Is this a good 'versatile' setup ?

satanztrooper · #1 February 9th, 2008

I would first like to thank all those who keep this site up and running, it does simplify things for a newbie like me

several folds, the stickies were a great read and was informative.

As per several of your suggestions, I shortlisted a few guitars and planned a trip today to the music shop to hear them. Like most beginners especially teh ones who listen to rock, I was in favour of the LPs and SGs. I liked the SGs better albeit the price was sky high...
[/list]the Epiphone SG Special was tagged at a prohibitive 600 CHF [550 USD]

So after finally hearing the SG and the LP with Roland Microcube and a VOX AD30VT-XL, I head home... and after some more googling I felt this setup makes sense for me

Fender Standard HSS Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Electron Blue, Maple Fretboard)
[Cant post links, my first post ]

The adv and disadv as I see it:

Adv:

Versatile, can be used to play a whole lot of Genres from Blues to Heavy Metal
Replaceable parts aka easy maintainence
Stays in tune unlike the cheaper Squires
Quality of product comparable to expensive fender siblings

Disadv:

The music I listen to and would like to play is bass heavy, so will the single humbucker be good enough, read a lot about needing them to be replaced..

I love maiden, Dire Straits, Metallica, and LP [Alternative], will this quench my hunger ?

I also surprisingly like soft rock too and would like to use this to play out Bryan Adams etc.

In essense I would like to know is the best choice I have ? Im a beginner and I have never held a guitar in my life ... is ths too expensive ?

and coming to the amp

Vox Valvetronix AD15VT 15w 1x8 Guitar Combo Amp

Again I shortlisted this as I believe, that this is versatile, but I have also read that, hybrid effects amps are bad for beginners, do I consider the Roland Micro Cube ? I am very sure I will not be playing for a large audience, I plan to keep this to a hobby.

After searching around I was able to get the following deals: [As I live in Swiss]

musicpower.com the Fender cost 390 + 65 [Shipping ] = 455$

thomann.de Thomann Cyberstore Thomann Cyberstore the VOX amp 170 + 10 [Shipping] = 180 EUR = 260$

I hope to hear your esteemed comments regarding the choices I have made, any suggestion on any of the above decisions I have made will be most appreciated !!

satanztrooper · #2 February 9th, 2008

I would like to add that, I have big hands and porky fingers .... Is this the right guitar for me, I knw I need to be trying out the guitars, but since I haven't touched one yet, am not sure if it will make a diff....

allthumbs · #3 February 9th, 2008

Replacing pickups can be endless. Don't get caught up in that till you have a lot more experience. The HSS should be fine. A 10 watt cube would be my preference, but that's just a personal opinion. I know a lot of skilled players who like it for a practice amp. The neck will be fine for your fingers. Practice seems to make the fingers shrink.

GotDeeBlues · #4 February 10th, 2008

I play a Fender Fat Strat through a Roland cube 20X, with my preference being Blues, old standards and Southern Rock. A lot of plain old R&R like Beatles and Creedance, so I see that setup as fairly versatile. I hope you find a rig that does it alll for you.

s1120 · #5 February 10th, 2008

I have a HSS MIM strat, and I can get most needed sounds out of it. [Btw Dire Straits is almost all Strat] Its a good start for someone starting out realy. Becouse you may dicide you want a diferent tone as "Your Tone". Also where do you play? If you have to keep the valume down, I would look at the VOX AD30VT before the 15. the 30 has a power knob on the back that lowers the wattage, so you can still get that maxed out tube distortion, but at lower levels. The 15 does not have that. Also I like the idea of a modeling amp. Agean, it leads back to finding YOUR tone. Not what you think you want to play.

eXperiment63 · #6 February 10th, 2008

I would go with the microcube before the 20x, the 20x doesn't have amp modeling, only effects modeling. Unless you can splurge for a 30x, the microcube is the way to go.

