[gtrdave]

Originally Posted by josey wales

ok, well i got a nice christmas bonus from work today, and i'll just say it's enough to buy something big...

Real estate. Rates and prices are low right now!

[Josey Wales]

Originally Posted by BillSPrestonEsq

wattage increase is not frequently an upgrade at all.

i would actually suggest a multi effects potentially for you, but not using a cheap amp. By cheap, I mean quality, not price. I bought an excellent amp for under 150 a couple months back.

if you are dead set on effects, i'd get an m9 by line6 and later get a solid amp.

this is what im thinkin or a guitar

[Josey Wales]

Originally Posted by gtrdave

Real estate. Rates and prices are low right now!

hahaha hmmmm something to think about

[ABPOS]

Well, to me it seems like you got your heart set on a modeling amp. And if that's what you want, let no one dissuade you. But, I have to agree with bill. I don't think they sound that good at all. There's just something, I don't know, something about them. It's almost like it's not really you playing, in a strange sense. Or something like that. I just don't feel a connection when playing through one.

Now, everyone is different and I'm sure one can rock out with one. So, it's up to you. But play some for a bit. I personally would build up some effects. I think you get a better sound with sticking with a solid amp and going up from there. But then again, everyone is telling me to get a better amp. hehehehe So...... Take it for what it's worth.

And I also second the motion. Unless you're planning on gigging, why not just stick with the amp you got, get an affect to play with, and put the rest of the money away. Just a thought.

Or, get some recording stuff!!!

[Josey Wales]

well, it looks like it's all off the wife hyjacked most oof the money leaving me with 304 bucks, so anything i wanted is out of budget, so i just got to wait. i'll prolly hold onto the cash and maybe get some accesories or something.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by josey wales

well, it looks like it's all off the wife hyjacked most oof the money leaving me with 304 bucks, so anything i wanted is out of budget, so i just got to wait. i'll prolly hold onto the cash and maybe get some accesories or something.

At $300, you're almost all of the way to a Jet City combo...In fact, the JCA20H (head model) goes for under $250 all of the time on eBay.

[jamforchrist123]

I'm sorry about that man... that's a huge bummer, to get all stoked about getting gear then having the chance taken away.

If you don't end up getting an amp anyways, grab yourself some strings, some strap locks, a new strap, and just enjoy what you've got and keep getting better!

[Josey Wales]

Originally Posted by jamforchrist123

I'm sorry about that man... that's a huge bummer, to get all stoked about getting gear then having the chance taken away.

If you don't end up getting an amp anyways, grab yourself some strings, some strap locks, a new strap, and just enjoy what you've got and keep getting better!

exactly, thats why i've already got strap locks, and straps for all the guitars, and all that junk idk i'll prolly just sit on it for a while and see what happens, i mean at least i have $304 bucks right, heck yeah thats $303 bucks more than i had yesterday, plus we got bills and things, i figured that might happen but not 80% of my bonus LOL

[jeepnstein]

Take that $300 and fold it up in your wallet. The key to getting a great deal on an amp is having almost all of the cash on hand at the right moment. "Gee, all I have is these three one hundred dollar bills..." is one of those phrases that can seal a deal. Take the time to be picky. And remember that new retail price means nothing on used gear.

I'm sure your wife, if she's like mine, will put the money to much better uses. Shoot, if it weren't for her I'd still be living in a paid-for house with a couple of Harley Davidsons in the living room. We're so much better off now...

[Josey Wales]

Originally Posted by jeepnstein

Take that $300 and fold it up in your wallet. The key to getting a great deal on an amp is having almost all of the cash on hand at the right moment. "Gee, all I have is these three one hundred dollar bills..." is one of those phrases that can seal a deal. Take the time to be picky. And remember that new retail price means nothing on used gear.

I'm sure your wife, if she's like mine, will put the money to much better uses. Shoot, if it weren't for her I'd still be living in a paid-for house with a couple of Harley Davidsons in the living room. We're so much better off now...

well see thats exactly it, there are several music stores in the greater denver metro area that sell tons of used gear, it's just finding the right store with the right gear at the right time

for the first time i do not plan to just go out and blow the extra cash i have, i think i've actually outgrown that phase, i may get a couple cheap accessories for my guitars, maybe a video game, but i'm not gonna spend all the cash i have..

and yeah she will put it to way better use, thats why we have a nice house, not a box on the corner if i was in control i'd have tons of guitars and gear, but i'd have no where to put them in the refridgerator box

i bid on 2 items on ebay, an ibanez gio p-bass copy, and a vintage mako guitar at a local music shop though, $50 max on each, we'll see if anything happens from either.

[playgr8gtr]

Get a good amp! Guitar and amp are the "steak and potatoes", effects are the seasoning! Good tone for the foundation and effects for flare. Thats what the pro's do. And it can be done on a budget. Do your research, go to the music store and try them. Keep your set up simple, this always makes for a better more pure tone.

[AudioAUnderdog]

I think I'd agree with most everyone else and say go with an amp. That's what's going to make the biggest difference in your tone right now.

If I were you there would be two different types of amps I'd think about. And trust, I've been in your situation (having $300 to spend on an amp) before and I've learned a thing or two from it.

Your first choice would be getting a modeling amp. A Fender Mustang, as you mentioned, or something like a Line 6 or Roland Cube. That would help you get over any curiosity you might have about effects and it will teach you want to you need and what you don't need so that in the future you might save some money on pedals. The main drawback here is that modeling amps are solid state, like the amp you already have. I have a Roland Micro Cube and while it sounds OK for what it is, my tube amps kick it's butt.

You second choice is getting a cheap tube amp. Tube amps are much more expensive than solid state amps, but they can be found for something near your price range used. Don't be snotty about used gear, you can get much better bang for your buck buying used. About 75% of my gear was used when I bought it and I've probably saved a thousand buck or more over the years because of that. Good tube amps which are in your price range used would be a Peavey 30 (that was my first tube amp, I got it for $350 used), or a small Fender like a used Blues Junior. If you decide to save up until you hit about $500 then even more options open up. Tube amps sound a million times better IMO, but the drawback is that if you're dead set on getting effects you have to buy them separately. The good thing about that is that most of those effects which you buy separately sound better than the ones in a modeling amp anyway.

So each choice has it's pros and cons. Honestly I went for the modeling amps/multi-effects board first and the tube amp second. I still use the Micro Cube for practice when I need something super portable, but 99% of the time I'm playing one of my tube amps (Fender Deluxe VM or Peavey Classic 30). They just sound better, which is why after all these years guitarists still lug heavier, more fragile amps to gigs instead of their newer, lighter, and more durable solid state counterparts.

[Wandersong]

I know it's been said by everyone, but I'll reiterate that a good amp is the way I'd go. You'll need to experiment though to find what you're looking for. If you're in a big area, your music store should have a lot to choose from in house.. so I'd just go and spend a day figuring out which one sounds the best to you. In regards to modeling/solid state amps... they sound like garbage to me too... but there is lots of nice amps even within the $300 range. Also you don't need a lot of wattage unless you're looking to get 100% clean tones at high volumes. Low watt amps will begin breaking up earlier.. which is something you might love or hate.