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Guitar Discussions -> Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp
There are 31 messages in this thread.
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Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - Brablo - 16:38 30-11-05
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Hello:
I'm in the market for an amplifier which costs less than or equal to
$500.
In the past, I've owned a Crate GX-80, and it lasted me 10 solid years
(1993-2003). The amp was built like a truck! It was very reliable: I
used it as an amp for my CD player for a very long time, and also for
my guitar. The amp has moved with me dorm-to-dorm, city-to-city, and
state-to-state. However, it was not very versatile. Moreover, the
tones were somewhat boring. Finally, the amp was way too loud. I
believe it was 280 Watts, and nobody needs anything remotely close to
this. I had to keep it at level 0 while playing the guitar.
Based on my experience with the Crate, which I liked, I'm looking for
an amp which:
1. Is quite versatile.
2. Not too powerful/loud.
3. Reliable - but it doesn't have to last 10 years. 5 is good enough.
4. Sounds good (I know this is subjective).
5. It should be solid-state.
What are your thoughts feelings about the following:
1. Peavey amps
2. Line-6
3. Mesa Boogie (not sure if they are less than $500)
What would you recommend for me? I love and play pretty much what
everyone else who buys an amp plays: metal, classic rock, jazz,
accoustic. However, I like other musics as well which I intend to
play: rockabilly, eastern Indian music (i.e. sitar sounds), and blue
grass.
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp -
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Brablo wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I'm in the market for an amplifier which costs less than or equal to
> $500.
>
> In the past, I've owned a Crate GX-80, and it lasted me 10 solid years
> (1993-2003). The amp was built like a truck! It was very reliable: I
> used it as an amp for my CD player for a very long time, and also for
> my guitar. The amp has moved with me dorm-to-dorm, city-to-city, and
> state-to-state. However, it was not very versatile. Moreover, the
> tones were somewhat boring. Finally, the amp was way too loud. I
> believe it was 280 Watts, and nobody needs anything remotely close to
> this. I had to keep it at level 0 while playing the guitar.
>
> Based on my experience with the Crate, which I liked, I'm looking for
> an amp which:
> 1. Is quite versatile.
> 2. Not too powerful/loud.
> 3. Reliable - but it doesn't have to last 10 years. 5 is good enough.
> 4. Sounds good (I know this is subjective).
> 5. It should be solid-state.
Are you SURE about #5, because #3 below would not be a
consideration....
> What are your thoughts feelings about the following:
> 1. Peavey amps
> 2. Line-6
> 3. Mesa Boogie (not sure if they are less than $500)
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - John Z. Delorean - 16:49 30-11-05
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No way the GX-80 was 280 watts. It may have taken in that much but more
than likely only produced 80 watts, which is still reasonably loud.
There are tons of solid-state amps under $500 on the market these days.
Just read some reviews on Harmony Central and the major retailers' websites.
That will give you an idea of features and ratings.
Peavey and Line 6 are fine. I've owned a Line 6 Flextone II XL and a Spider
112. The Flextone was a monster and was very, uh, flexible. The Spider was
ok for practice but not much else. I now have Classic 30, but that's tube,
so never mind.
Mesas are all tube and all very very expensive. Their cheapest amp, to the
best of my knowledge, streets at $950 (yikes).
Hope this helps...just look around...try some out...I hear the Vox
Valvetronix amps are good but have never tried one myself.
Warmest regards,
JZ
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - Brablo - 17:13 30-11-05
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I'm sure about #5. I am no longer considering the Mesas since they are
out of my budget and are tubes. I don't care for tubes.
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - Brablo - 17:16 30-11-05
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John Delorean,
You're right! I thought my amp was 280 watts (that's what it said on
the back, anyways). It's "only" 80 watts. Now I'm confused.
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - Frito Bandito - 18:37 30-11-05
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> 4. Sounds good (I know this is subjective).
> 5. It should be solid-state.
>
I'm sorry, but 2 of your requirements are in direct opposition to one
another, so a recommendation is impossible.
Think about it logically, think about your favorite albums of all time,
whether it is Santana, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Ray, Norah Jones,
Aerosmith, or WHOMEVER, one thing is clear, it was recorded on a TUBE amp!
