Question:
I'm going to be in the market for a new amp soon. The four amps that I've been considering are the Fender Stage 1600, Fender Pro Tube Twin, Marshall MG250DFX, and the Marshall MG100DFX.
The one I'm leaning towards most is the Stage 1600, because I've read only good things about it. I've tried the Stage 160, a past model of the 1600, and I really liked how it sounded.
So anyone who owns or has used any of these amps, your input would be appreciated.
Some other amps that have been suggested to me are Bogner, Laney, and Spider from Line 6.
Answer:
Generally speaking the Fender "Evil" Twin (this is the pro tube model) is going to stand head and shoulders above the other amps you named. One of the features I like about it is the 1/4 power switch which allows you to change between 100 watts and 25watts. in many situations, 25W will be more than enough (unless you just need tons of clean headroom)
what exactly is your price range? the Twin is $1200, but the Stage 1600 is $570.
Answer:
I'm looking to spend preferably below $1000, definately under $1500, in Canadian dollars. I can get stuff for close to cost because I work at a music store, so the price isn't that big a deal to me.
What's the drive channel like on the Twin?
Answer:
Originally Posted by Mosher-Bryan I'm looking to spend preferably below $1000, definately under $1500, in Canadian dollars. I can get stuff for close to cost because I work at a music store, so the price isn't that big a deal to me.
What's the drive channel like on the Twin?
no idea...it's probably just a standard Fender overdrive, which isn't going to get you into the territory of sonic mayhem...that is, it's not a heavy distortionm probably more of a bluesy overdrive. I've not actually palyed one though, I'm just speculating from Fender's rep.
I would definitely try out the Twin (make sure you run it at both 100 and 25W modes) as well as tube amps from other companies. What kind of sound are you looking for?
Answer:
I play mostly punk, emo, and hard rock, but I also play in the church worship band. From what I've read, the Stage has a good clean and a good over drive, and the Twin has a VERY good clean but a not so good overdrive. I've got a Boss DS-2, so that would probably be good enough if the amp distortion sucks, but I'd like to have a good amp distortion if I can.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Mosher-Bryan I play mostly punk, emo, and hard rock, but I also play in the church worship band. From what I've read, the Stage has a good clean and a good over drive, and the Twin has a VERY good clean but a not so good overdrive. I've got a Boss DS-2, so that would probably be good enough if the amp distortion sucks, but I'd like to have a good amp distortion if I can. bleh...IMO the Stage has ultra-generic Fender SS overdrive. I'm not a big fan.
For your styles...hmm...A Twin wouldn't be a bad choice...and at the moment i'm having trouble thinking of better choices. I have an HR Deluxe, of which i am a big fan. One of the reasons I keep coming back to recommending that twin though is the versatility that comes with that 1/4 power switch.
Answer:
I'd recomend a Peavey Classic 30. It's an all tube amp. Around like uhm...450 US dollars new. It's got a good overdrive and clean. Works for me.
Answer:
Originally Posted by smashing guitar I'd recomend a Peavey Classic 30. It's an all tube amp. Around like uhm...450 US dollars new. It's got a good overdrive and clean. Works for me. How many watts is that? I'm guessing 30, but figured I should check to make sure.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Mosher-Bryan How many watts is that? I'm guessing 30, but figured I should check to make sure. Classic 30 is indeed 30 watts. There's also a Classic 20 and a Classic 50.
My guitarist uses a Classic 50 with the 4x10" speaker config. The recordings are at www.myspace.com/yourfavoriteband. (all guitar parts were recorded off of it)
Answer:
umm... there should be some of the (high-end) vox valvetronix amps < $1000 if your interested in a modeling amp.
and i wouldn't go with the marshalls... 100w or 250w is overkill.... especially to have with solid state. yuck.
the fender would also be overkill (probably louder than the marshalls). personally, i'd go with a classic 30, or i'd look into laney. also, vox has some ac30s out for around $1000. and a high end valvetronix amp (AD60VTX or higher) would be sweet to have.
my $.02
Answer:
Originally Posted by tht00 umm... there should be some of the (high-end) vox valvetronix amps < $1000 if your interested in a modeling amp.
and i wouldn't go with the marshalls... 100w or 250w is overkill.... especially to have with solid state. yuck.
the fender would also be overkill (probably louder than the marshalls). personally, i'd go with a classic 30, or i'd look into laney. also, vox has some ac30s out for around $1000. and a high end valvetronix amp (AD60VTX or higher) would be sweet to have.
my $.02
the new Vox Custom Classic AC30s would definitely be worth checking out.
