Upgrading to a gig worthy amp?

Tauriq

I was asked to join a band as a rhythm guitarist a few days ago. It dawned on me that my Roland 15X Cube won't cut it when it comes to gigging or am I wrong?

Now I have a bad case of GAS and new gear is always on my mind so this seems like a good excuse to upgrade.]
My budget is nonexistent at the moment.

The band will mainly be playing covers such from bands like Muse , RHCP , 3 Doors Down etc. That is also indicative of the genre of music I usually play but it would be nice to go heavier if necessary.

A few questions:

1) What would be a suitable sized amp for playing smallish gigs?
2) Anything you think I should check out?
3) Tips for starting out in a band?

I've seen a Marshall 50dfx for sale for R1500. Is it worth checking out?

Sidenote: Thank You to Norio, Alan and all the guitar forum members for the help. ?

inflames

I've seen a Marshall 50dfx for sale for R1500. Is it worth checking out?

Stay away, stay far away! <ducks>

What are you willing to spend?

AlanRatcliffe

At least 50W - 100W solid state if you might be going heavier. That's 25 - 50W in valve. ?

Don't forget that if your PA has enough inputs and power to spare, the modelling amps also allow you to line out into the PA and you can always mic up a smaller valve amp. Actually preferable to going for a big amp IMO.

aubs1

Tauriq wrote:..
..............My budget is nonexistent at the moment.

That's gonna be a bit tricky, Tauriq.........

Tauriq

inflames wrote:
I've seen a Marshall 50dfx for sale for R1500. Is it worth checking out?
Stay away, stay far away! <ducks>

What are you willing to spend?

aubs1 wrote:
Tauriq wrote:..
..............My budget is nonexistent at the moment.
That's gonna be a bit tricky, Tauriq.........

I am in the process of selling a few goods that would net me about R2500 so thats a ballpark figure.

May I ask why I should stay away? ?

aja

I would seriously suggest the Fender FrontMan 212R

100w and a great clean channel that plays very well with effects. However the drive channel is only good for light drive sounds.

It is cheap and reliable. Later you could get a tube amp or something like the Roland JC120

Also, I would say you need something powerful enough to use at practices if your cube doesn't already cut it. A 5 watt amp may sound great through the P.A but doesn't help when you want to hear yourself over the drummer, especially considering the styles you will play.

EDIT: I used to own the Cube 60 and a friend of mine has the cube 30 and another guy I know has the cube 15. I really would still take the fender over them. Sure they have effects but you would rather use pedals for that anyway

TomCat

inflames wrote:
I've seen a Marshall 50dfx for sale for R1500. Is it worth checking out?
Stay away, stay far away! <ducks>

What are you willing to spend?

Could not agree more.

Maybe also look at the larger cubes for now and later look at a tube amp.

MikeM

I vote Vox ?

inflames

May I ask why I should stay away?

The marshall mg series of amps is no good. The sound quality is poor and it is just not a nice tone.
There are a few threads on this forum and on the internet discussing it in detail.

Yes the Fender FM212 is a nice amp and in your price range second hand.
The VOX would also be.

_-L-_

deanBailey

If you're really tight on budget, get a GT10, the amp models are good enough to use live and sometimes in recording. You just have to really tweak the EQ's waaay more than you feel comfortable to get it to sound good.

Then buy a fake amp head (make it an awesome amp) put your cubes insides into it, fake cab (make it an awesome cab) and put the cube speaker into it

...and don't tell anyone. ?

(ignore everything after the first paragraph)

Tauriq

Thanks for the reccomendations. I'll look into them and avoid the Marshall.

I've established my budget which is around R3000.

Tauriq

Sorry for the double post but I've had a look at some amps. I've had a look at a few amps and was wondering your opinion on these two.

Valvetronix VT50 & Roland Cube 60

Would these be suitable for band use in a live situation?
Help me narrow it down. ?

MikeM

I sold my Cube 60 cause the tone from the Vox was so much better.

inflames

I would pick the Valvetronix VT50 above the Cube. Have seen a friend play on one once and it sounded real nice.

Gig worthy, well only if you mic it up ?
I'm sure the amp will be loud enough for you to jam with your drummer.

aja

MikeM wrote: I sold my Cube 60 cause the tone from the Vox was so much better.

I sold my Cube 60 and never looked back. Don't go that route thinking that the Cube 60 is somehow related to the glorious JC120

TomCat

GO VOX......... :woohoo:

We've been using a little Vox Pathfinder 15R and this little amp never ceases to amaze me.....Needs to be mic'ed for stage performance and blasts out great tone.....

In your case the Valvetronix would work well.

aja

TomCat wrote: We've been using a little Vox Pathfinder 15R and this little amp never ceases to amaze me.....

What? ??? That little shoebox practice thing? ?

TomCat

aja wrote:
TomCat wrote: We've been using a little Vox Pathfinder 15R and this little amp never ceases to amaze me.....
What? ??? That little shoebox practice thing? ?

Yup...Believe it or not......... ??? ???

Not a stage amp on it's own but still delivers great tone for what it is and sounds great when mic'ed up.

We had one of our girl guitarists run an Ibby RG through a ProCo Rat, CH-1 and Ibanez Delay and also boosted the Rat with an SD-1.....tone blew us all away Sunday Morning......Especially when run over the church PA...... 8) 8)

TomCat

TomCat wrote:
aja wrote:
TomCat wrote: We've been using a little Vox Pathfinder 15R and this little amp never ceases to amaze me.....
What? ??? That little shoebox practice thing? ?
Yup...Believe it or not......... ??? ???

Not a stage amp on it's own but still delivers great tone for what it is and sounds great when mic'ed up.

We had one of our girl guitarists run an Ibby RG through a ProCo Rat, CH-1 and Ibanez Delay and also boosted the Rat with an SD-1.....tone blew us all away Sunday Morning......Especially when run over the church PA...... 8) 8)

Our two guitarists from Sunday Morning.

Kevin with his Strat and Deluxe. Lauren with her RG and our Vox PF15R (Unfortunately the amp is not in picture)

aja

What do you mean? It is right there:

Just teasing... Glad it sounds good.

~~Sorry, I have no idea why my picture is bigger than yours~~ - fixed