Some amp advice

C14N

Hi, I hope this is the right section to be posting in since amps aren't really instruments. I'm getting my first electric guitar for Christmas and I reckon I'll go with an Epiphone SG G-400. I tried it out in a shop and liked it, it's at a good price (obviously can't afford the Gibson) and I like the design. I've been playing accoustic guitar for about a year and a half but I'm still a total noob for equipment.

So can anyone tell me an amp that would suit this well? I was offered a 10-15w amp but I've heard things about these being very poor quality so I'm not entirely certain. Most articles I read seem to be geared toward people playing live so they aren't much help. I just play it as a hobby so I don't need something to fill the house with noise at all times. So if anyone would share some info on how to choose an amp, what sort of power is needed, good brand names or recommendations and stuff, I would greatly appreciate it.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

15 watts is perfect for bedroom rocking! something like these would to the job:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/vox_vt15.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/orange_cr15r.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/roland_cube15x.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/line6_spider_iii_15.htm

The Vox and Orange are great from indie-hard rock. I have the 100watt version of the vox, i have had no problems with it. I have never played through the roland, but they are good amps, have only heard good things about them. The line 6 can do everything from indie to metal, however I dont think the tone is as good as the vox, for the lower gain/light crunch stuff.

Avoid the Marshall MG range! They are terrible amps, sound crap and they will break.

what kind of music do you play?

CianRyan

Roland Micro Cube should do the job.
€130, I think. Loads of effects to play with, enough volume to jam along with the radio, nice and small/light to bring to a mates house. Can be used for busking, battery powered.

It'd be great for a first amp.

Lands Leaving

A 5w tube amp like a fender champion 600 or Blackheart Little Giant (I think thats the name) would be a good choice, great sound, far better than solid state amps around 10w. They're a little less versatile though, so if you're after effects you'd probably be better off with a solid state amp with overdrive and such built in.

What kind of music do you want to play?

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

CianRyan wrote: »

Roland Micro Cube should do the job.
€130, I think. Loads of effects to play with, enough volume to jam along with the radio, nice and small/light to bring to a mates house. Can be used for busking, battery powered.

It'd be great for a first amp.

+1 on the cube, was just about to edit my last post to include the micro cube!

C14N

Trinity Slow Orangutan wrote: »

15 watts is perfect for bedroom rocking! something like these would to the job:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/vox_vt15.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/orange_cr15r.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/roland_cube15x.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/line6_spider_iii_15.htm

The Vox and Orange are great from indie-hard rock. I have the 100watt version of the vox, i have had no problems with it. I have never played through the roland, but they are good amps, have only heard good things about them. The line 6 can do everything from indie to metal, however I dont think the tone is as good as the vox, for the lower gain/light crunch stuff.

Avoid the Marshall MG range! They are terrible amps, sound crap and they will break.

what kind of music do you play?

Thanks for the advice everyone. I forgot to mention the music, I'd probably be mostly playing punk (stuff like Rise Against and NOFX) and metal (like Metallica and System of a Down). Heavier stuff like that so I'd want the sort of crunchy sound.

The local shop I'd be buying from mostly do the Roland Cubes but also Fender and Crate.

Also, I'm seeing the words "tube" and "solid state" being thrown around, which I have heard before but I'm not entirely sure what they mean...:o

€130 sounds a little expensive but if it's the kind of thing that'll last a few years then it would be better to get something good and not just skimp on money. Is that the Roland 15w one?

Lands Leaving

Tube is older technology, it basically uses um... tubes... which look like lightbulbs, to power the amp. They have a warmth of tone associated with them and are good for a more vintage sound, but that depends entirely on how you use the amp, the 5w ones won't have any effects so you'd need to buy a pedal or two to play the music you want. They do get an overdriven sound when you turn them up, but not enough for punk or metal

Solid state amps are more modern and have more versatility, they should be more reliable too, the tech inside them is more like a stereo (and less like a box of glass)

http://musicouch.com/instruments/tube-vs-solid-state-amps/

I'd say try out both in a shop, if you want it to last a few years you'll probably prefer one over the other and might regret not giving one a chance. If the tube amp (ie the fender champ 600) sounds better get that and get a pedal that suits your sound, if solid state (the roland cube) is better, just get that.

