Versatile amps

[Doadman]

I seem to have an eternal problem with amps! What do I want?

1) Something that will cover Blues, Rock and modern Metal. Think BB King to Synyster Gates.
2) Reliable and with the real organic warmth and harmonic richness of a valve amp. I don't mind a modeling amp if it's good.
3) An amp to be used mostly in the home but also for jamming and the odd small gig
4) Something with an effects loop
5) An Mp3 and headphone socket
6) An option that will not require me spending loads of money I haven't got on endless pedals etc.

Not all of this is possible but I'd like to get as close as I can. A modeling amp seems the most obvious route so the current choices are:

Vox VT
Lovely sound on these and the 50w looks good but is the VT really now better at high gain and it has no effects loop. On top of that, the effects aren't very 'tweakable'.

Line 6 Flextone
I've not been able to try one but they seem to be very well thought of and seem to cover a lot of what I'm after but it is entirely solid state and I'm not sure how it can sound that valve-like with no real valves involved. Seems to be a genuine contender though.

Peavey Vypyr Tube 60
I keep hearing great things about these amps and certainly the solid state 30w I tried was impressive. I'm guessing the valves on this model will make it better and it has pretty much everything I'm after except the effects loop, though the build quality is also a bit suspect.

Keep my existing setup
Basically I like the sound of my Marshall but at the moment it does lack variety and I've realised that to get what I'm after I'll need to invest in some pedals; an overdrive to tighten up the distortion, a Distortion pedal to get it into modern high gain and the effects I like - Chorus, Compression, Delay. All this would come to quite a price and I'm wary of spending that much for what I do with the amp. I thought about using my GNX3000 in the effects loop for just effects but wouldn't that meen I'd end up with Overdrive in the wrong place in the signal chain? I also thought about just going through the GNX and direct into the Marshall's effects return so I could use the amp models. I've shied away from this so far as it seemed to be a waste of a good valve amp to make it more digital. Am I turning into a valve snob? Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad and perhaps that's the best way to get the most out of the Marshall anyway.

Which option seems the best one to you or do you have another solution to offer?

Thanks for your help.

[Jonny]

Have you tried any Laneys?

[Twinfan]

1) Something that will cover Blues, Rock and modern Metal. Think BB King to Synyster Gates.
2) Reliable and with the real organic warmth and harmonic richness of a valve amp. I don't mind a modeling amp if it's good.
3) An amp to be used mostly in the home but also for jamming and the odd small gig
4) Something with an effects loop
5) An Mp3 and headphone socket
6) An option that will not require me spending loads of money I haven't got on endless pedals etc.

A pure valve amp with headphone/MP3 socket is unlikely to exist, especially one with gig volume levels.

What about a LIne 6 Spider Valve?

http://uk.line6.com/spidervalve/

[Doadman]

I just didn't like the Spider Valve as the amp models still seemed very digital and there wasn't a lot of adjustment in the effects.

The lack of a headphone/mp3 socket in my Marshall doesn't bother me as long as I have the GNX and I suppose that keeping my existing setup, even using the GNX modeling into the effects return, is the easiest option. I think it just grates that I'd be introducing a digital element into a perfectly good valve amp, though I have to admit, it does sound good, even if it isn't quite as pure as the Marshall by itself. Ideally, what I really want is a multi fx and amp modeling unit where I can connect it up in a way that I can choose, with the click of a footswitch, to either go either one of these routes:

 
Guitar----multi fx stomboxes----into the amp front end------out of the fx send------back to the multi fx for rack effects-----amp fx return

 
OR

 
Guitar---multi fx stompboxes----multi fx amp modeling---multi fx rack effects-----amp's fx return

 
I can basically do a version of either one of those now and if I had an RP1000 I could certainly do either of them but I don't know how I could set it up so I had the option of either of them with just the click of a switch. If you know how, please tell me! In the meantime I'm stuck as to what would be best for me.

