Amps. Please help I’m confused

inflames

Hi all,

As stated in a previous post I have a HiWaTT G200R head and cabinet.
The problem I had with the amp was the distortion, this is now sorted after buying a Line 6 DM4.

I have since decided to buy another smaller amp for home use, the HiWaTT needs to be played load to get the true sound (I know, it is a stack and that is how stacks work).

I’m still deciding between the following amps:
Line 6 Spider III 150
Line 6 Spider Valve 212
Marshall MG250DFX
Marshall MG100DFX

Firstly can you guide me between these amps and give your opinions. Also other amp suggestions. I don’t want to buy another stack.

Secondly, should I keep my HiWaTT since I probably won’t be using it as much anymore. Someone made me a offer for the HiWaTT so that’s the reason for asking the question. I will be able to use any of the amps mentioned above for gigs.

Regards,
Lean

AlanRatcliffe

I haven't tried the newer Line 6s but have heard the Spider valve is a good amp. Based on what I know of the Line 6 stuff, I'd rather go for that than the MG-series Marshalls (which I know and don't like). Ultimately it's down to what you like the sound of though - you may love the sound of the Marshalls.

A 200W HiWaTT is a bit impractical - there aren't many venues where you can open up an amp that size to the point where it is really happy. Nice amp though.

You're into higher gain stuff aren't you? Not really my "area of expertise", but I'm sure you'll get plenty of input from the other guys.

inflames

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your advice, I'm going to Paul Bothner music next Saturday to try out some amps.
PS. I really enjoyed your article “Workshop Notes – Guitar FX 101”.

Yea, the HiWaTT is an amazing amp, but like you said “a bit impractical”. I will always have amazing memories of the amp. ? One evening partying at my house (like always my friends find my gear after a few drinks). They setup my amp in the garage and asked me to play it at full volume. Now my friend’s first mistake was sitting right in front of the amps (about 3 feet). I walked right back to the end of the garage. Distortion open I played a nice loud power chord. Needless to say, I had to pick some of my friends up that was scattered against the garage door 8) Good times!

I will post an update once I made my distortion.

Regards,
_-L-_

FatBoy

Yay! Another Durbanville man!

I don't know much about any of the above mentioned amps, but as always I suggest the Vox Valvetronix amps. I got the AD50VT and one feature you might like is that it has a knob at the back where you can lower the output wattage, as in you can have the gain all the way up so the sound comes through nicely, but the lower the overall volume by lowering the wattage. You also get them in a XL variety which is more aimed at metal etc.

CDee

+1 on the Vox Valetronics. Stay away from the Marshall MG series. I have a MG50DFX and they are not very good. The Marshal Valvestate versions are 100 times better than the MG series.

WantzChas

If you search Marshall MG-series on the net you will find hours of entertainment by reading hate mail. +1 on the Valvetronix.

inflames

Yea, I read tons of the hate mail fir the Marshall MG series ?
I will put the Vox valvetronix amps on my "To Test" list.

I would also like to test the peavey and krank range of amps.

I think I will keep my HiWaTT stack, you never know when I will need to make someones ears bleed again 8)

I will write a nice little report after next weeks testing and post it here!

themanthatwalks

If your just looking for a clean practice amp, I'll go for the Vox pathfinder. Its clean sound is awesome. And its only about R1600

PJH

I must say that I'm an MG user. The band I'm in travel a heck of a lot and I'm tired of expensive amps being wrecked through travelling.

I use the 100 watt head, 4 X 12 cab but sometimes also a 100 watt 1 X 12 combo.

The onboard distortion is rubbish but what the MG series do well is take pedals.

I drive the front end of the amp with a Crunchbox and the result is pretty good. The only other thing to bear in mind is that if you do choose an MG series amp, get one that has a lot of clean headroom (ie 100watts). Anything less just doesn't have the power to deliver.

Cheers,

Peter.

inflames

Thanks Peter, will keep that in mind when testing the Marshall MG series.

Have any of you used the Fender Frontman 212R amp? If so what do you think of the amp?

Werner-Carstens

Hi Inflames. I agree with the negative feelings toward the Marshall MG's, but a new range has been launched in the UK already that seems to be alot better.
Also agree with the Vox Valvetronics. I would strongly recommend that you try the Line 6 Spider Valve 212 as it can really be all that you need should you spend enough time with it to strip most of the effects from the preset sounds and just listen to the natural tone. Too many people listening to it forget that the sounds have been layered with too many effects just to show what it can do. Strip it away and then listen - you might be surprised.
The Fender Frontman 212R is a nice amp for the money if you want a good basic clean tone and use pedals for overdrive/distortion. I find the built-in distortion a bit toppy and thin for my taste.

free2rhyme

Hi inflames
Maybe a bit late for a reply but, go try out a Roland Cube 60.
Its what I use for home practice and I love the rectifier and metal model - which you can definately knock a relatively convincing in-flames tone ?

