Amp needed

John

I have about 600-700 to spend on a guitar amp for a college society. I want something versatile and loud. I don't want a load of effects on board. It'll be up against a drum kit and Ashdown MAG 300 bass amp. It's for a practice space and putting on gigs so it needs to be decent for all styles, ie be able to handle distortion if needed yet sound good clean.

I've looked around a bit but I've become lost.

bombidol

Fender's probably yer best bet. if its for a college society maybe a tube amp isnt the right move. something solid state but good. have a look on thomann.de

John

I've been looking at Thomann but nothing is really calling to me there. Anything solid state has loads of onboard of effects which I'm trying to avoid.

Karl Hungus

ENGL Thunder 50

End of story.

John

Karl Hungus wrote:

ENGL Thunder 50

End of story.

Hmmm, I want to steer clear of tube amps for the sake of maintenance but it does look tasty. Hmmm.

bombidol

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_laney_tfx3_twin_gitarrencombo_prodinfo.html

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_peavey_special_212_prodinfo.html

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_artikel-179179.html

something like those would all do the trick

Karl Hungus

John2 wrote:

Hmmm, I want to steer clear of tube amps for the sake of maintenance but it does look tasty. Hmmm.

Honestly, there's no real maintenance involved in tube amps, expect swapping out the tubes once in a blue moon.

feylya

Which would be hassle enough for a college...

Peavey Bandit II, yer only man!

jcoote

there was 4 nice amps suggested there john and the peavy special 212 is spot on i'd go for that tbh its lovely clean...for a peavy anyway

John

Thanks lads. The Peavey does indeed look like the animal of choice. I'll have to put it to committee though

John

Karl Hungus wrote:

Honestly, there's no real maintenance involved in tube amps, expect swapping out the tubes once in a blue moon.

I've no bother doing it but this is my final year, once I'm gone there's only drummers and bassists left. They would be looking at the amp wondering why it needed light bulbs...

ferdi

eh, there are tubes in bass amps too...

John

ferdi wrote:

eh, there are tubes in bass amps too...

Yeah but how many bassists around Dublin have one? Especially college students. I know for a fact that none of the people that would be taking care of the stuff after I leave will have used a tube amp of any description.

Rustar

I've always been leery of tubes for bass applications. What if a tube blew on stage?
Besides, tubes color sound, especially in the making of a nice smooth distortion; on bass I want to know exactly where my color's coming from, and rarely use distortion.
If I need distortion, well, there's always stomp boxes/ME's.

To paraphrase John Rambo -
"All I want is nice clean power and for my bass to love ME as much as I love IT!"

John

I don't know, there's something about a big Ampeg tube amp and 8x10 cab that makes my knees quiver. I went to a gig and because of the way the venue was laid out I was standing behind the bass amp but in front of a wall of PA speakers, it felt like I was living inside the sound.