Best amp choice for $800.00?

Rotti · #1 07-20-2006, 06:18 PM

So if you had $800.00 to spend on a versatile amp for jamming with a band, playing bars, etc.. what would you get? I'm talking used here.

HoP · #2 07-20-2006, 06:59 PM

u could prob find a used MESA double rec head for 800 or so. but than ud need a cab....

depending on the sound u want, u could get a crate halfstack, or a line6 stack. but if u go with the line6 stuff make sure to stay away from the SpiderII cab, it blows.

snowfall · #3 07-20-2006, 07:01 PM

I haven't played out in years, and, other than a 10 watt Peavy, I don't own any brand name amps, so I'm probably not the best person to answer your question. I have some questions for you though,
- What do you mean by "versatile"? Does that mean lots of effects built in?
or maybe small, easy to carry?
- What kind of music are you playing" Jazz, metal, blues, folk-rock?
- What sized venue? Basement, small dive bar, outdoors?

For relatively loud rock in a small bar, a 20-watt tune head w/your
choice of pedals will probably be ok. For a more "intimate" setting,
like friends jamming some blues in a small room, maybe even a lower wattage
unit would be better.

wolfbone07 · #4 07-20-2006, 07:29 PM

Fender Hot Rod DeVille and Fulltone OCD.

bonehead189 · #5 07-20-2006, 07:37 PM

A used Fender Cyber-Twin® SE would be great for you. It's a 2x12 tube preamp combo with reconfigurable analog and digital circuitry with a a 2x65-watt power amp, which should be loud enough for bars (or Guitar Center, hehehe). More info here: http://www.fender.com/products/cyber...winse/home.php

Lefty Robb · #6 07-20-2006, 08:42 PM

Carvin Legacy Combo..

**jim777** · #7 07-20-2006, 09:15 PM

If you're going to be playing bars, 800 bucks is an enormous amount of money for an amp. Heck, I got my X-100B halfstack for $560 and it could fill a decent sized hall.
I hear only awesome things about the Mesa Nomad 45watt 2-12 combos. I think I would at least look at one of those if I could find one to play myself. I'd also consider all the Line 6 stuff the shops around me had and then look used. Peavey makes great combos, and a lot of their early 90's combos can be had for 2 to 3 hundred bucks used right now. That would leave you money for top line effects, like the fancier Line6 stuff.
You need to get a guitar in your car and hit all the stores man. You can afford more than you can't

Racerx2k · #8 07-20-2006, 10:17 PM

Hey, Jim: What's the Carvin like, gain-wise? How would it compare, tone-wise, to, say a Marshall Jcm 800? I know Vai used them, for a time, and I always admired his tones. Just wondering, cause I see these, on Evilbay, all the time, and I will be looking for a new head, in a few months.

metalguitarist7778 · #9 07-20-2006, 11:48 PM

B52 best gain (heavier then mesa) best clean (cleaner then fender)

ScottB · #10 07-21-2006, 02:32 AM

You can find a gently used Mesa F-50 for ~ $800. I had one that was near mint, lined up for $600 last winter, but was saving the cash for my daughter's car. She decided not to get a car and the Mesa was gone.

Mr.WizardNeck · #11 07-21-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalguitarist7778

B52 best gain (heavier then mesa) best clean (cleaner then fender)

Are you talking about the ST or AT series?

RolandRockstar · #12 07-21-2006, 12:22 PM

Laney GH100

Paul Gilbert rocks

Rotti · #13 07-21-2006, 02:08 PM

Lots of good ideas thanks. I'm playing classic rock and old school metal right now. I do like heavy distortion too though. I'm thinking a head and 1 or 2 2x12's would be cool. Maybe I could just get a head for now and some cabs later.

Gex · #14 07-21-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racerx2k

Hey, Jim: What's the Carvin like, gain-wise? How would it compare, tone-wise, to, say a Marshall Jcm 800? I know Vai used them, for a time, and I always admired his tones. Just wondering, cause I see these, on Evilbay, all the time, and I will be looking for a new head, in a few months.

Hey, I've got a Carvin X100B halfstack (after bombarding Jim777 with 1000 questions about it, lol) If you get the old Tolex, Script Logo, 6L6GC powered models, they're pretty cool. They're fatter and bassier than a JCM 800, they can get pretty heavy. Gain. . .well, they dont have that much gain, but more gain than a JCM 800. I'm a huge Vai fan and I've tried to soak up all the information I can about his rig during the Flex-Able/Zappa years. I believe he used only a Dunlop Crybaby and a Boss SD-1 (would have been an early Jap model) and he used the Boss SD-1 to boost the X100B.

So, a X100B with a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive and a guitar with a DiMarzio X2N should get you very close to that Flexable tone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

Carvin Legacy Combo..

Definately. Got some major gas for one of these.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolandRockstar

Laney GH100

Paul Gilbert rocks

AND some major GAS for one of those.

bammbamm · #15 07-21-2006, 03:58 PM

I've seen Mesa Boogie Mark IV's go for as low as 750.00 and that is the 1X12 combo, I'm sure you can scrounge the head alone for that. Again, you'd need a cab, but you're talking one great & versitile sounding amp.
aside from that, even an older SOB (Son of Boogie) amp with a couple pedals or a Rocktron Intellifex or Replifex would be nice and loud and you'd have a couple bucks left over to buy a beer.
(BTW, there is a Mark II-b head on the E- bay for under 600 right now.)
Bamm