OT: Amplifiers!

[Slingy]

You could also install a modeling speaker into any tube combo with an effects return and get similar results. Eminence makes one. The Atomic cab is tuned and ported too.

Eminence Guitar Legend Speakers - Eminence Legend Modeling 12 is a 12" guitar speaker. This is a modeling speaker that delivers little coloration to your sound.

Alot of people like full range keyboard amps for modelers too.

Woops, looks like it is no longer available.

 

[Rossie]

Now that's exactly what my original question was asking!!!
Thanks for the clips. Nice playing too.

Thank you foggy

Least I can do for what you've done for us.

 

[MrMusashi]

check out the new spidervalves from line6 if you want flexibility and tube punch at the same time

the new jvm series from marshall will give ya all the marshall sounds you want and then some more.. bit pricey, but its nice!

and if you want small amps the tiny terror and an orange 1x12 cab sounds killer!! those 15watts sure are 15 loud buggars

MrM

 

[meenahga]

Speaking of low wattage tube amps, for the money, it's hard to beat the Crate Palamino V16. Sounds goofy, but that's a great amp.

+1

Also, if you do get an amp, get a quality cord to connect your guitar. The cord is an important part of the signal chain, that is often overlooked.

 

[Larry]

I like those Monster Rock Cables I bought one and every time I roll over it with my computer chair Guitar Center replaces it no questions asked

 

[beej]

Thanks Jay.
I'm pretty certain I know what I'm going after. I'm just questioning if the amps that I like might be overkill for my purposes.
I'm sure it'll all be fine. I'm just overeducating myself as you all know that I do!

So what sound are you going for?

I'd say for home playing where volume is a huge issue, a modeler is a great way to go. But get a decent set of speakers- the computer speakers aren't going to sound good.

Does your Marshall have an FX loop? You could run it through that, or through the front input. Or ... pick up a cheap solid state keyboard amp. I have an old Peavey 60W keyboard amp I used with my Pod, cost me next to nothing (second hand).

 

[fogman]

So what sound are you going for?

I'd say for home playing where volume is a huge issue, a modeler is a great way to go. But get a decent set of speakers- the computer speakers aren't going to sound good.

Does your Marshall have an FX loop? You could run it through that, or through the front input. Or ... pick up a cheap solid state keyboard amp. I have an old Peavey 60W keyboard amp I used with my Pod, cost me next to nothing (second hand).

What sound am I going for? That's a loaded question. I'm trying to cover a lot of ground here. I'm looking for everything from VH to Buddy Guy to Andy Timmons to Iron Maiden. Distorted high gain clean!
The amps most considering are the Budda II SD18 or 30 and the Mesa Lonestar Special.

My Marshall is just terrible! I'm not even sure if a modeller could help it! It's got great cleans, but the distorted tones leave a lot to be desired! I've recently messed with it to get some decent tones out of it, but that'll only hold me off for a while longer.
It doesn't have anywhere for an FX loop. The only jacks either than the input are for a footswitch, CD in, and emulated line out (or headphones)

 

[beej]

That's a lot of ground to cover!

I had an SD18 for a while, very Marshally on the OD side and too clean on the clean channel (no chime) for my liking. Also needed to be turned up a little bit to really bite, not a problem unless you need bedroom volume.

The CD in on the Marshall goes right to the power amp, so that would be great to run a Pod through, btw. Would just give you volume for a modeler.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

What sound am I going for? That's a loaded question. I'm trying to cover a lot of ground here. I'm looking for everything from VH to Buddy Guy to Andy Timmons to Iron Maiden. Distorted high gain clean!
The amps most considering are the Budda II SD18 or 30 and the Mesa Lonestar Special.

My Marshall is just terrible! I'm not even sure if a modeller could help it! It's got great cleans, but the distorted tones leave a lot to be desired! I've recently messed with it to get some decent tones out of it, but that'll only hold me off for a while longer.
It doesn't have anywhere for an FX loop. The only jacks either than the input are for a footswitch, CD in, and emulated line out (or headphones)

I had the same problem with a Marshall Valvestate 30W. Great cleans, but horrid distortion. I got better sounds out of a Zoom multi-effects pedal.

I would throw out a suggestion for a Peavey Valveking, but the 50W 1X12 might be more punch than you're looking for. It does have alot of great features for not alot of money, and it's all-tube.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Foggy
My mate has just bought a Peavey valveking 50 watt 1 x 12 and for the money it really is a 8loody fantastic amp and you can get great overdriven and clean sounds.

Going back to the idea of a pod - I use it through the return loop of the Marshall rather than through the front - once again fantastic and it has really turned the amplifier into a "Chameleon" - it now provides a great range.

Through the Mesa its great BUT through the retun loop totally knocks out the preamp stage - which is a shame because the Mesa pre amp is wonderful.

