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Thread: Beginner looking for advice on set-up (amp)

  1. #1
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    Question Beginner looking for advice on set-up (amp)

    Hello all,

    I'm new to the forum and don't know much about electronics/guitar equipment.
    I've been playing for ten years and am just now trying to get together a decent setup. So far I have:

    Guitar: LTD Deluxe EC-1000 (with EMG 81 (B) / 60 (N) Active pickups)
    Pedal: BOSS ME-70 Guitar Effects Processor

    Now its time to choose an amp, and I was hoping to get tips from you all on which brand/what type of amp to consider.
    I figure most of the sound quality is going to come from the guitar/pedal, so with the amp I'm mostly looking for volume, clean, versatile, with a bite to it.

    Please share your thoughts. Thank you.

  2. #2
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    Actually, a lot of sound quality will come from the amplifier. For "volume, clean, versatile, with a bite to it", try a HipKitty Panetone amph (link here ----> http://www.hipkittyproducts.com/pb/w..._904a01b5.html ). A little pricey for some, but the tone is absolute woody.
    "Always go heavy on the effects and try to blind the audience with expensive gear." - hubberjub

    I mean, no offense, but I don't really see why, like guitar players from Creed, or something like that, are on the cover of guitar magazines. Almost anybody can sit down and learn to play those songs.
    Dweezil Zappa

  3. #3
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    I don't know anything about the amp Zip is suggesting, but I agree wholeheartedly on the amp and tone comment. Your amp will play a very significant part in your tone. I run two amps, a JTM45 and an early 90's Peavey tube combo in parallel and with the same guitar and pedal board, they certainly sound different when set to "Clean" (which is part of the reason I run both simultaneously)

  4. #4
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    What is your price range?
    I'm guessing the amp will mostly be used at home or jamming with friends, so lower wattage should be fine.

    Consider looking at an amp that doesn't have onboard effects of amp modeling since you already have the effects covered. You can still buy something with onboard effects and simply not use them, in which case the Fender Mustang 1 or 2 is a good choice. Depending on price, you have more than enough amps to choose from. It should be something that sounds good no matter what effects you use, as well as sounding good without any effects.

    Looking at the cheaper end, I'll steer you away from Behringer, Dime, the Fender Frontman's, and lower end Marshall's. Look into the Roland Cubes, Bugera V22, VHT, Blackstar, Vox, etc. It really helps to know your upper spending limit, however.
    Guitar: Gibson SG Standard Natural Burst, Squier CV 50's Tele, Hell Guitars No. 2, Squier CV 50's Strat, Reverend Club King 290, Taylor 522e 12-Fret mahogany,
    Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Short Scale
    Amp: Fender Super Champ X2 Head, Egnater Tweaker 15, Fender Mustang I, Acoustic B20 1x12 bass amp
    Pedal: Budda Budwah wah, Wampler Ego Compressor, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive, Wampler Velvet Fuzz, Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo, TC Electronics Gravy Tri Chorus & Vibrato, Catalinbread Echorec, TC Electronic Alter Ego 2 Delay, Hardwire Supernatural Ambient Verb, MXR Carbon Copy, Catalinbread RAH, Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker, BYOC Mouse 2.0 Distortion, BYOC Boost/OD-2

  5. #5
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    Thanks for the responses guys.

    Well my price range is maybe about $300, so I'm seriously considering buying used so that I can get a decent amp.
    I might be able to get something that would retail for $ 600- $700 that way.

    Yes, I just want to confirm that I will be using the effects pedal for effects, not the amp.
    I was leaning away from getting a tube amp because I'll be using some heavy distortions and such, I figured it would blow the tubes.
    The purpose of the amp is mostly for jamming with friends, but we jam loud. I would also want the amp to be usable for small gigs, like a pub for example.

    Thanks again for your tips

  6. #6
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    As you've probably already noticed with pros, Fender tube amps are extremely popular, to a great extent due to their stellar clean tones. And since they're popular, the used market has a lot of choices. I'm thinking maybe a Blues Junior (15w), which can be had for about $300. Or, for a bit more ($450 or so), a Hot Rod (40w).

    As for "blowing the tubes", heavy use may shorten their life, but I wouldn't worry about that. There are also many fine solid state amps to be had, and $300 will go pretty far - Roland cleans are highly regarded (I have a Cube 30X, and I agree).

    Maybe Frankenfretter will chime in regarding his Roland Cube and use of pedals.

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    I was a newb 6 years ago. I almost got a modeling amph, but after researching here, got a good, basic tube amph. If I had it to do over, I might consider starting out with something quite small like a Blackheart Little Giant (5w I believe, great sound). I got a 30w Peavey Classic. A lot of amph for a beginner. Don't get me wrong, I have loved that amph, but just starting out, something like a Blackheart Little Giant will do fine. Then you can play with your multieffects pedal though it, and experiment from there.

    The vid below is a head version, but you can get a combo version.



    Mark Wein, a member here, demos one here, with some cleaner sounds demoed as well.

    Steve Thompson
    Sun Valley, Idaho


    Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
    Amphs: Peavey Classic 30, '61 Fender Concert
    Effects and such: Boss: DS-1, CE-5, NS-2 and RC20XL looper, Digitech Bad Monkey, Korg AX1G Multi-effects, Berhinger: TU100 tuner, PB100 Clean Boost, Line 6 Toneport UX2, Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi, DuhVoodooMan's Rabid Rodent Rat Clone, Zonkin Yellow Screamer Mk. II, MXR Carbon Copy Delay


    love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. . .
    - j. johnson

  8. #8
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    Check out the Palomino By Crate. It is a surprisingly good amp. All tube. Good luck man

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