Looking into buying a modeling amp...

2931 Views 16 Replies 13 Participants Last post by robbiano, Jul 30, 2009

Pursuit

Discussion Starter · Jun 28, 2009

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at buying a new amp. All I've had is a 10W Ibanez GTA10. I've wnated an amp that'll be capable of a bunch of stuff, and not high maintenence liek a tube amp, so I'm looking into modeling amps.

Here's what I'm looking at more closely, and my thoughts on them:

Line 6 Spider III 75 - I've played on one of these and they're great, but my friend owns one so it would be kind of pointless for me to go buy one when I could always borrow his if I need to!

Peavey Vypyr - Played a little on one of the 15W models but I'd be looking for a larger one. I heard these were excellent but I looked into them and they seem so dang complicated to use! I need something I can have ready at the turn of a control knob, not somethign that takes me 2 minutes to figure out on stage.

Ibanez MiMx 65W - I must say this is the one that's grabbing my attention. I've heard the sound samples and they're great. It seems to cover what I need and it's simple to use (much easier than the Vypyr). And as a bonus it looks awesome. It's my favourite so far but obviously I won't make a decision until I've tried it properly for myself.

So if anyone can offer me opinions on these three amps, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if there are any good ones I've missed, please let me know, but include WHY they're good!

Thanks in advance!

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

guitarnoize

· #2 · Jun 28, 2009

Make sure you check out the Vox modelling amps too I used to own an AD50VT and it was simple to use, great for recording and the onboard effects were a nice addition too. Make sure you really want a modelling amp before you buy though, tube amps really aren't high maintenance and they sound so much better.

Pursuit

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 28, 2009

guitarnoize said:
Make sure you check out the Vox modelling amps too I used to own an AD50VT and it was simple to use, great for recording and the onboard effects were a nice addition too. Make sure you really want a modelling amp before you buy though, tube amps really aren't high maintenance and they sound so much better.

Thanks, I'll check out the VOX amps too.

For valve/tube amps, by "high maintenence" I meant that they cost a lot, and after you've bought it, the expense doesn't stop because the valves need replacing occasionally. Also, from what I've seen, most tube amps run with a bunch of different pedals for the effects, and I don't have the money for a bunch of pedals.

Someone please correct me if I have made a misconception on this... I don't wanna buy based on incorrect facts. :S

6fingers

· #4 · Jun 28, 2009

My friend all amps you listed sucked to my ears.I played them at some studios and they all sounded like crap to me.
I love my mesas and my ears are used to tubes but I can't carry them to every gig I play cause they are really expensive here so I built up a cheapier rig with a pod 2.0 and one peavey bandit wich is cheap.
1.000 times better than those line 6 modeler amps.Everybody who has a spyder always tell me my tone is really better.
So it's just an idea.

jono

· #5 · Jun 28, 2009

It depends on how loud you want to play and more importantly, where you want to play. If you want to gig, do band practice or play at home.

I play a Line 6 spider as my main amp (I think it's the 30 watt version) and it sounds great at home and I have Zepplin Crunch to Pantera Shred at the touch of a button.

You've also got to think whether you want to sound good to you, or whether you want to impress your audience through brand names

I personally really like the Line 6 stuff for its ease of use and it's flexibility, it's also relatively cheap.

trouble311

· #6 · Jun 28, 2009

I'd recommend different Line 6 amps, the Flextone III, or the Vetta. I have owned a lot of different Line 6 gear: the old flagship amp, the AX-2, the most recent flagship amp, the Vetta II, and the Flextone III, and by far my favorite is the Vetta. Some really great sounds at pretty reasonable volumes. Second would be the Flextone III...in my experience, the Flextone III is a lot like a POD's controls and inner workings shoved into a combo amp...simple to get decent sounds, and with some tweaking, you can get some really good stuff.

I just upgraded to an Axe FX, which is definitely the best thing going for modeling/simulating these days, but that's a big price jump. I do have my Vetta and Flextone III for sale, though, hate to bring it up in a thread, but if you would be interested, maybe we could make a deal.

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EvoGiant

· #7 · Jun 28, 2009

dont forget the roland cubes..

nato101010

· #8 · Jun 28, 2009

guitarnoize said:
Make sure you check out the Vox modelling amps too I used to own an AD50VT and it was simple to use, great for recording and the onboard effects were a nice addition too.

+1

That's the first time I've ever done that.