Any of the amps mentioned are good, so try as many as you can. simple as that.

C14N

Lands Leaving wrote: »

Tube is older technology, it basically uses um... tubes... which look like lightbulbs, to power the amp. They have a warmth of tone associated with them and are good for a more vintage sound, but that depends entirely on how you use the amp, the 5w ones won't have any effects so you'd need to buy a pedal or two to play the music you want. They do get an overdriven sound when you turn them up, but not enough for punk or metal

Solid state amps are more modern and have more versatility, they should be more reliable too, the tech inside them is more like a stereo (and less like a box of glass)

http://musicouch.com/instruments/tube-vs-solid-state-amps/

I'd say try out both in a shop, if you want it to last a few years you'll probably prefer one over the other and might regret not giving one a chance. If the tube amp (ie the fender champ 600) sounds better get that and get a pedal that suits your sound, if solid state (the roland cube) is better, just get that.

Any of the amps mentioned are good, so try as many as you can. simple as that.

I gave the article a read and it seems a little biased towards the tubes. Going from the kind of prices mentioned and the fact that tubes suit for big noise, I'll probably go with a solid state. Also, about effects pedals...

I've seen some of these in shops and magazines and they seem very expensive, particularly the ones with multiple pedals. Someone told me they can be used to change a sound mid song by holding it down (an example being Battery by Metallica when the guitar is melodic near the beginning but then switched to a much thrashier sound). The guy who told me wasn't actually a guitarist though, just a music fan so I'm not entirely certain.

Quattroste

If you think €130 is expensive for an amp then I would stick with the Roland microcube. This will give you the metalish sounds you require and will sound right enough to your ears.Its also way loud enough for home use. Be warned though, buying gear is addictive and the search for your personal tone is expensive, but fun. Good luck.

Yes pedals will change from clean to dirty with the click of your foot but the Microcube should be footswitchable too. Get to a Guitar shop and talk to the guys. Get them to demo the amps in your price range. Steer clear of cheap Marshalls.

C14N

Quattroste wrote: »

If you think €130 is expensive for an amp then I would stick with the Roland microcube. This will give you the metalish sounds you require and will sound right enough to your ears.Its also way loud enough for home use. Be warned though, buying gear is addictive and the search for your personal tone is expensive, but fun. Good luck.

Yes pedals will change from clean to dirty with the click of your foot but the Microcube should be footswitchable too. Get to a Guitar shop and talk to the guys. Get them to demo the amps in your price range. Steer clear of cheap Marshalls.

Yeah, I just sent an email to the place and got a reply. He also recommended the Micro Cube and they sell it for €120. They also sell the SG for €260 which seems very reasonable (Guitar Centre US site are selling for $350 and the RRP is around $500 I think). Seems like a good enough deal to me.

Portlawslim

Blackstar HT-5!
It's a 5w tube amp but bags of tone, perfect for what you want to play. Bit expensive for your first amp but you'll be starting off with a great sounding amp.

nicknackgtb

I've been using the MG series for a while now, I've just recently bought a 2x12 MG 102 and it is an unbelievable sounding amp for the money it goes for. I also have a MG15fx for my bedroom with the 4way footswitch and have all the effects I could ever need, and comes with tuner also. the footswitch is programable in that you can program your settings into it without having to change the front panel on the amp and I have never had any problems.

I wonder what sort of problems you could be having with them cause i've never heard of any????

