What's a good first amp

[Robert****]

Pro Junior rocks too!

[sunvalleylaw]

Yep they do. I got to play though one and next to one while I was playing through my c-30 a year or two ago. The Jr. was nice, but I thought I liked mine just as well and it was cheaper. It was more a subtle difference in flavor thing.

[Heywood Jablomie]

The question was, "what's a good first amp", and I think all of the suggestions are viable ones. I think we all can agree that there are many good choices, perhaps too many. Since this person is already a guitar player, she may have some idea which type (modeling vs non-modeling) she may prefer (I won't get into the tube vs SS argument). I do maintain that for a hobbyist who doesn't want the complexity of an amp and multiple pedals, a modeling amp is more fun, lessening the probability of getting bored with it vs.a one-trick amp.

[sunvalleylaw]

Yeah, I sure didn't mean to get into a discussion of what economical tube amph or whatever. My only point in this thread is that I was a newb a couple years back, considered the modelers, and for me, chose the tubes. My son on the other hand really enjoys his modeling amph. Two good ways to go depending on what she wants.

[Perfect Stranger]

If she want a modeler.....the Fender Mustang II or the Fender SCXD

If she wants tube - Fender Blues Jr. or Jet City RC2112 or Blackheart HW5

[djmcconnell]

I would never argue AGAINST a good tube amp, but my 4-yr-old Vox AD30VT has been an awesome first amp for me. I am forever playing around with the amp models, though don't use the onboard affects much since I got the M13.

A buddy of mine who plays out professionally has borrowed it for gigs several times, and he LOVES this amp. Small as it is, it has plenty of power for their application, it he said it plays like a $500 amp (though I did replace the stock speaker with a nice Celestion, so that makes a difference).

[pedalbuilder***]

I think we all can agree that there are many good choices, perhaps too many.

Yes - absolutely - say what you will about vintage this and that, this is something of a golden age for general access to outstanding equipment.

[kidsmoke*]

Pedalbuilder, I think I missed you when joining, so welcome aboard. Glad to have your input.

I hear what you're saying about learning with clean tones and just focusing on skill, technique and the like. I guess my thought was that for someone who is a musician, playing out regularly, and is now adding electric to their "pallet", maybe being able to explore a wide range of tones without a needing lots of gear would be a benefit.

One thing I love about my Roland is the JC120 clean channel, which is just amazing with the 59 neck in my Idol. And as you say, lays bare my imperfections.

Where this isn't a 13 year old who's getting it as a gift to "see if it'll take", the notion of noodling with all the various tones until they're bored isn't a concern. I Imagine that she'll use it to learn electric technique, then to mimic tones for certain covers as needed. After a while, it's time for upgraded gear.

and your comment about "good gear cheap" is spot on.

Yeah, I'm still not 100% which is best. There's a proJr at my school, new, for 250.00. that alone would make my mind up..

[Katastrophe]

If you don't mind me jumping in late and asking a bunch of questions...

Will she be needing effects? Is she tech savvy? What style of music will she be playing on the electric?

Put me in for a ss amph with onboard reverb for a first amp. Simplicity is key here, until the player learns what they like / dislike about amphs.

I would suggest the following:

Peavey Bandit
Peavey Envoy
Vox AC 15 VR
Vox AC 30 VR
Tech 21 Trademark 60 1x12

Easy to maintain, have reputations for good tone, and have good cleans for learning.

Of course all the other recommendations are great, too... I just went with "simple to operate" as the overriding factor.

[Jimi75]

I would always recommend not to go tube with the first amph.
Most starters play a lot at home and it is important to have a good and diverse amp at home. Esepcially here in Europe, we have smaller houses and most people live in flats and you can get in severe trouble with a tube amp.

Full pleasure can be achieved with a Roland Cube, Vox AX 15/30 or a nice Line6 Spider.

A first real tube amph can be a used Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.

[Heywood Jablomie]

Full pleasure can be achieved with a Roland Cube, Vox AX 15/30 or a nice Line6 Spider.

Sounds sexy.......

[Jimi75]

Sounds sexy.......

It's meant to be sounding sexy ;-)

[Tig***]

One thing that a lot of people who are new to electric guitar seem to do is lean on their equipment. If you can get a great sound by pushing a button, you are less likely to learn about picking dynamics and using your guitar and amp volume and tone controls to get the sound you want.

Plug me into a clean amp, though, and all of my inadequacies as a player shone through. Once you have the skills though, you can make these digital toys sound fantastic!

Excellent point you brought up. I remember all the unwanted noise my pick and fingers made when switching from a digital modelling amp to a class A tube amp. It taught me to clean up my pick and finger attack in my right hand.

[pedalbuilder***]

Being the noob here I have to ask - why are folks here spelling amp with an h, like amph? I've never seen this before, but I'm seeing it a lot here.

[Heywood Jablomie]

Being the noob here I have to ask - why are folks here spelling amp with an h, like amph? I've never seen this before, but I'm seeing it a lot here.

Doesn't everybody spell it that way?

[Tig***]

Being the noob here I have to ask - why are folks here spelling amp with an h, like amph? I've never seen this before, but I'm seeing it a lot here.

I direct you to the source. Enjoy!
http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=403

[pedalbuilder***]

I direct you to the source. Enjoy!
http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=403

Nice! Thanks for the heads up - I think I know this guy. Actually, I know about 10 of this guy!

[sunvalleylaw]

It's part of the noob initiation rituals to have to ask.

[NWBasser]

Dang, that Alex Hutchings is an amazing player!

So far as as amph recommendations go, I'll throw in a suggestion for a Mesa Triple rec and 4x12.

Nothing better than learning new chords at 150 dB.

And you can get screaming soloes..