I've got a VOX AD30VT. Awesome amp. The Line 6's sound a little thin, to me. I was playing a 30 watt Spider II yesterday, and it didn't interest me.

EvoGiant

· #9 · Jun 28, 2009

when i went amp shopping i knew modeling was the way to go. i tried the vypyr, the spider, and the roland cube. the cube certainly has less effects and features, but the main thing was that it SOUNDED better. the vypyr distoritons sounded harsh and thin, the spyder sounded very digital and brittle. the cube however sounded organic and full. again, just my opinion....
i did not even think to try out a VOX though. based on internet browsing though, they seem to be awesome amps.

mi2tom

· #10 · Jun 29, 2009

VOX vt series is the way to got man, it sounded much much better than any cube or spiders out there, and it's cheap as well!

kotornut

· #11 · Jun 29, 2009

Look it's all up to you, but I use a Roland Cube and it sounds the best and is easiest to use out of all the modeling amps. The cube 80x should be a good amp. But there are some disadvantages, the sheer number of programable tones and so on are far less and their are less amp models too. But I'd say all 11 or 12 of them are great sounding. I think the vox amps are pretty good too, but a lot of the tones sounded muffled to me in the store, could have just been my ability to EQ. And I thought that a lot less of them were useful tones. So I highly recommend the Cube. In fact I still want to get the new 80, but I spent money on other stuff so I can't.

Just my opinion.

Pursuit

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 29, 2009

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

To be honest, 11 or 12 amp models really is all I need. I'm going to be using this on gigs as well, so I can't be wasting time trying to choose one of the 24 different amp models on the Vypyr, and then setting up everything else on that particular model (like those complex stomp-box and rack effects).

That's what's grabbing me about the Line 6 and the Ibanez MiMx... you can just pick an amp model, add some effects, mess around with a bit of EQ, and from that you can pretty much get any sound you need.

But, as I mentined earlier, all I can do is to try out the ones I'm interested in looking at, then choosing for myself.

big_paul_ski

· #13 · Jul 27, 2009 (Edited)

i would skip looking into the combo amps and look into the blackstar HT-5 tube amp. its a 5 watt amp with huge sound. they have a stack or you can just buy the head for 299. then buy your own cab. ill be getting the amp head with the Carvin Legacy 2x12 cab with Celestion Vintage 30s cab and thats 399. so for 700 a sweet setup. it get plenty loud but if you gig youll probably have to mic it. check the reviews and lonephantom did a review on it here.
its cant be beat for at home play and recording. the cool thing is you dont have to crank it to get the swet sounds of the tubes. it a 2 chanell amp. one clean wich is pretty good and the other is overdrive wich sounds really really good. anyway thats what i would look into before you make up your mind. i think you can pre order the amp now and they will be ready around 8/8/09.
http://lonephantom.wordpress.com/

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TheMusicBucket

· #14 · Jul 29, 2009

Go for the vyper

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Pursuit

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 30, 2009

I may have failed to mentio nthat this modellign amp will most definitely be seeign use live very frequently. My friend is already using his Line 6 Spider III there and it's doing fine.

A 5-watt Blackstar might not have what it takes to handle live gigging... not too sure lol.

And I tried out the Vypyr for 2 hours and if there were massively different sounds available, I couldn't find any. Also, the amp seems far to complicated to switch between sounds live.

LonePhantom

· #16 · Jul 30, 2009

BlackStar with the right speakers will be fine I think - at least 2x12 will do the job.

robbiano

· #17 · Jul 30, 2009

Pursuit said:
I may have failed to mentio nthat this modellign amp will most definitely be seeign use live very frequently. My friend is already using his Line 6 Spider III there and it's doing fine.

A 5-watt Blackstar might not have what it takes to handle live gigging... not too sure lol.

And I tried out the Vypyr for 2 hours and if there were massively different sounds available, I couldn't find any. Also, the amp seems far to complicated to switch between sounds live.

I've been using a Line 6 Spider 75 this week for a couple of small gigs and on the whole it's been fine. It does tend to be a little directional and competing with a Randall heac/cab had to be cranked pretty high. Did a good job and was easily workable though and i was complemented on a nice sound.

My advice is to take your time and try as many as possible, there's a world of stuff out there and you're guaranteed to find something which you love. Borrow something short term and shop around as much as possible. Also remember that the sound practicing will be different to playing live somewhere and your miking skills will be tested! I like my little 6 and it's worked well for little cash but will definately upgrade to something more serious as funds allow. Cheap Mesa anyone???!!

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