Taxpayer

Trinity Slow Orangutan wrote: »

15 watts is perfect for bedroom rocking! something like these would to the job:
http://www.thomann.de/ie/vox_vt15.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/orange_cr15r.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/roland_cube15x.htm
http://www.thomann.de/ie/line6_spider_iii_15.htm

The Vox and Orange are great from indie-hard rock. I have the 100watt version of the vox, i have had no problems with it. I have never played through the roland, but they are good amps, have only heard good things about them. The line 6 can do everything from indie to metal, however I dont think the tone is as good as the vox, for the lower gain/light crunch stuff.

Avoid the Marshall MG range! They are terrible amps, sound crap and they will break.

what kind of music do you play?

To Frank Carty
I'd love to know on what premise you base your allegation that MG amplifiers break. I have it on excellent authority that the failure rate was almost zero for 2009 and in the 12 years or so that it has existed (even when it was launched as Park) The failure rate was similar. If you like Marshall, they sound absolutely amazing, however if you have different taste, perhaps a gentler amplifier is the one for you.
I would also advise anybody looking to purchase a musical instrument, to purchase from an Irish Music dealer and not a foreign retailer. You will get as good a price (Better if it's Marshall) you'll get service and after service and you will be helping to keep the music Industry alive in Ireland. C14N- I suggest you visit a couple of stores before you make your choice. If you are an SG fan - Marshall is a must. Gibson and Marshall are a match made in heaven-most international guitar heroes use this combination. Maybe look at MG15FX at www.marshallamps.com to start off and I promise you in a few years you'll be playing a full stack.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Taxpayer wrote: »

To Frank Carty
I'd love to know on what premise you base your allegation that MG amplifiers break. I have it on excellent authority that the failure rate was almost zero for 2009 and in the 12 years or so that it has existed (even when it was launched as Park) The failure rate was similar. If you like Marshall, they sound absolutely amazing, however if you have different taste, perhaps a gentler amplifier is the one for you.
I would also advise anybody looking to purchase a musical instrument, to purchase from an Irish Music dealer and not a foreign retailer. You will get as good a price (Better if it's Marshall) you'll get service and after service and you will be helping to keep the music Industry alive in Ireland. C14N- I suggest you visit a couple of stores before you make your choice. If you are an SG fan - Marshall is a must. Gibson and Marshall are a match made in heaven-most international guitar heroes use this combination. Maybe look at MG15FX at www.marshallamps.com to start off and I promise you in a few years you'll be playing a full stack.

I got an MG50dfx in 2006. List of problems:
1. The effects unit kept breaking
2. The cooling Fan broke
3. The Volume of the clean channel would randomly drop for a few seconds and then come back to normal volume. My mate got an MG30 in 2005, he had this problem too.
I used it for practicing with a band, these amps were not up to the job. The amp was fine until i brought it to practice twice a week. I think transporting it damaged it, even though it never got any physical damage, when i sold the amp, there was hardly a scratch on it.

For the record I love proper marshall amps, i.e. the valve amps made in the uk, not the solid state ones made in India i.e. the MG series.

The clean tone on the MG is just ok, the overdrive is terrible. If you have only played MGs you will not know how bad they sound until you play something better, I didnt.

The MG15 costs the same as the roland micro cube. The cube is so much better then the MG

EDIT im basing all this on the older MG series, i haven't played through the new MG series

Sergio

Taxpayer wrote: »

To Frank Carty
I'd love to know on what premise you base your allegation that MG amplifiers break. I have it on excellent authority that the failure rate was almost zero for 2009 and in the 12 years or so that it has existed (even when it was launched as Park) The failure rate was similar. If you like Marshall, they sound absolutely amazing, however if you have different taste, perhaps a gentler amplifier is the one for you.
I would also advise anybody looking to purchase a musical instrument, to purchase from an Irish Music dealer and not a foreign retailer. You will get as good a price (Better if it's Marshall) you'll get service and after service and you will be helping to keep the music Industry alive in Ireland. C14N- I suggest you visit a couple of stores before you make your choice. If you are an SG fan - Marshall is a must. Gibson and Marshall are a match made in heaven-most international guitar heroes use this combination. Maybe look at MG15FX at www.marshallamps.com to start off and I promise you in a few years you'll be playing a full stack.

