What Guitar Amp to Buy!?!

bENDER

Hey everybody, howzit going?! ?

I read the post about the amp's that was posted a while ago, but now I'm more confused than ever!!! ???

The store I went to has the VOX Valvetronix 30W for R3500, VOX Valvetronix 50W for R4500 and then there was a Marshall 50W Solid [Not shure what model] for R4000.

What amp should I rather go for [Any other suggestions are also welcome]. I think I should just go for a 50W and be done with it, but my budget isn't to great in the sense of buying pedals for effects.

Please help!

P.S. Any good places you know of that sell equipment?!
P.S.P.S I know almost nothing about amp's, I just play on a 10W practice at the moment........

dee

Big question is what do you want to do with the amp? Gigging, just jamming with friends or playing at home?

toastyrat

Another big question what style of music do you play?

P.S. IMO spend a bit more on a good amp and get to the pedals when you can...

Martyr

effects aren't that important compared to an amp,without the amp the effects are useless!!!

i'm not vox expert but don't most 'em come with built in effects? and i'd personally go for the marshall because i'm a marshall guy(even though i own a peavey?)

both the vox and marshall are versatile amps,so you can't really go wrong with either of 'em

bENDER

Hey!

Thanx for the advice so far....I actually went back to that other post and read it again, I am starting to get the general idea. ?

I enjoy playing Metal, Hard Rock, Blues and some other random stuff. Hopefully I can join a band or maybe even start one in the not so far future!

Any good places you know of that sell equipment?

I was also wondering, when buying a valve amp, do you have to replace the valves after a while?!

Martyr

I was also wondering, when buying a valve amp, do you have to replace the valves after a while?!

if they blow, yeah....

have you looked into getting a peavey?

AlanRatcliffe

I was also wondering, when buying a valve amp, do you have to replace the valves after a while?!

Yes. They wear out after a while and need replacing to keep the amp in tip-top tone. This is particularly true of power valves and especially with new production valves. You'll also find that the harder you run the amp the sooner the valves will need replacing.

Matt-White

Go and check out Alan's article on amps Wattage and usage. It's really useful and insightful, for all of us:
http://www.bothners.co.za/articles/guitar_amp_power.shtml

Mr-M

Bender, if that Marshall was an MG Series, rather steer clear - not great and unreliable (based on the guys I know who've had them break down). If it's a Valvestate 50, they're actually pretty good and R4000 would be a really good price for one. A nice clean tone, especially for a Marshall and a decent, typical Marshall overdrive channel.

The VOX Valvetronix are also very nice (I have the AD50VT at the moment), plus with the amp models you have quite a few different tones to choose from and the built in effects are quite usable.

Can't really go wrong with either the Valvestate or the Valvetronix, but avoid the MG IMO.

Explorerlover

Mr M wrote but avoid the MG IMO.

Make that my opinion too....The MG's really are not as great as Marshall would've hoped.

david1976

Hey there, i would check out the Line 6 Spider 75w combo. It is a 1x12" combo with 12 built in "amp models" , from a Fender Blackface clean through to a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. It also has built in effects which you can program and control via their controller boards,{ chorus , flanger, seperate delay and reverb modules}. The amp retails at R5895 and Music Connection or Marshall Music will give you a great discount on it.

AlanRatcliffe

David, please read the forum rules and list your affiliation with Active Music/Marshall Music in your signature.

bENDER

Thanx very much for all the advice everybody!!! Haven't been online for a while..... :-[

FatBoy

+ one on the Vox ADVT, I have the AD50VT, but to be honest I have only once been able to play at full volume (only for 3 seconds it is just that loud) I was on a farm so could push it.

I'd say get the AD30VT, cheaper and not as heavy to carry around as the 50 and I'm sure it will be loud enough. You don't need pedals at first, it has 11 amp types and 11 effects built in, and they sound great to me.

Later on when you are making money off gigging etc, then you can spend big money on getting your dream amp and pedals.

The Valvetronix series is a perfect step up from your 10W practice amp.

wez111

well i can say that personally i prefer the roland cube 30...i have had it for more than 3 years and have never had any problems with it...its loud enough to play with drums and its easy to carry around...its about R2000-R2500 but yeah...marshall kicks ass like none other

DANVIG

I have a vox50 watt it is very reliable and versatile .It has alot of buld in effects, that you can store. .you can buy a footswitch with it. .then you can change channels, so you won't have the need for many pedals

deanBailey

If tone is very important to you I would avoid the Roland cube all together. IMO, It's fine for jamming at home to give your guitar some volume with some effects to practice with but that's about it.

I've played one show with an MG (long story) and for the "price to specs to tone" ratio It wasn't too bad.

But if you really want a good amp with great tone, don't be hasty in deciding! Save for half a year if you need to :/ unless of course you need one right away...

...Otherwise a POD or GT8 > power amp > 2x12 cab combo will be fine as their effects/amp sims are better than most combo amps. There are professionals that use a setup like that (Dino Cazares) and it does the job fine.