Thinking of downsizing.

CianRyan · 06-05-2011 01:07AM #1

As the title says, and quite a lot too.

Right now I've got a Peavey Triple XXX head running through a Marshall 1960.
I love the set up but it takes up so much space and I'm not gigging anymore, and to top it off, I could use the cash at the moment.

I'm thinking, if I sell it, I could keep maybe €300-€350 to spend on a small tube head and some sort of 1/2x12.
Thing is, can I get the same quality and tone for this amount of money, just on a smaller scale?

I've been impressed with the Blackstar HT-1 head but that wouldn't leave me much room for a cab.
If I bought the combo, I'd be under budget but a little devastated by the downgrade.

I'm also afraid of the weakness of the head.

So tell me and advise me, Can it be done in my budget or will I need to stretch?

What I want is, a "Versatile" amp, I like head+cab but can go for combos if they're the right ones.

I mostly play death metal but I also like to play blues.
This is tough...

Any remonstrations are welcome, lads.
Cheers, Cian.:(

quicklickpaddy · 06-05-2011 12:23PM

Stetch a little bit and get the HT-5?

CianRyan · 06-05-2011 12:40PM

The HT-5 is more appealing but the 10" speaker puts me off. It may be in my mind but I really think a 12" sounds much more powerfull.
I'll have to have a run down to a music shop and see what it can do.

Zombienosh · 06-05-2011 12:52PM

How much would the Peavey head go for these days?

CianRyan · 06-05-2011 01:34PM

Not sure really, haven't seen one for sale in years.

Last one I saw was In Music Maker for ~€1500. so I was thinking of putting th head+cab up together for ~€1200 and see where that takes me.

The cab's only about two months old so that shouldn't be loosing much value.

NMK2008 · 06-05-2011 01:35PM

I think you will be surpised by the 10inch HT 5...

i have a 2watt all valve 8inch combo for the house, and it sounds amazing (for that purpose)

you need to think what you will be doing with it.
if its home, and jamming in a house, the HT 5 will be more than enough!

if its drummers in a confined space, you may want to look at a Tiny terror or similar 15watter! These are VERY loud, sound brilliant, and with plenty of gain on tap... think they come in a 1x12 combo too, though are a bit more expensive.

CianRyan · 06-05-2011 01:47PM

It'd really just be for bedroom use any maybe a bit of demoing once I manage to gather some recording equipment.
I left a band recently enough and don't really plan on doing much for a while.
It's a bloody expensive hobby at best... :rolleyes:

I'd be a lot more tempted by the 12" version, if I could find one of those second hand I'd be delighted.
Problem with that is, it could take me a year to sell what I have in this climate.

Mate of mine has the 15w Tiny Terror and I really don't like it very much. For what it is, it's a grand amp but it's just not for me. The only Orange I'd be interested in would be the Thunder30 but then I'd be back to square one.

NMK2008 · 06-05-2011 01:53PM

this is ideal!
http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk/products/ht-amps/ht-20.html

CianRyan · 06-05-2011 02:15PM

That does fit the bill perfectly, but at nearly €600 I'd really be trying to get hold of one second hand, which could be difficult.
A bit of saving combined with the money from my current set up could bring it into range alright.

I'll have to try one of these out.

Squidgy Black · 06-05-2011 02:58PM

I have the HT-1 that I use with a line 6 4x12, I use it for metal and punk kinda stuff, it's not much of a downgrade from an ENGL Thunder to be honest, it's still bloody loud, I barely have it halfway up for practice with my band and I run it into the PA for gigs.

CianRyan · 07-05-2011 06:10PM

Hmm, the HT-1 might not be so bad then, the problem is I don't think anywhere stocks it so it'll be really hard to try before I buy.
I've sort of come around to the idea of a combo too. The ease with which you can transport one is just staggering coming from a half stack! :P

Grolschevik · 09-05-2011 01:40PM

CianRyan wrote: »

Hmm, the HT-1 might not be so bad then, the problem is I don't think anywhere stocks it so it'll be really hard to try before I buy.

I think I saw one in Dublin Guitar Centre, but don't quote me...

CianRyan wrote: »

I've sort of come around to the idea of a combo too. The ease with which you can transport one is just staggering coming from a half stack! :P

Yeah, they take up less space in the car, but they can be bloody heavy! You'll yearn to go back to a head and 2x12" once you try to manouevre six stone of one-handled combo up some stairs... That said, I've a 10" valve combo that you could go jogging while carrying!

