Discussion
So, I'm coming into some money soon (sold my number plate) and I'm fancying a new amp. This isn't helped by my (only a few months old) Peavey Valveking 212 which is proving far from reliable and I've seriously fallen out of love with it.
Now this is the tricky bit ... I need something that sounds "ok" with accoustic, can do all the strat kinds of sounds (light rock, blues, twangy and modern stuff) and also has a stonking good heavy rock sound (I play accoustic, strat and les paul at a gig ... and I dont want two amps
).
I also run a Boss GT8, though for the heavier rock stuff I currently prefer to use the amps own distorted valves. My budget is round about the £1k mark though I might go a bit over for the right amp, and because the GT8 "has it all" I don't really need an amp with shed loads of onboard effects. I kind of need a combo because I cannot fit a 4x12 cab in my car.
1) thoughts, suggestions, personal preferences ?
2) valve versus tranny ? I LOVE valve amps, but people keep telling me about their fragility when gigging (and the Peavey is certainly proving that story). However all top end stuff now-a-days seems to be all valve !!! (Marshall, Fender, Vox, Mesa, Hughes and Kettner ... all their upper quartile stuff is valve ... even the top end tranny Marshall combos have valve pre-amps)
3) anyone had any particular success marrying up GT8 type boards with amps ? how about just going for a plain power amp ? sometimes the GT8 just doesn't seem to sit well with the valve amp, they seem to "fight" with each other
Help me create a shortlist to go and listen to
Thanks in advance
Nev
Now this is the tricky bit ... I need something that sounds "ok" with accoustic, can do all the strat kinds of sounds (light rock, blues, twangy and modern stuff) and also has a stonking good heavy rock sound (I play accoustic, strat and les paul at a gig ... and I dont want two amps
). I also run a Boss GT8, though for the heavier rock stuff I currently prefer to use the amps own distorted valves. My budget is round about the £1k mark though I might go a bit over for the right amp, and because the GT8 "has it all" I don't really need an amp with shed loads of onboard effects. I kind of need a combo because I cannot fit a 4x12 cab in my car.
1) thoughts, suggestions, personal preferences ?
2) valve versus tranny ? I LOVE valve amps, but people keep telling me about their fragility when gigging (and the Peavey is certainly proving that story). However all top end stuff now-a-days seems to be all valve !!! (Marshall, Fender, Vox, Mesa, Hughes and Kettner ... all their upper quartile stuff is valve ... even the top end tranny Marshall combos have valve pre-amps)
3) anyone had any particular success marrying up GT8 type boards with amps ? how about just going for a plain power amp ? sometimes the GT8 just doesn't seem to sit well with the valve amp, they seem to "fight" with each other
Help me create a shortlist to go and listen to
Thanks in advance
Nev
Welcome to hell! For every recommendation you get, you'll get others telling you otherwise.
I've got a Mesa DC-3, cost me just under 500 second hand, and it's really nice for cleans and distortion, although doesn't do ultra modern type stuff. I can still run my Zoom GFX-8 up front on the clean channel although I have to reduce the output of the Zoom compared to when I ran it through my old solid state Hughes & Kettner (which had beautiful cleans). Also got a JMP-1 that I run through the power amp of the DC-3. Having said that, I now want a Randall RM100 head, which has swappable preamp modules, so will hopefully give me the choices to get the different distortions that I like.
Something that may be of help is listen to some of the clips here ( http://www.netmusicians.org/index.php ) and read the descriptions on the gear used, how it was recorded, etc. and it might give you some idea of what to go for. Then get to a music shop that has a variety of equipment, and try a variety of amps with your own guitar if you can, or similar one in the shop.
There's a lot of choice out there, and people like me, who can never make their mind up what they want, will often shift equipment, so you can always pick up a better amp second hand if you don't mind
I've got a Mesa DC-3, cost me just under 500 second hand, and it's really nice for cleans and distortion, although doesn't do ultra modern type stuff. I can still run my Zoom GFX-8 up front on the clean channel although I have to reduce the output of the Zoom compared to when I ran it through my old solid state Hughes & Kettner (which had beautiful cleans). Also got a JMP-1 that I run through the power amp of the DC-3. Having said that, I now want a Randall RM100 head, which has swappable preamp modules, so will hopefully give me the choices to get the different distortions that I like.
Something that may be of help is listen to some of the clips here ( http://www.netmusicians.org/index.php ) and read the descriptions on the gear used, how it was recorded, etc. and it might give you some idea of what to go for. Then get to a music shop that has a variety of equipment, and try a variety of amps with your own guitar if you can, or similar one in the shop.
There's a lot of choice out there, and people like me, who can never make their mind up what they want, will often shift equipment, so you can always pick up a better amp second hand if you don't mind
Definitely have a look at Mesa Boogie - the quality and clarity of the sound on any of their amps (when played at the appropriate volume 
) is brilliant. I've got a dual rectifier combo and when its loud its amazing. Personally I wouldn't play a non valve powered amp, though i've never really been able to get a processor to work properly with valves (which is probably due to my impatience)
The Rectoverb combo is a great amp, and not too big, and so is the lonestar range
The only amp I've had fail on me at a gig was a Peavey too.. other than that any valve amp I've had has never let me down - just bring spare valves to be safe!
my favourite amp however is my little 15watt single channel Fender... so have a look at everything!
) is brilliant. I've got a dual rectifier combo and when its loud its amazing. Personally I wouldn't play a non valve powered amp, though i've never really been able to get a processor to work properly with valves (which is probably due to my impatience)The Rectoverb combo is a great amp, and not too big, and so is the lonestar range
The only amp I've had fail on me at a gig was a Peavey too.. other than that any valve amp I've had has never let me down - just bring spare valves to be safe!
my favourite amp however is my little 15watt single channel Fender... so have a look at everything!
Edited by Bob Loblaw on Monday 12th November 13:57
Had a Mesa Boogie f-50 recently,was a little strapped for cash and took a Line6 Flextone 2 amp in p/x.I always thought i'd never go for one of these digital,simulator amps but to be honest i don't miss the Boogie at all!These amps are fantastic!It even gives natural feedback which i can't get my head around for a tranny amp.Just download all your favourite guitar players sounds from the line6 site,connect pc to the back of the amp,voila,instant player's setup!I think this amp is a fantastic little bit of kit,loads of digital effects built in,load of amp simulations(then 16 cabinet choices for each amp!)I've just go the 75 watt 1x12 one but try and get the 2x12 to get a better spread of sound maybe,that's the only thing i'd change.
I recently sold my Laney VH100R as it was just too powerful to use the 4x12 at home. I replaced it with a Line 6 Flextone III XL which is the 2x12 model. Simply the best decision i have ever made. The sound quality is just amazing. I paid a shade under £400 for mine new, and it's worth everypenny. The mildly overdriven settings sound fantastic, really warm and full with great clarity. I can't fault it. Try one out if you can.
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