I’m in the market for a new high gain tube amp or possibly a rack mount preamp.
I already have the Soldano SLO sound covered “modded Marshall.” The usual suspects are on my radar… Boogie Dual Rec, owned a good one way back Rev F rack mount regret selling it Peavey 6505 “variants of Soldano,” EVH, Bogner Uberschall, Fryette Pitbull, Marshall DSL, various Engl’s etc…all great amps.

But I’m looking for something different that isn’t the “go to” that everyone else is has used too death. I’ve been out of the gear game for a decade, so I’m sure I’ve missed some things. So what is good high gain sleeper amp for hard rock / metal that’s kinda off the radar or different.
50 -100 watts budget $4000 give or take. Low watters / stand alone preamps are on the table.

I have a Mesa Triple Crown 50 that I love, it’s not the traditional Mesa rectifier sound, it has a British flavor to it, while still having the Mesa roots. According to Mesa it had the most gain available of any of their amps.

The 50 seems to be around 1500 used for the head not sure new prices, and there is a 100 watt version.


I also would strongly recommend and Axe Fx 3, all the high gain amps you can stand.

If you're after the dual rectifier sound I'd actually consider getting a Hotone Heartattack. It gets 80-90% of the sound, costs under $100 and you can plug it into any of your favourite cabs or IRs. Works great with a tube screamer in front etc.

Plenty of videos online doing A/B tests with the little guy vs the real thing.

If you want something different I would go in the opposite direction and get something like an AB165 Bassman with a Rat or Big Muff in front. Or one of those doomy amps like Science or Matamp etc.

If you have a Soldano then most modern amps are pretty much redundant. Maybe a Fryette Deliverance which would be tighter and less compressed as far as I can tell.

Thanks gents. I just became aware of the Matamp’s, going to seek out some videos as well as the Hotone. Fryette is something I’ve been considering, I know their stuff well. I’ve had my eye on their GP/DI amp, has the deliverance / pitbull circuits so two for one.