Advice Needed for a new Gigging Amp

Josh-Hayes · 2013-10-20T17:12:14+00:00

I seem to find myself wanting/needing more and more gear (don't we all). My current amp is a Vox Pathfinder 10. Hardly suited to any form of gigging (ie: pl...

Advice Needed for a new Gigging Amp

Psean

Joe Moore wrote:
If you are in Jhb , pop into Toms , they have the new Roland Cube GX series in stock to check out . I'm sure other stores have them too .

.... R7 odd K , for the Cube 80 GX (before discount) is rather hefty though . ?

http://www.roland.com/amp/guitar/

=

There's a couple of the previous Cube 80 XL series for about 3k on Gumtree right now. 8)

And TOMS will have the Ibanez TSA series as well.

AlanRatcliffe

My vote also goes to the Ibanez TSA 15 - great cleans and takes pedals really well.

Josh-Hayes

I'm in Cape Town.
Gonna keep looking around, hopefully score a good second-hand deal.

Chocklit_Thunda

Josh Hayes wrote: The only issue with the Cube's that I have is that I have found them to be quite 'metallic' (I'm not to sure how else to describe it.) and a little lacking in character

Metallic? If I'm not mistaken, the Cube has 3 clean channels... One of them is a Tweed channel! 8) (Which tube amp has a tweed channel?? ? )
As for lacking in character.... A valve amp will have more character a majority of the time. The TSA or Cub are great low priced amps with enough wattage for a gig (But no tweed channel!).

But remember the Cube - the destroyer of 1000 worlds - is a god among mortal amps. 8)

Psean

I'm not wild about that Roland tweed channel... I'd prefer a TSA with a Tweed style pedal. Or even a cranked Cub. The Roland is good, I use one from time to time and quite like the "Brit Combo" channel. But for this

I would need something with nice cleans, decent EQ and maybe some reverb. I prefer to use pedals for dirty sounds.
I don't do metal, if that is any help. Hard rock at most. Cool -

I'd pick up a TSA15 or second hand Cub 12R (not sure what the cleans are like though - only heard 'em cranked). The TSA has great cleans and although it doesn't have reverb, the Cube's reverb is a digital emulation anyway, so adding a reverb pedal to the TSA won't be that different (it could better depending on the pedal) but will obviously add to the price. You'll be able to get either of them for around Cube prices anyway if I'm not mistaken. I don't see any benefit to going with the Cube for Josh's requirements.

EDIT: A lot of the worship guys seem to use Tube Screamer style OD pedals, so the TSA's built one in is a bonus in this case.

Josh-Hayes

A bit of an ask, but, do you guys know the current rough prices of (new and second-hand):

Vox AC15
Ibanez TSA 15
Laney Cub 12R
Peavey Classic 30
Roland Cubes

And any similar amps. :-\

Thanks everybody, I am getting nearer to real amp acquisition! ?

Stubbs

I saw a TSA15 head and cab going for about R3000 on Gumtree a few months ago. You could get a Classic 30 for around R3500, and they're plenty loud.

Chocklit_Thunda

I know the TSA goes for 4-4.5K new, I think a new Cub is in that price range, the Roland is 7K for the new one (Cube 80GX) and 2nd hand the TSA goes for about 2K for just a head to 3.5K for the head and cab (Max... anything more and you may as well buy new), the Cube you can find for about the same. Cubs can be found for around R2000. I remember forumite Wirt got a Cub I was also looking at for around that price (if I'm not mistaken...)
Peavey 30 for just over 3k second hand but 30 watts is a lot of powaaaaaa!!!!! 8)

TL;DR - New amp around R4500
- Second hand R3000

Josh-Hayes

AC 15?

Chocklit_Thunda

Josh Hayes wrote: AC 15?

Sorry Broha... That one I don't know... Which probably means it costs more than 4K - AKA the most I'll ever spend on anything ever - new.

Mr-M

Josh Hayes wrote: AC 15?

2nd hand they go for around R5000. New...well phone up a VOX Dealer. In CT, try any of the Bothner or Marshall stores.

You may struggle to find an Ibanez TSA in CT to try. Your best bet is Thundercloud Music in Fish Hoek. Laney, go to any Bothner store.

I would suggest whether you are buying new or 2nd hand, make a trip with your own guitar out to the stores that stock the amps you have your eye on and give 'em all a try. That's the only way you're gonna know what you really like - regardless of what anyone is suggesting.

Josh-Hayes

Mr T wrote:
Josh Hayes wrote: AC 15?
2nd hand they go for around R5000. New...well phone up a VOX Dealer. In CT, try any of the Bothner or Marshall stores.

You may struggle to find an Ibanez TSA in CT to try. Your best bet is Thundercloud Music in Fish Hoek. Laney, go to any Bothner store.