GotDeeBlues · #7 February 10th, 2008

The 20X has tube, acoustic, metal, metal stack, OD, Distortion on channel 2, plus effects chorus, flange, delay, reverb, phaser and tremolo. Also power squeezer for good sound at reduced volume. More than enough to get started with and serve you for a long time.

satanztrooper · #8 February 11th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Replacing pickups can be endless. Don't get caught up in that till you have a lot more experience. The HSS should be fine. A 10 watt cube would be my preference, but that's just a personal opinion. I know a lot of skilled players who like it for a practice amp. The neck will be fine for your fingers. Practice seems to make the fingers shrink.

Thanks Allthumbs !! I have always believed i had huge fingers... nice way to shrink em

satanztrooper · #9 February 11th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GotDeeBlues

I play a Fender Fat Strat through a Roland cube 20X, with my preference being Blues, old standards and Southern Rock. A lot of plain old R&R like Beatles and Creedance, so I see that setup as fairly versatile. I hope you find a rig that does it alll for you.

Thanks GotDeeBlues... I looked up the specs of the Roland Cube 20x and they do have some interesting features.....

satanztrooper · #10 February 11th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by s1120

I have a HSS MIM strat, and I can get most needed sounds out of it. [Btw Dire Straits is almost all Strat] Its a good start for someone starting out realy. Becouse you may dicide you want a diferent tone as "Your Tone". Also where do you play? If you have to keep the valume down, I would look at the VOX AD30VT before the 15. the 30 has a power knob on the back that lowers the wattage, so you can still get that maxed out tube distortion, but at lower levels. The 15 does not have that. Also I like the idea of a modeling amp. Agean, it leads back to finding YOUR tone. Not what you think you want to play.

Thanks for the tip about being able to keep the volume down.... I had glaringly missed this and I'm sure I would have been disappointed, had I purchased it... BTW I have been served a notice for dropping 'utensils' too often by the authorities here in Swiss !!

I can't possibly imagine what I would have done with the amp after I realised that I cant keep the volume down with the distortion high...

But on the hindsight... the AD30VT is pushing my budget to twice of what I had set aside...

satanztrooper · #11 February 11th, 2008

I would like to know all of your thoughts on this AMP, it had escaped my attention until now, I don't seem to find any decent review of this... It looks like a new offering from Roland..

Roland U.S. - MICRO CUBE RX: Guitar Amplifier

And priced at around 200USD, it looks like it has been strategically targeted to take the VOX AD15VT head on which is priced similarly...

Unfortunately, I don't have any knowledge on quite a few parameters would like to know hw this compares with the following, as these amps lie between the 150-250 USD range and I normally hate to upgrade later, I would like to spend a little more than have to sell my equipment and buy a diff one later... atleast look to keep this for 4-5 yrs..

Roland Microcube
Roland 20x
VOX AD30XVT

thanks,
SatanzTrooper

satanztrooper · #12 February 11th, 2008

This feature sounds valuable, could any of you throw some light on hw this could possibly help a newbie ?

"Rhythm Guide
The metronome is a music-student’s best friend, but that numbing clank, clank, clank can get irksome. That’s where the MICRO CUBE RX’s Rhythm Guide comes in handy. It’s like having a drummer inside your amp. Choose from an assortment of groovin’ patterns to practice with. Improve your timing while having a more enjoyable musical experience, or just have fun jamming along to the beats."

TigerKraw · #13 February 14th, 2008

Sounds like the rhythm guide is a nice feature in the new roland

microcube RX.

Another option if you was looking at a amp without that feature is

to purchase the Zoom G1 or G2 footpedal with built in effects and a

drum machine, I hav'nt got one for myself yet, but going by web

reviews they are quite good.

I've been through the same situation of picking a guitar and Amp

over the last 3 months, so I know making the right choice for

yourself is very difficult, it took a fair bit of research and lots of

forum visits before I picked the setup I was happy with.

Good luck on your search, you will learn a lot on the way.