[_tom_]

I'm finding my Blackstar HT5 quite versatile so far. I've played anything from Little Wing to Kreator on it and it sounds fine for those things:) Clean channels a bit cr@p though, its all about the overdrive one. With your guitars volume down low it cleans up nicely.

[Doadman]

It seems I can do exactly what I want with an RP1000. With a simple click of a switch I can either play through my Marshall as normal with the RP for effects or use amp models and go direct to the effects return. That makes this the only modeling system that connects to your existing amp and allows you a complete choice of what to use. For me, that makes the RP1000 the best modeler to own. I've enjoyed having my GNX but connecting it effectively to a proper guitar amplifier has always caused problems but no longer. I can't wait to save up!

[Johnny Mac]

A Koch Powertone II. The price is irrelevant, you need it!

[bobthemerciful]

See if you can try one of these   http://www.laney.co.uk/show_prod.php?prod=tt50h . Very versatile.

[froglord]

Check out the Fender Super Champ XD. I've just bought one and love it. It has a digital preamp section, two 6v6 valves in the power amp and a 12AX7 for gain/phase inverter, plus limited but good-sounding digital effects (reverb, delay, chorus, tremolo and vibe).

As you'd expect, it's more focused on the Fender clean sounds (Blackface, Champ, Bassman), but it also has some good higher gain tones, including two metal settings.

Unfortunately, no effects loop or headphone socket, but the built-in effects might be all you need. Give one a try - you may love it!

[Rock Pig]

Marshall DSL50s or DSL100s are very versatile if a little bit harsh sounding.
If you can stretch to it, the Fractal Audio Systems AxeFX Ultra will do every tone you'll ever need at excellent quality. Seriously an incredible tool.
If you've less money I reccomend a Vox VT series; it's my favourite current entry level modelling amp and the valve circuitry is a lot more noticeable than it is on most hybrid amps, I find. Tonnes of amp models and good sounds too!

[Dmoney]

i have to say here, that i hate Vox Valvetronix amps for a number of reasons.
i think they sound aweful, if we are talking about AD100VTH's. totally terrible. I dont think it can do one thing well.
i got a nasty electric shock off one once when i touched my guitar strings. enough to bounce me into a wall.
if i had the choice between that, and even an old marshall VS100 head, id jump at the VS100. i hate AVT marshall too.

[Rock Pig]

i have to say here, that i hate Vox Valvetronix amps for a number of reasons.
i think they sound aweful, if we are talking about AD100VTH's. totally terrible. I dont think it can do one thing well.
i got a nasty electric shock off one once when i touched my guitar strings. enough to bounce me into a wall.
if i had the choice between that, and even an old marshall VS100 head, id jump at the VS100. i hate AVT marshall too.

I'm talking about the VT15, VT30, VT50 and VT100.
Don't know if that changes anything in your eyes but to me it stood out a mile when I tryed it against other similarly priced modelling amps.
And yeah, AVT Marshall is pretty awful. Have to use one at band rehearsals. It's always either too harsh or too dark.

[Dmoney]

i have to say here, that i hate Vox Valvetronix amps for a number of reasons.
i think they sound aweful, if we are talking about AD100VTH's. totally terrible. I dont think it can do one thing well.
i got a nasty electric shock off one once when i touched my guitar strings. enough to bounce me into a wall.
if i had the choice between that, and even an old marshall VS100 head, id jump at the VS100. i hate AVT marshall too.

I'm talking about the VT15, VT30, VT50 and VT100.
Don't know if that changes anything in your eyes but to me it stood out a mile when I tryed it against other similarly priced modelling amps.
And yeah, AVT Marshall is pretty awful. Have to use one at band rehearsals. It's always either too harsh or too dark.

