Amplifier Advice

refuogee

Hi there,
sorry if this is in the wrong place but I'm looking at getting a new amp and I need advice.

I'm currently playing a Marshall mg 250 dfx which is fairly nice, decentish tone blah blah but I want a valve amp.
I play in a band so im thinking I want a stack for power cos while the sound at gigs for the audience may sometimes be satisfactory
most of the time the sound on stage is useless so I want enough power to negate this.

Ok so i play rock n roll, new school like Zeke, Peter Pan Speedrock, think ZZ Top, classic rock, sped up and with some balls.

I want a valve amp, and I like the marshall sound so im thinking JCM 800, Im a huge fan of Slash but i also know that
marshall has a ton of amps, vavlestate, bluesbreaker, etc etc so I want advice, what range should I go for?

I also like Vox but dont know enough about them.

Obviously I'd still go sit in the shop and jam the amps and see if I like them but I just want to know which direction to head in.

Thanks for anyones time ?

IceCreamMan

Budget?

refuogee

I just started working so im gonna save for it but I dont really care.. Im thinking 20 - 25 grand if need be..

My thinking is drop a fuck load on my amp and then I dont have to worry about it for hopefully a damn long time!!

refuogee

Another question is who to buy from? I was also looking at ordering it from overseas if its cheaper to do.. Anyone have any experience ordering from overseas. Im wondering to customs hit you and is there a way around this such as sending to to a contact in USA for instance and them sending it so a gift type deal or something and then exempt?

MikeM

Before we carry on, let's lay off the profanity man ?

Do you play stadium gigs etc? You need to know, the magic of tubes only comes out when you turn up the volume (Usually 6 or higher). That's pretty ridiculously loud when you're playing through a stack. Even a 212 50 watter is loud enough to kill small animals, I like the JCM800, it really cuts through the mix, but for what you're playing I'd say start at the Bluesbreaker. If you're interested in Voxes, it's as easy as the AC15C1 or AC30C2.

IceCreamMan

refuogee wrote: I just started working so im gonna save for it but I dont really care.. Im thinking 20 - 25 grand if need be..

With that kinda cash the world is your oyster i reckon.

If i had that much wad to splash on an amp i would seriously look at a Mesa set up...

regarding importing an amp , it may be cheaper and you would save but you would lose any warranty ...in a 25k purchase i would like some warranty but thats me ...

refuogee

Sorry for swearing mike ?

K you right im not playing stadium gigs and probably never will so if not a stack then a combo valve amp? what do you recommend?

We play in the punk scene so sound at gigs is usually terrible, so i'd want to use the amp as an onstage monitor for me as well as the rest of the band
who often cant hear much..

I like the idea of a stack cos its the rock n roll dream but if its not gonna do all that good then maybe i can save 10 grand and get and awesome combo amp!!

Thanks for that tip on warranty I never thought about it and its important for sure!!

Jacquesg4j

You could buy my JCM 900?? It's a combo so you can move it to gigs ore practices, 50W FULL VALVE or switchable to 100W... More than loud enough for any gig! AND if it's not enough you can run an extension cabinet on it also!

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/for-sale-marshall-jcm900-4102/

At R5000 you can go VERY far!

MikeM

I don't mind man, but there are some people here who will ?

Importing an amp is dangerous and expensive, not to mention you might get a 110v amp etc. I'd say it's best to buy one locally.

Where are you situated?

Kalcium

refuogee wrote: I'm currently playing a Marshall mg 250 dfx which is fairly nice, decentish tone blah blah but I want a valve amp.
I play in a band so im thinking I want a stack for power cos while the sound at gigs for the audience may sometimes be satisfactory
most of the time the sound on stage is useless so I want enough power to negate this.

Theres no way your 250 dfx doesn't have enough power... I have the 50 dfx which only has 1 speaker and i play with it only about a 1/3 of the volume when i play with my band. Have you tried turning your amp up? You will find it has MORE than enough power...You could probably drown out your entire band to the point that you're the only 1 people can hear if you turned it up fully...

Also don't be afraid to look secondhand especially on this forum. Theres a JCM2000 going for R8000 and also a JCM900 for R5000 which are both great amps and probably both louder than your already super loud amp ?

EDIT: Beat me to it Jacques ?

refuogee

The power isnt necessarily the only problem its that the mg's tone degrades at higher volumes this is why I want to take the next step to valve..
feel free to correct any inaccuracies that may be evident in my knowledge ?

I check the classifieds on here regularly, when i have the cash in hand ill do the rounds though.. but thanks for the tip I do appreciate it ?

Jacquesg4j

EDIT: Beat me to it Jacques

Hahaha! Fast fingers fast fingers!!!!

guitarboy2828

refuogee wrote: I just started working so im gonna save for it but I dont really care.. Im thinking 20 - 25 grand if need be..

My thinking is drop a load on my amp and then I dont have to worry about it for hopefully a damn long time!!

Haha, if only this was the case, but alas, never will be! So, I say buy an amp for R5000-R10 000.. Maybe the JCM 900 or JCM 2000 or something like that and try it out, maybe you'll keep it. Maybe you'll get something else! BUT... One amp will never be enough ?

Jacquesg4j

guitarboy2828 wrote:
refuogee wrote: I just started working so im gonna save for it but I dont really care.. Im thinking 20 - 25 grand if need be..

My thinking is drop a load on my amp and then I dont have to worry about it for hopefully a damn long time!!
Haha, if only this was the case, but alas, never will be! So, I say buy an amp for R5000-R10 000.. Maybe the JCM 900 or JCM 2000 or something like that and try it out, maybe you'll keep it. Maybe you'll get something else! BUT... One amp will never be enough ?

+1 ... Styles change, Guitars change, Situations change... AMPS CHANGE!

Sean

If you're willing to sink that amount of cash into an amp, then you can certainly take your time, no need to rush. Lots and lots and lots of reading for you to do on the forum, you'll probably be able to spend way less than that and get something amazing ?