The Fender would be loud...but the Twin was designed as an amp to provide LOTS of headroom. Hence why it has a 1/4 power switch on the new models. While I keep bringing that amp up (because you mentioned it Bryan), I wouldnt' consider it the "end-all" of Fender amps. Definitely check out the Hot Rod and Classic Reissue series amps as well.
Answer:
Originally Posted by thesteve the new Vox Custom Classic AC30s would definitely be worth checking out.
The Fender would be loud...but the Twin was designed as an amp to provide LOTS of headroom. Hence why it has a 1/4 power switch on the new models. While I keep bringing that amp up (because you mentioned it Bryan), I wouldnt' consider it the "end-all" of Fender amps. Definitely check out the Hot Rod and Classic Reissue series amps as well. Do you know what the drive channels are like on those amps?
I always ask this because I live in a fairly small town with only one music store (which I work at) and there isn't enough demand to stock anything other then cheap solid state amps. The nearest music store that would stock anything more is a 2-hour drive away.
Answer:
Also, I plan on using this amp for giging only, not studio use. Basically I want something loud enough to get above the drums and bass and still sound decent. A good drive channel would be nice, but as I said before I've got some decent stompboxes to make up for that if it's not what I want. Whether it's tube or solid state doesn't matter to me, though I'm beginning to lean towards tubes.
Has anyone tried Laney or Bogner amps? These have been suggested to me, as well as Spider from Line 6, but I don't like what I've heard about those.
Answer:
generally the Fender Reissues don't have overdrive channels
The Hot Rod Deluxe (the Deville for that matter) has a mild overdrive that will cover sonic territory from pop-rock and pop-punk to dirty blues tones. one of the highlighted benefits of the HR series is the effects loop (great for modulation effects). You won't be able to get too heavy with the amp drive, but you'll get a good dynamic for much of the indie-rock spectrum (the guitarists for Copeland, the Strokes and Coldplay have been known as Hot Rod Deville users)
In comparison the Peavey Classics have a thicker overdrive that reminds me of lower gain levels of the classic Marshall sound.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Mosher-Bryan Also, I plan on using this amp for giging only, not studio use. Basically I want something loud enough to get above the drums and bass and still sound decent. A good drive channel would be nice, but as I said before I've got some decent stompboxes to make up for that if it's not what I want. Whether it's tube or solid state doesn't matter to me, though I'm beginning to lean towards tubes.
I have a Vox Valvetronix AD30VT (30w, solid state; 10" speaker), and it has more than enough headroom for anything I've found so far (worship team, band with loud drummer + bass + another very loud guitarist- no trouble with volume, winter percussion; i don't think i've ever had to put the amp past 1/2 volume... and thats at 30w).
50w would be more than enough on most any amp and still have plenty of room. The problem with getting too many watts (particularly tube amps) is that 1) with a tube amp, it becomes very hard to overdrive the poweramp section of the amp without simultaneously blowing out your eardrums. An attenuator would help, but they can become pricy as the wattage increases (Major Tom sells some 'round here for a reasonable price (<50w though)). 2)weight. A 100w tube amp is going to weight significantly more than a 30w. Especially if you arn't going to use all of it (I'd even dare to say that you wouldn't need all of the power of the 30w amp). 3) Tubes. Although it depends on how much you use the amp, you'll have to replace the tubes sometime. Another waste to replace multiple power tubes that you don't even need.
So, mostly, it depends on the amp and how much headroom you need. Some amps break up sooner than others, leaving less headroom for cleans. I've got a little vintage Kalamazoo (5 watt, class A) that is too loud to overdrive in most settings (volume = gain; no master volume ). If I needed cleans to play above a loud drummer, I doubt it could make it... Although I do think it would be loud enough to play over the drummer with distortion. The speaker starts to 'fart out' about there; that needs replaced sometime, but my point is to not purchase an amp on the amount of power. That little amp can get uncomfortably loud.
Watts are overrated, and, if I remember right, Major Tom had written a post about how speaker efficiency is more important than watts in how loud the amp actually is. Also, 10w is not twice as loud as 5w. I forget what the curve is, but it isn't proportional.
And as a side note, tube amps tend to be louder (watt for watt) than solid state. This has to do with the way tubes begin to distort (adding harmonics and such) and the ear percieves this as increased loudness. Solid state doesn't have this effect...
Originally Posted by Mosher-Bryan Has anyone tried Laney or Bogner amps? These have been suggested to me, as well as Spider from Line 6, but I don't like what I've heard about those.
I've heard a lot of good about Laney, although I've never played one. Bogner... hmm... I don't think I've ever heard of them... and Line6... I'm not a fan of them. If you want good amp modeling, go here and take a listen: http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/va...t_audition.htm
http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/va...view_movie.htm