Guitar Heads

[Vish]

I am going to be in the market for a guitar amp in a couple months, but i am researching what i should get now. i am on a very small budget, so i need something cheap... somewhere in the 250 to 400 dollar range. i know, not much to work with, but that's what i will have, so, anybody with any knowledge, i would like to know what you think would be the best for my money. i am not a tech junkie when it comes to this shit, so i dont really know what is being said in half of the shit that is going on with the finer points of these amps when it comes to the descriptions. i just want to play some metal, not blah blah blah about whatever. what is going to give me some good sound for some heavy thrash?

i have been checking out the following:

Fender FM100H
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-FM-100H-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=483716

Line6 SpiderIII
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-HD-75-Modeling-Amp-Head?sku=482274
(i bought a line6 spiderII combo when they first came out, but it is too small to gig with so i jam on it. the sound is really shitty on it once it gets cranked up loud, so im not too sure about whether i want to invest in anything line6)

Ibanez TBX150H Tone Blaster Xtreme
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-TBX150H-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=480946

Crate GT1200H
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-GT1200H-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=487797

Behringer V-AMPIRE LX1200H
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-VAMPIRE-LX1200H-Modeling-Guitar-Head?sku=480734

[StonerMafia]

Well Vish I have three of the heads you mentioned. The thing is none of these guitar heads are truly show worthy unless you are playing for about 15-20 people.

Now are you just wanting something loud to jam in the garage or are you trying to do shows around your area?

The crate you mentioned blows ass. I should know I purchased this head as my first real head. The Crate GT3500 is a far superior solid state amp from the crate line.

The vampire shit box is the biggest piece of shit IN THE WORLD!!!
Please stay far away from that amp. I have played this at a guitar center, total fucking garbage.

The Line 6 150 watt spider III is not a bad head, it just sounds very digital at loud volumes. Makes a killer practice amp though.

If you can save a couple hundred more I would buy the Randall RH300G3. I have it and it sounds pretty fucking good for a solid state, plus its 300 watts which is IMO around 120 tube watts.


If it was up to me I would tell you to save $999 plus shipping for a Carvin V3. For a little over a grand you can get what Marshall, Mesa, Bogna and VHT can do plus so much more. I own this head and swear by it. I have the RH300 as my back up just incase something goes wrong.

When you're ready for some cab talk just make a post. I'll give you my input on that ass well.

[Vish]

okay, what if i saved up a few hundred more. here's the thing, it takes me about 2 months to save up 100 bucks. if i were to try and save up for a 1000 dollar head, it would take me about a year to do so. im not really concerned with gigging as much as i am with jamming with good sound with a band. i want an amplifier that is gig worthy but still in a decent price range for somebody that is totally broke.

lets not talk about what i should get ideally, and talk reality for... lets say 400 to 600. in that price range there is a lot more amps like randall, marshall and peavey (i used to play a 5150 and i absolutely loved it). what would suggest for that?

[StonerMafia]

okay, what if i saved up a few hundred more. here's the thing, it takes me about 2 months to save up 100 bucks. if i were to try and save up for a 1000 dollar head, it would take me about a year to do so. im not really concerned with gigging as much as i am with jamming with good sound with a band. i want an amplifier that is gig worthy but still in a decent price range for somebody that is totally broke.

lets not talk about what i should get ideally, and talk reality for... lets say 400 to 600. in that price range there is a lot more amps like randall, marshall and peavey (i used to play a 5150 and i absolutely loved it). what would suggest for that?


Thanks for the added info.


The Randall RH300G3 would be a good start. I have this amp as my backup for my v3 it uses a tube in the power section. For what it is, it is the best bang for your buck on the budget you have.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Randall-RH300G3-G3-Series-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=480339


Then you have the line head I would recommend. It gets a little digital sounding at very high on certian settings. It's a good amp for what you get, just don't try to cut a corner and get the 75watt version it seems real thin.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-Spider-III-HD-150-Modeling-Amp-Head?sku=482273


Also check the local pawn shops for used heads. I run into 5150s, b-52 triple recs and a fews other quit often.

If you do end up getting a used tube amp and need some help biasing it with some hotter tubes let me know.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[Vish]

im not too keen on line6... i dig their pod, but after having that spider combo that i have, im just not sold on them. i hate the digital sound. i'd really like to get a tube amp instead of solid state if i can swing it.

what do you think of the peavy valveking 100?

that randall looks pretty good too. i want to play an amp before i buy one, but if i can just walk into a store with an idea of what i want to begin with, it will make things easier.

[StonerMafia]

I knew you were going to ask about the valve king. I just had that feeling when I seen you replied again.:firemonkey

You will have to hook a good distortion pedal to it. The gain it has is pretty weak. It's more of a low budget tube amp.

My friend Kevin has one I play it now and then, it's your basic tube amp and I mean basic. I'm not sold on tube amps that you have to hook a EQ pedal and a metalzone to just to get some tone variety out of it.

If you you can try out the valve king and you like it I say go for it, in that price range you could get a solid state that would crush it and you wouldn't have to worry about it breaking down.


The spider III is far superior to the spider II line especially if it was one of those little 30 watt amps.

[Vish]

The spider III is far superior to the spider II line especially if it was one of those little 30 watt amps.


i'll consider that when i check one out. i suppose i will check out a few solid state amps as well.

[StonerMafia]

i'll consider that when i check one out. i suppose i will check out a few solid state amps as well.

Just keep in mind that 100 solid state watts = about 50 tube watts.

[Vish]

i'll keep that in mind too.

[Postman]

CRATE SUCKS

it doesn't matter if it's solid state or not

[tbhride]

I've heard a few good responses to the Peavey XXL, although I have never tried it out myself.

[StonerMafia]

Great solid state.

[Xir0n]

As long as we're on the topic, I just say that Crates don't entirely suck. Just their heads. Steer clear of any Crate heads and you won't have a problem with it.

[Attila_The_Hun(S2C)]

As long as we're on the topic, I just say that Crates don't entirely suck. Just their heads. Steer clear of any Crate heads and you won't have a problem with it.

Actually Blue VooDoo 120's (circa 93' to 96') have served me very well Live, Recording, and on the road for the last 10 years. I swear by them. Good alternative to the Marshall and Mesa stuff.

[Xir0n]

The combos work wonders when it comes to Blue VooDoos. :-D