Help Me pick a New Amp!!

onejourney

Ok Guys, nothing too big, or too small. Looking for something to that can hold its own at a coffee shop, yet something that would sound good in a larger venue, mic'd or not. Here's what I've been looking at, let me know what you think, or if you have other suggestions. Thanks in advance!!!

Also, trying not to spend more than $500.


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-RFX120-Combo-Amp?sku=487824

or

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Marshall-MG250DFX-Stereo-Combo-Amp?sku=483104

ianvomsaal

It really depends on the kind of music you're playing to know which amp will suit you best . . .
REGARDLESS, Forget all those solid state amps - go with a tube amp (tube amps sound soooo much better)!
Maybe take a look at the Fender Hot Rod Series and the Peavey Classic Series (also look at used amps).
Many here like Traynor (I don't), but you're limited with $500 (if you could spend more you'd have more choices).
You won't need any more than 30-watts with a tube amp (but you'll need at least 100-watts with solid state).

mccreadyisgod

I agree, look for a used Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Peavey Delta Blues (2x10, preferably) or Peavey Classic 30.

If you wanna buy new gear, look at the Crate V-series of tube amps.

onejourney

I really prefer the sound of tube amps over solid state, but they are much more expensive, and I've looked at Crates line of Tubes as well. So is a Crate Tube amp better performance wise than a regular Marshall? Thanks for the help!

Novawind

Any tube amp is a step up from any solid-state one in my opinion. Marshall makes a low-end solid state line (the MG and AVT series I think) but because of the price difference, you'll know which ones are tube and which ones are solid state. A tube Marshall will run at least $1000 new for any model.

I have a Traynor YCV40 and it works pretty well. Also check out a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (seems pretty popular) and the Peavy Classic 30. Pretty solid amp in my opinion. Even a Fender Blues Jr. has less wattage than a HRD and no built-in overdrive but it's compact yet can roar pretty loud at small venues. Any of those you pretty much can't go wrong.

onejourney

Yeah, I've played the Fender Deluxe quite a few times but my budget has gotten a little smaller. Maybe I'll wait a bit to make this purchase right. Although this seems to be a pretty good deal.


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-V-Series-V33212-33W-2x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=487056X

ianvomsaal

onejourney wrote:

Yeah, I've played the Fender Deluxe quite a few times but my budget has gotten a little smaller. Maybe I'll wait a bit to make this purchase right. Although this seems to be a pretty good deal.


http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-V-Series-V33212-33W-2x12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp?sku=487056X

Play one before you buy it (don't buy online until you play one in a store somewhere).
It may be a good deal, but if you haven't played one you won't know what it really
sounds like, or if it's really the amp for you (it may not sound like what you want).
And make sure you bring your own guitar since you'll want to hear what your guitar
sounds like through the amp - all guitars sound a little different (even similar models).

jcmark611

I'd recommend a used Blues Deville or Fender '59 Bassman. Mike played Bassmans only in 2006 and the Deville is just a modern Bassman. Sound great low or cranked!

lucylespian

Will $500 get you a used Mesa F30 ?

Buy a tube amp, solid state blows.

Did I say that ?? Oh, OK, must be true then.

If you musty get a solid state, buy a Roland Cube 30X, the clen channel is tre clean and will take pedals very well.

Pacomc79

mccreadyisgod wrote:

I agree, look for a used Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Peavey Delta Blues (2x10, preferably) or Peavey Classic 30.

If you wanna buy new gear, look at the Crate V-series of tube amps.

THose crates are pretty nice for the money, they come with Tone Tubbies in them standard now. Oh how I love competition.


Here's an F30 for under 500 at the moment. http://cgi.ebay.com/Mesa-Boogie-F30-Guitar-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ180243397647QQihZ008QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

xtremehardy388

Marshall's are LOUD. It depends on our style too. That being said, the Hot Rod Deluxe has already gotten some love from members on this thread and I'm going to add to it. it's a sexy amp and can hold it's own anywhere.

keeponrockin

Traynor YCV40.

westsidepie

xtremehardy388 wrote:

Marshall's are LOUD. It depends on our style too. That being said, the Hot Rod Deluxe has already gotten some love from members on this thread and I'm going to add to it. it's a sexy amp and can hold it's own anywhere.

