,” channel. I was able to get a very pleasing high-headroom clean tone. Although there are only treble and bass tone controls, the EQ seems to be adequate for coaxing sparkling British-type clean. The tone is a bit similar to a Vox AC 50 head that I own. It’s full and warm sounding.
However, the overdrive channel is really what his amp is about, which you’d expect from a name like Krank. The Krank channel does not disappoint. It absolutely bristles with gain punch and harmonic overtones. The tone is, in fact, very reminiscent of the older modified amps I have played. The controls are wide ranging. Players who scoop the mids a bit will love the tightness this amp provides when scooped, while players who like the mids will find the midrange right where they want it to be. Krank seems to have found the magic frequency for the voicing of their Midrange control to please pretty much everyone.
Low end is big and tight, even at the highest gain settings and with the hottest humbuckers. Pick harmonics will cut through and go into feedback sustain easily. I was impressed with the overall sustain of this amp, as well—notes seemed to sustain endlessly. The one control I was a bit leery of was Sweep. More often than not, controls like these are a cheesy, quasi-parametric filter that sounds like a wah circuit. This was not the case with the Nineteen80. The sweep control did sweep the frequency range, as the name implies, but without sacrificing the low end or making the scratchy tone often associated with these types of controls. It was very useful in fine-tuning the tone for whatever application needed. It ended up being a very well-designed, useable feature.
While tons of gain is not a problem, I should note that this amp is not just for high gain styles. I was able to get some very good bluesy tones by reducing the gain. The amp also cleaned up very well when I reduced the guitar’s volume, allowing control of gain from your guitar. The lead (Krank) channel worked equally well with single-coil or humbucker guitars, and I was able to achieve a wide range of gain and tonal colors.
The Verdict
The Krank Nineteen80 is a well-constructed head that should last for years. It lives up to its reputation of capturing vibe of great modified amps of the eighties, while features like the effects loop and Sweep control put this amp ahead of many of its competitors. The conservative rating of 80 watts makes it perfect for any size venue, and it is versatile enough for classic tones as well as more modern heavier tones. This one does all that you would expect from a modified British amp head and more.
Buy if...
you are looking for one amp for many types of British tones at a reasonable price.
Skip if...
you are still buying because of brand names.
Rating...
Street $1299 (head) $799 (cab) - Krank - krankamps.com |