Amp Question

The more research I do online, the more confused I get. I am looking to upgrade my amp soon. I currently just have the little amp that came with the bundle package. It sounds like crap. I am not looking to spend a small fortune on an amp, so if it could stay under $150, that would be ideal. I don't need it to be extremely loud, as I don't play with other musicians now or I imagine in the near future really, don't know many people who play instruments around here. I do want something to sound good though and clear. I will be playing rock and blues. I don't mind getting the effects from pedals and not from the amp itself. I know tubes are considered better, but I also see they require more upkeep. How MUCH more upkeep is it? I don't mind some extra upkeep and maintenance on things, but I don't want it to be a money sink either, like a boat is. lol Any helps would definitely be appreciated!

well if you wana get distortion pedals and stuff thatll cost you more then the amp itself if you get good ones. personally in solid state i dont know, since i dont deal with them. i know fender has some good amps and vox has a small tube amp and same with marshall, but none are close to 150$

my squier came with the G-Dec Jr. it's a nice sized amp, pretty decent quality, i think they retail for

HAHAHAHAHA


wow i just wrote like 4 paragraphs worth of info on amps, and it vanished. tough luck, kid.

I am definitely aware that pedals will cost extra. I already have a distortion pedal, the Boss DS-1 model. Everything I read said that was a solid pedal. Can't beat that price either! I guess most people like Overdrive pedals for blues?

I'd buy a roland micro-cube (http://www.roland.com/products/en/Micro-CUBE/index.html) it's a simple and nice-sounding little amp. Some effects are in it aswell! It's no tube-amp - it's a modeling - but i think most tubes about this price sound like crap, and are by far not as versatile as the modeling ones.

im gonna disagree, the roland microcube sounds like crap sorry. very tinny boxy sound i think. possibly a vox ad amp?

I really think the microcube sounds better than the vox (do you mean DA?).

I found a video in hungarian (haha), where those two are compared. I guess you get pretty much amp for your money from both of them!

Part 1:


Part 2:

nah vox ad series

hahah, sorry! But the DA's cool too...

Are there any AD:s below $150 oversea? Here in Europe I think there are not.

For a novice I like the Line6 Spider IV at $ 99.00 Bucks.

line 6 =ear rape

i'd pick up a vox vt15 or vt30, it's a very nice amp for the price. I got my vt30 for 400 CAD

I'm so absolutely with Elliot on this one. Please don't go Line6. You mentioned having a DS-1. Its solid as a rock, but it takes all of the dynamics out of your playing, and I loved mine until i started playing with other amps and pedals. If you want the "authentic" blues sound, you just want a tube amp, probably a fender. Other than that i don't know what I can tell you, just play some amps see what you like.

I am going for versatility, like I said, I don't mind getting the effects from pedals, I just want an amp with a good sound to it. Thanks for the input everyone!

id go with a Roland Cube, just not the microcube, get a 15 or 30 watt. or a Marshall micro stack maybe? thats a little more though

Couple questions. Why is a microcube or the vox da5 not a good choice? Keep in mind, I just want something that sounds reasonable for now and doesn't need to be loud, just clean. I am just playing in my house, not doing shows or anything (obv). Am I missing something here?

ALso in the second video submitted by guitar george, what type of music is he playing at 2:30. I kinda like that sound, but what should I be learning to play that style?

Thanks.

if you can find one, I'd definitely suggest the Hughes and Kettner Edition Blue 15 watt. I have one and for cleans the thing has drawn reviews that are stunning. The clean channel actually will try to replicate a tube amp breaking up after a certain amount of signal has been reached, and the lead channel is pretty good for a Marshall-y overdrive from the bluesbreaker type to a JCM 800 type (IMO).

Pretty solid little amp that has lasted me since the 7th grade(5 years ago XD)

base price new if they still make them is under $200.

here it is:
http://www.hughes-and-kettner.com/products.php?mode=prod&id=15

I've the spring reverb one, but there is another with 3 digital effects built in., including simulated spring reverb.

btimm,
Well, there's about a million suggestions for ya! lol Everyone has a different personal experience. So here's what i think, for what it's worth. Get in the car (bring the son, he'll LOVE it). Go to your local guitar store and explain what you are looking for. (leave the money at home). Play a demo guitar into some or all of the amps they have. Make a day of it. Then......leave. Let it all simmer in your head for a day or two and then go back. ask questions and.....leave.
You'll find the amp you are looking for and you won't be buying "blind" over the internet without the advantage of having first heard them in person. And if the price difference is not too much be a good guy and buy from the guy that just spent 8 hours with you in the store. Personal contact and relationships are very handy if you have problems in the future or are just looking for good advice so buy local when you can.
Steve
P.S. If you are a little self concious about playing in front of the people in the store that's ok. Just ask the dude if he'd mind playing into some amps so you can hear them. these guys usually LOVE to show off anyway and will jump at the chance. Just go during the "off" hours so that they will have the time to devote to you. Good luck!

I use a Marshall MS-2 (Micro stack)
Its portable, or you can plug it in. It can get LOUD. And distortion is determined by Volume and how hard you strum.

@Phip.
I dont mind walking into guitar center, grabbing a random Gibson SG or DOT, and Marshall amp, and just play beautiful not too heavy not too light Solos and Pwrchords.
But its creepy when everyone (even the manager) stares at you like "WTF? the guitar is upside down dumba**!"

@D_L
my god that's funny! You should just finish, get up, and walk backwards out the door! Maybe put your coat on with the zipper on the back or something.
Phip

@Phip: I think i did that 2or3×... Plus i just noticed D_L makes a winking face!

Whats so freakish about playing left handed? People always stare at me and my friend (she lefty too)
But they stay when i start playing. They ignore her (jerks).
Anyway, Whether im in Gibson Lane, Ibanez street, Bass Road, or used alley, The people just seem so surprised to see someone play left handed. And the Marshalls sound awesome. Forget a 15 watt Line6, A 1 watt MS-2 Sounds WAY better, and has belt klip! And Cheaper!

Well Phip, you are right, there were a lot of suggestions, but many of them were out of the price range I Was looking at. I don't mind spending a touch more than $150, but I am not looking for an amp to do gigs with or anything, I am just looking for something that has some good quality played at a low volume.

You gave the best suggestion though in simply playing many amps, I think I will do that this week if I don't have to work OT. I know you can try out guitars and pedals, for some odd reason it never dawned on me to test amps!! lol

I also agree about buying locally if the price is close. I recently found a baseball card shop that I go to. If it is within 15% or so, I always buy from that shop to keep them in business, because I find it sad that while internet shopping is so convenient, it is flat out killing many small businesses and things like card shops and music shops are just failing left and right.