Go for a Peavey if money is tight and you will be on a winner!

 

[John C]

I'll throw out what I have as a suggestion - a Rivera Clubster 25. I'm also a non-gigging around the house player and this is a nice, lightweight combo that sounds good at low volumes.

I am considering a lateral move to a Mesa 5:25 Express. I tried out both Express amps a while back (but didn't have my guitar to really try it out) and thought the 5:25 did a bit better as a bedroom player on the 5-watt setting than the 5:50 did. I thought you had to crank the 5:50 a bit too much to get a good sound for it to be a bedroom player.

I've never tried one, but I've also heard great things about the Zinky Blue Velvet 25-watt model.

 

[lumberjack]

I do love these forums. Get a lot of great opinions. By reading this thread I've realized a piece of info that Foggy and others looking for an amp need to consider. (as well as me). We need to find great sounding amps....but for those that don't gig, we have to find an amp that is going to sound great at low volume. There are some beautiful sounding amps out there, but the volume has to be on 11 to get the most out of them. I've been reading quite a bit about power attenuators like the THD hotplate, which would be great but I don't think they can be used with combos.

 

[58super]

Hey Scott,

As long as the combo's speaker plugs into the amp you can use a THD.
Another altrenative is to get an low wattage amp with a good clean sound and get the overdrive/distorion with a pedal. I'm using a Carmen Ghia with a Menatone Howie for the overdrive. This works for me but I don't need a high gain sound.


David

 

[beej]

Great advice from Dave (as usual).

I have a Badger at home- l'il 1 channel power scaled amp. Man does that thing sound like a wide-open-Marshall-meets-Vox at bedroom volumes. Doesn't get you the hi gain thing, but it's got lots of gain and with a pedal it's over the top. (My 100W Guytron still rules though.)

 

[tommyindelaware]

even after 10 years....i still kiss mine goodnight after every gig....

(My 100W Guytron still rules though.)

 

[lumberjack]

Hey Scott,

As long as the combo's speaker plugs into the amp you can use a THD.
Another altrenative is to get an low wattage amp with a good clean sound and get the overdrive/distorion with a pedal. I'm using a Carmen Ghia with a Menatone Howie for the overdrive. This works for me but I don't need a high gain sound.


David

Thanks for the info, Dave

Great advice from Dave (as usual).

I have a Badger at home- l'il 1 channel power scaled amp. Man does that thing sound like a wide-open-Marshall-meets-Vox at bedroom volumes. Doesn't get you the hi gain thing, but it's got lots of gain and with a pedal it's over the top. (My 100W Guytron still rules though.)

Do you get the sounds you are looking for at lower volumes with the Guytron?

 

[beej]

Do you get the sounds you are looking for at lower volumes with the Guytron?

Oh yeah, that's an understatement!

It's got an extra 20W EL84 output stage which hits a dummy load/transformer and is then re-amped by a 100W EL34 output section. So you get power tube saturation at any volume. At higher volume the EL34s change the sound slightly, but in general it's pretty consistent. The clean/crunch channel is to die for and the gain channel is killer. I can't say enough good things about this amp. Plus it's got focus & voicing switches on the back that totally change the characteristics of the output section, so you can voice it differently, reduce the compression, etc.

That said ... it's heavy as hell. The Badger doesn't get that kind of gain but it's really light, sounds tremendous and perfect for playing at home. But I'll always gig with the Guytron.

 

[fogman]

Sweet amp Jay!!!!
Maybe on my next purchase. They're a tad more than I want to spend.

 

[lumberjack]

Oh yeah, that's an understatement!

It's got an extra 20W EL84 output stage which hits a dummy load/transformer and is then re-amped by a 100W EL34 output section. So you get power tube saturation at any volume. At higher volume the EL34s change the sound slightly, but in general it's pretty consistent. The clean/crunch channel is to die for and the gain channel is killer. I can't say enough good things about this amp. Plus it's got focus & voicing switches on the back that totally change the characteristics of the output section, so you can voice it differently, reduce the compression, etc.

That said ... it's heavy as hell. The Badger doesn't get that kind of gain but it's really light, sounds tremendous and perfect for playing at home. But I'll always gig with the Guytron.

Thanks for that, Jay. It's good to find out why/how an amp plays well at low volume. Great info. I actually checked out their website. The soundclips sound amazing. Then I saw the suggested price. Puts me out of the market. Ahh, well

 

[fogman]

I actually checked out their website. The soundclips sound amazing. Then I saw the suggested price. Puts me out of the market. Ahh, well

$2500 for a 20 watter! Ouch!!!!
I'm sure it's worth every penny though. If I were a seasoned player, I'd have no problems paying that.
Since I suck at the guitar at the moment, I'll stick to something a little more reasonable.