i need help picking out an amp

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 10:57 AM

this is what i need. i need it to be loud enough to play in a small band (y'kno, louder than the drums and whatnot). i need it to have a good clean for playing in the church band, but also good distortions to modify as well (kutless, TFK sound is what i love...=]). and the ultimate would be fore it to have all of this and a CD input so i can plug in my iPod and play. thats the most fun when youre alone.

i know theres a lot to pipck from, so maybe you could just narrow it down to brand or more than 1 model if there isnt just 1 that sticks out to you.

im sorta on a budget too. $ 650 is the absolute most.

thanks.

Jaymze13 · 11-22-2006, 11:05 AM

I use a Marshall AVT150. With an extension (I have a couple of old Randall cabinets) it's seems to get plenty loud for me.

Somebody who plays one will have to verify this, but I think all these Line 6 Spider models have the ability to plug up your CD player. I'm pretty sure the Marshall MG series does too.

It might be out of your range, but if I can ever afford another amp myself I might look into a Mesa Boogie.

Here's one piece of advice I can give you. If at all possible, buy from a store or individual and try not to get an amp online unless you just can't avoid it, or you're absolutely sure of what you want. The reason is that if you can get an amp from a dealer, you would have a chance to take your main guitar with you and try it out.

Personally, I wouldn't consider buying an amp unless I could plug my guitar up to it first and try it. The day I bought my Marshall, my guitar just happned to be in the same shop at that moment getting work done on it so it was a simple matter of getting my guitar from the back and trying out the Marshall.

I've heard others say this in the past and I can't see a store denying you the right to try and amp out using your own guitar to do it with.

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 11:32 AM

i was looking at mesa's online at their company site and they seem cool i guess. i havent seen any in any stores though...online or in town. about how much would 1 run? i know thats a vague question, but i have no idea.

and thanks for the advice on picking 1 up in town. its tough to do around here cuz theres so few stores, but ill keep trying.

**thesteve** · 11-22-2006, 12:42 PM

It'll be tough to find a Mesa in your pricerange.

As far as buying online vs. in store goes. The primary benefit with buying from a store is that alot of stores have a 30 or 45 day return policy. it's basically a "try-out" period. that way if you buy an amp and decide you don't like it, you can return it. I have bought an amp online though, and I would recommend it. Amps, unlike guitars, tend to be pretty consistent in build quality. If you try out an amp in a store then buy that same amp on eBay for 40% less, odds are the two will sound the same, or at least pretty darn close.

As far as having a CD in goes...Personally I think your money would be better spent to get a dedicated guitar amp and just purchase a speaker system for the iPOD. I'm really familiar with too many amps that have the CD-in that I wouldn't also consider to be low budget amplifiers.

What I would recommend is checking out a Peavey Triumph, Bravo or Ultra amp if you can find one. Also check out the Peavey Valveking. I haven't used any of these personally, but I know they carry a good reputation and can be had well within your budget.

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 12:57 PM

y'know, i already have a speacker sysetem for my Ipod...i forgot about it haha. ok, ill check into those peaveys. are we talking about combos? i just though id ask cuz im not realy familiar with all the types of amps out there.

**thesteve** · 11-22-2006, 01:08 PM

The Triumph, Ultra and Bravo are available as combos, as is the Valveking. The first three I mentioned are also used amps that you will have to do a little searching for.

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 01:23 PM

im having a tough time findin the peaveys. i could only find the valveking. could you put up a link or something?

o...i didnt read the last comment you made...ok, i see

**thesteve** · 11-22-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E-rock

im having a tough time findin the peaveys. i could only find the valveking. could you put up a link or something?

like i said, they aren't being manufactured anymore, you're going to have to check the shops that carry used gear or watch the ol' ebay.

sabertooth181 · 11-22-2006, 01:43 PM

It seems like Peavey has discontinued all their amps that people liked.

**thesteve** · 11-22-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabertooth181

It seems like Peavey has discontinued all their amps that people liked.

yeah...sorta

The Peavey Classic 30 and 50 are still being made AFAIK. The Ultra series (Ultra, Triumph and Bravo) are basically the ancestors of the Triple XXX.

One of the good and bad things about Peavey is that they're a very innovative company. It's good because you get ideas that are fresh and new, and it's bad because sometimes they're bad ideas and sometimes products that were good ideas get the axe.

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 01:48 PM

im looking at a Fender® FM 100H Guitar Amp Head and the cab with it (whatever its called) and together its like $500. ive read reviews and it seems like everybody likes it, but i was wondering if anybody over here ia famiiliar with it?

**thesteve** · 11-22-2006, 01:51 PM

Eh...I'm not a huge fan of the FM series. they're alright. I'll let Rainer chime in on this since he's got one.

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 02:37 PM

is the reason you dont like them becase they dont have tubes?

Ryan Freeland · 11-22-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E-rock

is the reason you dont like them becase they dont have tubes?

Here's my take on things: Most solid state amps aren't that great. There are a few companies that make decent SS amps like Tech21 and Line 6, but other than that you can't find many quality SS amps.

When you look at the best amps out there, they all happen to be tube: Orange, Marshall, Mesa, Peavey, Carvin, and many other boutique amp manufacturers.

E-rock · 11-22-2006, 02:55 PM

ok, lemme throw another name out there...

Marshall MG100HDFXR Amp Head

anybody know anything about this 1?

note: this is the red 1, not the black one. people have gotten confused when i asked about this cuz thay tought i misspelled the item name, but it DOES have an 'r' on the end.

just to say something else...

would using that head (Marshall MG100HDFXR) with a Fender® FM 412 4x12" 100 Watt 4-Ohm Cabinet create a problem? or would that be perfecly ok?