alcorn429 Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 About a year ago I bought a spiderIII line 6 30 watt. I'd been thinking lately that I just really don't like the sound i get from it. I've changed the pickups in my guitar and also played through afew others. I pay mainly classic rock and songs in that realm. Here are afew I've been looking at. Just wanted to know what people knew about them. 1. Fender Frontman 65R 65W 1x12 Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Frontman-65R-65W-1x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104506092-i1323509.gc 2. Vox Valvetronix VT30 30W 1x10 Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Vox-Valvetronix-VT30-30W-1x10-Guitar-Combo-Amp-105156558-i1428847.gc 3. Fender Super Champ XD Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Super-Champ-XD-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104494281-i1371514.gc 4. Peavey Vypyr 75 75W 1x12 Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Peavey-Vypyr-75-75W-1x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104922877-i1413607.gc 5. Roland Cube 30X Guitar Combo Amplifier http://www.guitarcenter.com/Roland-Cube-30X-Guitar-Combo-Amplifier-487032-i1169244.gc 6. Fender FM65DSP 65 Watt 1x12 Frontman Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-FM65DSP-65-Watt-1x12-Frontman-Combo-Amp-103858957-i1167041.gc 7. Fender Vibro Champ XD Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Vibro-Champ-XD-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104494265-i1371396.gc 8. Fender Frontman 65R 65W 1x12 Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Frontman-65R-65W-1x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104506092-i1323509.gc 9. Fender Frontman 212R 100W 2x12 Guitar Combo Amp http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Frontman-212R-100W-2x12-Guitar-Combo-Amp-104506076-i1323510.gc I really like number 9 but am worried it may be too much amp for me. I mainly play in my basement or jamming with friends. I also don't know whether to go for a tube or not so any and all input will be appreciated.
brad1 Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 I had the same amp you now have, and I too got tired of it. I got a Vox AD30VT off ebay for a great price, and have been very happy ever since. So I would go for #2 on your list. That's the newest version. While only a "hybrid" amp, the thing still sounds 10 times better than that line 6 you have. At least it does to me. And it won't take a huge bite out of your wallet.
BlueLesPaul2006 Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 I have the Spider III 75W I am also growing tired of it. Since I do not play loads of metal i can not get the tone I like. I played through a marshall mini stack, and a vox something or other (i didnt look to see what it was) and they have a better tone.
wastra Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 My preferences would be: 1. Fender Super or Vibro champ 2. Vox AD30VT 3. roland Cube All have nice tone. Stay away from the Vypyr and probably the Fender FM series unless ALL you want is volume. Stale, processed tones...no improvement over the Line 6 you already have. In all honesty, go for a tube amp...either one of the hybrids or get a blackheart 5w combo or something. You'll appreciate it. they just "react" completely differently to your playing than even the best solid state amp. To me, digital modeling amps (aside from the Vox or to a lesser degree Roland) just seem like lifeless, bland, glorified PA systems with effects processors.
