My ASS needs an amp!

[Ricman]

I need your help guys. I want to move up to a valve amp from my little Roland Cube - I figure an EBMM deserves better.
I only play at home right now, but want to get something that will handle practice sessions if/when I get good. I love all kinds of music, but generally Middle-of-the-Road I suppose, TOTO, Pink Floyd etc.
I think I want an fx loop - I like a bit of delay and chorus and have been told that these sound awful "straight in".

I have a shortlist;

Laney LC15
Peavey Classic 30 (or maybe Valveking 112?)
Orange Tiny Terror (but no fx loop)
Marshall DSL Combo.

Finding a store to try all these is impossible - anybody got any thoughts or other suggestions? Thanks very much.

 

[Colin]

Also have a look at the Laney L20H

 

[Jonny Dubai]

I have heard great things about the Orange. Remember you need to get a cab too.

J

 

[dannymusic]

H and K switchblades are very hot right now. Haven't tried one though. Peavey JSX. Lots of MESA choices; especially used. On your list, I would rate the DSL first. Tiny terror more like a vox; if thats your bag; but they are good/one trick pony.
We need your gain needs and budget.

 

[Mick]

Tiny terror good amp when you want one sound at a time. Love that pure amp.
If you want flexibility go for the new Line6 Spider Valve. Bogner Power amp that has.

 

[mesadualrec]

Tiny terror good amp when you want one sound at a time. Love that pure amp.
If you want flexibility go for the new Line6 Spider Valve. Bogner Power amp that has.

I would also have a look into one of these amps,supposed to be really good and cheap...alot of bang for your buck!!


also as mentioned you really couldnt go wrong with looking into a second hand mesa

 

[Ripper]

Yup, you need a Mesa. And a small watter one will do. Go to ebay now, there's a DC-2 20watter with contour channel, with fx loop and fx blending control!

Why? Because just like you, I have just upgraded from a Ibanez 5watter tube amp to a Mesa Studio Caliber (same as DC-2 sans contour) to compliment my Balls, and I am enjoying every moment of it!

 

[JMB27]

Ricman, from your short-list I would recommend either the Laney or the Tiny Terror.

happy shopping, eh

Joel

 

[GuitarHack]

Good short list, IMHO...from your list, the Peavey Classic 30 is a great, versatile, and affordable amp. Two channels, nice reverb, small and well-made. Mine will never leave the stable. The only complaint I have is tube rattle...those things sit right behind the cone, so the will rattle some.

Off the list, you might want to consider the Vox AD VT series. Solid state front end, one tube in the power section, 11 amp models and 11 effects. Sounds great at low volumes and high volumes. I have the 50W 112, and lately it's my grab-and-go amp. It's loud enough, sounds good with any guitar, and is very light. It's worth the price just for the AC30 model , and you can find them in most guitar stores. My only complaints are that with 11 amp models, you stil only have two user-created presets to store (and the footswitch is extra), and the feel of it is a bit on the cheap side.

I suggest NOT spending a lot until you have owned a few and know what you want. Seems like there was no way around that for me: I had to make a few "mistakes" which were realized only as I progressed as a musician. Oh well, that's what eBay and buying used is for.

But, in the more money category, I have a Dr.Z MAZ18 that sounds awesome with the Axis or ASS. But, I am looking at a Mesa Road King (yikes) or Lone Star...it never ends.

My humble $0.02, good luck!

 

[Ricman]

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated.
I suppose my budget is about £500. As far as gain needs, as I say, MOR rock is my main musical diet - if I need to go beyond that I am happy to use a pedal.
Has anyone here got a VC15? I'd like an opinion on the fx loop - I've seen afew negative reviews about this part of the amp.
Mesa's are way too expensive in the UK. Bang for bucks is a consideration - and you are right guitarhack - I need, and am prepared to make mistakes. But I'd sooner make make a £200 mistake (VC15) than a £1000 one (Mesa).
Anyway - great stuff, thanks again...and any VC15 players here...show yourself!

 

[mesavox]

I own a Mesa DC 3 with EQ. I love it. Has the Mesa sound with Vox-like chime and woodiness... especially through my Avatar 212. The Bipolar Echo link... I used that configuration from start to finish on that recording. The enduvus recording is Triaxis and DC 3 mixed. The Youtube is VAmp. LOL I think the bipolar echo recording is a great representation of what that little 7 to 800 dollar (typical used prices) amp can do.

