Looking for an amp

[dcimh]

Hello everyone

After purchasing a new guitar, I realized that if I am going to be playing live I will probably need a louder/nicer sounding amp. At this point in time I would rather get a combo of some sort. I am not worried about price at this time. Genres I play are Blues/Jazz and Progressive music. I appreciate any response to this, as I know basically nothing about amplifiers.

[adamthemute]

Hello everyone

After purchasing a new guitar, I realized that if I am going to be playing live I will probably need a louder/nicer sounding amp. At this point in time I would rather get a combo of some sort. I am not worried about price at this time. Genres I play are Blues/Jazz and Progressive music. I appreciate any response to this, as I know basically nothing about amplifiers.
What are you needs for an amp? (number of channels, effects loop, etc)

What's your max you'd like to spend?

[washburned]

I'm thinkin' a Fender Super-sonic might do the trick.

[bcmatt]

I'm thinkin' a Fender Super-sonic might do the trick.

I'm thinking a Dumble OverDrive Special would do the trick.

However, I'm wondering if there are any more specific criteria for this situation.

[guitarman2]

I'm thinking a Dumble OverDrive Special would do the trick.



How do you come to this conclusion when absolutely no criteria or back ground has been provided? No budget requirements etc..
Based on the very little information given even that is very ambiguous. Blues/ Jazz? Blues you like it mildly dirty. Jazz is played clean. Progressive? That could mean almost anything.
Knowing nothing about amps you might want to get out there and try as many amps as you can to get a feel for what you like. Long&Mcquade has a huge selection of inventory at their stores in every budget. I know quite a bit about what I want from an amp but when I'm looking for a new one I'll still go out and try many amps. I like trying different boutique amps just to see what designers are doing out there. From Fender or Mesa boogie and more well known companies like that I already know what their offerings are as I've tried them many times.
If you're on a budget there are a ton of amps that can fill your needs. But you really have to get out and try them. Long&Mcquade has a Peavey Bandit 112 Trans tube that I"m thinking of picking up as a practice amp. Its only $299 very versatile and could easily due for live playing. I picked up an old Peavey bandit for $99 but it wouldn't really be suitable for anything but doodling with at home. Thats why I'm thinking of getting a new one. Of course if you're stuck on real tube amps then be ready to spend alot more money. Especially if you're thinking all tube and PTP.

[adamthemute]

Head to L&M. Try out some amps.

Fender makes some quality lowish priced small combo amps. I haven't tried a Peavy Classic, but they seem to be enjoyed.

Find out what you like, and your needs, then continue the search. If money isn't much of an issue, you should be pleased with what you'll end up with.

There's also:

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/msg/
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/f-buy-and-sell-musical-instruments-W0QQCatIdZ17
http://www.usedtoronto.com/classifieds/musical-instruments

[Budda]

stop. think.

do your research!. you should have an idea of what does what, and what to expect from various lines of amps and their companies. you dont want to spend $800 on an amp that has some decent features, but doesnt sound that great.. when there's a $600 amp that will put it to shame.

test out everything in the store, with your guitar. ignore the price tag, the size, the brand on it - just sit down, and spend 15 minutes each with a bunch of amps, and make a list of what sounds good to you. you want the amp with the best tone, not the best anything else :)

i bought a marshall MG250DFX because it was big, affordable, and sounded decent. within 3 months i was told "tube amps make the tone that we like on these songs" and went "do i have those?" the answer was no. sooner rather then later, the marshall was sold, there was a tube 212 in my basement, and i could kinda hear the difference.

i did my research on the amps i was going to buy when looking at the marshall vs the line 6 vs the crate vs the peavey. i went with what seemed best at the time, but i tested out all my options.

you want loud, good tone, versatile? pick up a used Line 6 Vetta II combo. thank me later. want a mesa? go for it. marshall? go for it. vox? go for it. peavey? go for it. fender? yeah, that's there too.

[dcimh]

So I was able to go down to Long and Mcquade today. While I was there I played a Marshall combo, a Hughes and Kettner combo, and a Vox AC30. Unfortunately, I could not find any major differences in sound between the three amplifiers. What should I be listening for when I am testing amps?

[guitarman2]

So I was able to go down to Long and Mcquade today. While I was there I played a Marshall combo, a Hughes and Kettner combo, and a Vox AC30. Unfortunately, I could not find any major differences in sound between the three amplifiers. What should I be listening for when I am testing amps?


Wow. I would think you'd hear a difference between those 3 amps. Maybe you just aren't listening close enough. The Vox should stand out from those other 2.

[Budda]

So I was able to go down to Long and Mcquade today. While I was there I played a Marshall combo, a Hughes and Kettner combo, and a Vox AC30. Unfortunately, I could not find any major differences in sound between the three amplifiers. What should I be listening for when I am testing amps?

listen for what has the sound characteristics you like.

it really takes time to develop your ear, i wouldnt expect someone who's new to guitar to be able to tell the difference between a marshall DSL100 halfstack and a MG250DFX if they didnt see what was being plugged into.

the question here is, what marshall combo, what H&K? and what guitar? and how were the amps set up?

sounds to me like you would get by just fine with a decent, giggable amp.

[dcimh]

I believe that the Marshall was called a DSL. I believe it was around 40-50 watts. I could care less about the H&K which did not appeal to me at all.

Unfortunately I could not bring my own guitar down (which is a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom) so I used a Les Paul that was in the showroom. I am not new to guitars, but I am new to amplifiers.

Looking back on the experience, I seemed to have enjoyed playing the AC30 the most, what with the tremolo/reverb. The Vox seemed to be more....the words that come to mind are brighter and warmer. Are there any other amplifiers that are like the Vox. I would really rather not spend over $1500 on an amp.

I raelize that I probably should have been more specific in my first post.

[adamthemute]

I believe that the Marshall was called a DSL. I believe it was around 40-50 watts. I could care less about the H&K which did not appeal to me at all.

Unfortunately I could not bring my own guitar down (which is a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom) so I used a Les Paul that was in the showroom. I am not new to guitars, but I am new to amplifiers.

Looking back on the experience, I seemed to have enjoyed playing the AC30 the most, what with the tremolo/reverb. The Vox seemed to be more....the words that come to mind are brighter and warmer. Are there any other amplifiers that are like the Vox. I would really rather not spend over $1500 on an amp.

I raelize that I probably should have been more specific in my first post.
A used Vox AC30 is pretty reasonable....$800 or so maybe? I'm sure Toronto has a plethora of pawn shops compared to Winnipeg's sh1tholes.

You can look at a Vox AC15, smaller version which is also cheaper.

Today I saw a Vox AC50 ($925), and a Vox AC100 head for $700 used at Long & McQuade, to give you an idea!

I would suggest taking a look at some late 60's and 70's Fender silverface amps (Twin Reverb, Bassman, Showman, many more). Some awesome stuff to be had at great prices sometimes.

[greco]

I would suggest taking a look at some late 60's and 70's Fender silverface amps (Twin Reverb, Bassman, Showman, many more). Some awesome stuff to be had at great prices sometimes.

+1...the SF Fenders are very nice !!