Guitar amplifiers

Right then,

Our neighbours upstairs are on holiday so we are doing more than looking at our CD collection - we are playing them again.

End October I am moving house to the countryside. I wanna buy a guitar amplifier. Now I have been playing the guitar for a couple of years, but only through my mixer into the PC and earphones. I have never had freedom like I will to play as loud as I want. It is an Einfamilienhaus you see, and we will shut the windows and play music as loud as we want in our house, within reason of course.

I know bugger all about amps. Can any of you TTers advise?

eBay or quoka.de

You'll be needing an old Marshall 100W JCM800 - My ears are ringing just thinking about it.

it really depends how much you want to spend and what you intend to play.
I would certainly try out ENGL amps, they sound absolutely amazing and are a hell of a lot cheaper than Mesa Boogies, and they sound better IMO.
Diezel makes some really good amp, but pricey, the Diezel Herbert is great.
The higher end Laney amps sound great and are well priced, same goes for Crate.
I can give you more info if you let me know how much you want to pay, and what kinda music you play.

I have a Crate bass combo ..great for knocking the plaster from the walls, and a Fender combo for the 6 strings and ideal to break windows with when being played and full volume with the drive on

I bought a Roland Cube 30 last year...

Am only a beginner, but was recommended it by a couple of people who have been playing for years. Must say, I'm vary pleased with it. In our practice room wee have an old marshall stack, but I find the Cube quite versatile with all the effects etc... built in.

Worth checking out!

If your any good, have a nice guitar and a bit of a purist then you should get a tube/valve amp, but these can be expensive (they're also really, really loud! they have to be to distort). If your not so good yet and your guitar is a bit cheap then you can get a reasonable transistor amp with lots of effects built in which will sound fine. A 50W amp is plenty load enough...Anyway, the best was of choosing an amp is to try out as many as you can because at the end of the day its down to personal taste. At the moment I have a marshall transistor amp, loved it at the start, hate it now (probably because it breaks all the bloody time!)...so I'm probably going to blow a load of money on an Orange or Matamp soon :-D

you could always go for one of these, and do some serious damage

Or one of these with some serious heavy duty Duracells...

[img]http://www.guitarpeddler.co.uk/acatalog/ms2.jpg[/img]

Looks a bit like the modern version of Johnny Filth's rig.

Oh shit!!!

Is tinnitus psychosomatic?

@sin
this description says it all mate

"Includes MF350H head, MF280A angled cab, and MF280B straight cab.

Brutal yet toneful 350W hybrid output is just the beginning of the story. 2-amps-in-one design employs dual preamps, each with an ECC83 valve, and totally independent amps. Both amp types have 2 footswitchable modes with Amp 1 offering Clean and Crunch modes while Amp 2 delivers 2 distinct overdrives. Amp 1 re-creates unmistakable Marshall 100W valve-power roar. The Clean mode produces dynamic, 3-dimensional clean and bluesy crunch. Crunch unleashes the unbridled agression and bite of the JCM800 Series with levels of gain never conceived of in the '80s. Amp 2 dishes up more sheer gain than any other Marshall ever with maximum control in shaping your signature sound.

The MF280 cabs are specially engineered to reproduce the balanced mid range and huge bottom end that are a prerequisite for extreme hard rock and nu-metal sounds. Sonically optimized Celestion loudspeaker designs. Pro-gauge internal wiring, increased internal volume, metal logo and piping. Ready for the sonic demands of a high performance head like the MF350 and the extreme physical abuse they may receive on the road.

"

bottem line free earplugs provided with each purchase

Yeah, that's exactly what he has. His dials only go to 10, but nothing kicks in until you've got them up to 7.

Again, what are the two greatest lies in the practise room?

1. I am NOT too loud.

2. I HAVE turned it down.

First off, it depends what you are looking for, how much you want to spend, where are you gonna be using it? What type of music are you playing?
Answer these questions before you go to a shop.

