Looking for a new amp

stu · 2009-10-21T22:28:54+00:00

So im looking for a new amp. I mainly play grunge and other types of rock and a bit of metal. Im posting this coz there seem to be so many options and since Im still very new to the guitar world Im not sure where to start. Im looking for something under R4000. Ive been asked to join a band so I guess it will need to be pretty loud too. any help will be appreciated.

Danny-B

An acoustic guitar played clean on a transistor amp can still sound great, but an electric will only really shine when played on a valve amp.

I'd have to disagree! An ES 335/Jazzer or the like is something special when played through a JC 120 - and thats solid state.

DonovanB

Ha ha Danny, anything played through a JC120 handles...

btw I need to give you that backplate...

Danny-B

DonovanB wrote Ha ha Danny, anything played through a JC120 handles...

btw I need to give you that backplate...

You do!

But back to amps, I think there are some soild state amps worth looking at...

DonovanB

Danny B wrote But back to amps, I think there are some soild state amps worth looking at...

I agree, I liked the Roland Cubes, they are good, portable amps with great sound,

AlanRatcliffe

A lot of the guitars on Pink Floyd's The Wall were DI'd and then remped through a solid-state Galien-Kruger...

stu

Thanks for all the replies. I have a much better idea what amp im looking for now.

So Ill just save and get a valve amp. Ive seen two Peavey amps on gumtree for R4000.
I have heard people say they can never get the sound they want out of peavey amps.
Does anyone have a peavey amp? Is this true?

stu

Nevermind, I just read a few reviews on the two peavey amps. They dont sound too good.
However I found a Hughes and Kettner Blonde Edition 40watt Solid State. I read a few reviews saying it has a tube-like sound.
Anyone know about these amps? I cant find much other info about it.

Gearhead

To have a tube-like sound is never the same as playing through tubes. Even if a sand amp would sound the same (and they don't), a tube amp has different dynamic properties. Meaning, it will compress depending on the clipping. It will, very clean, still have a slight harmonic distortion that adds lushness to your tone. It has a lot less or no transient intermodulation distortion. It will have more attack (at least, it will if the power supply has been properly designed). Etc.

Wizard

What are the views on the Vox AC15CC1?
There appears to be a strong following of Vox on the forum ... but I have noticed MANY different Vox amps

Gearhead

I reckon the AC15CC1 has nice tone, can easily be modded into a super amp and has the downside that it has no channel switching.

aja

Gearhead wrote I reckon the AC15CC1 has nice tone, can easily be modded into a super amp and has the downside that it has no channel switching.

Is channel switching really such a big deal? Surely if you get a nice overdrive pedal you basically then have two channels?

Gearhead

Why would you want to use an overdrive pedal if the amp you are using has much nicer overdrive? Those pedals were meant to mimic tube amp overdrive in the first place...

AlanRatcliffe

Wizard wrote What are the views on the Vox AC15CC1?

I didn't take to it at first - I'm afraid it paled in comparison to the AC15H1TV (which is to be fair, in a completely different price range), so I was a bit harsh on it. Terrible reverb by any standards. But all-in-all not bad for the money and you should be able to get a lot of the mojo simply by upgrading the speaker to a Celestion Blue (Sorry, but a Vox without Blues is like a guitar without strings - sad). I haven't looked into the other mods for it, but I'm sure there are many good ones - there usually are for the CCs.

aja wrote Is channel switching really such a big deal?

Depends on how much difference you want between your clean and dirty tones. I'm perfectly happy with a single cranked channel and a guitar volume and maybe a drive for a bit more boost, but if I wanted crystal cleans and heavy drive the difference in volume between the two would be a problem. That's where a clean channel comes in handy.

Gearhead wrote Why would you want to use an overdrive pedal if the amp you are using has much nicer overdrive? Those pedals were meant to mimic tube amp overdrive in the first place...

For variety. A clean boost or a transparent overdrive is good to kick a single channel amp into more of the same overdrive, but using (for instance) a Tube Screamer in front of a Blackface Fender takes the vocal friendly midrange scoop of the amp and kicks in a hefty mid boost to make a solo stand out. Or the harsh edge of a distortion can add a bit of grit to the smooth amp drive. Or a fuzz can add more distortion than the amp could possibly ever do by itself. Etcetera...

Vick

My 2c...befor going for the vox ac15cc,check on youtube for the orange ad-15...its orange's take on the ac15...i like it more then the cc...

Sean

Wizard wrote What are the views on the Vox AC15CC1?
There appears to be a strong following of Vox on the forum ... but I have noticed MANY different Vox amps

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/reviews/review-modern-vox-ac15cc1-112-combo/
Well, this is what I thought of it just after I bought it, not much has changed ?

Joop

Stu,

I agree with RobK. In your shoes I would go for a VoxAD100VT or AD50VT. It has a tube driven pre amp, but solid state power amp, and you can dial in 11 amp models, ranging from Fender Tweed Style to Mesa Boogie. It also has handy built in effects, that will save you a lot of money on pedals (initially) till you can afford them. As far as volume goes, the AD100VT is PLENTY loud! For me the only drawback is that it has too many options!

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