Im Torn

[Squireman131]

So ive been looking at amps for the past couple of months, researching and saving up some money. The guitarist in my brothers band just bought a EVH half stack and has his old Randall G2 series 75 watt combo amp. I like this little amp, have played through it a ton but then my brother tells me someone he works with is selling a 120 watt crate amp, i have no clue what this amp is but im going to see it sometime soon. Im hoping it is


http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-Flexwave-Series-FW120HS-120W-HalfStack?sku=481416

but it might be

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=487689V

the Randall is 200 bucks but the crate amp is 250. If the crate is a half stack i think im going to get it but i donno. whats your guys thought?

[ibanezjunkie]

Both those crates are Solid state, and pretty damn useless if you ask me. The best thing crate have made were the blackheart series. So i dotn recommend a Crate, especially a Solid State crate.

Do you have any more information on the Randall? i think (THINK) the Randall would be better.

But just a word, All the amps mentioned here (apart from the EVH halfstack) are solid state. With solid state amps, you really do have to get an absolute cracker for it to sound good. With all honesty i recommend you browse eBay for some used Tube heads/combos.

[Spudman]

For the money the best rock and roll deal going is the Peavey Windsor half stack at Musicians Friend right now. It's all tube. I'm not sure if that is too much amph for you or not but it would keep you happier longer than almost any solid state amph.

[Squireman131]

I have looked at the Windsor but doesn't it only have one channel? i know all the amps mentioned are solid state but seeing as my budget is like 350 ( havent been gettin alotta hours) i have yet to see this crate amp but im definantly leaning towards the randall. but im gonna shop around a bit.

[ibanezjunkie]

a peavey windsor halfstack for about $350?

:O

its £329 just for the head in the UK.

[Monkus]

What about that head Robert has endorsed. To me that sounded way cool, I'm GAS-sing way too much for one of those. Check the thread link: http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=10515

And artist blurb: http://www.mackamps.com/artist-robert-renman/

And video from dolphinstreet: http://www.dolphinstreet.com/amps/heatseeker_hs18/

scroll down for video, very cool when he says "Nice clean tone..." heh heh

[bigoldron]

Squire,

I'm not a tube snob like some, more of a practical realist. The Randall is, I'm reasonably sure, a pretty nice amp, but it is a 75 watter. The venues will you be playing in may dictate which one you get. If you're looking at larger places, then you may want to go with the Crate. Either one should be OK. I've had and still own Crate solid state amps and have had good luck and a fairly decent sound with them. If the places you're playing will have a reasonably sufficient sound system where you can be mic'd or run directly into the board, then your options expand greatly.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with tubes, it just that if you're going from place to place, then your equipment may tend to get banged around a lot. In that case, solid state amps are a lot more durable and will hold up better.

Your budget talks loudest though, so you have work with what you've got. There are a lot more experienced and knowledgeable guys here in this forum, but I just thought I'd put my two cents in. Good luck with whatever you purchase.

[Squireman131]

well i just found a schecter c1 elite for 280 bucks and seeing as im a huge schecter fan i am trying to get the mom to buy it and i just transfer the money over. Thanks a lot guys i am buying the Randall also but not for a month or two.