I must say i disagree with your comment with regards not buying from a foreign retailer.I have only in the last month dropped nearly 4500euro on a new guitar and amp that i got from a dealer in the uk.
I originally wanted to buy from xmusic in dublin to keep business in ireland but there was no way they could match the prices i got from the uk retailer plus i do get excellent after sales service if i need it.
I also diagree about gibson and marshall combination as i bought a LP years ago and a marshall DSL401 as my first proper guitar&amp but i couldnt bond with the gibson and found it too heavy and the neck too uncomfortable for my hands.
too many people these days run out and buy what their favourite guitar players are playing e.g i bought my gibson&marshall at the time because i loved slash growing up but i discovered musicman guitar a few years ago and have never looked back since.
The valve versus solidstate amp argument is always only goin to have one winner,valve amps because of the warm tones.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Colinboy wrote: »

i bought a LP years ago and a marshall DSL401 as my first proper guitar&amp but i couldnt bond with the gibson and found it too heavy and the neck too uncomfortable for my hands.
too many people these days run out and buy what their favourite guitar players are playing e.g i bought my gibson&marshall at the time because i loved slash growing up

ha! I did the same. Got an LP (because of slash and jimmy page:rolleyes:), hated the neck. Got a strat with a humbucker, and never looked back:cool:

-Chris-

Taxpayer wrote: »

If you like Marshall, they sound absolutely amazing, however if you have different taste, perhaps a gentler amplifier is the one for you.

Taxpayer wrote: »

Maybe look at MG15FX at www.marshallamps.com to start off

Some Marshalls sound absolutely amazing, some of them sound very average.
In particular, the MG15FX sounds very, very average. Like bees in a tin.

At the introductory level, don't buy your amp (or guitar) based on the brand-name on it.
I haven't played a Cube yet, but I know they're held in very high regard.

Taxpayer wrote: »

If you are an SG fan - Marshall is a must. Gibson and Marshall are a match made in heaven-most international guitar heroes use this combination.

Again, this is a generalisation that will mislead the OP. You'll find many superstars that play through Marshall amps, but those amps sound very different to a solid-state amp with an 8" speaker.
In fact, one of the reasons the amp & guitar makers work so hard to get their product on-stage with the superstars is to create exactly this effect.

Your logic is on a par with "well Renault won the Forumla 1 World Championship, so therefore the Renault Twingo must be a very fast car".


Find your price point, read the reviews, buy the best reviewed amp for your price. Ignore the name on it.

Taxpayer wrote: »

I would also advise anybody looking to purchase a musical instrument, to purchase from an Irish Music dealer and not a foreign retailer. You will get as good a price (Better if it's Marshall) you'll get service and after service and you will be helping to keep the music Industry alive in Ireland. C14N- I suggest you visit a couple of stores before you make your choice.

I'd definitely agree with this. I've bought online and been very disappointed - if I had played the guitar before buying I may have realised I wouldn't like it.
You'll get great value online, and fantastic choice, but give your local guitar shop a chance first.

nicknackgtb

Trinity Slow Orangutan wrote: »

I got an MG50dfx in 2006. List of problems:
1. The effects unit kept breaking
2. The cooling Fan broke
3. The Volume of the clean channel would randomly drop for a few seconds and then come back to normal volume. My mate got an MG30 in 2005, he had this problem too.
I used it for practicing with a band, these amps were not up to the job. The amp was fine until i brought it to practice twice a week. I think transporting it damaged it, even though it never got any physical damage, when i sold the amp, there was hardly a scratch on it.

For the record I love proper marshall amps, i.e. the valve amps made in the uk, not the solid state ones made in India i.e. the MG series.

The clean tone on the MG is just ok, the overdrive is terrible. If you have only played MGs you will not know how bad they sound until you play something better, I didnt.