Matt Bianco · 09-05-2011 03:21PM

The Dublin Guitar Centre definitely stock the HT1 although the new edition of the HT5 (the HT5R) will problem nail iwhat you want better as it has a 12" speaker as well as digital reverb, MP3 input. seperate tone control for the clean channel etc.

I recently picked up a second hand HT5 on adverts which is a serious piece of kit. I was in the same position in wanting a quality amp for exclusive home use when not playing in a live setting. Having said that, I put it though a Marshall 1922 2x12 cab and it is seriously loud although whether it would cut it over a drummer I don't know. Well recommended!

CianRyan · 09-05-2011 07:11PM

Well on my budget I wont be getting anything near a six stone combo. Haha
I was looking at a few of the bigger fender amps a while back and was amazed by the weight.

I was thinking, again... I probably don't really need the 20w version so I reckon I'm going to try and grab a ht5 with a 12" speaker.
Just to move my half stack now... Anyone interested? :rolleyes:

CianRyan · 10-11-2011 12:26AM

I've finally sold my amp!

My budget has sky rocketed from where it was 6 months ago and I'm now looking to spend about €700-€800 on a small tube combo.
I've been looking at the Mesa Boogie Studio 22+ but as they're an old amp I want to make sure I don't buy a dud.
Any Mesa heads out there with advice on what to look out for or alternatives?
This is what caught my eye.

I've always wanted a 'Boogie so I'm gonna dive straight on this opportunity.

Voodu Child · 10-11-2011 12:08PM

I had a Studio 22+ a few years ago. They're a nice amp, if you're running any kind of gain they are very noisy though.

Not really a bedroom amp either. They're capable of getting very loud.

CianRyan · 10-11-2011 09:16PM

Hmm, how noisy is very noisy?
Seeing as I'm coming from a 120w head with a 4x12, a little bit of noise isn't too much to handle.
I'd like to be able to use it for sessions and maybe gig it in the future.

I think I'll go and see the one I posted.
Is it worth the asking price? Can't gauge really as I haven't seen many more of them.

dubdoyle · 10-11-2011 10:47PM

Dublin Guitar Centre have a Mesa Boogie DC2 including Road Case for 799 Which is Great Value and it sounds Killer

Voodu Child · 10-11-2011 10:50PM

CianRyan wrote: »

Hmm, how noisy is very noisy?
Seeing as I'm coming from a 120w head with a 4x12, a little bit of noise isn't too much to handle.
I'd like to be able to use it for sessions and maybe gig it in the future.

I think I'll go and see the one I posted.
Is it worth the asking price? Can't gauge really as I haven't seen many more of them.

Noisy enough that you'll probably need a noise gate if you've got the preamp gain anyway cranked. You say death metal so that's why noise might be an issue for you.

Another problem I recall with the amp was the difficulty in getting two good sounds set up without a big volume mismatch. Less of a problem in a studio setting obviously.

I'd value a clean combo at about €650-€700.

Is it worth it? They're nice amps for collectors or people who have a few different amps already...so they can look past the flaws. If it's going to be your main do-everything amp then you'll probably be disappointed.

CianRyan · 11-11-2011 09:17PM

I tried the DC-2 in DGC and it really wasn't for me!

How similar are the DC-2 and the Studio 22+? If they're alike I think I'll be looking elsewhere.

Tried a HT 20 too, wasn't for me either, then a JCM 2000 and that was nice. I much prefered the aggressiveness of the distortion, the way it breaks up into a blocky sound is much nicer to my ears than the smooth, bass rich sound of the Mesa and the Blackstar.

I'm half considering buying another guitar in the persuit of tone too at this stage. How much are LP standards going for these days? :P

Voodu Child · 11-11-2011 09:55PM

CianRyan wrote: »

I tried the DC-2 in DGC and it really wasn't for me!
How similar are the DC-2 and the Studio 22+? If they're alike I think I'll be looking elsewhere.

It was constant evolution from one amp to the next so they are directly related...I think it was Studio Caliber in between but anyway they're all part of the same line. I don't think the DC2 had a graphic eq, and that plays a large part in getting a good sound from that era of Boogies. So you might still prefer the Studio 22+

Tbh none of the older EL84 Boogies are what you are looking for, they're not really suited to being death metal amps. You'd be much better off looking for a MKIII. Ive seen them go for €700. You'll also be surprised how good it sounds at lower volumes.

CianRyan · 11-11-2011 11:40PM

I think I'll move on from that era at this stage alright, if I could find a MKIII in my budget that might be nice alright. Didn't know they came in combo form though. There's one on adverts at twice that price.

Thinking of downsizing.

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