u/Alex_Plode

Lots of amps do one or the other. Plexi style amps all have the Marshall crunch when you push them. Love the sound but not my favorite. The creamy thick gain amps tend to live in the metal realm and the clean channel is an afterthought and uninspiring.

Needs to be at least 50 watts, at least two independent channels (three channels would be ideal), Plexi style clean (warm and punchy), creamy thick gain (think early or late, non-fizzy Rectifier).

The STP Core album is close (Dean's Demeter/VHT set-up) but the gain is too wooly and the clean sound is kinda meh.

The Peavy Rockmaster is REALLY close but a little too crunchy on the overdrive.

Rectifiers are awesome but the clean tone puts me to sleep.

The Mesa MK VII might be the answer?

The Friedman BE100 Deluxe would be the answer but I don't think the gain gets syrupy sweet enough.

The ENGL Fireball was so so close but no cigar. And it was only 20 watts. Just didn't have the headroom.

I'm an old man looking for my dream amplifier so I am willing to spend some cash. Not Dumble cash but I'm sure I'm looking at around $4K for this amp . . if it exists.

I bought a MV-962 to power a Mesa pre amp. It sounded great. I hooked up my Helix floor to the MOSVALVE just to see what it would sound like and I was floored. Jaw dropped. The whole nine yards.

It sounds just incredible. I am shocked.

I've had my Helix for over seven years. I've run the Helix through FRFR amps, classic amps, pedal platform amps and they all sounded really good. I've done live gigs with the Helix straight to front of house. I've recorded many many tracks with my Helix. I love my Helix. It's a Swiss army knife.

Over the weekend, I built a patch with two complementary amps and run them left/right into the 962 and then into a stereo cab. The sound that came out blew me away. Responsive, tight, organic -- everything you would want from a tube amp.

The MV-962 run about $300 or so on reverb. No one really wants them. They are 30+ year old solid state tech left over from the road rack days. They are built like tanks and don't weigh a ton.

Just wanted to share. If you're like me and love the Helix but really want that amp-in-the-room sound for practice or gigging, this is a great and inexpensive route to go.

I want an amp with Plexi type cleans and creamy Soldano/Demeter type gain.