What amp should I get for under R5000?

timmie23

Hi everyone, I'm new here. Thought there would be some knowledgeable people here who could answer this question.

I've got about R5000 to spend on a new amp to go along with my Schecter Omen 6 Extreme.

Haven't had a guitar since 2009, but played for about 5 years before then. So not a beginner, so looking for something with a decent tone and features.

Styles of music by names of bands I like to play.

As Cities Burn
Alexisonfire
A Wilhelm Scream
Muse
Emery

So a mix of some Post Hardcore and some other styles.

Any help or advice will be appreciated.

aja

Will the amp be used for practice, recording or gigging?

If you gig, will you mic the amp or not?

Are you going to use pedals for overdrive/distortion or use the built in effects of the amp?

Are you looking for a tube/valve amp or are you happy with solid state?

timmie23

I've never played on a Tube Amp..... Only ever played on Solid State tech. Is it really necessary to go all valve though if you're not going to be recording, etc?

It's going to be mainly for Practice and some gigging if I do join a band again in a few months.
I'm from Potch, and all the venues here are tiny. Like 50 - 80 people sized venues. So don't think it'll need to be to loud.

I don't have the money at the moment to also get effects pedals as well. So I guess amp effects it'll have to be.

MikeM

I vote Blackstar HT5.

deefstes

timmie23 wrote: I've never played on a Tube Amp..... Only ever played on Solid State tech. Is it really necessary to go all valve though if you're not going to be recording, etc?

It's going to be mainly for Practice and some gigging if I do join a band again in a few months.
I'm from Potch, and all the venues here are tiny. Like 50 - 80 people sized venues. So don't think it'll need to be to loud.

I don't have the money at the moment to also get effects pedals as well. So I guess amp effects it'll have to be.

If you choose not to go the valve amp route, allow me to suggest the Roland Cube 80XL for your consideration. It's a great solid state amp with a fair amount of functions (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Looper, Delay etc.) and it models a few iconic amps. Great value if you ask me.

MikeM

Oh yea, big up for liking a Wilhelm scream. Didn't know of anyone else that listens to em locally.

timmie23

MikeM wrote: I vote Blackstar HT5.

Where would be the best place to buy? I have to drive up from Potch most likely as I doubt I'll be able to get such a good price here from the local shops.

I watched a video for the HT5, and I must say. I can hear a difference over my old Orange 10w practice amp.

and yes Wilhelm Scream are one of my biggest influences. If I could just sound like they do ? I know, cliche, but man, idolize those 2 guys.

IceCreamMan

timmie23 wrote: I've never played on a Tube Amp..... Only ever played on Solid State tech. Is it really necessary to go all valve though if you're not going to be recording, etc?

It's going to be mainly for Practice and some gigging if I do join a band again in a few months.
I'm from Potch, and all the venues here are tiny. Like 50 - 80 people sized venues. So don't think it'll need to be to loud.

I don't have the money at the moment to also get effects pedals as well. So I guess amp effects it'll have to be.

Look up the ad posted by Trubore from potch, he is selling an Orange Tiny Terror combo for under 5k ..... cant go wrong

timmie23

deefstes wrote:
timmie23 wrote: I've never played on a Tube Amp..... Only ever played on Solid State tech. Is it really necessary to go all valve though if you're not going to be recording, etc?

It's going to be mainly for Practice and some gigging if I do join a band again in a few months.
I'm from Potch, and all the venues here are tiny. Like 50 - 80 people sized venues. So don't think it'll need to be to loud.

I don't have the money at the moment to also get effects pedals as well. So I guess amp effects it'll have to be.
If you choose not to go the valve amp route, allow me to suggest the Roland Cube 80XL for your consideration. It's a great solid state amp with a fair amount of functions (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Looper, Delay etc.) and it models a few iconic amps. Great value if you ask me.

I've heard my friends argue between getting the Roland Cube and the Line 6 Spider IV. Dunno if I should give into the gimmicky features the Line 6 offers. Yes, it is kinda cool that they have presets for songs and bands. Will I ever use it though? That's what I am trying to ask myself.

Also, I'd like to have a nice pedal if I'm going to use the on amp effects. Does the Roland Cube have a nice pedal with more than just up and down channel switchers.

Thanks for all the info guys. Really like this community already. Friendly and informative

teleplayer

Try taking a look at the Ibanez Tubescreamer amp too.

http://www.ibanez.com/electronics/series-tsa

Very cool little tube amps, around 4k.

deefstes

timmie23 wrote: I've heard my friends argue between getting the Roland Cube and the Line 6 Spider IV. Dunno if I should give into the gimmicky features the Line 6 offers. Yes, it is kinda cool that they have presets for songs and bands. Will I ever use it though? That's what I am trying to ask myself.

Also, I'd like to have a nice pedal if I'm going to use the on amp effects. Does the Roland Cube have a nice pedal with more than just up and down channel switchers.