As others have mentioned, I would go for a used Mesa, if you can swing it. The Fender Bassman reissues are nice. However, used I have seen them go for no less than $650.00. If you like to tinker and are good with a soldering iron, you could buy a silverface bassman and easily mod it to the '59 Bassman circuit. I have done this a few times, and it is really cheap to do. I also have a Hot Rod Deluxe, so I will spread the love for that amp. You can pick them up for around $300 used. Another benefit of the amp is there is a large community dedicated to modding the amp. You can really turn these amps into something special with some basic mods. Good luck.

All Those Yesterdays

A used all tube peavey (classic series) or fender would be the way to go. Even a used Carvin 212 belair sounds good.

Pacomc79

All Those Yesterdays wrote:

A used all tube peavey (classic series) or fender would be the way to go. Even a used Carvin 212 belair sounds good.

didn't carvin make 4x10 cabinets at one point?

MichaelMcKevin

My Traynor YCV40-WR is for sale

https://accounts.craigslist.org/post/shwpst?pii=687112700&db=lv

All Those Yesterdays

Pacomc79 wrote:

didn't carvin make 4x10 cabinets at one point?

Sure did in tweed to match the 50 watt tweed head. I just can't think of the speakers it was loaded with.

2x10 cabinet is going to be a requirement for me in the near future (recording purposes of course). With a pair of alnico's

ianvomsaal

All Those Yesterdays wrote:

Sure did in tweed to match the 50 watt tweed head. I just can't think of the speakers it was loaded with.

Carvins own PS10 Speaker: https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=PS10

GivenToCarve wrote:

My Traynor YCV40-WR is for sale
https://accounts.craigslist.org/post/shwpst?pii=687112700&db=lv

This link doesn't seem to work??

VINNY GOOMBA

yo

I just bought a Kustom Coupe '72 (72 watts). Great hand-made, 2x12 tube amp, kicks ass, has built-in effects, nice boost on both the clean and dirty channels, big time ballz on the dirty channel, and the clean sounds beautiful.

That particular model is out of the $500 range, but I was able to hammer the guy I bought it from down to $850, and a guitar set-up ($1100 sticker price). Had to work him for a few months though, ha ha.

They have a lifetime warranty too. It might be worth it to save a little and splurge on one of these bad boys. Not many people play them either. Check them out, I'm sure they have other models too, that could be more in your range.

ianvomsaal

VINNY GOOMBA wrote:

yo
I just bought a Kustom Coupe '72 (72 watts). Great hand-made, 2x12 tube amp, kicks ass, has built-in effects, nice boost on both the clean and dirty channels, big time ballz on the dirty channel, and the clean sounds beautiful.
That particular model is out of the $500 range, but I was able to hammer the guy I bought it from down to $850, and a guitar set-up ($1100 sticker price). Had to work him for a few months though, ha ha.
They have a lifetime warranty too. It might be worth it to save a little and splurge on one of these bad boys. Not many people play them either. Check them out, I'm sure they have other models too, that could be more in your range.

Kustom makes aweful PA's.
Their Defender (50W 1x12) Combo is $499, but sounds kinda shitty.
Everything else Kustom makes below that $499 price is solid state:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/kustom-amplifiers-speakers-pa-systems-guitar-combo-amps?N=100001%2b338499%2b201218&Ns=P_Price%7c1&page=1

All Those Yesterdays

ianvomsaal wrote:

Carvins own PS10 Speaker: https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=PS10

This link doesn't seem to work??