Wake up, man!
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - Steven Johnson - 18:42 30-11-05
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If you're looking for a smaller amp (practice/jamming etc.) the Vox
Valvestate 30 is pretty decent. It's a tube hybrid amp so it has the "tube"
sound most people are looking for, plus some modeling. Got one for my son
last Christmas and he loves it. They also make a 50 watt version.
I'm playing through a Peavey Bandit II (80 watts-Solid state) and it does
just fine for me. Both amps are priced less than $400.
Happy Hunting. SJ
--
"The road less traveled has 22 frets."
-Ted Nugent
"Brablo" <gestureofrespect@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1133386713.410313.142200@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Hello:
>
> I'm in the market for an amplifier which costs less than or equal to
> $500.
>
> In the past, I've owned a Crate GX-80, and it lasted me 10 solid years
> (1993-2003). The amp was built like a truck! It was very reliable: I
> used it as an amp for my CD player for a very long time, and also for
> my guitar. The amp has moved with me dorm-to-dorm, city-to-city, and
> state-to-state. However, it was not very versatile. Moreover, the
> tones were somewhat boring. Finally, the amp was way too loud. I
> believe it was 280 Watts, and nobody needs anything remotely close to
> this. I had to keep it at level 0 while playing the guitar.
>
> Based on my experience with the Crate, which I liked, I'm looking for
> an amp which:
> 1. Is quite versatile.
> 2. Not too powerful/loud.
> 3. Reliable - but it doesn't have to last 10 years. 5 is good enough.
> 4. Sounds good (I know this is subjective).
> 5. It should be solid-state.
>
> What are your thoughts feelings about the following:
> 1. Peavey amps
> 2. Line-6
> 3. Mesa Boogie (not sure if they are less than $500)
>
> What would you recommend for me? I love and play pretty much what
> everyone else who buys an amp plays: metal, classic rock, jazz,
> accoustic. However, I like other musics as well which I intend to
> play: rockabilly, eastern Indian music (i.e. sitar sounds), and blue
> grass.
>
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - Steve - 19:52 30-11-05
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Brablo wrote:
> John Delorean,
>
> You're right! I thought my amp was 280 watts (that's what it said on
> the back, anyways). It's "only" 80 watts. Now I'm confused.
>
Power consumption (the 280 watts) is the amount of power the amp draws
from the wall outlet when it's turned on. The output power (80 watts)
is the power delivered to the speaker by the amplifier's output stage.
Output power is typically 25% to 50% of power consumption. The power
consumed but not delivered to the speaker is turned into heat.
Does that clear up your confusion?
--Steve
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - DeeAa - 06:01 01-12-05
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"Frito Bandito" <eatme@mexicoRULZ.com> wrote in message
news:eIKdnY5pJtQzqhPenZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> 4. Sounds good (I know this is subjective).
>> 5. It should be solid-state.
>>
>
> I'm sorry, but 2 of your requirements are in direct opposition to one
> another, so a recommendation is impossible.
>
> Think about it logically, think about your favorite albums of all time,
> whether it is Santana, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Ray, Norah
> Jones, Aerosmith, or WHOMEVER, one thing is clear, it was recorded on a
> TUBE amp!
>
Some of my favourite albums, Soundgarden, ZZ Top, various others were
recorded with solid state amps.
I have never liked Santana's sound, LZ certainly had some great but many not
so good sounds, and the same goes for the rest.
Are we back in this even after I pretty much already proved that nobody
could hear any difference of the tube/ss clips I posted?
Tubes are better in many respects, tube amps are usually more reactive to
players, but on a record, who cares what it was made with as long as it
sounds good. It's not a heaven using tubes. I've owned various tube amps
such as Fenders etc. but none of them sounded half as good as my friend's
current Tech 21 for instance.
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Re: Please recommend me a $500 (or less) amp - tai fu - 06:04 01-12-05
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I'd say go to a shop and play whatever that sounds good to you... but for
500 dollars you can buy a tube amp and they are better than SS amp because
when they clip (and you are clipping the amplifier when you turn on
distortion) they sound better than SS.
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