Thanks for all the info guys. Really like this community already. Friendly and informative

Fist off, I'm not an amp expert but I'm sure some others will chime in with better advice. The Roland Cube has no pedal. You can add up to 6 pedals to it though (ordinary footswitches) which achieve the following:
1. Channel Select (switches between clean channel and amp modeller channel)
2. Solo (switches between amp modeller channel and solo channel with preset settings)
3. EFX on/off (Chorus/Flanger/Phaser/Tremolo)
4. Reverb on/off
5. Delay / Looper on/off
6. Delay tap tempo or Looper REC/PLAY/DUB

Of course you can add any other pedal with your favourite effect to it as well as with any other amp.

singemonkey

Given your budget, do not consider getting another solid state amp. Valve amps sound better. It is as simple as that.

HT5 is a great amp. You will need to mike it up and have monitors for anything but tiny gigs - although it can also go direct. But that's all ok.

Want some raw power, and are in Cape Town? I'll put in a plug for my buddy's amp here: http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/laney-lc50-112-valve-amp/msg153852/#msg153852

R5,200 (or less) for 50watts of serious tube amp. Saw one in bothners yesterday with a sticker price of R12K.

MikeM

Also remember, smaller amps you can crank at home, but need to be mic'd. Bigger amps might blow your windows out ?

Kalcium

timmie23 wrote:
MikeM wrote: I vote Blackstar HT5.
I have to drive up from Potch most likely as I doubt I'll be able to get such a good price here from the local shops.

You almost definitely wont find that amp in the local shops there. The local shops in potch are pretty shocking...
Don't know which shops in JHB would have the blackstar but someone mentioned an Orange Tiny Terror i think, maybe give that a look, especially if the guy is in potch then you can try it out without much travellling.

timmie23

Wesley (Kalcium) Ward wrote:
timmie23 wrote:
MikeM wrote: I vote Blackstar HT5.
I have to drive up from Potch most likely as I doubt I'll be able to get such a good price here from the local shops.

You almost definitely wont find that amp in the local shops there. The local shops in potch are pretty shocking...
Don't know which shops in JHB would have the blackstar but someone mentioned an Orange Tiny Terror i think, maybe give that a look, especially if the guy is in potch then you can try it out without much travellling.

Thing is, I'm only going to be able to buy in Mid December when I get my 13th Cheque.
Thought I'd do the right thing and start researching so long.

I thought Tube Amps were a hell of a lot more expensive.
If I can get a nice Tube for under R5k, then I think I shall have to go with that.
Yeah, you lose all the extra effects these amp modelling amps have on them. Is it a better trade off?

Rather Tube with less effects and Amp Models, than Solid State with Loads of Effects and Amp Models?

Kalcium

Yup, rather quality over quantity ? Not sure how many effects you would want to use really, but i think as long as you have distortion and some reverb you should be fine...

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/orange-tiny-terror-12%27-%28all-tube%29-combo-amp/

Heres the guys ad, go see him and try it out ? with the extra R800 you can still get a pedal to add some extra distortion should you want it, or an OD pedal to use as a boost for solos. With the prices of second hand pedals on the forum you could almost get 2 pedals for R800

Even if you cant buy it now, you can try it out and see if you like it, im sure he wont mind, and if he stil has it in december you can buy it, or if another one pops up

deefstes

timmie23 wrote: Rather Tube with less effects and Amp Models, than Solid State with Loads of Effects and Amp Models?

Let's see, it's a choice between a valve amp, and something that models a valve amp. Seems like a no brainer to me, get the real article. ?

timmie23

Wesley (Kalcium) Ward wrote: Yup, rather quality over quantity ? Not sure how many effects you would want to use really, but i think as long as you have distortion and some reverb you should be fine...

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/orange-tiny-terror-12%27-%28all-tube%29-combo-amp/

Heres the guys ad, go see him and try it out ? with the extra R800 you can still get a pedal to add some extra distortion should you want it, or an OD pedal to use as a boost for solos. With the prices of second hand pedals on the forum you could almost get 2 pedals for R800

Even if you cant buy it now, you can try it out and see if you like it, im sure he wont mind, and if he stil has it in december you can buy it, or if another one pops up

I watched a video now online showing the Tiny Terror. Don't laugh, but I noticed there are no EQ settings on the amp. As well as no clean and distortion channel switches.
Will an EQ Pedal or something be necessary? What is a good distortion pedal to invest in? As you guys can probably tell, hardware is something that I'm really not clued up on.

deefstes wrote:
timmie23 wrote: Rather Tube with less effects and Amp Models, than Solid State with Loads of Effects and Amp Models?
Let's see, it's a choice between a valve amp, and something that models a valve amp. Seems like a no brainer to me, get the real article. ?

Hehe, excellent point. I never really thought about it like that. See, I think I got caught up in the moment of such a wide variety of sounds possible with just the amp.

Jack-Flash-Jr

The Fender Super Champ is all valve but has a 2nd channel with a ton of modelling as well as quite a few good built in effects. At 20W valve you can play at home comfortably but it's loud enough for gigs, no prob if mic'd for bigger ones.

timmie23

Jack Flash Jr wrote: The Fender Super Champ is all valve but has a 2nd channel with a ton of modelling as well as quite a few good built in effects. At 20W valve you can play at home comfortably but it's loud enough for gigs, no prob if mic'd for bigger ones.

Nice, what do you think of this price?
http://www.musicmadness.co.za/fender-superchamp-xd/
is that what they usually go for?