Steven Lister Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 To me' date=' digital modeling amps (aside from the Vox or to a lesser degree Roland) just seem like lifeless, bland, glorified PA systems with effects processors.[/quote']Good ear..., b/c that's exactly what they are. An amp modeler in front of a good valve amp can be a very different and musical animal. Valve amps are tops for serious players. An Epi VJr. V3 would be right up the classic rock tone alley. I also use a POD 2.0 (sometimes) in front of mine. Try this combination before buying any that were mentioned. Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-"
Duffy Posted February 18, 2009 Posted February 18, 2009 As far as a new amp, I like the Fender Super Champ XD that I have a lot and put an Eminence Ragin' Cajun speaker in it right away and got a LOT more volume because it is 100dB +. That is a lot more than the light weight stock fender speaker. This is similar to a 15 - 20 all tube amp because it has a tube preamp and two power amp tubes; so it isn't actually a hybrid by the standard configuration. Plus it has a host of fender amp models in the digital section and it has been said, "who better knows how to model fender amps than fender?". Plus it has other great models of the obligatory amp models with a few super high gain amp models, plus it has good effects. So that is a good amp and is a better value than the also very good Vibro Champ - also a great sounding little amp with a smaller speaker than the SCXD. Right now I'm playing my Crate Palamino V8 a lot, using my RP350 between it and my guitar. This amp sounds super great with a ten inch speaker and is a five watt so called all tube amp. It's a class A tube amp and sounds and looks great. Probably can find a used one cheap on e bay or somewhere. This is a LOUD stock five tube watts. Perfect for at home. I play mine late at night. Play myself to sleep, in the dark too, learn the fretboard and train your ear really well playing in the dark. Breaks the eye/fret fixation. The Palamino Crate V series amps are really decent inexpensive tube amps that you should be able to find used. You can't play in a band with a Palamino V8 if there is a loud drummer, etc. You need more power. If budget is an issue you can probably still find those Crate V50 amps for really low brand new prices, I got mine for 179 on an online sale. This is a very loud amp with a good sounding overdrive for classic rock and a real good reverb as far as I am concerned, although some do not like the reverb. One of the best reverbs on any of my amps in my opinion. Maybe I just got a good one. As said by the dude above, the Blackheart 'lil Giant head with a Blackheart or Epi one by twelve cab is a really nice amp. And don't forget the Epiphone Valve Jr. head. These are really cool and you can put a multipedal in front of them and get lots of vibes. These are also all tube amps of great quality. Blackheart is made by Crate and is being aggressively marketed by Crate and the price jumped up about thirty percent since its initial release, when I got mine. You would like the Fender SCXD, Crate Palamino V8, Crate V50 two channel fifty tube watt amp, Blackheart 'lil Giant 3/5 watt switchable head w a Blackheart cab or epi cab, or the Epi Valve Jr. five watt tube amp with a cab. I push an Epi So. Cal. big four by twelve closed back cab with my Blackheart or Epi V Jr. and it sounds really loud and sweet. The Fender SCXD with the Ragin' Cajun is loud enough to play with a fairly loud drummer and have him wave you down. It is an awesome amp. But the Crate V50 is super loud and was promoted by Bo Diddley. You can pick a V50 up new for really low prices and get lots of volume from an all tube amp with tone I think you would really like; clean and overdrive channels. Hope my amateur ideas give you some ideas. Duffy Winfield, Pa Peace
djroge1 Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 I've played some of those amps but not all. From what you posted though I would say that the 100watt amp is way too much for basement with friends jamming. Also since you play mostly classic rock I would go with a tube amp since most if not all those classics were played thru some sort of tube amp.
Gashole Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 I'd go tube, but for modelling amps you have the 2 good ones mentiones-Vox and the Cube. I have a 15 watt Vox AD15 and it's a very useful decent sounding amp. Hint-keep the reverb low...reduces digital trailing to an acceptable level. I have a buddy with a micro cube. Excellent sound quality in that-surprising sound quality given the size. -less volume then my 15 watt vox however. If you are really serious about guitar-I suggest cutting to the chase though and getting a tube amp. I'd never gig w/ a modeler-though I am currently not gigging anyway-but just saying. If tubes aren't the bees knees, then why do modeling amps try to sound like them? And get such high praise when they come as close as the Vox and Rolands mentioned? Go for tubes...oh-and 30 watts and under are gonna be just fine. You could gig unmiked for a couple hundred people with 30 watts...definitely can cut through a drummers volume. In most cases you'd be miked anyway. There is never a need for a 100 w amp unless you are playing HUGE venues.
ButchCassidy Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 Depending on how loud you play, what type of tone you like, etc., you might have a diff. opinion, but I love my Epiphone Valve jr. It's just me and my drummer so I guess I wouldn't know how well it would do against a buch of other instruments (if that's your situation), but i love turning it all the way up and hitting awesome overdrive. It can't be beat. And pretty loud! Sometimes my drummer will tell me to turn it down when we practice at his house. Just saying, you might want to consider something small and tube (epi, blackheart, etc.) especially if you're not playing out yet. And if you don't get enough overdrive/distortion/fuzz get a pedal that you like. I recommend the ibanez tube screamers. To me an Epiphone Vjr. + Ibanez Tube Screamer= best practice setup imaginable. You won't piss off the neighbors if you have any either.
judybat Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 I don't know what price range those amps are in, but I recently got a Fender 65 deluxe reverb (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/65DeluxeRev/) and can't believe how incredible it sounds. I had previously been playing an Epi Valve Jr Head, a homemade Fender Champ clone, and a Vox VR-30, all of which sound decent in their own right. Granted the Fender is a lot more expensive than the others, but wow. I think it's 22 watts, and can be cranked up in a small area to sound good but not completely kill your ears. It can also push my Marshall 412 cab for more volume...
