Anyone have any experience with Budda amps?

[stevejamsecono]

Hey Folks,

I got offered one of the more recent Budda Superdrive 18 heads in trade for a guitar of mine. As some of you know I'm trying to get back to the 1974x-esque glory of my Avatar head recently, and I wanted to know if anyone could attest either way on this? I have a Tiny Terror right now that is in the ballpark tubewise but isn't to my taste (very dark, and then turns dentist-drilly at high volumes). Is the Budda more like "high gain JCM800ish" or is it more 70s Marshall? I'm seeking the latter more than the former.

[Unicorn Warrior]

I had a Budda SD 18 combo for a few months. I was terrible at guitar back then, but I do remember that was one good amp that I will miss. I don't know how much they sounded like a Marshall because I've never played one. But I couldn't make that amp sound bad. Only reason I traded it was because a guy offered me a boutique LSL saticoy in a straight up trade for it. Will miss that amp.

[stevejamsecono]

Good to know! I'm considering it...

[rolsen]

I experimented with an SD18 head and while it remains the best value boutique-quality amp, the distortion, while glorious was a little too smooth for what I was going for. I wanted a toothier, snarlier tone with more upper mid bite like a 70s or 80s Marshall. The Budda SD18 while 18 watts on paper is super loud. I bought used and sold for the same price, $600, which you'll likely find to be the case on your search.

[stevejamsecono]

I experimented with an SD18 head and while it remains the best value boutique-quality amp, the distortion, while glorious was a little too smooth for what I was going for. I wanted a toothier, snarlier tone with more upper mid bite like a 70s or 80s Marshall. The Budda SD18 while 18 watts on paper is super loud. I bought used and sold for the same price, $600, which you'll likely find to be the case on your search.

That's kind of what I'm getting from the soundclips on youtube and I have similar needs to you. After having a proper 18 watt and having played through 100 watt Plexis in the studio, it's hard for me to get as excited about 800s and the later Marshalls.

Looks like it's back to the drawing board.

[budda12ax7]

The original BUdda amps are great. I thought they sounded jcm 800ish, but fuller. The new BUdda amps made by peavy after budda sold the company are a pale shadow of the original. More 800ish than a jmp.

[budda12ax7]

You might try and find one of their original BUdda pedals. The zen man or phat man. Has tubes and sounds amazing.

[rolsen]

Btw, after my Budda experiment I found my way to a Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini, an 'idealized' Marshall amp. Sounds like Soundgarden/Cornell's Down on the Upside meets Black Crows. Best amp I've ever played!