Best Amp Under $500 |
|
Best Amp Under $500 |
|
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 09:38 PM |
I don't play professionally - but I do play a lot. Looking for a quality amp modestly priced. I'll be using it with a floor POD, so I don't need all the bells and whistles in the amp. Any ideas? Kizaze If you are using it with a POD, unless you turn off the AMP modelling you don't want any sort of guitar amp at all, ideally you should look for a PA amp or maybe a keyboard amp. Reason being that the POD is designed to go through clean amplification, and any guitar amp adds chartacter that will fight with the pod and not sound so good. -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 10:39 PM |
I think I get it. But I'm reading many posts where people list amps that have many FX built-in and FX pedals that they also use. I guess they use thier pedals with "clean" amps? Hmmm. Let's say you have a VOX Valvetronix - couldn't you set it to its "cleanest" setting, and then use the POD with it? The difference is that the POD has modelling. An essential part of any guitar sound is the character the amp gives to the sound which is why we talk about them so much. Marshals sound different to Voxes .... The POD does the "Sound like a Marshal AMP" or "Sound Like a VOC amp" bit for you with its amp modelling. IF you then feed it threough another amp, you'll get "Sounds like a Marshall fed through a VOX" which will likely be a mess. Regarding effects such as CHorus reverb distortion etc - yes feed them through the clean channel of an AMP abd you benefit from the AMPS sound as well. In the case of the POS it is too much of a good thing. That is why I suggested a PA or Keyboard AMP -= they are designed to faithfully reproduce, not to add character. -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 10:47 PM |
I understand - thanks again! Loads of amp choices out there!
Kizaze |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 11:19 PM |
Personal, I don't like modeling. It's just a fake in my View. It can never sound like the original. I prefer a quality amp and if I need some effects I'll use pedals. But that's your choice We're two camps here, Camp POD and Camp Tube Amp. So far it's me and ZakkWylde in Camp Tube Amp against the rest of this community :lol j/k If you already got the POD you should listen to the POD experts and pay me and Zakk less attention. But if you ever want a tube amp Zakk will recommend you a Marshall and I will recommend you something else, so you'll get a couple choices. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 11:42 PM |
You are not Alone MickeM, I suffer with you. No really go to a music store and compare a pod with tube amp Even though I am in the pod camp, I will do exactly that when I have some money to spare ... MickeM has softened me up to that extent over the months -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 11:49 PM |
edit: what some people don't realize is that tube amps actually have souls. in fact, when they die they go to tube amp heaven if they were good tube amps. solid state amps don't have a soul. AMEN to THAT! And if Carvin has amps on sale I agree that's a good place to look Even though I am in the pod camp, I will do exactly that when I have some money to spare ... MickeM has softened me up to that extent over the months Yes yes... follow your urge and come over to the dar... tube amp camp.... Luke... And to be fair and honest I do have a Line6 product and it totaly rocks, the Guitarport. And I wish I had a POD, but probably first I will get an amp. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 12 2007, 11:58 PM |
And if Carvin has amps on sale I agree that's a good place to look Yes yes... follow your urge and come over to the dar... tube amp camp.... Luke... And to be fair and honest I do have a Line6 product and it totaly rocks, the Guitarport. And I wish I had a POD, but probably first I will get an amp. I'm currently listening to Senator Micke-atine ... curious and conflicted but not yet totally lost The way I see it, I have a plastic setup with my Variax and Pod, now I'll build a real setup with my Jem and a decent amp and some floor effects and then figure out which wins. Or as is more likely, which is best for what. Sooner than you think MickeM I'll be starting a thread entitled "Which Amp Shall I Buy" - and you'll be amazed! Actually I have to wait until I get my studio sorted out which could be a few months, I currently have zero space -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 13 2007, 11:48 AM |
The difference is that the POD has modelling. An essential part of any guitar sound is the character the amp gives to the sound which is why we talk about them so much. Marshals sound different to Voxes .... The POD does the "Sound like a Marshal AMP" or "Sound Like a VOC amp" bit for you with its amp modelling. IF you then feed it threough another amp, you'll get "Sounds like a Marshall fed through a VOX" which will likely be a mess. Regarding effects such as CHorus reverb distortion etc - yes feed them through the clean channel of an AMP abd you benefit from the AMPS sound as well. In the case of the POS it is too much of a good thing. That is why I suggested a PA or Keyboard AMP -= they are designed to faithfully reproduce, not to add character. Andrew i dont really get this??? I have VOX valvetronics Ad30VT amp and if i buy a digitech df-7 will i get a good sound? Also can i use effects such as delay built in the amp while using a pedal? -------------------- _____________________________________________________