The MG series has an ok clean, thats about it... except for the fact that you can drop it out of a plane and they'll still work - very rugged.
I have to disagree with PJH(partially) - MG series amps take well to fx pedals not to overdrive/distortion stomps...

If you are looking at using your dm4, you need an amp with a very decent clean channel, by clean I mean natural sound. For this, you can rule out the Line 6 amps(which are rubbish in my opinion), the cube 60 doesnt really take well to pedals, this also goes for the valvetronix but these amps don't need pedals.

The fm212 has a nice clean, better than the MG not as good as the Cube. So in (my very opiniated)review:
Line 6 Spider III 150 - 2/10
Line 6 Spider Valve 212 - 6/10
Marshall MG250DFX - 1/10
Marshall MG100DFX - 4/10
Cube 60 - 8/10
Valvetronix - 7/10
FM212 - 6/10

What I would do is sell the Hiwatt or trade it in for a peavey valveking 112 combo(if you can find one), full valve amp, can be used for practice and can be plugged into a 4x12 cab, sure it wont be as loud as the 200w hiwatt but what gig requires u to use 200w of power? I've played outdoor festivals with a 50w valve which is more than sufficient.

So check out a cube 60 or a valveking 112

inflames

Hi free2rhyme,

Thanks for your opinion not to late at all.
a friend of mine told me about the Peavey Vypyr being released April/May. This amp in his eyes should be the bees knees!

I will give the Valvetronix, Cube and FM212 a try.

Regards,
_-L-_

deanBailey

If I had that list I'd choose the Spider Valve 212 hands down.

Tubes into Vintage 30 speakers (same speakers in the Mesa Reco cab) hmmmm...I'd actually consider buying that if I was on a budget.

I tried the Head and thought it was pretty decent. ?

PJH

free2rhyme wrote:

The MG series has an ok clean, thats about it... except for the fact that you can drop it out of a plane and they'll still work - very rugged.
I have to disagree with PJH(partially) - MG series amps take well to fx pedals not to overdrive/distortion stomps...

Hi free2rhyme,

Obviously to each his own. If you've got the time go and have a listen to a recording I did awhile ago with my MG100 head and cab with a pedal. I reckon it's not too bad for a solid state amp.

Link: Song page: http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6181450

Cheers,

Peter.

deanBailey

It's definitely not bad at all, I even used one for one show (never again though :-[)
It's just not the better amp of the list he gave for the sound I'm assuming he's going for ?

free2rhyme

Thanks PJH, I'll have a listen this weekend.

I totally agree with "to each his own". I've had 3 MG's in my guitar lifespan so far.... 1x12, 2x12 and the head. They were great when I was learning to play and finding my sound. The biggest mistake I ever made was buy equipment that I was unsure of, this cost me a lot of cash so what I tell beginners is to save the $$$ and buy what they really want. I only bought Marshall a couple years ago cause its what people said was the best(went through MGs, AVTs, TSLs, DSLs and a MF4), took me over a decade to figure out the sound wasn't for me... actually played a jvm the other day and its ok, not great though.

Its difficult to give advise on sound, everything you hear is opinionated. Tone is subjective, hands down.
Ya gotta go for what sounds good to your ear and whats in your budget.

PJH

free2rhyme wrote: Thanks PJH, I'll have a listen this weekend.

Its difficult to give advise on sound, everything you hear is opinionated. Tone is subjective, hands down.
Ya gotta go for what sounds good to your ear and whats in your budget.

I think your last comment says it all. My thinking in going with a cheap solid state amp was that I was getting tired of seeing my nice expensive tube amps getting ruined by constant travelling and having the gear dumped into trailers, etc. If I could get a decent enough tone using pedals I would be happy. I was able to achieve this so those MG amps work for me. I agree that there are better amps on the market but if my amp got damaged, dinged etc it wouldn't be the end of the world.

I would say that if you are looking into those amps I wouldn't look at anything under 100 watts. There's just not enough headroom in the less powerful models.

There's also something else to consider. We play a lot of festivals and have to rely on whatever backline is provided. You can bet that nine times out of ten you're gonna get an MG on the stage. This isn't a problem anymore for me.

Cheers,

Peter.

nick

inflames wrote: Thanks Peter, will keep that in mind when testing the Marshall MG series.

Have any of you used the Fender Frontman 212R amp? If so what do you think of the amp?

its just the 2x 12" version of my FM65R I think, look identical. I only ever use the clean channel with pedals, find the amp distortion a bit weird.

welcome to give it a whirl if you need to

inflames

Hi all,

I have decided on getting the Peavey Vypyr amp when they release it here in SA.
So in the mean time I need to get another practice amp. I have a choice between:

Marshall Valvestate VS65R
Marshall MG100DFX

So help me pick one ?

Thanks
_-L-_