I had a major search at christmas last year when I decided to get a new decent amp. I set myself a 400 pounds limit. I wanted a 2x12" combo somewhere areound the 100w mark.

I had the idea to try the Marshall AVT (Advanced ValveSTATE Technology, meaning its not a valve amp but solid state) series. Has a lot of features etc but just wasnt good at all. Sounded total crap...I tried the Crate stuff, cheapo crap, tried some smaller stuff and still just couldnt get that roar and the rich clean tones I was looking for.
I spoke to the guy in the shop and told him what I wanted...He recommend the Marshall TSL 122 but at 800 pounds...out of my price range. I then tried a Vox valvetronics (Looks just like an AC 30) Ith has lots of built in effects and is great, sounded excellent in the shop so I bought it...took it to a jam session tried to crank it ip and it just sucked ass...great at low volume but FFS dont expect it to actually push a decent ton out when its being driven.

So back to the shop..this time I realised that if I wanted the tone I was after there was no other option but to pay the price and get a tube amp. I tried Orange, fender, line 6...the LOT. I tried the TSL next to the AVT just to hear the difference ( i suggest you do this when you are trying stuff out). Spend a day in the shop and dont buy till you are 100% happy or you'll regret it.

I still wasnt happy till the guy pointed to a Boogie and said have you thought one of them? Mesas are generally the most expensive amps you can buy brand new. So I initially thought it would be too expensive. The one I have a DC-10 100w 2x12" combo, it retailed somewhere around the 2000 pounds mark new but I got it for 800. Its the best sounding amp I've ever played through. Its a total beast. It eats up anything that anyone else is playing through...namely Marshall 4x12" stacks. it has an in board 5 band eq, 2 switchable channels an push/pull in the clean channel for a 3rd channel. plus a ton of other stuff. (6 years old and still came with a 1 year full gurantee and original tags)

I really can't say enough about Mesa/boogies. They are built to an incredibly high standard. If you can get your hands on a DC-10 i reccon its all you'll ever need, bedroom or stage.

The only other amp i would think about getting is an AC 30 or another Mesa maybe a Dual Rectifier.

I'll say it once...make sure you are listening...BUY A MESA/BOOGIE!
There should be no other rules to plying guitar except that you should use one of these.

Oh and if you want to read anything about any musical stuff, visit Harmony Central, really the best advice on the web.

Avoid Ebay for amps...you MUST MUST MUST try it before you buy it. MUST!!

Theres a decent music shop at Karlsplatz but I don't know how the prices etc are in there. If I was still in Germay I'd come and help you look.

As for the Marshall nonsense below...The MF (Mode Four) looks very pretty, but thats it!...I tried it too...solid state pish again! Its affordable though but just not worth it!


Btw I just got to EMG 81s fitted to my Les Paul and bought a Boss GT8...and through the boogie...its unreal!!

I wasnt comenting on the sound quality, It is just a very loud system

I'm not having a dig at you at all...not in the slightest. But anything with valves is considerably louder than solid state stuff of the smae rated wattage. Although they can have the same power ratings etc...the tubes ALWAYS win hands down in the loudness stakes.

Marshal write this stuff to make people believe its the dogs B******s...thats just the way it is.

scotsman's right. Don't believe the hype. Nothing Solid State will ever sound like a proppa valve amp. Nothing.

I'm bass, so I'm not the World's expert on guitar amps. But, my 350W big six valve SVT-II is the proverbial hound's testicles. The only two problems that is has is that it weighs 40+Kg and costs as much as a Solid State amp just to service...

...but when you hear it!

it is the 40+Kg bit that makes me glad I dont gig anymore:)
that and the fact that I am crap

Well, my 2c worth would be avoid the current craze for "boutique amps!
These are horribly overpriced valve amps built to 60's technology. They say "hand wired" I say...and ?

They probably sound great but are a total rip-off.

I've played through various Marshalls and the only decent one was a mid 70's master volume 2x12 50w combo. They rest were awfull.

