Best VH amp?
Moderators: VelvetGeorge, RACKSYSTEMS
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:49 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Best VH amp?
So i was thinking of getting maybe a Bray or a Granger for getting a good VH sound at pretty low volumes
I have a chance of getting a Granger at more than half the price of a Bray and was wondering about how much the extra coin the Bray is worth
what is a great amp for getting a great VH tone and to play other rock and blues??
i know you guys have talked about this to great extent and do mods etc... but i do not know how to do mods and get inside an amp so i would really appreciate the feedback
thanks so much!
I have a chance of getting a Granger at more than half the price of a Bray and was wondering about how much the extra coin the Bray is worth
what is a great amp for getting a great VH tone and to play other rock and blues??
i know you guys have talked about this to great extent and do mods etc... but i do not know how to do mods and get inside an amp so i would really appreciate the feedback
thanks so much!
- chrisom
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1351
- Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:04 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
- Location: A Free Republic?
Re: Best VH amp?
Marshall model 1959 Super Lead circuit, variac-ed down to 89 volts with the bias cranked. Small "Fat-cap" mod optional (?)...






- rgorke
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4509
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:37 am
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Drought Ravaged SoCal
Re: Best VH amp?
12 Series Amp with out too much tweaking. Get a good attenuator and there you have it. I went the PPIMV route and took it out. If price is a concern build it your self, there is lots of help here. Or, get a more economical amp and switch out components to NOS. That can help you learn the amp with out building one from the ground up. And also help you hear what different values do for the tone.
"If you make a mistake, do it twice and smile and let people think you meant it." Jan Van Halen.
- Strat78
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3093
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:38 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: though I'm standing still, I'm in a moving place.
Re: Best VH amp?
This one looks like it was built with love:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marshall-Super- ... 27d2d4495a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marshall-Super- ... 27d2d4495a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- rgorke
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4509
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:37 am
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Drought Ravaged SoCal
Re: Best VH amp?
Strat78 wrote:This one looks like it was built with love:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marshall-Super- ... 27d2d4495a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
No doubt with Chris' trannies and a nice smattering of NOS, the price is a steal. No, it's not mine.

"If you make a mistake, do it twice and smile and let people think you meant it." Jan Van Halen.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1407
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:05 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
Re: Best VH amp?
I agree with RGorke and Strat78...
- Tone Slinger
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2006 10:31 am
Re: Best VH amp?
Just listen to clips, and pm or ask owners about the amps your interested in. We have guys who own Brays or Grangers here.
There is a thread either here (EVH Amp builders) or in the 'General EVH' section, where guy's are putting thier 'Running With The Devil' riff up against Ed's isolated track. That is a great way to hear different amps abilities at nailing Ed's old tone.
Theres a couple Bray entries in there
There is a thread either here (EVH Amp builders) or in the 'General EVH' section, where guy's are putting thier 'Running With The Devil' riff up against Ed's isolated track. That is a great way to hear different amps abilities at nailing Ed's old tone.
Theres a couple Bray entries in there

Rip Ben Wise (StuntDouble) & Mark Abrahamian (Rockstah)
- Strat78
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3093
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:38 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: though I'm standing still, I'm in a moving place.
Re: Best VH amp?
I seem to recall MightyMike mentioning that the 10xxx was a nice all around amp that covered different territories pretty well, so that and a JTM45/100 are on my list of builds for this year.
These over the counter "VH" amps just sound like ass, listen how bad that Union Jack sounds. If you are not fully utilizing the power section, you will never get beyond that 1980's pre amp yellow cake mix.

-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:49 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: Best VH amp?
So stop speaking in riddles lol
yes money is always a concern and ill tell you where my thinking is and tell me if i am wrong
A Bray is $2500
a used Granger is about $1000
Is the Bray really worth that much more??
Arent they all just takes on a 12000 circuit?
Do all the NOS parts make that much of a difference?
Would it be smarter to get the Granger and mod it?
also , is anyone on this forum in the San Francisco bay area who could help me up close with all this stuff and mods??
again i REALLY appreciate all the help!
yes money is always a concern and ill tell you where my thinking is and tell me if i am wrong
A Bray is $2500
a used Granger is about $1000
Is the Bray really worth that much more??
Arent they all just takes on a 12000 circuit?
Do all the NOS parts make that much of a difference?
Would it be smarter to get the Granger and mod it?
also , is anyone on this forum in the San Francisco bay area who could help me up close with all this stuff and mods??
again i REALLY appreciate all the help!
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:32 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
Re: Best VH amp?
Hard to know what'll happen with that eBay auction in the next 6 hours but...
THAT amp will get you EVH for relatively little money. (Well, that amp and an attenuator, if'n you care to hear your grandkids and not just look at 'em and nod.)
-bryan
THAT amp will get you EVH for relatively little money. (Well, that amp and an attenuator, if'n you care to hear your grandkids and not just look at 'em and nod.)
-bryan
- rgorke
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4509
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:37 am
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Drought Ravaged SoCal
Re: Best VH amp?
Yes there are. Co tact YMI5150 and/ or efrasier. They are both in NoCal
"If you make a mistake, do it twice and smile and let people think you meant it." Jan Van Halen.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 894
- Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:44 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 7
Re: Best VH amp?
you got to be the most narrow minded guy with amps i ever seen on a forum!Strat78 wrote: These over the counter "VH" amps just sound like ass, listen how bad that Union Jack sounds. If you are not fully utilizing the power section, you will never get beyond that 1980's pre amp yellow cake mix.
Congrats you win that award
- JimiJames
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3550
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:32 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
Re: Best VH amp?
...boy oh boy ? ? ? ...ain't that a pickle ?EJSLPlexi wrote: "...gotta give props to that guy strat78 he really put a lot of work into pursuing that tone"...

- demonufo
- Senior Member
- Posts: 3882
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:36 am
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: Carterton, Oxon, U.K.
- Contact:
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:49 pm
- Just the numbers in order: 13492
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Re: Best VH amp?
So I went and played a really good sounding jcm800 4010 today
Really nice
Any mods to increase the gain and get the treble tamed more ?
It would be great to get the volume tamed a bit
These were one of those marshalls that sounded better as u turned it up not harsher
Easy mods to do on these amps?
Thanks again to all!
Really nice
Any mods to increase the gain and get the treble tamed more ?
It would be great to get the volume tamed a bit
These were one of those marshalls that sounded better as u turned it up not harsher
Easy mods to do on these amps?
Thanks again to all!