Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Dakine on December 29, 2005, 09:09:08 PM
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OK,
as stated in another thread am new to guitar and am moving back to UK from Texas USA.
My marshall practice amp will be sold here due to voltage problems with UK.
So, any ideas/suggestions on a good valve or valve sounding amp combo to get when I come home?
I am into Lizzy, AC/DC, to VR and Slash type stuff.
I will not be able to spend 1,000's and am looking for basically a good practice amp to start with. If I ever gig I will then get a stack of some kind.
Cheers,
Nick
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genuine classic marshall-flavoured valve-driven tones arent particularly easy to obtain cheaply. i guess you could try the Vox valvetronix series, but they are hybrids, not full-valve amps. if yu are determined for all-valve and low price, also try checking out the Epiphone range.
Also, very well worth a mention is the under-stated Laney series of low-powered valve amps. check the VC15 and the LC15. don't be put off by the low wattage rating. they are bloody loud - and will be more than enough for ur home. probably enough for a small venue.
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Thanks indysmith
what about Randall and Peavy. Both have valve/semi-valve series combos. Any thoughts? heard any?
Specifically Peavy valveking and Randall RG series.
Or then again maybe a Marshall AVT.
TY
Nick
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never played any of the hybrid randall or peavey amps i'm afraid, but i can tell you that a Marshall AVT20 just might be the way to go. for the money i feel you can't go wrong with them. i very much liked the tone and feel, coming from such a small combo. obviously it's not AMAZING, but you can get somenice Marshally tones from it. I'd reccomend going to a music store and trying everything in your price range. see what you like the most?
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Yeah, AVT100 looks cool, gigable too at small venue I would imagine.
Now, as you are being so helpful :) Anyway you think a US Marshall would be able to work in the UK easily?
I believe the transformer is inside and maybe a bear to get too?
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You could try the Epiphone Galaxie range if you want a basic valve amp as they are low powered.
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no idea about transformers man! I've said it before, and i'll say it again - i'm a racing driver, not a pit mechanic!
Sorry :wink:
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Check the manual or the markings on the back of the amp to see what kinds of electricity it drinks. My recollection is that lots of amps are designed to cope with different voltages, etc. (so you can take them on your international tours :)), but perhaps that's not always true? Best to check!
That said, buying a Marshall or Laney in the US only to ship it to the UK in a few months may not work out as the most cost effective option (though it may be all right for a very small combo if you're shipping a pile of other stuff anyway).
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I highly recommend the Laney VC15, great little amp.
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Well Mr.Marshall puts his transformer inside my lil demon. Not really conducive to buying another transformer over in UK etc. Got it on sale anyway, then they took another 25% off as they lost the box and it was a floor model so no real worries. Gotta love Guitar Center (NOT for guitars though lol) as they DEF. deal when you push them just a little bit lol.
Nick
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don't get a marshall avt, it's rubbish
lanye lc/vc would be worth a look.
maybe that matamp mini 2W amp?
(i haven't tried any of these though)
how much can you spend?
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Just looking as be about 6 months till come home to ole blighty.
I got the marshall CHEAP so will not be able to afford much with what I can sell it for.
Probably looking around 400-500 quid in the end, but ya never know.
Basically looking for suggestions for a GOOD practice (maybe small gig) amp with "mojo", y'know summit with some character. I guess with a Gibby LP I figured Marshall was the twin. However, cannot afford a JCM stack right off the bat if ya know what I mean :)
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emphaisis on "practice" or "small gigs"?
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Practice right now, but possible for small gigs I guess.
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laney lc30 is certainly giggable, i have one and i really like it. recommended!
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i'll second big steve then, as long as you don't play any (detuned) metal
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it all depends on your definition of practice as well... for "band practice" i would use the lc30, but for "late night/low volume level practice" the 2w micro cube gets dragged out...
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OO I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S MENTIONED THE MINIMAT!!! YEEEHAW.
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OO I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S MENTIONED THE MINIMAT!!!
You beat me to it! ;) I had been just scoping the miniMat on Matamp's web site the other day. It's very small, has switchable mains voltage (240/120) and a DI output. Those are all good features for a home-studio guitarist who may be hopping from the UK to North/South America (or vice versa). :) Sort of in the POD XT price range as best I recall; perhaps not as versatile in some ways, but on the other hand it is a real tube amp! Worth a look, though I haven't found much online review of it.
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OO I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S MENTIONED THE MINIMAT!!! YEEEHAW.
i was going to, until he mentioned the odd gig- it's only 2W, right?
(i haven't tried it though, it might be loud!)
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OO I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S MENTIONED THE MINIMAT!!! YEEEHAW.
i was going to, until he mentioned the odd gig- it's only 2W, right?
(i haven't tried it though, it might be loud!)
It could always get mic'ed up though!
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^suppose so!
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yeah she'd totalé be loud enough to PA. silly.
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Laney sounds a VERY good idea/amp.
Certainly worth checking out when come over.
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I believe the Epiphone Valve Junior amps are well worth looking at. Only 5 watts, all tube. However, I've read the stock tubes are cheap and nasty, and it hums like a bitch. It's all fixable, but something to bear in mind.
I think I'm getting on myself soon, I'll let you know what its like.
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I love my Fender blues Jr, but if youre looking a marshal vube, how about the zvex nano head.
Theyre cheap in the US and you can always mic it up.
Rob...
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Reckon Laney sounds a winner till can afford/need a Marshall Stack :)
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don't get a marshall avt, it's rubbish
I agree! Overdriven my current 15w valve combo is as loud as the AVT's 100 watts. I just don't think the AVT has any real character to the sound at all, it's very dull to play, if that makes any sense!
It does have lots of knobs though.
I've heard very good things about the new batch of Laneys but I haven't tried any of them. That's all I can say!