It also depends on your style. If you need a overdriven rock type sound ONLY, then go for a small-ish valve amp (50w) and turn it up. If you;re looking for a cleaner sound then a larger valve amp (not turned up quite so high) or a transitor (solid state) would do.

To get the best of both world I would recommend you get a solid state amp and invest in some good quality effects pedals (Boss, Digitech) and you can have all the sounds you want at any volume.

I use a Peavey amp with various overdrive units to get any sound I want.

Have fun

I've heard they're difficult to use...i.e. needs lots of tweaking to get good sounds...is that true or not?

Bloody hell! Tell me ANY amp that doesn't need tweaking to get good sounds.

And I'll say again, try an ENGL!. IMO they kick the shit out of a Mesa/Boogie (ofr heavy stuff anyways) and they are priced much more sensibly.
I tried so many damn amps on my road to my 'perfect' amp, and as some other people mentioned the Mesa's are fiddly and difficult to tame

Advice: do not buy anything based on the advice/rating given on harmony central. Most people on there have only had there amp for about a day and so they haven't really used it. Although it can be useful to see if there are any reliability issues with the amp your thinking of buying. Also, Boutique amps are great, well made and aren't THAT expensive + you can get them custom made: MATAMP!

Plus they're also manufactured in Germany if I'm not mistaken. My friend back home has one, sounds utterly fantastic combined with an altered Stratocaster.

now that we have confused jeremy completely there is one piece of advice we all should have given him but havn't and that is when you go and buy the amp take your own guitar along

I dont really find my amp difficult to use. At first it was tricky, if you turn the wrong knob the sound you almost had can just vanish but thats just a case of not knowing your equipment well enough.

On each channel of mine there are 7 knobs...Gain, treble,mid, bass, prescence, reverb and chan vol. plus a 5 band eq. TBH i found the Marshall TSL 122 much more difficult to use, far too much twakability.

I'm pretty much convinced that the best thing you can do is NOT buy a Line 6 amp.

...I'd have to agree with that, my brother has one, the sounds is well over processed

They're awful. Better off buying a Vox Valvetronix, though they're not that brilliant either.

you are not, they are made right here in good old bavaria.
Diezel amps are also made in germany.

Hey hey hold your hourses.

I am fucking lost here.

I went to the Ebay Showroom this morning aka The Music Shop and once I had managed to ignoire the irritating manner of the wannabe rockstars there who have forgotten what it is like to be a beginner (or rather they were but practise one riff to show off in the shop) I was shown a Peavey amp. I was not blown away but it costs 100 Yoyos. This means in reality on Ebay about 50 for a beginner one.

Und?

Hmm...

the problem is jeremy, that you need to know what you intend doing with your amp. Mr.Mosh has mentioned a Diezel, which is an awesome studio amp, very expensive, but useless for gigging. Others, including myself, have mooted the Marshall rigs, which are not that good for studio and only come into their own when you want lots of distortion.

I suspect you want to play electrified at home. If this is the case, you will need a much cheaper solid state combo, and maybe the Peavey or the Vox will suffice. Another alternative is the Line Pod. These come up regularly on eBay, Etc., can be plugged into your hi-fi or headphones and mimick most amps sufficient to what you are doing... playing at home.

What exactly is it that you intend doing with this proposed amp?

"What exactly is it that you intend doing with this proposed amp?"

FINALLY... a step in the right direction

Jeremy, this is what happens normally when you post a question like this in a forum, most of the amps you have been reccomended are high end amps with high end prices. Some of the stuff written in the posts above are mostly baloney.

But to try and help you out, please answer these questions:
1. What are your plans with your amp (home use, recording, gigs, collection)
2. What kind of music do you like and is this the music you will play on your guitar and amp?
3. What kind of guitar do you have and what pickups does it have?
4. How much money are you prepared to spend?

Choosing an amp is as you can see very individual and a matter of taste.
Valve amps tend to sound varmer and more soulful that solid state amps but and some guitars work better together with certain amps than others.