Part of the key to success is to never call yourself good... My RIg: -Epiphone 1967 FLying V -Line 6 POD XT live -VOX Valvetronics AD30VT -Yamaha EG-112 -Yamaha GA-10 -Some Yamaha acoustic which is a magnet to dust under my bed End World Hunger |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 13 2007, 12:28 PM |
Well I'll reluctantly weigh in -but first with so many 'which amp is best' threads I've gotta rant a little. You know, the problems people run into when choosing an amp usually boils down to these three things: 1. They aren't quite sure of what they want out of an amp -it usually takes literally years of experience to first discover your desired tones (with tremendous detail) and then to learn what it takes inside an amp to deliver the sound you want. -In fact, some players take this subject so seriously and go so far in depth that they devote the majority of their time to gear modification or other pursuits of ideal tone instead of musicianship. There are many aspects to what you might want out of your amp such as volume, gain, number and types of channels, effects and much more. Your needs also depend heavily on where you will be playing -be it at home, in the studio, small clubs, or larger venues. 2. Because of the principles of number 1, the person asking often doesn't realize that the well meaning advice of others is in many cases based on what fit those peoples' needs -which doesn't necessarily match the needs of the person asking. 3. The people giving out advice in many cases know what works for them, but often they can't explain how or why that is the case in concrete or technical terms. -Most accomplished players focused on developing musicianship over technical understanding of amps. Anyway sorry about that, but I had to get it out there I guess. Really good points! And in fact it's sometimes very difficult giving out advice since the question is more often "I want a good amp, what should I get" or "what's the best amp for metal" and very often a modeling amp comes as a suggestion... which hurts a bit Nah, that could be fun of course if you like to play around with different models but you were spot on right about the part that one should learn how to use an amp. For a beginner an amp with an EQ, two or three channels, precence and reverb, volume and gain is enough. I belive a modeling amp with plenty of knobs and bells and whistles and thousands of preset sounds is more apealing to most beginners. The more the better huh? But having these few knobs, tweaking and testing your own settings will be a lot more giving if you want to learn how to use an amp. And when that part is done once could look for which tubes gives me my sound, f.ex 5881, 6L6, EL34 to mention some common. And also to combine the amp with the speakers of your choise. So the difficult part is to understand the needs of the one who asks, what's the prefeered sound. But discussing amps is fun so I don't mind long threads. And for sure, we're all a bit biased but I'm trying not to be, but if someone is looking for a 100W full stack JCM800 for bedroom playing someone has to object Ánd to the topic started I have to say I'm sorry for going off topic, I don't intend to steal this thread. Andrew i dont really get this??? I have VOX valvetronics Ad30VT amp and if i buy a digitech df-7 will i get a good sound? Also can i use effects such as delay built in the amp while using a pedal? You'd key in a clean channel/selection and then you will get the most out of the DF7. Sure you can use delay or other built in effects, it's just adding delay to the effects chain. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 13 2007, 01:32 PM |
Andrew i dont really get this??? I have VOX valvetronics Ad30VT amp and if i buy a digitech df-7 will i get a good sound? Also can i use effects such as delay built in the amp while using a pedal? Yes! Everything I said applied specifically to the POD not any other effect, because the POD has AMP modelling and is designed for a clean output channel. -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
Live long and prosper ... My Stuff: Electric Guitars : Ibanez Jem7v, Line6 Variax 700, Fender Plus Strat with 57/62 Pickups, Line6 Variax 705 Bass Acoustic Guitars : Taylor 816ce, Martin D-15, Line6 Variax Acoustic 300 Nylon Effects : Line6 Helix, Keeley Modded Boss DS1, Keeley Modded Boss BD2, Keeley 4 knob compressor, Keeley OxBlood Amps : Epiphone Valve Jnr & Head, Cockburn A.C.1, Cockburn A.C.2, Blackstar Club 50 Head & 4x12 Cab |
|
|
||
|
|
|
Jul 13 2007, 05:33 PM |
Wow! Thanks for all the great advice here! (Leaning towards a tube amp as opposed to modelling amp).
Kizaze |
|
|
||