Half Stack

[Crazy_Joe]

Ok, i've never had one before i only have a Marshall 15 watt lol but i don't have the money to buy big Peavey 5150's and Engl's and everything.
I'm looking to spend around £450 on it, and a 50 watt head will do so any suggestions would be good, i am a metal player so i need a good distortion, though i could just use a pedal if needed.

I have stumbled upon a used Marshall 410 cab, it looks pretty tatty but i havn't played it so i don't know what it is like.

http://www.coda-music.com/Secondhand%20Amps/marshall410.jpg

They are asking £199 for it, by looking at it does anyone think it is worth buying or could i get better for my money?

http://www.coda-music.com/Secondhand%20Amps/trace410.jpg

This Trace Elliot cab is used at £149 but again i don't have a clue if that is good or not.

[Petre]

you're a man after my own heart. I have a marshall 15 watt and am in search for a half stack. in fact, i have a very similar budget to you (around 500) and i play metal also :P how about that!  :lol:

Im not sure on the cab front. I was planning on saving a bit more and getting a real nice cab ready for when i got enough money to swap a real nice head onto it like a peavey 5150 (or 6505) but then im thinking maybe i should just save straight (liek a grand) and just go straight for the peavey. In the way of heads were you thinking solid state? Not sure you woudl be able to get a cab and head in that budget if it was valve. From my research and asking about on here, for a good valve head (for metal) and some sort of cab is around the region of 700 (like a gh50l and cab or the likes). As for solid states im open for suggestions too  :P

Good luck in finding something! Im gonna keep a close eye on this thread!
Petre

[Crazy_Joe]

Hey man, i like it that i'm not alone in this situation!
I was thinking definatley solid state for the first one, it will take ages for me to be able to afford a good head. I looked at the Marshall AVT's but people usually rubbish them and say the suck so i'm not sure, i saw a 200 watt Randall head for £300 something which is tube i beleive.

[donovan.x]

Why not go for a quarter stack? For £450 if you hang around on EBay enough you will easily pick up a Marshall DSL 50 head watt or  a JCM800/900. 2x12 cabs are always well priced, who knows you may well strike gold and get a 4x12 bargain? Any of these options would blow you away after your 15 watt!
Also the DSL would be great for you as a metal player, their is a fair amount of grunt available in that MoFo.
Anyway check these out:


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hughes-Kettner-4x12-Cab-Beefy-sound-for-METAL-LOVERS_W0QQitemZ200005723548QQihZ010QQcategoryZ23794QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Marshall-JCM-2000-DSL100-Amp-4x12-1960A-Cab-NR_W0QQitemZ250007024932QQihZ015QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peavey-4x12-speaker-cabinet-5150-van-halen-not-marshall_W0QQitemZ320005949375QQihZ011QQcategoryZ10171QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Loads of deals. As a DSL 50 user they do kick ass.(Esp for the price.)

[Crazy_Joe]

Yeah they look good, but you can't try them out first and a lot of them are pickups not posted and i'm not going to Hitchin to Glasgow to get a cab.
But i will keep looking there, that DSL half stack looks tasty!

[donovan.x]

Get a courier to collect.

[deg0ey]

Hmm, IMO you'd be better off going for a combo than a half stack...Usually works out cheaper than trying to buy a head and a cab, especially when you're on a budget.

You won't need a half stack, and it's really overkill for most purposes. Obviously there's the cool factor, and the fact that they do sound slightly different and what have you, but it's my belief that you'd get better value for money going the way of a combo - I'm glad I went for the combo, as it meant I could afford an ENGL Screamer instead of some Marshall which isn't really suitable for my tone :drink:

[maliciousteve]

Ok, i've never had one before i only have a Marshall 15 watt lol but i don't have the money to buy big Peavey 5150's and Engl's and everything.
I'm looking to spend around £450 on it, and a 50 watt head will do so any suggestions would be good, i am a metal player so i need a good distortion, though i could just use a pedal if needed.

I have stumbled upon a used Marshall 410 cab, it looks pretty tatty but i havn't played it so i don't know what it is like.

http://www.coda-music.com/Secondhand%20Amps/marshall410.jpg

They are asking £199 for it, by looking at it does anyone think it is worth buying or could i get better for my money?

http://www.coda-music.com/Secondhand%20Amps/trace410.jpg

This Trace Elliot cab is used at £149 but again i don't have a clue if that is good or not.

How about looking on ebay for a Laney Pro Tube? they're dirt cheap and apparently are just as good as the old JCM800 (if not better). Sometimes you get a good deal on one that comes with a cab too.

[Word Bearer]

I agree with whoever said go with the combo.
Unless you're planning on playing some pretty big venues you won't really need all the power of a half stack (at least not a valve one).

That or go for a 2x12 cab rather than a 4x12.

As for recommendations, I'd check out the new Randall valve amps, the module ones. I think you may be able to get one with your budget and apparently they'll simply blow your nuts off (I haven't had a chance to play around with one yet.)
Keep checking Ebay and Adtrader etc and you may come across a used Peavey 5150 combo, Triple XXX or even an old Ultra, all of which would be great for metal.
The Ashdown Fallen Angel would quite easily fit your budget, but it there seems to be a bit of Marmite issue with this one, I know loads of people who swear by them, but then others who think it resembles a wet fart.

Or if you're willing to put in some time and hope for some luck you may be able to get a small rack setup. I just grabbed a Hughes & Kettner Access Preamp for £130 (absolutely awesome btw) and should be getting a pretty good deal on a second hand Marshall 20/20 poweramp and 2x12 cab, for just a little over your budget.

[Crazy_Joe]

Yeah i was thinking about the 2x12 i don't think i need a half stack yet.

[deg0ey]

TBH, if you get a valve amp you don't need even a 2x12...My Screamer is a 1x12, and it's plenty loud for any purpose I could think of.

I do have to mic it sometimes for big venues, but that would be the same with the half stack so that you don't just overpower the rest of the band, and so that you can be heard at the back without killing yourself with volume :P

[Word Bearer]

TBH, if you get a valve amp you don't need even a 2x12...My Screamer is a 1x12, and it's plenty loud for any purpose I could think of.

I do have to mic it sometimes for big venues, but that would be the same with the half stack so that you don't just overpower the rest of the band, and so that you can be heard at the back without killing yourself with volume :P

Agreed, I was trying to give some other viable options.

I still reckon the combo is the best way to go.

[donovan.x]

5150 combos should be well within your budget.

[HTH AMPS]

those new Randall module amps are actually very expensive - well over a grand and over £200 per module (yikes).

keep your eyes open on ebay, you'll easy get a 4x12 for £150, especially if you're not too bothered about it having to be a Marshall.  

for a real bargain head you should checkout the Laney AOR series and the newer GH series.  Laney cabs are decent too, don't be scared off by the older ones with HH speakers, they really are very nice.

 :twisted:

[Word Bearer]

those new Randall module amps are actually very expensive - well over a grand and over £200 per module (yikes).

keep your eyes open on ebay, you'll easy get a 4x12 for £150, especially if you're not too bothered about it having to be a Marshall.  

for a real bargain head you should checkout the Laney AOR series and the newer GH series.  Laney cabs are decent too, don't be scared off by the older ones with HH speakers, they really are very nice.

 :twisted:

Ooops, my mistake I must have been thinking of a different Randall line then.