• Registered: 2008-01-28
  • Posts: 18

Topic: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

Hi All,

I'm in the market for a new amp.   I'm predominantly a LP player, though I will bring out the strat for a few songs per night.   I've been playing a modded Plexi for some time that has been giving me issues, and I'm without a backup amp (bad news there).   All that to say, I'm looking for another amp.   I've narrowed it down to two:

Budda Superdrive (30 or 45 probably)
or
Egnater Renegade

Obviously, we all admire Joe's tone, but i'm not looking to reproduce it.  I like the mid-focus in his tone, but want a little more sparkle up on top.   I also dig Warren Haynes and Marc Ford (Black Crowes), both have very thick tones and all three are Marshally in nature.   The Budda and Renegade are both in the Marshall tradition, each with their own spin.   The Budda is simpler, less bells and whistles... which means more time to play and less time tweaking.  Also, less stuff to break down.   The Renegade has two dedicated channels, two sets of power tubes, solo boosts, onboard reverb... and an integrated footswitch.  The initial clips I've heard sound great.    Also, I have immediate access to the Renegade through my local GC, the Budda is harder to audition.   The Budda can be found used, though, and has retained value well with a solid track record.  The Renegade is imported, untested, and has had some failure reports in the first few off the blocks.  Second to tone, reliability is huge for me. So, that's the quandry.   I would like to make this purchase in the next month, as gigging with a dodgy amp is... dodgy.   

What say you?    Budda?   Egnater?  Something other than Budda and Egnater?

Peace,
Mike

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

Well, those Egnaters do sound nice. But, if you look at my Screen Name, you can probably guess what I'd say! wink

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner

3 Reply by CincinnatiSi (edited by CincinnatiSi 2009-08-15 04:19:23)

  • Registered: 2008-01-08
  • Posts: 39

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

I have not played the Egnater, but I have a Superdrive 18 and love it.  I bought it based on what I heard from Joe and stuff I heard on the net.

  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

Budda Superdrive 45 II, and that's THAT!:)

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

I'd send your fussy plexi in to a reliable tech to get it in tip top shape first.  Of the two amps that you mentioned the Budda Superdrive 45 is what I would get.  The Superdrive 30 is nice, but it runs EL84s for a Vox-y type texture which is cool but detracts from the Marshall thing a little.  The Superdrive 45 has KT66s and sounds like a beefed up JTM45 big_smile .   When you get the plexi back I'd run them in stereo with a little reverb on the plexi and some delay through the loop of the Budda.  Then add a nice OD like a TS808RI or Fulltone FDII.  You'd be SET. wink

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2008-01-28
  • Posts: 18

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

I'm surprised that there's not one vote for the Egnater line.   I knew there would a strong Budda push... i mean, I learned of Budda Amps from watching the Rockpalast DVD.   I'd never heard of them before.    Hmm...

  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

Warren Haynes gets some great sounds out of an Egnator. And Ritchie Blackmore used one for awhile too, I think. I know they have some great Amps and great Ideas with preamps, etc.

    Bogner is another Top Contender, I think. As well as Soldano.

     I've head them all ,live and up close. But, I've only played the Buddas. So, they all sound great. Truly, you won't get a bad amp or make a bad choice.

    It's like choosing between Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel. Or, Ferrari and Aston Martin.

    You're gonna have to play some of them, to know for yourself.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner

8 Reply by MickeyFinn (edited by MickeyFinn 2009-08-16 20:37:57)

  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: New Amp: Budda or Egnater ... you make the call!

Until a few years ago, I had been using an all-tube three amp rig with a custom switchbox.  I've since gone to a Line 6 set-up.  One of the amps' I had was a '60's Blackface Fender Bassman that I used with a Budda Phatman dual 12AX7 preamp, which I got from Brandon and Jeff at Budda.  This basically turned my Bassman into a Superdrive 45.  Very organic and chewy tone.  I needed a lot of different tones and decided to build a line 6 pod pro rack set-up, trying to simplify things.  I don't really think the models sound exactly like the original amps, but they do get me what I want.  Versatility.  Anyway, I still use the Budda preamp, with a low level setting to enhance the feel of the digital signal with some nice second order harmonics.  I like it.  That preamp has worked well with every amp I have ever stuck it in front of.   Tube, solid state, all of them.  I still would love to have a Superdrive 45 II, tho.   And a Twinmaster...   and... ha ha ha.
lol