I would suggest whether you are buying new or 2nd hand, make a trip with your own guitar out to the stores that stock the amps you have your eye on and give 'em all a try. That's the only way you're gonna know what you really like - regardless of what anyone is suggesting.

Will do. Thanks.

Edit: Just phoned Bothner's. AC15 for R8300 and Cub12R for R5300.

I think I am going to have to just settle for solid state for now, there is a Fender Mustang II for R2000 on Gumtree. I may as well go have a look, since it is an amp that I have played with and quite like; even for a modelling amp.

Psean

Josh Hayes wrote:

I think I am going to have to just settle for solid state for now

You really should be able to pick up something in your price range if you scout out the second hand market for a while. You don't gain much by buying new. I'd say, for now you have your Pathfinder, so wait until something in your price bracket has turned up or you've saved enough to afford what you want. If you have no reason to rush, don't.

Shibbibilybob

Mr T wrote:
Josh Hayes wrote: AC 15?
ores.

You may struggle to find an Ibanez TSA in CT to try. Your best bet is Thundercloud Music in Fish Hoek. Laney, go to any Bothner store.

There are a few at the constantia marshall music, and if that fails, you're welcome to come and try mine and then order it from TOMS as I did.

Josh-Hayes

Thanks Shibbibilybob. I may take you up on that offer some time in the future. ?

For now I have decided to look out for an inexpensive, second-hand ss amp. Something like a Mustang or Cube.
(unless some miracle appears in the next few days/weeks)
As an intermediary 'stepping-stone' to a real tube amp.

Norman86

Not sure if its still available, but there is a guy selling his ac30cc1 on fb for R4500, just saying...

Josh-Hayes

Norman86 wrote: Not sure if its still available, but there is a guy selling his ac30cc1 on fb for R4500, just saying...

If you could let me know that would be cool, thanks Norman. I am in CT.

I put an ad out on Gumtree last night and have got a few responses.
One guy is offering a mint Peavey Bandit 112 for R2500 neg. I have read some really good reviews on it so far.
However I am going to wait and see if anything else pops up.

Shibbibilybob

no need at all to rush man. The longer you wait,the bigger your budget too.
I would not really look at the bandit if I were you, or any but the nicest (Jc120) of solid state amps. You already have a small solid state amp.
We'll be reading another thread like this started by you if you don't just bide your time, sit on your wallet, and wait for a good deal to pop up.

You have still not mentioned your budget, but if that ac30 at 4500 is a consideration, you have plenty room for an awesome amp...In fact you could pretty much go and pick out a new tsa15 head and 1x12 cab.

Josh-Hayes

Shibbibilybob wrote: no need at all to rush man. The longer you wait,the bigger your budget too.
I would not really look at the bandit if I were you, or any but the nicest (Jc120) of solid state amps. You already have a small solid state amp.
We'll be reading another thread like this started by you if you don't just bide your time, sit on your wallet, and wait for a good deal to pop up.

You have still not mentioned your budget, but if that ac30 at 4500 is a consideration, you have plenty room for an awesome amp...In fact you could pretty much go and pick out a new tsa15 head and 1x12 cab.

Budget is probably around R4000 (possibly a bit more, my parents support my musical ventures).

I can't find this AC30 on FB, anyone know anything?

I will wait then I guess... seems like the best decision for me. Bear with me a little while longer. ?

Psean

Shibbibilybob wrote: no need at all to rush man. The longer you wait,the bigger your budget too.
I would not really look at the bandit if I were you, or any but the nicest (Jc120) of solid state amps. You already have a small solid state amp.
We'll be reading another thread like this started by you if you don't just bide your time, sit on your wallet, and wait for a good deal to pop up.

You have still not mentioned your budget, but if that ac30 at 4500 is a consideration, you have plenty room for an awesome amp...In fact you could pretty much go and pick out a new tsa15 head and 1x12 cab.

Josh Hayes wrote:

Budget is probably around R4000 (possibly a bit more, my parents support my musical ventures).

For 4k you can get a REALLY nice lower wattage valve amp. No need at all to go for the Bandit or a Cube, unless it's what you prefer, but like Shibbibilybob says, you already have a nice solid state amp and the TSA is well within your budget. So is a Laney Cub. And if you go second hand, you have lots of good valve options too. I've seen Peavey Classic 30s for less than that in the classifieds. You might be able to pick up one of the Laneys higher up the range - I might be a wrong here but I'm sure there was a Lionheart for around that price in the GFSA classifieds a while ago. It was the 5watt but the speaker in that thing is bloody loud. If I'd had anywhere near that amount of cash available I'd have seriously considered it ?

Starting to ramble a bit but ja, you can get something great for that amount of money. Just bide your time ?