The MG15 costs the same as the roland micro cube. The cube is so much better then the MG

EDIT im basing all this on the older MG series, i haven't played through the new MG series

As you said, your basing all of this on the Older series. you just answered my next question.

All the new MG series have all been updated in the new 4 series, the voicing being the next best thing to a valve amp for very little cost. So if you want the next best thing to a Valve amp, I'd say go with these.

I have a JVM 410 stack and yes, I love the valve, I love its warmth but for someone only starting off and wants to come close to it, Marshall I feel would be the way to go.

Colinboy wrote: »

.I have only in the last month dropped nearly 4500euro on a new guitar and amp that i got from a dealer in the uk.
I originally wanted to buy from xmusic in dublin to keep business in ireland but there was no way they could match the prices i got from the uk retailer plus i do get excellent after sales service if i need it. (Best of Luck, your also saying that if something happened to either of those you wouldnt mind having to pay shipping costs to get it back to their shop, or taxes on top of that, and repair costs, and labour costs??)


I also diagree about gibson and marshall combination as i bought a LP years ago and a marshall DSL401 as my first proper guitar&amp but i couldnt bond with the gibson and found it too heavy and the neck too uncomfortable for my hands. (Thats the great thing about buying in Ireland, ((keep the economy flowing in our country)), you can try out your guitar, see if you like it, and if you don't, try something else instead.)


too many people these days run out and buy what their favourite guitar players are playing e.g i bought my gibson&marshall at the time because i loved slash growing up but i discovered musicman guitar a few years ago and have never looked back since.
The valve versus solidstate amp argument is always only goin to have one winner,valve amps because of the warm tones. (I agree!!!!!)[/quote]

-Chris- wrote: »

Some Marshalls sound absolutely amazing, some of them sound very average.
In particular, the MG15FX sounds very, very average. Like bees in a tin.

At the introductory level, don't buy your amp (or guitar) based on the brand-name on it.

I haven't played a Cube yet, but I know they're held in very high regard. (by who?)




Again, this is a generalisation that will mislead the OP. You'll find many superstars that play through Marshall amps, but those amps sound very different to a solid-state amp with an 8" speaker.
In fact, one of the reasons the amp & guitar makers work so hard to get their product on-stage with the superstars is to create exactly this effect.

Your logic is on a par with "well Renault won the Forumla 1 World Championship, so therefore the Renault Twingo must be a very fast car".

(em, I think you'll find that it was actually Mercedes that won the F1 so it begs me to question some of your arguments!!!)

Find your price point, read the reviews, buy the best reviewed amp for your price. Ignore the name on it.




I'd definitely agree with this. I've bought online and been very disappointed - if I had played the guitar before buying I may have realised I wouldn't like it.
You'll get great value online, and fantastic choice, but give your local guitar shop a chance first. (Good Point) (

rafared

Not meaning to hijack the OPs thread but Im in the same boat. Im looking for a practice amp for home that wont cost the earth. I have a new Gretsch G6118 on the way and want to match it to a good sounding Amp.
I have about 200E to spend and am into Beatles, Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, Brian Setzer.....that sorta stuff.
Thanks to anyone offering advice guys.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

nicknackgtb wrote: »

All the new MG series have all been updated in the new 4 series, the voicing being the next best thing to a valve amp for very little cost. So if you want the next best thing to a Valve amp, I'd say go with these.

They are still made in india though (correct me if im wrong?), quality control is pretty bad. The new foot switch is pretty cool, the new MGs are more like line 6 spider 2 amps now. BUT if I had the money id get a 15 watt spider 3 or vox VT. The OP should go to xmusic and try them all out.

nicknackgtb wrote: »

I have a JVM 410 stack and yes, I love the valve, I love its warmth

Fantastic amps!

-Chris-

nicknackgtb wrote: »

Best of Luck, your also saying that if something happened to either of those you wouldnt mind having to pay shipping costs to get it back to their shop, or taxes on top of that, and repair costs, and labour costs??

