Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Jonny on September 25, 2008, 02:44:30 PM
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OK. It is, in a way, a target in the distant future to own a Mesa Boogie. However being at Uni I would probably do the following:
1. Knock down a wall from the sheer volume
2. Kill someone having consequently knocked down said wall
3. Go deaf
4. Kill myself since I have consequently deafened myself in such a small room and can no longer listen to music.
So, what are my options? I don't want to spend more than £1000 to be honest. So saving has to be, um.. included.
I've currently looked at the modular Randall ones and a Switchblade 50W. I'm looking for a metal/good cleans sound, possibly with a channel switching option. A few bands would be, As I Lay Dying, Parkway Drive, All Shall Perish, Machine Head, Slipknot (James Root uses Orange :o) annnnnndddd.. Yeah. Anymore I'll add on.
The situation is I have no guitar or amp here. And my babies are far away at home in Northern Ireland. So what a better way to greet them (when I bring one over) than plugging them into a beast.
Any help is appreciated :)
PS. If any of you guys know guitar places around Roehampton/Putney (or whatever) that'd be great too.
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Marshall JVM210C could fit the bill: http://marshallamps.com/product.asp?productCode=JVM210C
Or what about the Mesa Express 5:25? http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Express/Express.htm
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I'm not quite sure what you're asking Jonny. Do you want a low power stop-gap amp until you finish at Uni and then get a Mesa? Or something else?
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Marshall JVM210C could fit the bill: http://marshallamps.com/product.asp?productCode=JVM210C
Or what about the Mesa Express 5:25? http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Express/Express.htm
Good shout on the Marshall, Hunter - plenty of high gain tones to be had in there, as well as decent cleans and mid gain sounds with the drive backed off a bit. http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=28_88&products_id=3084&oscsid=f5dbc8e6e5427de288ff2854c5dc5361 - Decent price on one here, I think.
Speaking as an Express 5:50 owner, I'm not sure the 5:25 (which I've also tried out) will have quite enough gain for some of the sounds you're looking for.
Jonny, it's also worth making a bit of space in the budget for a power attenuator if you can. I don't know if you've any experience of using valve amps, but I didn't before I started shopping for mine, and I was astonished at how loud they are. (I actually ended up sending back a Mesa Roadster head because I figured it would be too loud to use in the house. I only found out about attenuators too late. Even though I love my Express, I do slightly regret not keeping it.) I'm also familiar with how cr@p the soundproofing is in student accomodation, so if you want decent tone without being on your flamates'/neighbours' shitelist, I'd say an attenuator (such as a THD Hotplate) would be a good plan!
Hope this helps,
Si
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I'm not quite sure what you're asking Jonny. Do you want a low power stop-gap amp until you finish at Uni and then get a Mesa? Or something else?
Just imagine the Mesa as the Top Dog of a list. Then I'll go for anything I can afford below it. Preferably not giving up my liver either.
There might even be better amps than Mesas but just think that it is. And I'm talking Mesa Single Rect, not Road King or anything.
Speaking as an Express 5:50 owner, I'm not sure the 5:25 (which I've also tried out) will have quite enough gain for some of the sounds you're looking for.
Jonny, it's also worth making a bit of space in the budget for a power attenuator if you can. I don't know if you've any experience of using valve amps, but I didn't before I started shopping for mine, and I was astonished at how loud they are. (I actually ended up sending back a Mesa Roadster head because I figured it would be too loud to use in the house. I only found out about attenuators too late. Even though I love my Express, I do slightly regret not keeping it.) I'm also familiar with how cr@p the soundproofing is in student accomodation, so if you want decent tone without being on your flamates'/neighbours' shiteelist, I'd say an attenuator (such as a THD Hotplate) would be a good plan!
Hope this helps,
Si
Oooooo, good advice there. I forgot I'd probably need a Hotplate. I'll look into the Express too. It is pushing the price mark though, lol
I'm sure it's worth it.
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Right. Well if I were you, I would forget a valve amp if it's for Uni use only. Imo, you'd be much better off going for either a modeler unit (POD, Tonelab e.t.c) or modeler amp (Vox Valvetronix for example, although even that would probably be verging on too loud).
That gives you more time to save for your dream amp when Uni is over, too.
