Amp Head on a budget?

MetalDog

Lads I'm on the lookout for a 100w or so amp head and I'm f00kin' broke!

so what would other boardsies reccommend as a good budget head, (budget about €150 - 170) solid state is all I can really afford, are there good cheapish Tube heads?

I had a Marshall MG50DFX combo before and it wasn't great, so I'd be leery of their heads, has anyone had good experiences with MG heads?

I have a Line6 Spider IV 30 combo and its not bad at all, I've gigged with it in the past. Have played Line6's heads and think they're quite good. Anyone have different experiences of them?

Thanks!

demanufactured

You don't get a decent head for that money IMO.

Ravelleman

What do you need it for? Are you sure you really need 100w?

Also, stay away from the MG series. Such bad amps.

MetalDog

Ravelleman wrote: »

What do you need it for? Are you sure you really need 100w?

Also, stay away from the MG series. Such bad amps.

Yeah the MG's suck, was thinking of a Line6 75 maybe. Not sure if I need 100w, I just meant that as a generic starting point for a head size.

Ravelleman

Well, if it´s for home use, 100w is going to be too much.

If you´re gigging it might well be too powerful as well!

MetalDog

Ravelleman wrote: »

Well, if it´s for home use, 100w is going to be too much.

If you´re gigging it might well be too powerful as well!

So maybe a smaller head then? I honestly don't know much about smaller heads except for the likes of Orange and Blackstar, both of which I can't afford.

Ravelleman

Is it for gigging?

MetalDog

Ravelleman wrote: »

Is it for gigging?

Yeah it would be for gigging.

wild turkey

Head to Musicmaker on Saturday for the sale if your in Dublin
Last year they had the 40w spidervalves & spider heads for €99, dont know if they'll have them this year but theres bound to be a bargain in there.
Check out Adverts.ie, always plenty of line 6 stuff on there

Try Peavey Vypyr & Vox Valvetronics as well as youd probably get it new for around your budget, they are combos though

Valve wise have a look at the Bugera stuff, Ive a V22 Loud enough for gigs & it sounds great, never had a days bother with it
about 275 new in Thomann.ie
Theres a V55 head also for around the same

Plenty of others as well !

hidinginthebush

Jaysus a 50W tube head will have more than enough punch for you, some would argue even a 30W will do the job. If you're playing a gig somewhere big enough that you'd be able to crank a 100W tube amp, they'll have a PA and will be micing your amp anyway.

What sort of music are you playing OP? That'll be something we all need to know before recommending anything

MetalDog

hidinginthebush wrote: »

Jaysus a 50W tube head will have more than enough punch for you, some would argue even a 30W will do the job. If you're playing a gig somewhere big enough that you'd be able to crank a 100W tube amp, they'll have a PA and will be micing your amp anyway.

What sort of music are you playing OP? That'll be something we all need to know before recommending anything

I play classic rock alt rock & metal. Covers and hopefully originals soon:) Yeah I know what you mean about miking the amp, I've even had the 30w miked and its been adequate. I was looking at the Bugera heads as well, seems like a nice amp that won't cost too much, it might be an option.

MrECameraman

MetalDog wrote: »

I play classic rock alt rock & metal. Covers and hopefully originals soon:) Yeah I know what you mean about miking the amp, I've even had the 30w miked and its been adequate. I was looking at the Bugera heads as well, seems like a nice amp that won't cost too much, it might be an option.

At that range, the second hand market might yield a fixer upper

MetalDog

Had a look there on Adverts couple of nice ones. I suppose you could nearly get a generic 4x12?

hidinginthebush

Also, does it absolutely have to be a head? Do you already have a cab? Factor in you'll be shelling out for one too if you don't. You could pick up a decent used tube combo for that sort of cash. [snip]

Ash.J.Williams

If i was on a budget i'd take a chance with bugera. €300 ish for a 100+w tube head is ridiculous. I did hear the clean tone isn't great.
http://www.thomann.de/ie/bugera_6260.htm

Another €1-200 and you're in the market of savage 2nd hand gear. I have a dsl 100, which i find to be a beast.
http://www.adverts.ie/guitar-amps/marshall-dsl-100-head/1273598

I don't know anything about Peavey Valve King heads but they are cheap as f**k.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm5oYcdFdZY

hidinginthebush

I can't speak for the valveking head, but I'd a combo a while ago. They're a surprisingly good amp, but theres beter out there for the money, sort of a jack of all trades master of none sort of amp. The heaviest they'll get without a boost is Metallica.

MrECameraman

for classic rock & metal, you can't really get better than a marshall JCM800. The 4104 is essentially the same as the 2203 but with a 2x12 underneath it and they can be had for 400 or so if you look around for a battered one. I have one and when dimed it sounds like awesome bottled. You can also hot rod them and get loads of gain out of the preamp, and rip out a few PA tubes and use it as a 50 watt.

Ravelleman

Spamming your own ads from Adverts will, unfortunately, result in a two week ban. Most people seem happy to abide by the arrangement but some still do not.

Edit: this is in relation to a post I had to delete earlier on, by the way. Carry on with the thread as normal!