Dave Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 Anyone heard a Bugera valve amp? Bugera is an offshoot of Beringer, who started out with some quality issues, but has gained some respect in the last few years. They are selling a 100w tube head and slant 4x12 cab for about $899. Reviews average 4 of 5 stars, but there is some difference of opinion as to the sound and quality.
lostindesert Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 Fender Super Champ or Vibro Champ, guitars like tube amps! Peter
mrjones200x Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 I had a vox ad30vt which was good but i found a bit thin sounding for classic rock. I just brought a Laney LV200 which i think is awesome, real nice warm sound to rock now. 3 channels also. The clean channel is nice for solid state and the other two channels use a preamp tube. (hybrid amp like the Vox AD30VT or 30VT). 65 watts so is loud enough for home or small gigs. At home never turn it up above 4.
AyushPresley Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 Well it's not in your list but Orange makes some kick *** amps..I have the 15R (15 watt for room practice) and it's amazing..you can get a 30 or 50 Watt if you want something in that range and they are actually amazing..go to a store near you to check them, I guess you'll love them..
Mattt0192 Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 I went to gc on saturday and got the fender 65r... It's amazing... it's so much louder than any other amp its size! The distortion is very versatile and the clean channel has so much tone and clarity than any guitar will sound beautiful through it.
TWANG Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 I went to GC looking for an acoustic guitar. and bought an epiphone valve junior combo instead. *S* number five now. and of course I modded it immediately. Now I have to get a stereo pedal of some kind so I can run it with my fave vj. TWANG
MaxHart85231281734137 Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=Vox+AC4TVH&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=kx-eSciPMN-BtwfZwMGODQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title
gregsguitardotnet Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 Buy a fender bassman 1st years reissue and you will be happy....
m-theory Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 I'm guessing, based upon what he says he's going to use this for, and the fact that he's playing nothing but SS amps, that his best bet is going to be a SS amp. A tube amp is capable of getting FAR better tones, but you have to know how to coax it out of them, generally. Not every tube amp sounds great with every player or in every circumstance. If you're only going to run the tube amp clean and use a modeler or SS devices for your dirt, you might as well just get a SS amp. Especially if all you're doing is jamming in the basement. Some very respectable players, mostly jazz, prefer nothing but SS amps, so don't assume that it's an automatic sign of some deficiency. Jazz player like them because they're consistent and super clean. Tube amps are finicky, and even at clean settings, are distorting somewhat (which is why some love them so). For simplicity in your situation, I'd look around for a decent used SS amp. You can buy them for next to nothing, any day of the week. Look in the 50 watt range. 30 would probably be enough, but wouldn't give you much headroom, in case things got loud. If you can find an old Peavey Bandit, that would be just about perfect for you, and I bet you could snag one for about $50 or so.
rafaelh Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 Alcorn....Tube amps sound best when opened up and pushing the O/P tubes along with moving the speakers. Some break up sooner than others, why the differnce in sizes, and others stay clean all the way up. You can push them further, or sooner, with effects such as OD pedals. When talking tube amps I would then be concerned with size. However when talking SS amps I wouldn't worry to much about one being to big. A SS amp could be a million watts and it wont matter..I know, a bit exagerated . My point is there is nothing to push...pretty much like a TV volume control. You could color the tone with OD and Distortion pedals if you choose to but they are not not going to push a SS amp into breakup....as I said nothing to push. Unless you want a new amp I'd try an EQ pedal in front of that Spider first and see what you think....a lot cheaper and you'll always find a use for the EQ. At any rate If you don't like it you can always take the EQ pedal back and apply it to a new amp. Anyhow just my 2 cents worth and as always just my opinions. LOL....rather spend money on learning how to play than on gear. Then again what's the fun in that :-
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