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Need help choosing amp


muricanpsycho

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Hey guys!

I'm so happy with my Les Paul 2016 but since Gibson amps are not an option I need some help with choosing my very first amp. I'm 17, started learning to play almost 5 years ago and really enjoy it. I find garage and psychedelic sound suitable for me the most. I have a so-called "band" and we're all green, so please don't flame (:

I've googled quite a lot and found out VOX have really good feedback, esp. in this review https://wisepick.org/best-modeling-amp/

And I'm actually considering to buy the top 1 amp from this list https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017KBLIPW/

(primarily because it has a quite cheap 40W model and we don't have much money yet)

Also, I heard BOSS Katana is pretty decent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5MAMVQ

So, did anyone have experience with amps I mentioned and what's your opinion? If not, what will be your personal suggestion under $250? Maybe there's even a reason for buying solid or tube amp? Also, is 40W enough for backyard gigs?

Thanks in advance!

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The Boss Katana's seem to get a lot of respect from the ppl who've bought them.

 

At one time have a Vox ADV30,(one of the first VOX modelers) it was a decent practice amp, and it did work for jams, all depends on how loud the drummer is. That seems to be where the bullet hits the bone with low watt combos. I'm sure the Vox would work great for a practice amp, but not sure how it would go for a jam/gig sitch @20 watts. you might want to consider going for the 40 Watter if your serious about jamming with it.

 

 

If you can find a clean Fender Mustang III V2, that may be a good way out. They use 2 and 4 button footswtich and that controls everything, as well as FUSE with a USB cable to a PC for editing presets and downloading patch settings. I have a V1 Mustang III,, great little amp, does a lot, sounds good.

 

 

I also have a Marshal Code 50, and for 50 watts, that sucker is loud. Code amps us a bluetooth connection to android or iOS. you can control the amp, change presets, etc.. all from your bluetooth'd device. Very cool. There's also a foot pedal available for the Code amps too,, it works great. (a bit pricey but probably worth it if you're to jam/gig with it)

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  • 3 weeks later...

First of other than maybe nostalgia why on earth would you want a Gibson amp. Never played one never seen one except on the net. My though is if they were such great amps and in demand they would be made to day. especially in King Henry's reign, when he was shoving everything we didn't want down our throat. A Fender Blues Jr is small, not to heavy and 15 watts. Got one. I also love my Mesa TA-15. 5/15/25 watts switchable. Nice. I realized with that amp its not about having 100 watts to blow your hair back.

 

I've got an Egnater 40 w Tweaker Combo 1x12 Amp I am looking to sell. Nothing wrong with it. I am just transitioning to acoustic mostly. It's all Tube and has lots of switches for many tones. I think It will go on Reverb in about 10 mins after I take some pics, maybe my Blues Jr. too. I'm keeping the Mesa. That amp is the business.

 

Actually the ones from the late 90s into mid 2000s were great amps. Granted they were not well known, and didn't sell well. They were Trace Elliot amps originally (Velocette series) another Acquisition that didn't go well I suppose,

 

They redesigned the Goldtones in about 2005, and those kind of flopped. I think Henry eventually realized Fender Marshall, Mesa, et-al, had already locked up that market.

 

Here's a 2002 GA30RVS. (30 watt 2x12 stereo combo) I love this thing, seriously it's the bizzness, 4 EL84s, and the accompanying 12ax7s (4). Very simplistic, you do need a decent OD in front of it. I use a Blackstar Dual HT most of the time with this one. Love the sound I can get. Raw, clean bawlsy…

 

It's Class A Cathode bias.

 

You don't want to move it, it's like 90lbs...

 

57374594_10211638661921618_3846751986527502336_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent.fbos1-1.fna&oh=d1c241297e1eff5b7b3c00bedde7444f&oe=5D3669AB

 

57345630_10211638669361804_7608613154175582208_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fbos1-2.fna&oh=bc68cc0de4e2464ae17aef541eb3e248&oe=5D2B59E6

Edited by kidblast
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  • 4 weeks later...

Actually the ones from the late 90s into mid 2000s were great amps. Granted they were not well known, and didn't sell well. They were Trace Elliot amps originally (Velocette series) another Acquisition that didn't go well I suppose,

 

They redesigned the Goldtones in about 2005, and those kind of flopped. I think Henry eventually realized Fender Marshall, Mesa, et-al, had already locked up that market.

 

Here's a 2002 GA30RVS. (30 watt 2x12 stereo combo) I love this thing, seriously it's the bizzness, 4 EL84s, and the accompanying 12ax7s (4). Very simplistic, you do need a decent OD in front of it. I use a Blackstar Dual HT most of the time with this one. Love the sound I can get. Raw, clean bawlsy…

 

It's Class A Cathode bias.

 

You don't want to move it, it's like 90lbs...

 

57374594_10211638661921618_3846751986527502336_o.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ht=scontent.fbos1-1.fna&oh=d1c241297e1eff5b7b3c00bedde7444f&oe=5D3669AB

 

57345630_10211638669361804_7608613154175582208_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ht=scontent.fbos1-2.fna&oh=bc68cc0de4e2464ae17aef541eb3e248&oe=5D2B59E6

 

and where you have youth on your side you willbe able to actually lift it. that darn thing weighs about 300 lbs

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and where you have youth on your side you willbe able to actually lift it. that darn thing weighs about 300 lbs

 

It's not a great amp for jams and gigs, it's just to dam heavy. But that said, sounds real good. Just don't want to move it, ever...

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have a 56 Les Paul GA40T that I like a lot. It is clean, but you may dirty it up with whatever pedals you like. The sound is not "F" clean, but a clean all it's own, probably due to the 5879 pre tubes. I never heard it with an original speaker, but I installed a Weber alnico, which should be close to the old Jensen P12's.  Low power for sure, but great to take to informal jams.

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