On the other hand- if you've already decided that you want to buy a 'proper' amp in the near future, then fair enough! :)
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I plan on taking my Screamer to Uni, sweet sounding amp that does everything pretty well.
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^Really?! Don't really see the point myself.
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Yeah based on my experience loud things at uni halls are just bloody annoying. Mind you I've only really experienced annoying loudness in the form of shitety bangra music and that sort of stuff which is probably clouding my judgement somewhat :P
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I don't play my Screamer particularly loud to be honest.
Never had it above 2.
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Does anyone know anything about the modules in Randall? Are they the dogs bollocks or a a retard's stool sample?
Plus I think I'm gonna give it a pass on the Mesa. Still up for the Randall or the Switchblade, and anything else
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Personally, if I was only ever using it <2 (which would probably be the case at Uni?) I wouldn't bother with a valve amp.
I'm not sure if I'd even take my main guitar to Uni (only actually have 1 at the moment anyway :oops: ) ; I'd rather buy something cheap just to avoid the vaguest possibility of it getting damaged.
EDIT: Have you never had the Screamer above 2? You're missing out if so!! :)
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Personally, if I was only ever using it <2 (which would probably be the case at Uni?) I wouldn't bother with a valve amp.
I'm not sure if I'd even take my main guitar to Uni (only actually have 1 at the moment anyway :oops: ) ; I'd rather buy something cheap just to avoid the vaguest possibility of it getting damaged.
EDIT: Have you never had the Screamer above 2? You're missing out if so!! :)
Well I wasn't allowed to take my guitar or amp with me to University and I'm not forking over a lot of money on the guitar side as I love my guitar at home currently (but that's over the water right now) but my amp I want to improve so might as well get one here.
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^Cool. So basically- you want something Mesa-esque? Or anything with good metal + clean sounds?
A Screamer may even be a good option for you. Not too expensive either. You could also look at Oranges, as you might be surprised at how good they can be for heavier stuff (like you say with Jim Root using them. Which I never knew!) and several of them come in within budget- Rocker, Rockerverb, AD30 (very very nice).
What about a Mesa F30 combo? I'm sure you could find one of them for sub-£1000.
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Personally, if I was only ever using it <2 (which would probably be the case at Uni?) I wouldn't bother with a valve amp.
I'm not sure if I'd even take my main guitar to Uni (only actually have 1 at the moment anyway :oops: ) ; I'd rather buy something cheap just to avoid the vaguest possibility of it getting damaged.
EDIT: Have you never had the Screamer above 2? You're missing out if so!! :)
Not as far as I can remember, its in my room and I don't own a car so I've never used it for jams/practices (live quite a while away from my mates), and I've never had any need to play it super loud. I'm sure the tone would be superb, but I wouldn't be able to hear it considering I'd be death.
Even at these volumes it sounds better than any solidstate amp I've ever used.
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Well I wasn't allowed to take my guitar or amp with me to University and I'm not forking over a lot of money on the guitar side as I love my guitar at home currently (but that's over the water right now) but my amp I want to improve so might as well get one here.
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What kind of bar-stewards would not let you take a Guitar and amp to uni??? That is just evil. Hey man I have your problem being that I live in a dormatory situation I have found that Orange amps are good at low volumes. They need a few pedals generally, but most people but pedals anyway or have them. I live in a small room and thin walls let me tell you. I play an Orange TT with cab for this reason, and it works well for my situation. I guess it depends on whether or not you want to play out loud or through headphones. I find headphones tonally deceitful because you sound different through the cab than through the headphones. Seriously dude loot at the Orange Tiny Terror.
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Well I wasn't allowed to take my guitar or amp with me to University and I'm not forking over a lot of money on the guitar side as I love my guitar at home currently (but that's over the water right now) but my amp I want to improve so might as well get one here.
What kind of bar-stewards would not let you take a Guitar and amp to uni??? That is just evil. Hey man I have your problem being that I live in a dormatory situation I have found that Orange amps are good at low volumes. They need a few pedals generally, but most people but pedals anyway or have them. I live in a small room and thin walls let me tell you. I play an Orange TT with cab for this reason, and it works well for my situation. I guess it depends on whether or not you want to play out loud or through headphones. I find headphones tonally deceitful because you sound different through the cab than through the headphones. Seriously dude loot at the Orange Tiny Terror.
