'58 Gibson GA5 sold for $325. :shock: I guess the bottom is falling out of the lower end of the vintage Gibson amps ... I really thought this would go +/- $500. :? J
Help with Amp Selection
- Thread starter Tunes
- Start date
capnjuan said:
:evil: I know! I put a low bid in early on and had intentions of going back and throwing a last second bid of 350 ( only if Tunes didnt want to throw his hat in the ring). I was figuring it to go for 400 or so. Fell asleep at the wheel and the auction end time passed me by.
Tunes
Member
Thanks for the kind thoughts on the Gibson amp - was going to bid but they do not ship to Canada. So I got tired of the potential shipping headaches, went down to the local axe shop and picked up a brand new VOX AC4.
For just playing in the house, this is a great sounding little amp. I tried 3 or 4 other amps in the store (with my Blues 90 and limited set of power chords !! :lol: ), and this little tube amp just beat them all hands down.
I was at the store early, so there was no-one else around - could make all kinds of noise. The guitar sales / tech guys where admiring my Blues 90. "Nice guitar ...." :wink:
The other interesting thing was, I hopped over to the acoustic side and picked up 5 or 6 guitars. Taylors, new Martins, new Guilds, etc. etc. - nothing sounded as good as what I have, and I was able to walk out of the store with no GAS whatsoever. :shock: :shock: I am sure this will not last. I played some "Wish You Where Here" on a couple of 12'ers and started to GAS for a Guild 12. Maybe when I get a job. :lol: :lol:
So thanks again everyone - I got a nice class A tube amp that will do the job until I learn how to play this thing. Bad louder just sounds badder.
For just playing in the house, this is a great sounding little amp. I tried 3 or 4 other amps in the store (with my Blues 90 and limited set of power chords !! :lol: ), and this little tube amp just beat them all hands down.
I was at the store early, so there was no-one else around - could make all kinds of noise. The guitar sales / tech guys where admiring my Blues 90. "Nice guitar ...." :wink:
The other interesting thing was, I hopped over to the acoustic side and picked up 5 or 6 guitars. Taylors, new Martins, new Guilds, etc. etc. - nothing sounded as good as what I have, and I was able to walk out of the store with no GAS whatsoever. :shock: :shock: I am sure this will not last. I played some "Wish You Where Here" on a couple of 12'ers and started to GAS for a Guild 12. Maybe when I get a job. :lol: :lol:
So thanks again everyone - I got a nice class A tube amp that will do the job until I learn how to play this thing. Bad louder just sounds badder.
Mike7
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I got a little solid state Vox Pathfinder at guitar center for $100 plus tax with a gain boost and Tremolo, both foot switchable (foot switch not included). Sounds great will drive a 2X12 no problem and has a line out. For the money it is a great amp. I agree tube amps are the best but if you don't want to spend alot of money and aren't doing alot of shows the Vox will do the job nicely.
i'd recommend the fender blues jr. as well.
it's got surprising power for a small amp.
there are a few mods that can improve it...i had them done on mine.
one involves making the reverb dead quiet ( it's noisy otherwise) and the other mods i had done were to the tone controls.
typically they don't do much thru most of their sweep and then all the tonal change happens at once. the mods make them work as one would expect...changing slightly thru their entire rotation.
also, with the mods done it's a half decent acoustic amp...as long as you run it clean.
just my 2 cents................
it's got surprising power for a small amp.
there are a few mods that can improve it...i had them done on mine.
one involves making the reverb dead quiet ( it's noisy otherwise) and the other mods i had done were to the tone controls.
typically they don't do much thru most of their sweep and then all the tonal change happens at once. the mods make them work as one would expect...changing slightly thru their entire rotation.
also, with the mods done it's a half decent acoustic amp...as long as you run it clean.
just my 2 cents................
Paddlefoot
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Ever try a "Pignose". Cheaper than cheap and run on batteries so you can go woodshed in remote places if you don't want to disturb folks. When the batteries get a little low they start to break up in a fun way. Have an AC adaptor if you want to save the batteries. Just a thought.
Thunderface
Senior Member
I've got a Fender SuperChamp XD. Tube amp with digital effects. And I've also got an Orange Micro Crush with a built in tuner which works when you need decent sound in a small package. I think it cost me $55.
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Tube or Digital
The decision you can make nowadays is more between tube and ditital than a solid state. There are some older amps that are just solid state like the old Frontman series from Fender - but most maufacturers are now putting in digital effects in the amp. So the Fender DSP amps are very nice as an option if a tube amp is beyond your budget. It's only if you A/B a good tube amp like a Fender DLR with a digital like a Roland Cube 30, that you'll notice the difference. No doubt tube amps sound great - but so do similaly priced non-tube amps like the Fender Cybers.
As a guitar teacher I get to see and hear most of what's out there. If you're on a budget - get the Roland Cube 30 - really tight budget - the little Microcube (best practice amp I've ever played). If you can stretch to a tube amp then a Fender Champ will do the job well - and you can sell it when you need to. If you are happy to buy secondhand get a Rivera Clubster or something similar. I love the Rivera amps but they are not cheap new, so an eBay buy might be the way to go. Expect to pay about 50% of the new price.
The decision you can make nowadays is more between tube and ditital than a solid state. There are some older amps that are just solid state like the old Frontman series from Fender - but most maufacturers are now putting in digital effects in the amp. So the Fender DSP amps are very nice as an option if a tube amp is beyond your budget. It's only if you A/B a good tube amp like a Fender DLR with a digital like a Roland Cube 30, that you'll notice the difference. No doubt tube amps sound great - but so do similaly priced non-tube amps like the Fender Cybers.
As a guitar teacher I get to see and hear most of what's out there. If you're on a budget - get the Roland Cube 30 - really tight budget - the little Microcube (best practice amp I've ever played). If you can stretch to a tube amp then a Fender Champ will do the job well - and you can sell it when you need to. If you are happy to buy secondhand get a Rivera Clubster or something similar. I love the Rivera amps but they are not cheap new, so an eBay buy might be the way to go. Expect to pay about 50% of the new price.