[himel]

I Have A Fender Strat. I Have A Normal Amplifier Also. Now Which Amplifier Should I Buy To For It For Distortion Effect.

[WARLOCK962]

If your looking for an amp with effects id rec. looking into one of the Line 6 amps. They tend to be loaded with effects.

[EFinFLA]

Why not just buy a distortion pedal? There are dozens out there.

[allthumbs]

What exactly do you mean by a normal amp?

[zeater41]

Originally Posted by himel

I Have A Fender Strat. I Have A Normal Amplifier Also. Now Which Amplifier Should I Buy To For It For Distortion Effect.

Normal Amplifier? Maybe you just need a distortion pedal? What's your style? That is the key ? Ibanez Tube Screamer Vintage Reissue like $169 ? Ibanez TS 9 like $49? Any Boss Distortion like $49-$99. Overdrive? Blues? Distortion? Over the Top Like Thrash they are out there...Style again!

Amps...Budget? Practice? Playing Out? Tubes vs Solid State? Involved question. Clean or Overdriven? Small, Large? Fender has some nice amps for relatively inexpensive and Quality, Roland makes some Really Clean Modelling Amps--Very Versatile I love and Own the Cube 60, I believe it's like $399...I am sure you can get a versatile modelling amp between like $200 & 400!

Marshalls/Boogies...4 x 12 Cabs now we're talking like $1300-1700 quite an investment!

[cshude]

I've got the VOX AD50VT- they have smaller versions as well- the one I've got can keep up with a drummer no problem. It is a modeling amp with built in effects. I prefer it over the Line 6 modelling amps- they sound a bit more real, I guess due to the tube that is in the system. There's plenty of crunch from several of the amp models and it all comes in one package.

[zeater41]

Originally Posted by cshude

I've got the VOX AD50VT- they have smaller versions as well- the one I've got can keep up with a drummer no problem. It is a modeling amp with built in effects. I prefer it over the Line 6 modelling amps- they sound a bit more real, I guess due to the tube that is in the system. There's plenty of crunch from several of the amp models and it all comes in one package.

Not sure if we addressed Vox or Line 6...DRUMMERS! Fun stuff...type of music is key? What Volume you guys play at...I would think the least you could get away with is a 2 x12 cab; tubes have to do with warmth, not always volume...60 Watt and up is probably what you are looking for. Not familliar with Vox you have? Carvin has some cool stuff for lower money and 100 watts...Tube or Solid State & Modeling for in the $400 range.

Do you guys have a PA? Our philosophy was Low stage level work the PA out front for volume, that way you could communicate on stage! Our drummers most of them understood that we wanted them to play at relatively sane levels...maturity is a factor. I believe perfect practice makes perfect so we mic'd stuff through the PA in Practice so it was just like it was in the GIG...no surprises that way. We also had flexibility to communicate our likes and dislikes.

Amps--If you drummer is killing you; then you need to discuss it. Because if you play at too loud volumes all the time you are now talking 4 x 12 Cabs and 100 watts an up, Lots of Dollars invested, bad backs, hearing problems eventually, SPL Fatigue (Sound Pressure Levels) Assaulting the Audience and possibly running them off! What are you in it for?

Maybe a discussion with your drummer is necessary and what I don't know is if you are playing through a 15 Watt Vox it is hard to keep up with a thunderous drummer no matter what. Common problem in the beginning of bands as well as at any time in a band! Discuss philosophy early and often. Lots of great amp choices in the world for different budgets and you certainly could purchase a 40 watt amp and get by...Certainly depends a lot on the Drummer.

[Stratrat]

Himel - everybody above brought up some good points. What kind of music do you play? Are you looking for a tube amp or a solid state/modeling amp? How much distortion do you want? A blues guitarist and a metal guitarist both use overdrive/distortion, but their sounds are considerably different. If you're just playing at home, your amp needs will be way less than if you're playing with other people (drummers, other guitarists, etc.). Something like a Roland Microcube or Vox DA5puts out more than enough volume for bedroom playing/practice, but would be drowned out if you're jamming with others.

There are a lot of guitarists here who are much more experienced than me - but it's going to be hard for anybody to give you a good recommendation without more information.

[zeater41]

Originally Posted by Stratrat

Himel - everybody above brought up some good points. What kind of music do you play? Are you looking for a tube amp or a solid state/modeling amp? How much distortion do you want? A blues guitarist and a metal guitarist both use overdrive/distortion, but their sounds are considerably different. If you're just playing at home, your amp needs will be way less than if you're playing with other people (drummers, other guitarists, etc.). Something like a Roland Microcube or Vox DA5puts out more than enough volume for bedroom playing/practice, but would be drowned out if you're jamming with others.

There are a lot of guitarists here who are much more experienced than me - but it's going to be hard for anybody to give you a good recommendation without more information.

So break it down...Practice/Bedroom Live/Gigging Live/Recording...I am a Roland Freak: JC120, JC90, I own a Boogie 1 x 12, Roland Cube 60...all of these can Go Extreme Clean and all but the JC's can really get Extreme Over The Top Drive/Distortion/Recto Tone

I have owned all the Boss Gt Floor Boards and they Rock, Currently GT8...so anyway you go it is your style and preference. Small Amp w modeling? Small Amp w distortion pedal? Mid Amp w pedal or all out Cabs w Heads! Budget, Style, Playing Situation play in the decision. I suggest Roland or Boogie. Fender amps are cool too.There you have it...I've played all of those.

[cshude]

zeater41- I just make noise with my buds in the living room, so that amp works out great. In a space that small, that amp can be painfully loud.

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by cshude

...In a space that small, that amp can be painfully loud.

Heck, my Blues Jr. is painfully loud in small spaces - and it's only 15 watts! Most of the time I keep the master volume at or below 2, and that's plenty enough for my office/music room. I've cranked it up to 6 a couple of times just for the heck of it, and I'm sure the neighbors two houses on either side of me were commenting on my guitar prowess (or lack thereof!)

I understand the principle of logarithmic increases in volume according to wattage, but that AD50VT could probably peel paint off the walls in your living room!

[zeater41]

The ADv is a 15 watt Vox?

[cshude]

No- it's a 50 watt amp- I turned it up to 4 once (ouch). I figure it's got plenty of power for anything I'll ever do, and if I ever did play a gig someplace needing more than what it's got, it can get mic'ed.

One thing that is really cool about the Valvetronix that I like is that in the back there is a dial that adjusts the total wattage of the amp- I can turn it all the way to 1 watt if I want. That allows you to crank up the master volume, etc. to get that full tube tone without blowing out the windows.
Here's some of the stats on it: http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/va...15vtad30vt.htm

[WernHalen]

I love the VOX amps and FX. THe make brilliant blues, rock and hard rock amps. For death metal you might want to go for something a bit different, but i believe you can do it as well. Heck I play at very high gains through my Tonelab SE and it sounds heavenly.

50 Watt valves are monsterous sound, I dont think anybody ever needs more than that. After that you would mic the amp, or the stage volume would get too loud. Brian May plays with a 30 watt amp and I dont think he ever complained about it not going loud enough...

[scooby]

Originally Posted by WARLOCK962

If your looking for an amp with effects id rec. looking into one of the Line 6 amps. They tend to be loaded with effects.

l bort a amp called laney lx35d it is a good amp sounds well just with a cheep guitar