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My mum isn't a bar-steward :o
Yeah I did look at the Orange Tiny Terror but it's not really METAL enough. I saw a video with Rob Chappers playing it in a Metal-esque way but I dunno. I don't see the TT a lifetime investment when I can go for something better for Uni and beyond. Then again if I ever need a toaster and some guitar riffage I guess it works out.
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Used RectoVerbs and TremoVerbs pop up on ebay regularly for a grand or under. Great cleans, awesome heavy tones and about a grand. They're also 50w. Fits the bill nicely I think. Also maybe a used Orange Rockerverb.
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Not as far as I can remember, its in my room and I don't own a car so I've never used it for jams/practices (live quite a while away from my mates), and I've never had any need to play it super loud. I'm sure the tone would be superb, but I wouldn't be able to hear it considering I'd be death.
Even at these volumes it sounds better than any solidstate amp I've ever used.
If you had the knob above two you would be DEATH? THAT IZ TEH MOAST METHUULLZZ AMP EVAR!!!!
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Not as far as I can remember, its in my room and I don't own a car so I've never used it for jams/practices (live quite a while away from my mates), and I've never had any need to play it super loud. I'm sure the tone would be superb, but I wouldn't be able to hear it considering I'd be death.
Even at these volumes it sounds better than any solidstate amp I've ever used.
If you had the knob above two you would be DEATH? THAT IZ TEH MOAST METHUULLZZ AMP EVAR!!!!
:D
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Used RectoVerbs and TremoVerbs pop up on ebay regularly for a grand or under. Great cleans, awesome heavy tones and about a grand. They're also 50w. Fits the bill nicely I think. Also maybe a used Orange Rockerverb.
50 watts of valve is still fecking loud, watts doesn't really mean how loud it is. I had a Laney GH50L which is 50 watts and a VH100R which is 100. Both all valve both pretty much the same kind of volume as far as i could tell. Like Noodle, unless my parents are out my amps never get past 2 really.
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Yeah but I always find a 50w amps have less bottom end than their 100w versions and for anyone who has lived in shared accommodation or halls, they'll know it's this that travels thru the place more than anything else. And an added bonus is it is a little quieter than the 100watt version of the same amp. In my house we've got a 100w Dual Rec in my room into a 4x12 and a 50w Marshall DSL into a 2x12 downstairs and we don't get (too many) complaints about the noise. If anything it's the f*cking bass boost cr@p on my housemates CD player than gets heard more than anything else.
So yeah my tip would be to just reduce the bass when you're playing when people are in and maybe get a 1x12 cab to put it thru. Obviously if it's cranked it's still gonna be way noisy but if you play at a sensible volume with the bass cut thru the small cab it'd be good for jamming in your room, then when you play shows put it through a 4x12.
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i didn't really like the switchblade when i tried it (you may disagree of course)... i've only tried 3 of the randall modules- liked the plexi and deluxe models, wasn't too fussed on the recto one (which i suspect might be one of the ones you'd be after)... though again you may disagree, and there are a bunch of other high gain modules for it which may kick ass.
i've never actually stayed in uni halls (went straight into a house in first year with a mate), but my guess is you'd have to be really, really quiet. as a lot have been saying, it may make more sense to get a cheapish modeller (which has the added advantages of not taking away too much money from your mesa budget, not to mention if it gets stolen in halls it wouldn't be the end of the world), or maybe one of those computer modelling thingies.
finally, mesa aren't the only guys who make nice high gain amps. definitely pays to try as many things as you can (and if you prefer the mesa after that, then go for the mesa). :)
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finally, mesa aren't the only guys who make nice high gain amps. definitely pays to try as many things as you can (and if you prefer the mesa after that, then go for the mesa). :)
And whom may they be?
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oh jeez, you have a ton of options at mesa prices... diezel, koch, engl, soldano, bogner, vht, cornford, brunetti, framus, genz benz, hughes and kettner (probably a bunch i've forgotten too)... and then you have things like splawn, peters etc. which are hard to come by over here, but which are popular in the states...
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Torrent guitar rig 3 and buy some beans.