It's about new amp time...

[Sub1 Zero]

and I think I have narrowed it down to three possibilities, based on price and features. Looking for some input, your 2 cents on which amp would be best. I wish I could have a Soldano, but I am a college guy. It is between the following:

Randall RG200DG3 combo

Peavey Valveking 212 combo

Roland JC120


212 combo is a necessity, because I want as much power as I can haul around in a mustang, and if any of you have ever been in one you know how much space is in the back seat; none. I play metal mostly, but clean tone is very important to me. I am open to suggestions on any other amps you guys might know of in or around this price range also. Thanks!

 

[Jimothy JP7]

I've been playing a Randall 75w 1x12 for the past few years. It sounds decent, it has good crunch, but I feel myself wanting to get away from it. It hasn't made me want to upgrade to a bigger Randall, it's made me want to upgrade to something like Mesa or ENGL. If you dial it right, the Randall will do you well, but don't put too much money into it, because you may find yourself in my shoes. I've had to replace the speaker in it 3 times, and although that was mostly a $60-$70 job, I don't buy things to fix them.

Thats the only amp I can help you with. I haven't tried the others. For metal, if you're not looking to spend much, Randall get's the job done. Sevendust and Pantera will give you all the support you'll need there. But, in the end, you're best bet is to play one.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Maybe get the Peavey, and budget for swapping the stock speakers and valves out real soon. I hear they come alive when you do this.

 

[Duolos]

JC 120 and a pedal. You have the best clean platform and the amp takes pedals well. The built in chorus and reverb is wonderful. Is is loud and has wheels. The storage area in the back of the cab will let you put your pedals in it so moving it around is efficient and easy. Add a good drive or distortion pedals and it is a fantastic amp. I have used mine that way with pleasing results. Buying something to switch it out makes no sense if you are on a budget. Do it right and get it done properly the first time. I would go JC 120 for my money.

 

[robelinda2]

go the Peavey Classic 50 2x12!

 

[Sub1 Zero]

go the Peavey Classic 50 2x12!

Will 50 watts handle a live show? thanks

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Will 50 watts handle a live show? thanks

Yes and more! Remember an AC-30 is 'only' 30 watts!

 

[robelinda2]

yeah 30 is plenty, 50 is WAY enough.

 

[Duolos]

120 is even better

 

[SteveB]

+1 for the JC-120. I have always wanted to own one of those amps. I used to play through a friend's JC-120 periodically and it is the sweetest clean. It wasn't until years later that I found out it was a solid state amp!

They seem to retain a good resale value, too.

 

[Duolos]

Very true and they are solid gold on cleans. The Chorus and reverb are wonderful and they take a drive peal like nobody's business. Legendary amp IMO.

 

[uvacom]

I love my JC-120. Obviously if you do metal you'll need some kind of processing because the JC-120 simply does not distort. It has a distortion circuit which is okay, but definitely not metal. This amp gets loud, too. Like really loud. Like, I've never actually turned mine up all the way and I'm actually a little afraid to because I don't have an instrument cable long enough to get a safe distance away from the thing at that kind of SPL loud. Of course, I've got some JBL E120s in mine which are extremely efficient (this one used to belong to Little River Band, I guess that's what their guitarist liked), but the stock Roland Heavy Transducers aren't slouches.

Great reverb and *fantastic* chorus, too. If you care about the chorus, try to find an old one - I don't know when, but at some point Roland changed the chorus circuit, but the older ones are basically a CE-1. A CE-1 alone goes for the better part of what a used JC-120 does, so IMHO it's worth it.

 

[TimSz]

Dude!

Randall makes a 50 watt tube combo that retails for about 600 Canadian dollars. That translates into like... 500ish (?) dollars American.

I have played it numerous times. Clean channel with boost, and then an overdrive AND distortion channel. I imagine that switching out the stock tubes and speaker would make this little baby killer. The distortion really does rock. (tip: use the overdrive channel as distortion, and vice versa)

For not too much money, this baby is the bomb. i don't know what it's called, but it's on Randall's website. I highly recommend it... the reverb is killer too.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

This is all great news because the JC120 sure is affordable... especially used

maybe this along with one of those AMT metalizers from pedalgeek.com and i'd be good to go

 

[Duolos]

It sounds great at any volume as does the pedals you run with it. It is on a zillion records for its clean tones. Clean tones are ALWAYS best to use as a platform for effects. It is true stereo amp. It is a workhorse and made really well. Throw in a Radial or Guyatone MM pedals and you have insane gaine and crispness. This is coming from a guy who has just ebout every high gain boutique amp out there right now. I love it.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

I think I am pretty much sold. Opinions on that Danelectro Wasabi pedal? Soundclips sound pretty good

 

[Duolos]

I have a lead on a JC 120 for 375 bucks.....let me know if you are still intereted in one and ready to pull the trigger.

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Thanks man... as soon as these two clowns pay me for a couple of guitars I'll be pulling the trigger on one

 

[Junior]

go the Peavey Classic 50 2x12!

+1