You should be prepared to bring your guitar to a shop and try out different ones.

I could go on for ever but I hope this helps a bit so far.

Cheers,
Dingus

valvestate ( circuitry) like marshalls etc do many things and do sound good, the best thing they do is go wrong and when they do its a pain.i would only have a proper valve amp as being able to repair them is easier and the sound is superb. like someone said before a vox ac30 is the best valve amp you can buy. i had a fender twin 60 watt all valves and superb . lets be honest you cant turn your amp up to 10 on the dial even my 60 watt i couldnt get over 4 on the dial. the good thing going for me my father repairs old valve radio and has a endless supply of valves but new valves are easy to obtain, and its just a case of pulling one out and plugging a new one in. for sound and ease go valve.

I have some Marshall valvestate number, but not one of the models with an actual valve on the preamp sadly. Works fine for playing at home, and I got some lovely korg box of trickery off ebay for about 100 yoyo's which is the dogs nuts, and has a shedload of built in amp simulation malarky which is nice enough. To be quite frank I'm only play the elctric when I'm in the mood for some digitally delayed ring modulated Hawkwind madness, so the amp makes piss all difference then.

I would say though, I wanna Vox AC30.

Maybe try reading the posts before you shout about how much 'baloney' they contain? Then maybe you wouldn't post a repeat of all the stuf thats been said?

Sorry must have missed that beacon of light in there.. and I guess Jeremy missed it as well because he was still screaming for help.

this is a vox ac30 story, a friend of the family whos about 78 now and in his day he was in a jazz/skiffle kinda 50s time music band. he played the accordian and when ac30s first came out he brought one, im not sure how me miked it up but the sound he got through that thing was incredible. when the band broke up he never played through the amp anymore, he simply stored it under the stairs and forgot about it. then one day through a chance conversation with someone he got the amp out and had it valued. well he and his wife got to go on a nice cruise around norway and the fjords off the amp money.it was in mint condition and worked a treat.

AC30's are nice, but they're quite expensive. I'm still madly in love with my Orange AD30 Twin Channel myself!

[img]http://www.musikland-online.de/pix/onlineshop/gitamp530446736.jpg[/img]

Priceless !!!

A little phase, a little flange, patch in dangerous distortion...off you go.

Fuck me. I went to the Misoc Shop (the one with the frustrated crap musicians who think they all belong on stage) Saturday and asked about a simple fucking amp. The one they showed me was thisPeavey which was 100 Yoyos. This means to me I should instantly not buy it at Music Shop as usual but plug it into Ebay an buy it there about 50 Euros.

I think in the end I shall end up buying a Line 6 Pod on Ebay. Fuck it. I only want a cheap bloody practice amp for arsing around at home. Basic amps for a beginner.

I am still a beginner in many ways. Was heavily into is before kids came along but nappies etc and family put huge brakes onto any ambition there. Also we geta 2nd kid so nope be a long time before I get serious about this stuff.

I used to do everything thru Cubase, Fruity Loops, Amplitube and other VSTs. Borroed a an ancient Zoom for a while which was fun. Shall end up with a very cheap option somehow...

Thank you for the advice though!

Mon plaisir jeremy

Ah well there you go, a cheap practise amp for beginners. A Line 6 POD or POD XT should do you fine, you might be able to find an older Line 6 Vetta on ebay, those are perfect for what you want.

Wasnt there a version that plugged into a PC?

Not sure if they all do but the XT and the XT Live connects to your pc through a usb cable.
I agree this is the best choice for home use and demo recording.

The difference between the XT and XT live is that the XT is the normal red bean shape and the XT Live is in the form factor on a floorboard. Add a stereo poweramp and cabs to that and you will have a versatile live rig as well.

The older versions of the Line 6 pod would work fine as well and will be cheaper than the XT but if you have a pc connection as your requirement then check it out before you buy (google)

Have fun.

Hi you can always drop us at JMS Music a line we are the English owned music shop in Oberbayern!!!