Amp recommendations needed!

[Manji]

I've been looking to upgrade my amp for a while now (been playing for 5 years and still stuck with a little Line 6 30W Spider II >_<) and I'm thinking I'll go for a half-stack for some nice gut-wrenching power.

Now, what I need are recommendations for a good half-stack that isn't insanely expensive.  I've got my eye on the Laney LV300H since that looks pretty nice (and any company that makes the amps Opeth use must be good :D) and not too much, but I'm open to any suggestions- preferably something that will come in at under 600 quid for the head and the cabinet.

As for sound, I'd like some nice, tight, crushing distortion but also an amp that cleans up well since I use clean tones quite a lot.  The only inbuilt effects I'd really need would be reverb.

Thanks ^_^

[TwilightOdyssey]

I would invest as much as possible into the head and then upgrade the cab later.

[horsehead]

Cornford...all I've got to say

[dave_mc]

^ ^ +1 on TO.

What about a laney gh50L with framus 2x12?

that should come to about £600. Haven't tried the framus 2x12 or the laney (er, maybe you should disregard this advice completely, lol, this isn't boding well), but the other laney tube amps I have tried have been great for the cash, and v30's are pretty decent speakers.

Alternatively, the peavey windsor is pretty nice, though it's very 80's toned. And the cleans aren't amazing. No reverb either (mightn't be reverb on the gh50 either).

I'm guessing that either of those will sound better than the LV (i haven't tried the LV).

But echoing what TO said, at least if you have a good head, you can work from there and upgrade the cab (or buy a reverb pedal) later. You'll probably lose less money that way too.

^ tell me where you can get a cornford head and cab for £600! If you can, I'm there! :D

EDIT: another thing is, a lot of people would say you could get a better amp if you go combo than halfstack, at your budget (unless you can nab a really cheap but decent cab somewhere). Something like a laney tt50 combo would be almost within budget (I think I've seen them for about £670).

Of course, it depends how badly you want a stack.

[Twinfan]

I'd go for a Laney GH50L and a Harley Benton 2x12 cab (from http://www.thomann.de, fitted with Celestion Vintage 30s).  Should be about £600 for the pair.

Depends how much you need a clean sound though as the GH50L doesn't really do clean.

[dave_mc]

^ i think you can get the framus 2x12 and still come in under £600...

bear in mind I haven't tried either the HB or the framus cab, but the HB is so cheap it makes me wary, and the fact that they keep mentioning SPL's in the specs, which sounds fishy...

I dunno. I'm willing to admit I'm wrong, but unless I hear from someone who's tried the HB, I'm going to be wary for a while longer yet.

[hunter]

It's all a matter of taste, but for about 600 GBP new I'd have a Orange Rocker 30 combo and get a 2x12 later, ideally mixed with V30 and G12H30.

The Rocker has a super simple layout, but two highly musical and useable channels. Clean is just a Vol poti, but takes pedals extremely well, and the drive channel is just .... *BIG smile*  NIIIIICE

[BloodMountain]

It's all a matter of taste, but for about 600 GBP new I'd have a Orange Rocker 30 combo and get a 2x12 later, ideally mixed with V30 and G12H30.

The Rocker has a super simple layout, but two highly musical and useable channels. Clean is just a Vol poti, but takes pedals extremely well, and the drive channel is just .... *BIG smile*  NIIIIICE

i never thought of Orange Rockers as having a crushing distortion, which is what manji is looking for.........

am i wrong? have i been deceived all this time?

[hunter]

maybe what you define as "crushing" - it doesn't do the scooped Mesa thing, but I find it has a great Crunch and cuts through the mix like a razorblade, got lots of gain too.

But as I said, matter of taste anyway, I like amps with a proper mid range grind

[BloodMountain]

maybe what you define as "crushing" - it doesn't do the scooped Mesa thing, but I find it has a great Crunch and cuts through the mix like a razorblade, got lots of gain too.

But as I said, matter of taste anyway, I like amps with a proper mid range grind

not really the scooped mesa thing, i detest it.

what do you mean by mid range grind?

after this, back on topic.

[hunter]

what do you mean by mid range grind?

kinda like this?

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/download.php?id=1319

[BloodMountain]

what do you mean by mid range grind?

kinda like this?

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/download.php?id=1319

i like that, to an extent. obviously not overdone. add a lot more gain, more bass, and less treble and your in my tonal heaven.

back on topic, now. i have no idea what to recommend Manji.

[_tom_]

I think Tokyo Dragons use Orange amps (or at least one of the guitarists does) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD5Bjtq-MYY

perfect rock tone and I bet boosted it'd do metal just as well.

[LazyNinja]

I hate that name Tokyo Dragons. Reminds me of baseball teams it's Tokyo Giants and Chuunichi Dragons dammit. Tokyo won't be stealing Nagoya's dragons I tell you, the Dragons rule.

Sorry for an off topic post

As for amp, I'd recommend a Laney (I would wouldnt I lol) you cant really go wrong. Maybe an ENGL if you can find one at a decent price.

[Joe Dorcia]

Hey Manji,

As a Laney VH100 user, i would reccommend it, but for an all valve, really good head that has a nice clean and distorted tone, have a look at the new Peavy head, its £300 and sounds class, honestly. Very good for modding too.

Have a look into it

Joe