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Amp suggestions?

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(@tjc545)
New Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 1
Topic starter  

Im ready to upgrade from my 10watt starter so any suggestions for an amp around 300-400$. I prefer one with a good classic rock sound.


   
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(@jeffster1)
Reputable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 231
 

You could go for a Roland Cube 30x or even a 60x for under that price range. It's solid state, but as far as I'm concerned it's the best amp for the price. You'll get some tube lovers who will disagree, and they might be right, but for a good tube amp, you're going to be spending almost double your price range. Unless you're gigging at a decently sized venue, the 30x is plenty loud, believe me. It has 5 or 6 amp models plus a clean channel. You can get a good classic rock sound out of the Classic stack model. It also has Chorus, Reverb, Delay, phaser and tremolo built in, and the Chorus and reverb are very good. Roland solid states are also known for their amazing clean channel. The clean channel on the 30x with some reverb and chorus sounds amazing.


   
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 Noff
(@noff)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 101
 

I'd probably save a bit more and go for something like a Fender Blues Junior or other comparable small tube amp. Should be loud enough for home and small gig use, and if you want a classic rock tone the lack of various built in effects probably wouldn't bother you as much. You could always add pedals over time though if there was some effect you needed.


   
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(@big-lar)
Estimable Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 165
 

I'll put in my 2 cents. I'm a beginner (re-beginner actually) and I settled on the Line 6 Spider III 75 watt amp. I went into guitar center and played all the amps in my price range. With my untrained ear, I couldn't really tell the difference between the solid state and tube amps. I don't doubt there is a difference, but at my level of development, I can't hear it.

The thing that finally settled me on the Spider was the song-based presets. Remember, I'm a beginner. So, when I want to play "Smoke on the Water", I choose the Smoke on the Water preset and low and behold it sounds like Smoke on the Water. No fuss, no muss. With these presets, I spend more time playing and less time fiddling with my amp. In addition, it has the ability to "decode the setting" for me so I can see what effects, amp/cab model, etc is used to produce the preset sound.

I hope this helps.


   
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(@fredramsey)
Estimable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 128
 

This will rock your world:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Valve-Junior-Half-Stack-481475-i1275082.gc

And get a Weber Attenuator to keep it from blowing you out of the room:

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/micromass.htm

Everything from clean to dirty. And it loves pedals.

Learning requires a willingness to be bad at something for awhile.


   
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(@rparker)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5480
 

Yup. So far, many of the usual suspects appear so far. I'm a HUGE fan of tube amps. I was like Big Lar at one point, but not any more. I've got a Fender Blues Deluxe and a Fender Super Champ XD. Like them both a lot. Had SS before that. They were fine, but the tube amps did it for me.

Lots of people here jump all over the Blues Jr (and so some extent the Pro Jr, too) that Noff mentioned. It's been really popular. I know it says only 15 watt, but that's a lot more power than a 15 watt solid-state will pump out. It's like comparing apples with oranges.

Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin


   
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(@blueline)
Noble Member
Joined: 17 years ago
Posts: 1704
 

Go for the tube amp. You won't regret it.

Teamwork- A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction.


   
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(@wes-inman)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5582
 

The Blues Jr. is a great amp, it can go from Fender clean, but can sound amazingly like a Marshall too (turn Volume up but keep Master low). You can gig with this amp easy, very loud.

The Super Champ XD is great too, it has many voicings from Fender clean to Metal. It is amazingly loud too and extremely portable.

If you like the Marshall tones of the 70s, check out the Peavey Windsor Studio. This amp is on my list as next buy. Doesn't get the greatest clean tones, but can do the classic Marshall crunch. :twisted:

Here is a pretty good video on the Windsor Studio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7y1zeL2-vE

If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis


   
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(@ksac32)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 360
 

The one i have been eyeing myself is a http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEVVKING112
Peavey Valve King 112 :D

http://www.soundclick.com/kensacco
http://www.soundclick.com/thetools


   
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(@teleplayer324)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 1506
 

I've got a Peavey Delta Blues with a 15" speaker http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/7505/Delta%20Blues(TM)%20115-Tweed.cfm

It's about double what you're looking to spend new, but you can find them for around $4-550 used and as far as I'm concerned it is hands down the best tube amp out there. After I got it and played it for a few months I sold my Mesa I liked it so much.

Immature? Of course I'm immature Einstein, I'm 50 and in a Rock and ROll band.

New Band site http://www.myspace.com/guidedbymonkeys


   
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(@eadgber)
Trusted Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 43
 

I have to vote for the tube amps too.
I'd go with the Epi Valve Jr. head or combo ,new version 3's. For effects and EQ just look for something like a Digitech RP50 on Ebay. I have a slightly modded VJ head and a stock version3 combo. I use a Digitech rp50 & rp100a for a little reverb,delay & EQ. You'll have classic rock & Blues tone all over the place. Probably under $200 for all!
I know the Under $200 for a good tube amp makes some people giggle, but these things are just unbeatable for the price if
you ask me.

If you do go this route,You should check the "VVR" mod out for these before buying an Attenuator though. It dose a much,much better job of preserving the tone while lowering the volume. http://www.sewatt.com/node/16172

Oh and Epiphone is releasing Valve Sr's & some hot rod version soon. Nobody knows too much about these yet, but might want to search them and consider them vs the Valve Junior.


   
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(@ricochet)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 7833
 

I've got a Peavey Delta Blues with a 15" speaker http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/7505/Delta%20Blues(TM)%20115-Tweed.cfm
I like those things, too. I like 15" speakers for guitar. That's getting into the big amp range.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."


   
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(@ricochet)
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Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 7833
 

BTW, you have to be a registered member to read posts on that sewatt board.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine."


   
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(@phillyblues)
Estimable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 127
 

+1 for the Fender Blues Jr., it was my first so I can't say I have anything to compare it to but all I know is I love the sound.


   
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