Thats what goes in their bass cabinets. I honestly assume they were some form of celestion

Jam10

I love my Traynor YCV 50. I bought new for $800 but I have seen them used between $400 - $500. More of a high gain amp if that's what your looking for. The clean channel is pretty good too but not as crisp as a Fender tube amp.

ianvomsaal

All Those Yesterdays wrote:

Thats what goes in their bass cabinets. I honestly assume they were some form of celestion

Most Carvin Amp Cabinets use their own speakers - A few use Vintage 30's, but most just use
their own (and more recently they also started using Celestion G12T's in some of thier cabs).
I believe the PS10 can be used for both Guitar & Bass, & it's also used for sound reinforcement.
Here are the speakers Carvin Uses: http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/group.php?cid=70
Now their old 10" speakers were called VL10's, but were talking Mid 90's (the cab was the VT410).
http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/95-vt50.html

All Those Yesterdays

ianvomsaal wrote:

Most Carvin Amp Cabinets use their own speakers - A few use Vintage 30's, but most just use
their own (and more recently they also started using Celestion G12T's in some of thier cabs).
I believe the PS10 can be used for both Guitar & Bass, & it's also used for sound reinforcement.
Here are the speakers Carvin Uses: http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/group.php?cid=70
Now their old 10" speakers were called VL10's, but were talking Mid 90's (the cab was the VT410).
http://www.carvinmuseum.com/decade/images/95-vt50.html

Cool bud. I swore I read or was told that Carvin slaps there name on someone elses speaker. Totally could be wrong!

mccreadyisgod

All Those Yesterdays wrote:

Cool bud. I swore I read or was told that Carvin slaps there name on someone elses speaker. Totally could be wrong!

I would guess it's a Carvin sticker on an Eminence driver. Everyone else is doing it, why not Carvin?

If someone here had a Carvin speaker, we could check the code...

who's_pearljam?

mccreadyisgod wrote:

I would guess it's a Carvin sticker on an Eminence driver. Everyone else is doing it, why not Carvin?

If someone here had a Carvin speaker, we could check the code...

My neighbor has a 4X cabinet and we're going to change out the speakers next week, and I'll do just that! I think you're right about some of those speakers, though.



Another versatile amp is the Mesa DC-3 or DC-5. I have a DC-5 and it needed some patience to find the right settings because there are a lot of controls,,,,, but when I found it, I kept it written down! Those amps weren't really popular and you can get them for a good price. The DC-3 is 30 watts and the DC-5 50 watts of loud power. There's an easy mod to the amp where you clip a resistor at the volume pot and it sounds good at lower volumes.

onejourney

Thanks for all the input guys. Guitar Center is having a Memorial Day Sale. I might go check it out.

ianvomsaal

onejourney wrote:

Thanks for all the input guys. Guitar Center is having a Memorial Day Sale. I might go check it out.

Memorial Day Sale, that's funny . . . lemmings off the cliff (there's really no such thing, it's just marketing).
Pacomc79, you work/worked for Guitar Center in Atlanta, are you able to back me up on this . . .

onejourney

ianvomsaal wrote:

Memorial Day Sale, that's funny . . . lemmings off the cliff (there's really no such thing, it's just marketing).
Pacomc79, you work/worked for Guitar Center in Atlanta, are you able to back me up on this . . .

Yeah, its usually not that big of a deal. It just means you can talk them down a little easier that usual, as long as you can play the game. There's a guy in our guitar section who I was able to get a bit of a deal from on a Martin and a couple other goodies so I might give it a shot.

All Those Yesterdays

mccreadyisgod wrote:

I would guess it's a Carvin sticker on an Eminence driver. Everyone else is doing it, why not Carvin?

If someone here had a Carvin speaker, we could check the code...

Two sitting at home. If I remember I'll take a look (when I get there).

All Those Yesterdays

ianvomsaal wrote:

Memorial Day Sale, that's funny . . . lemmings off the cliff (there's really no such thing, it's just marketing).
Pacomc79, you work/worked for Guitar Center in Atlanta, are you able to back me up on this . . .

Sale at Guitar Center... First I've heard of this :-)