[JessThrasher]

So I just finished answering a thread about "what amp should I get" and I decided to make a guide about it. So before you ask me or post about "What amp should I get", read.

Helpful hints:

1. Resist pressure from others. Just because almost every band you know is using a Marshall stack doesn't mean you have to. I know that everyone is saving up for or dreaming of owning a Marshall stack someday. Marshall seems to be the best selling brand of amps but there's nothing wrong with using a not as best selling brand.

2. Everyone's rig is usually different in some way. Equipment is such a personal thing...I don't even know where to start! Like I said above, just because your hero is using something doesn't mean you have to.

3. Stay away from Ebay if possible. I've had friends buy amps off Ebay and they tell me that some of them sounded not better than banging pots and pans amplified. Here's a sound clip of my bandmate's guitar sounded like. (does it sound like something you would hear on new years eve?)

http://h1.ripway.com/commanderjess/b...otsandpans.wav

4. Plan on getting your amp in a package your local music store put together? Go for it! you're getting a good deal there!

5. If you're buying from a music store, try out the amp before you buy. There's nothing worse than buying an amp from the store and as soon as you try it at home, it sounds like that sound clip above.

6. If it acts weird or any mishaps, BRING IT BACK TO THE STORE! I've had a bad experiance with a bandmate of mine (17 year old self taught guitar fixer) trying to fix it. Morale: Don't try to fix it yourself unless you really know what you're doing and have good experiance fixing these things.

7. Think hard about your price range. You don't want to burn a hole in your wallet too soon.

8. Think about whether you really want it or not. The worst thing is you buy one and afew months/years later you deside you don't want it any more and burnt a hole in your wallet for nothing.

9. Have fun!

Think about the following:

- What's your price range?

- What type of music do you want to play?

- Are you going to be using clean or distortion more?

- Are you ok with a bajillion knobs and buttons?

- Do you have a particular brand in mind?

Good luck amp buying!

Still need more help? Ask me.

[sam_railkar]

Thank you so much for your help. I am buying my 1st electric guitar (Fender Strat) and my 1st amp (VOXAD30VT) next month. This forum has helped me immensely.

[Stratrat]

Congrats, Sam - that should be a very nice rig. Be sure to post some pics when you get it!

[s1120]

Originally Posted by sam_railkar

Thank you so much for your help. I am buying my 1st electric guitar (Fender Strat) and my 1st amp (VOXAD30VT) next month. This forum has helped me immensely.

Did you get it? Thats the same combo I am running!

[JessThrasher]

How come no one has the VOXAD15VT? Everyone wants the 30 watt one?

[D-Dawn]

Originally Posted by hermanli_ibanezshredder

How come no one has the VOXAD15VT? Everyone wants the 30 watt one?

I had it, but took it back...clean just didn't ever sound very, clean

[Mike8307]

It has been a long time since I looked at the 15 watt model of the Vox. If I recall the big difference for me was the built in attenuator (sp?) that will allow you to lower the output wattage (volume) and still get overdrive sound from the tube. Which is a nice way of saying you won't blow the neighbors out of their bedrooms.

Definately worth the $50 in price for that and the bigger speaker.

But you need to test both out (as well as any other amp) to make sure they give the tone (and enjoyment) that you are looking for.

Michael

[Noodler]

Would you guys consider a Vox Ad30VT or 50VT as gig-worthy?

BTW, it is a solid-state amp. It does have a single 12AX7 (which is a small tube normally used in the pre-amp). That small valve is used in the power amp section, but not as a power-amp tube. It is used to help modify the models to be more realistic (class A, always on, or class AB, variable). So it's called "valve reactor technology." The valve part is a bit of a sales pitch. Having said that, I'd really like to own one.

Any comments on Fender tube amps? Is it worth it to save for a Bassman reissue or is a HotRod Deluxe OK? I totally agree that buying an amp with a "name" is a good idea for resale. That's why I'm thinking of upgrading to a Fender valve amp. Also when you see an add for a "Fender Deluxe Reverb" is that a Fender Deluxe? Sounds obvious, but a lot of the names are similar eg there are solid state and valve Princetons, Vibroverb, Vibrolux. I'm confused.

[Mike8307]

I guess it all depends on the size of your GIG....lol

The ADV30VT and 50VT are plenty loud. Will it handle the Sydney Opera House without help? Probably not. I'm assuming here that you are talking volume and not durability.

The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and Deville are most certainly gig worthy as is the Twin Reverb.

Let your ears do the deciding.

Mike
(if your neighbors aren't calling the police, it's not loud enough)

[Noodler]

Yeah, I'm talking loud enough for the local golf club bistro, supporting at a pub, etc.

It's hard to know what the HotRod series is supposed to be. It is the same wattage as other Fender amps that cost twice and 3 times as much. Is it "entry-level"? Why would you spring for a Pro reverb for $3K, when you can get similar specs in a HR Deluxe for under $1500? Or more to the point, if a good Fender-sounding amp costs $3K, are you only getting a pale imitation in a $1400 one?

Reason I ask is that $1400 is a lot to spend for something that sounds "a bit like" something else. You can get a modelling amp to do that for a lot less. Do you think it is worth the money to save for the next level up? ($3K) What do you get for the extra dough?

[Mike8307]

Being in the equipment lease finance business I always believe that equipment should pay for itself. You don't buy a $3K piece of equipment to earn $2K. From a pure business standpoint you'll have to do the math. How many gigs, what do you earn per, etc etc etc.

Then again, if you don't spend the money and you sound awful, you might not get to the point of getting regular gigs. I'm sure that there are regular gigging players here that will have better answers.

Remember that in business calculations "cause it's cool" has no tangible value.... yet might sway many decisions regardless of the math.

Mike

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by Noodler

Yeah, I'm talking loud enough for the local golf club bistro, supporting at a pub, etc.

It's hard to know what the HotRod series is supposed to be. It is the same wattage as other Fender amps that cost twice and 3 times as much. Is it "entry-level"? Why would you spring for a Pro reverb for $3K, when you can get similar specs in a HR Deluxe for under $1500? Or more to the point, if a good Fender-sounding amp costs $3K, are you only getting a pale imitation in a $1400 one?

Reason I ask is that $1400 is a lot to spend for something that sounds "a bit like" something else. You can get a modelling amp to do that for a lot less. Do you think it is worth the money to save for the next level up? ($3K) What do you get for the extra dough?

Fender touts the Deluxe Reverb as "one of the most recorded amps in the history of music". Many, many people have gigged with Deluxe Reverbs, Bassmans (Bassmen?), Twin Reverbs, etc. over the years - all of which are well below that $3K mark for the top end models.

If I had $3K to spend on an amp, it certainly wouldn't be spent on a Fender. There are many "boutique" amp builders that sell far better amps for that kind of money - or less! (Dr. Z, Fuchs, Carr, /13, Bogner, 65 Amps, Swart - just to name a few).

BTW - A Pro Reverb can be had for a lot less than $3K. I recently saw a used '68 vintage model that sold for $1500 in one of the local shops.

"What you get for the bucks" on the higher-end amps is usually hand-built/hand-soldered point-to-point / tag board wiring instead of mass-produced machine built/wave-soldered printed circuit boards; higher-quality components (capacitors, resistors, transformers, etc.); higher-end speakers; better cabinet materials, etc. Is it worth the extra outlay? That's a question that each of us can only answer for ourselves. I own a couple of fairly nice amps - their tone is great, but the weak link is that it's still my playing coming out of their speakers!