Question:
-Price Range - up to $400
-Necessity - I need it because my Line 6 just doesn't get the job done as good as I wish it would, every guitar I have sounds the same on it, and the sound is tinny and boring. I'll be playing at jam sessions, small live performances, and church.
-Frequency - I pretty much use every extra moment to play guitar, so pretty frequent
-Musical Style - I am playing everything from p/w to hardcore, as dumb as this sounds, I want to sound like Jon Foreman
-Current Setup - I have a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Telecaster that I don't use as often, and a Line 6 Spider III 30 Modeling combo, with a bunch of pedals, they're all in my sig
-Experience - 9 years of playing guitar, I got my first electric 4 years ago
-Personal Research - I've looked at a Vox Valvetronix ADVT30 and ADVT50, as well as a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, and some Peavey's and some Fender Frontman amps. As far as wattage, all I need really is something in between 30 and 60.
-Shopping - I'm not quite sure yet. I might buy used, but if I find a great deal at Guitar Center, thne I'll go for it.
-Timeline - I'm not in a hurry, and currently don't have enough for one yet anyway,
Answer:
Check out a used Peavey Bravo or Triumph. Maybee a Classic 30 amp would work to eh? You can get a pedal if you want to play more hardcore type tones on it.
Answer:
Jon Foreman plays a Vox AC30, which I think is a big part of his tone, but that is probably a little out of your price range, even used.
So you have an LP and a Tele? That is good, you can get a huge tonal variety between those amazing axes.
I am thinking that something like a Peavey Classic 30 would work well for you. The only thing would be that you would need to get some kind of a distortion pedal to push into the hardcore zone. It has quite a bit of overdrive though if I'm not mistaken.
The other thing is, are you willing to have a possibly decent size pedal rig that you depend on for your sound? If so, you could go with something like a Fender Blues Jr, like I did. The Classic 30 has a good clean, but almost nothing beats good old Fender cleans. Amazing. You could start with that awesome clean and then build from there with pedals. That's what I did, with awesome results. I am thinking you would be interested in a Visual Sound Jeckyll + Hyde pedal. That absolute beast can pull off anything from lite overdrive to metal, and everything in between. Best $140 you will ever spend on a OD/DS pedal, and I am dead serious.
Answer:
Originally Posted by ibanez_dude Jon Foreman plays a Vox AC30, which I think is a big part of his tone, but that is probably a little out of your price range, even used.
So you have an LP and a Tele? That is good, you can get a huge tonal variety between those amazing axes.
I am thinking that something like a Peavey Classic 30 would work well for you. The only thing would be that you would need to get some kind of a distortion pedal to push into the hardcore zone. It has quite a bit of overdrive though if I'm not mistaken.
The other thing is, are you willing to have a possibly decent size pedal rig that you depend on for your sound? If so, you could go with something like a Fender Blues Jr, like I did. The Classic 30 has a good clean, but almost nothing beats good old Fender cleans. Amazing. You could start with that awesome clean and then build from there with pedals. That's what I did, with awesome results. I am thinking you would be interested in a Visual Sound Jeckyll + Hyde pedal. That absolute beast can pull off anything from lite overdrive to metal, and everything in between. Best $140 you will ever spend on a OD/DS pedal, and I am dead serious. So my amp would sound fine with a J & H?
Answer:
Originally Posted by nbfan So my amp would sound fine with a J & H? I have no idea, cause I've never play a Spider III. It sounded good w/ mine.
Answer:
I'd probably get a Blues Jr., but I don't think it would be loud enough.
I saw this Traynor and all the reviews were positive, and I've never seen a 30 watt tube amp for that price. Opinions?
Answer:
Don't use wattage between tube amps and solid state amps as they are 2 entirely different animals. Try a Blues Junior before making the determination that it's not loud enough, it'll blow the doors off your 30w Spider.
Also, the Traynor you listed is a solid state stereo amp with 2 20watt channels and 2 8" speakers - it wouldn't be in even the same league as your spider.
Answer:
I'd say to grab a Blues Jr. In Hardcore you're gonna have to mic it anyways... So... Volume really doesn't matter...
Answer:
on thegearpage.net/board they often have peavey classic 30s for $400 or less
Answer:
Originally Posted by nbfan I'd probably get a Blues Jr., but I don't think it would be loud enough.
I saw this Traynor and all the reviews were positive, and I've never seen a 30 watt tube amp for that price. Opinions? Tube amps in general, and especially the Blues Jr, are much louder for the wattage than SS. The blues jr is a wicked loud little amp.
Answer:
Originally Posted by nbfan I'd probably get a Blues Jr., but I don't think it would be loud enough.
I saw this Traynor and all the reviews were positive, and I've never seen a 30 watt tube amp for that price. Opinions? That's not a tube amp.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Steve Lowe Don't use wattage between tube amps and solid state amps as they are 2 entirely different animals. Try a Blues Junior before making the determination that it's not loud enough, it'll blow the doors off your 30w Spider.
Also, the Traynor you listed is a solid state stereo amp with 2 20watt channels and 2 8" speakers - it wouldn't be in even the same league as your spider.
I would agree in most part. If that amp is up to Traynor quality though, it might be better than the Spider anyway. I'm not sure about the 8" speakers, but maybe they work for that amp.
Answer:
You might try a Peavey Valveking. These run about $400, and while I don't intend to keep mine forever (saving for a VOX AC30) I've been really surprised and happy at the quality tone I'm getting from this amp. One thing to note, I only use the clean channel with my distortion pedals - the OD channel is not bad, but when using the footswitch there is a delay between switching channels that I just can't stand.
Answer:
I've played through a Peavey Valveking before, and liked the sound. Good stuff.
The Blues Jr. sounds like a real nice one. I'll have to look into it next time at a music store that has one.
Answer:
I would get a Peavey Classic 30 over a Blues Jr. because it has an overdrive channel. But if you plan on relying on a pedal, you can make do with a blues jr. Personally, I take amp overdrive over a pedal any day.