Need Help with choosing an amp for christmas

[AngusRocks90]

i am getting an amp for christmas and it has to be $0-$300. what should i get?!?!?!?!?!?
i play classic rock, and i want an Angus-style sound.
Help will be appreciated!  :)

p.s. i am sort of looking at marshall amps, too

 

[AngusRocks90]

someone pls help. im in a hurry.

 

[edgirl73]

Hey Christmas is another month to go lol . Get that SG first !
Go to the music store and try out a few amps, see which sound you like the best :)

 

[wolfzbane]

In that price range and "looking at the Marshalls" like you said, may I suggest the Marshall AVT20 Valvestate (20 watts).
A SG in that little beast will really give you the Marshall sound in a small package.
Ok, so the clean channel kinda sucks IMHO, but if you want Marshall you probably want to play some crunch most of the time anyway.
I have one and although it only has one 12X7A tube in it and does not give you the perfect tube sound it's still a great little amp.
Stay away from those MG series Marshall amps though, they really suck major league.

If not looking at the Marshalls..... I would suggest the Vox VR30 or secondly the Vox AD30VT (Both 30 watts). Both are about the same price, but I kinda prefer the VR30 since I'm not too fond of modelling amps. The VR30 is more typically a Vox sound. Oh, and they both also have a 12X7A tube in it like the Marshall AVT20.
Again, great little amps for the $$$.

I would also look at the Fender Blues Jr. (A very very loud 15 watts, louder than any of the previously mentioned amps, but then again, it's all tubes)
Unless you really hate the Fender sound, you'll love this amp.
No frills but great sound. It's a full tube amp too.

Other than these I think you have to go full Solid State unless I missed one.
And I know pretty much nothing of SS amps so can't help there.

Good luck in choosing.

 

[Spunky]

You will not find a real tube driven marshall for $300.00 unless it's stolen!

people here like the VOX AD30VT $239.99
or maybe the Epiphone Galaxy 10 and then put NOS tubes in it if you can find one....$129.00

There really isn't much out there for $300.00

Epiphone Galaxy 25 with reverb and 25 watts EL34 $249.99
Crate V8 Palomino 5 watts $279.99
V Series 5 watts, EL84 $269.99

;D

 

[TNT]

The Vox would probably be a great amp for you AR90. There's a pimped out version on this site: http://www.voxshowroom.com/northcoast/vox/new_amps/ad30vt-gr.html It's barely in your price range!

 

[marty1776]

I've had one of these 40w tube pignose's for 2 years now and love it.  All tube and it screams, also gets quiet when you need it to.  Good luck with your venture.   

http://service.bfast.com/bfast/clic...id=39131678&bfpid=489052&bfmtype=gear

 

[Ne_buddy]

Fender Pro Jr.

 

[BloodSuGar]

Get one of these (AD30VT) You can get a great Angus sound from the UK settings. Oh, and the stock Chrome grille is very cool. IMO

 

[Spunky]

Thanks for the link TNT!

I just bought the brown cloth and the gold piping.
I'm gonna pimp out my AD30VT too.
Gary at North Coast Music is cool. Been emailing him tonight and he knows Redondo Beach.

Some people like the chrome grill but I don't.....
I will like the amp a lot better with the new look.

More fun projects to complete....yessssshhhhhh

 

[JmOS]

My _opinion_:

A year ago I was exactly that way! I had some money but not too much.
Then I made a bad decision because nobody explained me why I should NOT buy any amp that has solid state componets!

Why? Because I believe if we're talking about an electric guitar as an instrument we have to involve the amp!!!!
What does it mean?
Instruments like acoustic guitars or recorders etc. has their own voice. You only have to _amplify_ that! Any solid state amp is made to amplify - that what they can perfectly do.

but what about an SG?
It has its own sound _together_ with the amp - and this is the point where we came: I believe only a tube amp has THE (own) sound a guitarist need.

So I agree with the people recommending Blues Jr.
Don't be fooled by the numbers!
My Laney LC 15 is a LOT louder than the 60W solid state amp I bought a year ago...
I don't know how much is it in the states but in Europe it was only $310

The decision is yours. I told you what I learned

 

[marty1776]

Also keep in mind one of the old Fender Champs, not the newer solid state ones. Here's one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-FENDER-...364987114QQcategoryZ38074QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Sometimes you'll see one go for $300-$400. Keep your eye out, that would be a score!

 

[wolfzbane]

I totally agrre with the two last posts.
If I had $300.00 I would definitely buy the Blues Jr. first. :)
And with $400.00 I would buy the Traynor YCV20WR...... wait a minute, I already have one of those.
Heh heh heh.

 

[AngusRocks90]

[quote author=edgirl73 link=topic=5088.msg66026#msg66026 date=1131924291]
Hey Christmas is another month to go lol . Get that SG first !
Go to the music store and try out a few amps, see which sound you like the best :)
[/quote]im already getting that sg for my birthday, which is 21 days before christmas. im getting a 1965 epiphone g-400 with maestro tailpiece.

anyway, that VOX looks pretty awesome, maybe ill put it on my christmas list! ;D ;D ;D

 

[If You Want Blood]

sorry but i beg to differ with whoever said the clean on a marshall sucks. i love it when i play slow/acoustic stuff. i know its a matter of opinion but i like it.

 

[vkgphil]

aren't those blues jr amps more like $500 than $300?

 

[vkgphil]

as far as the valvestate marshall, ya better be sure you are happy with that.

refer to my many unhappy posts regarding my ex-marshall 150avt stack.

 

[edgirl73]

I used to have a little 80w VS Marshall when I lived in an appartment in Germany , that was not too expensive
and I must say I did sound not too bad, not sure what they go for in the US . In Germany I paid ~ $ 275.00

 

[Dezavala]

great advice.... check pawn shops!! i got my $1000 Peavey Transfex Pro 212s for $500 and the only thing wrong with it, is one scratch on the silver that runs across the front...

 

[crippe]

Save some $$$ and buy an amp later on, more money is more choices. Don't buy a Valvestate or something just because that's all you can afford at the moment - you'll end up selling it in a few months. Buy something that's going to last you.