The VHT Pittbull is a nice Marshall type sounding amp that you can find pretty cheap on Ebay from time to time.

I'm also a big proponent of the Carvin Legacy.... Great cleans, very punchy and dynamic... enough gain for most anyone. I compared one with the Peavy XXX... the difference is night and day... Legacy WAY better.

Keep in mind with the Mesa stuff the parallel loop... things like the TC Stereo Chorus pedal don't work with it... you have to run it in front. The TC M1 doesn't work with it either... The Parallel loop is better, but you have to be aware of it when setting up your effects. The Carvin has a series loop, as does the VHT if memory serves.

 

[candid_x]

Thanks for all the advice guys, much appreciated.
I suppose my budget is about £500. As far as gain needs, as I say, MOR rock is my main musical diet - if I need to go beyond that I am happy to use a pedal.
Has anyone here got a VC15? I'd like an opinion on the fx loop - I've seen afew negative reviews about this part of the amp.
Mesa's are way too expensive in the UK. Bang for bucks is a consideration - and you are right guitarhack - I need, and am prepared to make mistakes. But I'd sooner make make a £200 mistake (VC15) than a £1000 one (Mesa).
Anyway - great stuff, thanks again...and any VC15 players here...show yourself!

I've had a Laney LC30 and currently have an LH50 and LC50 - big brothers to the LC15. I like the amps a lot (with a few small tweaks), but have to say they don't take pedals very well, either to the front end or through the loop. Not sure about the VC's.

 

[pjc812]

Save your cash and get a Marshall JVM. The DSL is okay, but I'm not a fan of the JCM 2000 series at all. If you can find a Krank those are nice too.

 

[glockaxis]

speaking of Krank, anyone try their new small tube stacks?

 

[rickjohns]

My Axis loves my DSL100, and my DSL401. Great tones come from this combination.

 

[ashman]

FWIW I run a Peavey Classic 50 with all my pedals (including delay & reverb) out front and it sounds great. I keep the amp on the clean channel and run some nice pedals for my dirty sounds. Theres a lot of debate around, but some people swear that using an FX loop does more harm than good for your sound. I guess it's all in the the eye (ear?) of the beholder.

 

[Spudmurphy]

If it was me, I'd save another £200 and buy yourself a second hand Mesa like my F50 - awesome amp that you will keep for a long time.
The Orange Tiny Terror is a great amp BUT as has already been said it is a one trick pony. I know you haven't mentioned it but steer cleer of the Orange Rocker 30 combo - I've tried the Terror and the Rocker flat out and I'd say "not for me"!

The Marshall would be a good 'un too.
But save, scrounge, do odd jobs, sell ya gold fillings, and get a second hand Mesa.
Top class amp (- and I am a big Marshall fan!!)
I'll be putting a Peavey 112 through it's paces soon !
Spud

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

The Line 6 Spider valve seems like a really good amp, and pretty cheap at UK prices too.

 

[Ricman]

Mmm, lots of food for thought. You're not looking to offload your silver jubilee are you spud?? ;-)
I think I know the classic rectified sound the Mesas can do - but how are they at less gainy kinda crunch sounds? Can they do cleans? Basically how versatile are the Mesa range?

 

[Spudmurphy]

Mmm, lots of food for thought. You're not looking to offload your silver jubilee are you spud?? ;-)
I think I know the classic rectified sound the Mesas can do - but how are they at less gainy kinda crunch sounds? Can they do cleans? Basically how versatile are the Mesa range?

I shied away from Mesas - because I don't need the really high gain sound that they can put out.

The F50 series has two channels. Yeah you can get some great overdriven sounds out of channel 2 especially when using the "contour" option. - but honestly the cleans on channel 1 are fantastic - it has a pull switch that gives it a top boost too!

Do a bit of research on the net - it's a great amp that will cover everything.
You won't want another - trust me, my mates have heard it and they are really taken back at how good it sounds.

I have another friend, who makes pickups for a living and he has a really discerning taste in Amps - he's got an F50 too!