I've returned (heavy) stuff to Thomann and had it repaired under warranty - no charges, no quibbles. I've no idea what you're talking about with taxes...

I'd prefer to see the OP buy Irish, but there's no need for scaremongering.

nicknackgtb wrote: »

I haven't played a Cube yet, but I know they're held in very high regard.

(by who?)

Harmony Central - Overall Rating 9.2

Ultimate Guitar - Overall Rating 8.8

nicknackgtb wrote: »

Your logic is on a par with "well Renault won the Forumla 1 World Championship, so therefore the Renault Twingo must be a very fast car".

(em, I think you'll find that it was actually Mercedes that won the F1 so it begs me to question some of your arguments!!!)

a) Mercedes won the championship this year, but if I made the same point about Mercedes I'd have had people saying "yeah, but Merc do make fast cars, so what are you talking about?".
b) I didn't say they won this year, I just said they won (which they have, several times).

If this is the best you can do at picking holes in my argument, then don't bother...

Eoin Madsen

The Marshall MG, AVT and Valvestate series' bear no resemblance at all in design or in sound to the "Marshall" sound that people talk about. And for what they actually are, they have a much higher profit margin than comparable solidstate amps. They cost too much, and it'd take a serious stretch to recommend them over the many practically identical alternatives than haven't added a couple of hundred euros to their price purely for the esteem of bearing a Marshall logo.

You'd get a far more "Marshall" sound out of the "Marshall" setting on the cheapest Roland or Line 6 modelling amp that you can lay your hands on. :pac:

Thornography

Quattroste wrote: »

Be warned though, buying gear is addictive and the search for your personal tone is expensive, but fun.

Amen to that!

I love and hate being a tone chaser....

Staying on topic , the Roland micro cube is awesome but you will change it in time, that or buy bigger and better.

Nielo

when looking for an amp to play in your bedroom you know you'll have to change it when you start playing gigs.
I've been playing 2 years with a Vox AD15vt and is a great bedroom amp
great sound and very versatile, lots of effects and amp emulators.
they go 2nd hand for 100€ (just sold mine for that price and there are a couple of them now in adverts.ie)
Roland make very good small amps too

stay away from small Marshals

azlanazha

I dont totally agree... I have the MG15CDR for 2 years now. I wont say it is great, but certainly not crap as it is made seem in this threat. Its clean channel is quite good and the crunch is ok. Its no tube amp. But good it gets the job done. And with good pedals like boss, You dont really need the overdrive.

All in all, in fairness... Its a good enough amp for beginners. I have a messa boogie combo amp. So I know that the MG series is not a wonder amp. And yes I do agree that the roland cube is better. But what Im trying say, Marshall MG15 is not entirely bad and it's "use"able.

Having said that... If I were to give an advice, go for VOX 15VT. Its cheap, has loads of effects and beautiful enough sound. It has a tube in the pre-amp, which gives it a tubey kindda sound. Slightly... And I would argue its better than a Roland cube any day!

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

azlanazha wrote: »

And I would argue its better than a Roland cube any day!

Sorry to all micro cube owners, but i do agree!

Grolschevik

Nielo wrote: »

when looking for an amp to play in your bedroom you know you'll have to change it when you start playing gigs.

This is true, but you may just want to keep the stuff you'll use to start practising on.

So here's a left-field suggestion for a starter bedroom practice rig that's small, portable, funky, cool and (I think) class sounding. Also, it's unlikely the OP would get rid of these items when/if moving on to a bigger/better amp.

Classic 5w Pignose + Line 6 Pocket Pod.

Both are battery or mains powered.
The Pignose is small and living-room furniture cute.
They won't take up much space when you get more/bigger gear.
You'll use both in different contexts for years.
Pocket Pod also has a headphone out for silent ultra-portable practice.
And you can use the Pignose as a preamp for a bigger amp if you're that way inclined...

You should get both for under €200, but a Pignose isn't just for Christmas, you know.

Everyone's got MGs and Micro Cubes: try something different...