Best Solid State Amp under $300

[hazuinf]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

OP has NOT considered it! he wants to gig with an amp. solid state WILL NOT cut through the mix and is always gonna sound like static cardboard compared to tube

Quite frankly, that is hogswash.
A decent solid-state (take for example the Mustang IV or V by Fender) can definitely cut through the mix in a small-medium gig. Also, it will not 'always' sound like a 'cardboard' (box). Again, a decent solid-state can still be had for much cheaper, and still sound amazing. Tube-elitism is pathetic.

[hazuinf]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

I'd recommend either
a) A Peavey Bandit (112 (80W) version can be bought for about £200, which is just over $300 I think)
A great SS. It's not a modelling amp, but it has two channels, lead and clean, and both sound amazing. In particular one thing that sets it apart from other SS amps of its price range is the TransTube technology it uses, which basically means it mimics a tube amp sound much better than many other SS amps. Really a great amp for the price. It can definitely gig (my friend uses one for small-medium gigs) and definitely cuts through the mix well.

b) A Fender Mustang (III-V)
The III is around £200 as well. This one is a modelling amp, and is 100W, so slightly more than the Peavey, and can therefore gig slightly louder. It has 12 classic amp models and plenty of on-board effects (whereas the Peavey has, I think, just reverb), which make up 100 presets. You can also connect via the USB port to the computer and use the Fender FUSE software to download hundreds of extra user, artist and Fender created presets, as well as uploading your own. The presets are mostly great sounding, with only a few complaints about the Liquid Solo preset (basically that it hums a bit. This is not a problem with the amp, it's because it's an incredibly high-gain preset, and the amp it models hums at that kind of gain, so they've made it hum as it would in reality). With all it's presets, it's the most versatile of the two amps, and is actually incredibly user-friendly and intuitive for a modelling amp.


I hope I've helped. Either is a great choice.

[Kam]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

...You're aware that this thread is nine months old, right?

[kevlar3000]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

An old PV standard at about 100.00 will eat up most current tube amps and many vintage ones. The earlier the better. Killer heads...

[kevlar3000]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

...You're aware that this thread is nine months old, right?

Now I am!

[rjudo]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

I had a tech 21 trademark 30 for years, great little amp. Wide variety of tones to be had and none of them sounded bad or sterile. I will probably get a 60 someday to replace it.

[rjudo]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

OP has NOT considered it! he wants to gig with an amp. solid state WILL NOT cut through the mix and is always gonna sound like static cardboard compared to tube

B.B. King. Seen him live many times over the last 25 years, playing a Lab series L5 every time. He cuts throught the mix just fine and sounds great doing it.

[blueman335]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

OP has NOT considered it! he wants to gig with an amp. solid state WILL NOT cut through the mix and is always gonna sound like static cardboard compared to tube

Then there's some solid state amps you haven't heard. When I don't take a tube amp, I bring a 60 watt Roland Blues Cube (1x12); it's been out of production for at least 10 years, but they have a great tone; gotten many compliments on it, and most players have assumed it's a tube amp. Cuts thru the mix nicely. Keep an open mind.

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

I'm gonna say it...

Line 6 Spider IV 75

Fun little thing.

Oooooo suck it, haters.

+10000000000000000000000000

Yeah, I used mine for our last gig ...(line-out to the PA at the venue)...I used a big 120 watt Laney stack at our previous gig and everyone said the line 6 sounded way better this time...

...and this was playing doom/old school death metal without a bass player (!)

Really deep tight saturated punchy sound...

This was recorded on an HD camera by someone at the venue.. (it's a cover of the Autopsy classic "Twisted Mass Of Burnt Decay" )

...not the best sound, but the opening chords (before the drums kick in and flatten out the recording) show you that it lacks nothing as far as depth/clarity/power/tone go...



I know you probably won't be using it for anything like that ^ lol...but it's really versatile no matter what sound you want out of it ...and super convienient for small-ish venues...no pedal boards required and it's super light-weight.

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

Hahahaha you're a madman!

[EdMan57]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

I'm looking to buy a Dean Markley DM60RC combo.I talked to the amp's designer Greg Farris [easy to reach by phone] and he was quite enthused by his new solid-state and tube amp designs.To me,the "extra" factor is the mid sweep control,which allows lots of tonal variation.Nice reverb,very good built-in chorus,effects loop and Celestion G12P-80 speaker are nice touches.Street price is $285.

http://www.deanmarkleyamps.com/Products/ElectricAmps/DM60RC.html

Ed

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

I'm looking to buy a Dean Markley DM60RC combo.I talked to the amp's designer Greg Farris [easy to reach by phone] and he was quite enthused by his new solid-state and tube amp designs.To me,the "extra" factor is the mid sweep control,which allows lots of tonal variation.Nice reverb,very good built-in chorus,effects loop and Celestion G12P-80 speaker are nice touches.Street price is $285.

http://www.deanmarkleyamps.com/Products/ElectricAmps/DM60RC.html

Ed

I did not realize that they were still around. I checked out the site, looks like some cool stuff!

[Quencho092]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

a bass head, plug into all of them at a store and pick the one that gets the most pleasant cleans/attack, try your pedals in front. no need to exceed 200 watts SS.

You'd be surprised how 'tube' they can sound, huge transformers and great EQ's=great amps for the money. They also take multiple instruments, guitar/vocals at once, it's like a PA system with a good preamp stage in a lightweight package.

[Diego]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

I've used my Cube 60 at gigs next to some tube amps like the DSL50, a DSL401, a few 5150s, a 6505+ and a Fender HRDX.
Styles ranging from 50's rock to funk to 70's hard rock to modern metal.

No problem cutting through at all with any of my guitars in any gig, with rarely any pedals in front.
Good tones too.
I've gone either with the line Out to the PA, or a mic in front, or both when there's channels to spare and time to tweak. Love that

The guys that can't get heard with SS and digital amps wouldn't get heard with a tube amp either.

[Masta' C]

Re: Best Solid State Amp under $300

The guys that can't get heard with SS and digital amps wouldn't get heard with a tube amp either.

Ha Ha! Exactly!