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Which first amp for €400-ish?

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  • 10-12-2004 10:07am
    #1
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭


    Hey. Hoping to get some advice on a first amp purchase. I was looking at a Roland 60W cube in Musician Inc and quite liked the sound (price was in my range too @ €375). Then I saw an add in B&Sell for a Line 6 Flextone II plus for about the same. From reading reviews, there seems to be a bit mixed opinion from absolutely fab to don't touch but I like the idea of being able to download sound patches....

    If that wasn't enough, I see there's a Roland VG-5 for €400 on this site as well! Opinions/alternatives welcome!

    Cheers,
    Sean


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    #2
    Doctor J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    There's a guy on the gigsmart forum selling a Fender Roc Pro 1000 for 300 quid. That there is the amp I'd suggest.


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    #3
    Dave
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,922 ✭✭✭Dave


    If I had €400 I'd buy a Line 6 Spider II 75 watt.


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    #4
    fitz
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 7,958 ✭✭✭fitz


    I've an all valve Fender Blues Junior amp for sale for €400.


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    #5
    bombidol
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,638 ✭✭✭bombidol


    it depends really. do you want an amp with loads of effects and stuff built in, or do you want a better built more solid amp. Im not saying anything against, The cubes or Line 6's as i quite like them. but personally id go with the Fender Amp myself


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    #6
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭seank


    Dave wrote:
    If I had €400 I'd buy a Line 6 Spider II 75 watt.
    Why the spider over the flextone? Are u saying that a new one is about €400? If so, would a second hand flextone not be better quality given the original €800?
    Doctor J wrote:
    There's a guy on the gigsmart forum selling a Fender Roc Pro 1000 for 300 quid. That there is the amp I'd suggest.
    Had a look at that ad for the roc-pro. 100W would probably blow a hole in the side of my house! Again, why this over what I had in mind? Wattage? 'fender'?

    I'm a novice when it comes to solid-state vs tube, pre-amps/heads/cabs/etc hence the whys! I love the older sounds of Hendrix/Cream so i'd ideally like something that I can replicate(!) that sort of sound in 50 years time when I can play properly :)


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    #7
    Doctor J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    The Roc Pro has a solid state clean channel and a tube overdrive channel. It will give you the tone you want, I have one myself, so I can honestly recommend it to you, they're a great little amp. It's small enough to be practical to use at home but you'll be able to gig with it too, should you ever need to.


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    #8
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭seank


    Thanks Doctor J. I've mailed the guy to see if it's still available. I was looking @ http://www.musicgearreview.com/review-display/111.html and he's talking about replacing valves and so on. Is this something that I should worry about? What kind of a price (€10 or €100) & how often or is it a case of they just go sometimes (maybe from a knock or whatever)?


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    #9
    Dave
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,922 ✭✭✭Dave


    seank wrote:
    Why the spider over the flextone? Are u saying that a new one is about €400? If so, would a second hand flextone not be better quality given the original €800?

    Yeah a new one is a little under €400.


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    #10
    Doctor J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    I've had mine for four years (maybe five, I can't honestly remember) haven't had to replace the tube yet, and I got it second hand too. It's not hard to get into the amp, just because it's a combo you have to take the whole panel out, it's a two minute job really. I don't think replacement tubes are that expensive at all. Mine has been trouble free since I got it. The tone is really quite special and it's plenty loud when you want it to be, but it'll still do the practice at home thing. For €300, sweet!

    Try it out, when I got mine, I played one chord through it and knew straight away. I still love it to bits. Good luck.


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    #11
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭seank


    Thanks guys. I'll go for the fender to see if I can get a good deal on it. I'm also looking at a Roland VSA-5 too. This is tough work!


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    #12
    Doctor J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    I see you got the Roc Pro. Nice :)


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    #13
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭seank


    Yep. Had a crook finger for a while so mulligan put it through it's paces at the weekend. Smashing sound although I haven't got the volume over 4 yet! At €290, it was well worth it.


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    #14
    Doctor J
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    Cool. What do you think of the clean channel?


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    #15
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭seank


    I like it. Bright & clear but very warm, if you know what I mean! I suppose the only complaint I have is the volume of the thing. I mean 1 is off and 2 is bloody loud, expecially in my 'studio' ;) ...


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    #16
    John
    Registered Users Posts: 12,135 ✭✭✭✭John


    seank wrote:
    I mean 1 is off and 2 is bloody loud, expecially in my 'studio' ;) ...

    I know that feeling, our Rock Pro makes it very hard to balance sound when we practice but it sounds nice so who gives a toss :D


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    #17
    seank
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭seank


    if u see this over dublin west, you'll know i've out the volume to 8

    images


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