I thought maybe i was wrong and on about a totally different range of vox amps, but i just spent some time looking online and i cant find much about AD amps. they are modelling amps with 11 amps, but the VT range looks like it has 22? am i right? the AD100VT sounds totally aweful and appears to be extremely unreliable. maybe the VT range is some sort of redesign of the AD??????? anyone? so yeah. it does change things. i havent tried a specific amp belonging to the VT range. sorry! :D

ive always hated the AVT range of marshalls. i still have a VS100 head that i lend to people and i don't think thats a bad head at all for what it is! some cheap hybrid amp. probably worth £70 or something these days. i dunno. granted, not a modelling amp and not really a good comparison.

[Rock Pig]

i have to say here, that i hate Vox Valvetronix amps for a number of reasons.
i think they sound aweful, if we are talking about AD100VTH's. totally terrible. I dont think it can do one thing well.
i got a nasty electric shock off one once when i touched my guitar strings. enough to bounce me into a wall.
if i had the choice between that, and even an old marshall VS100 head, id jump at the VS100. i hate AVT marshall too.

I'm talking about the VT15, VT30, VT50 and VT100.
Don't know if that changes anything in your eyes but to me it stood out a mile when I tryed it against other similarly priced modelling amps.
And yeah, AVT Marshall is pretty awful. Have to use one at band rehearsals. It's always either too harsh or too dark.

I thought maybe i was wrong and on about a totally different range of vox amps, but i just spent some time looking online and i cant find much about AD amps. they are modelling amps with 11 amps, but the VT range looks like it has 22? am i right? the AD100VT sounds totally aweful and appears to be extremely unreliable. maybe the VT range is some sort of redesign of the AD??????? anyone? so yeah. it does change things. i havent tried a specific amp belonging to the VT range. sorry! :D

ive always hated the AVT range of marshalls. i still have a VS100 head that i lend to people and i don't think thats a bad head at all for what it is! some cheap hybrid amp. probably worth £70 or something these days. i dunno. granted, not a modelling amp and not really a good comparison.

To be honest they'll probably sound roughly the same. It didn't look like a major overhaul to me. If you didn't like the AD series you probably won't like the VTs because I'm pretty sure the only significant difference is the additional amp models. That said I could be completely wrong so don't quote me on that.
I went to try it after reading a review in Guitarist (I read reviews then if I'm interested I'll go out and try them and probly never buy; the staff don't seem to realise this :P) and the review was to be honest a little generous; the sound and build quality should both probably have been rated four stars rather than four and a half. The features should have been given a higher rating though.

The Valvestates were somewhat better than the AVTs if what I've read is correct but all I've heard of them is a friend of my Dads, who gigs one. I have no idea about the tone though because if I'm not mistaken he goes

FENDER AMERICAN STANDARD HSS --> BOSS ME-80 -->VS100 EFFECTS LOOP RETURN

Treating the ME-80 as a preamp. It's actually a decent sound he gets which shows just how much influence a player has on his tone. He's been playing for a long time without developing monster chops and it really shows just where all is practise went.
But I digress, I've never heard the preamp in action.

[Dmoney]

preamp on them isn't that bad i don't think. well, better than the AVTs.

the practice rooms i use is full of AVT's and AD100VTH's with 4x12 matching cabs.
the AVT's are 100watt combo's i think and cant get loud enough to get over drums in a practice room before they fart out and sound aweful. especially when trying to do hi gain with them.

the AD100VT's all have their own 4x12's, but I don't think one of the models is good. and even once ive picked one i just about favour i cant dial in a good tone. just ends up being thick mush. pretty much all bass and low mids. even if i turn the bass right down and the treble right up it still aweful. there is always a stack of them waiting for repair. the one that i got a shock off had been 'repaired' some months earlier. signified by a bit of duct tape with a  date on stuck to the head.

if i wanted to spend very little money on an amp that sounds good id really consider a peavey valve king. but that doesnt do any modelling or anything. I just think its a neat little amp.

i remember when sound control was selling bundle deals of Crate Powerblocks with Pods.
wonder what that set up would have been like!