What's A Nice Recording Amp For $600?, line 6 spider valve and alternatives Options

[soulstone]

if you have around $600 for a 18 watt (or louder) amp to be used from blues to metal (but mostly hard rock to metal), what would you get? i'm considering line 6's spider valve 112 (or 212 pre-owned) or a tube amp kit but there's not much reviews and soundbytes on the kit and it might be around $800 if you include cabinets or speakers. i'm aware you can't get a true plexi or a rectifier's sound from a digitally modelled amp but for $600 i'm really considering it. also, i've assumed since this is a tube amp, once cranked they really give a nice tone. might be one of the reasons why it received some bad reviews.

main purpose would be for recording (mic'd), my experience is limited to direct recordings so just wanted to give it a try (both direct and mic'd). the spider valve's flexibility is heavily influencing my decision for a buy. what do you guys think, any experiences with this amp or do you guys know something better for its price range?

thanks in advance.

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[Ivan Milenkovic]

That line 6's spider valve 112 is a great option for diversity. You didn't write what recording though...

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[soulstone]

That line 6's spider valve 112 is a great option for diversity. You didn't write what recording though...

thanks milenkovic, not sure what you meant by "what recording". i'm guessing you were referring to my setup? it's a newbie home studio setup, pod xtl to my pc using riffworks/rifftracker (editing up to final mix). but since i plan to mic a real amp (or a modelling amp in the spider's case) to capture the movement of air, i will be replacing the pod with a guitar/pc interface card. hope this clarifies it, thanks again.

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[MickeM]

thanks milenkovic, not sure what you meant by "what recording". i'm guessing you were referring to my setup? it's a newbie home studio setup, pod xtl to my pc using riffworks/rifftracker (editing up to final mix). but since i plan to mic a real amp (or a modelling amp in the spider's case) to capture the movement of air, i will be replacing the pod with a guitar/pc interface card. hope this clarifies it, thanks again.

I seriously don't think the difference will be that huge between a miked Spider and a POD. Closer to the real deal since you run through a speaker instead of a simulator but still not all the way if you're looking for a huge difference.
Now I don't have a POD myself but another idea migt be to get a rack unit poweramp and a 1x12 cabinet, run your POD into the poweramp if that's even possible connectivitywise (? ). Build a sound proof box for the cabinet and make openings for the cords, blast your poweramp on full and it's almost professional stuff right there
Then in the future you can add on the rack units and exchange them as you please and always be able to switch out the part that's not good enough instead of being stuck with everything in one box.

I'm moving in that direction myself, towards rack units. Right now I'm looking at Tech 21 SAPSA1.1 and Digitech GSP1101, leaning a bit towards the Tech 21 Sansamp. Then add a G-Major for effects.
That as a start for a home studio. Later on I may add a solid state poweramp to just like you be able to mike the Marshall 4x12. Kepping everything solid state for low maintenance - knock on wood.

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