2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

[Top Jimmy]

So i burned a few hours at GC and I must say the value amp market kicks butt right now. I played a dozen or so amps, and here's my novice opinions on them if you are thinking about buying something and haven't tried it yet.

Found out a few things today: higain amps (recto or JSX) might not be for me, I always thought I wanted one but now not too sure. Also, I might not like thin necks on guitars either which I thought I would since my hands aren't very big.

Cleans didn't concern me when i was playing any of these.

Peavey Windsor: wow, wow, wow, wow. How can this thing only be $399 for the 120 watt head? The a-a/b nob is cool and can tweak overall color of amp. Nice crunch, nice mid-gain sound, should be incredible for rock/hard rock. That thing is loud and is not for the home musician. If I had a house, a basement, and padded walls, it would be in my basement right now.:headbang:

B-52 Combo: I was surprised, first time i ever plugged into one of these, always looked so cheap to me. Plenty of gain but not too fizzy. Could range from nice growl to semi-hi gain. I can see why some have said poor mans mesa. I really loved it, and for $399 what isn't to like!

Crate Palamino: Class A 15 watt heaven. Never liked Crate, never wanted a Crate, until i played this. The crunch sounded very natural, open, and warm. I think if I wanted a blues/rock amp for jamming this would be it. $399, another bargin.

Peavey Valveking: Ehh, still don't like it second time. Not near as warm as previous three, but still a good value at $399 i guess.

Line6 Flextone III: Though I'd compare a slight more expensive modeler while i was there. Nice tone, not a tube sound, but if you didn't play guitar you wouldn't notice a difference. I think if I was an active musician and played tons of different styles, it would have to be a top option.
------------------------------

Then I tried some expensive amps:

JSX: Ehhh, wasn't impressed. The clean was nice, the rhythm channel was nice, but I'm not buying a JSX to play Doobie Brother's songs, i want to melt faces. Ultra was just plain obnoxious to me. I will have to admit i could only go to a lowish volume (9-10 o'clock on master) due to other people in store, so maybe that's why. But I wouldn't want it after playing it.

Mesa Dual Recto: Better to my ears then JSX, but the distortion didn't sound natural enough. Maybe volume issue because I know they do get fizzy at lower volumes.

Mesa Lonestar: To fricken complicated, too many knobs, switches. I lost patience, though it did sound good.

Basically I've been been wanting a Mesa F-30 combo for the last few months and I still think it's what i want, but those $300-400 amps have got me thinking. Hope the F-30 drops in price so i can snag one cheap soon with the Express series coming out.

 

[thespricket]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

im serious about the palamino. im pretty sure its going to be my next amp. I havent heard one bad thing about it, and ive done my research.

and the B-52 combo was 399? are you sure it was the tube? cuz i know they have 2 ss combos for around that price. If the tube was 399, im gonna have to check it out.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

Wait, a Lonestar and Recto for $400? Surely you jest...

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

Which cabinet did you try the JSX with? Honestly, I thought the same thing when I played it through the stock cab.

Through a Mesa 4x12, properly tweaked, and cranked... oh man.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

Wait, a Lonestar and Recto for $400? Surely you jest...

No, the top 4 were 300-400, the bottoms were just thoughts on them, the rest of those buggers are like $1000-1500.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

im serious about the palamino. im pretty sure its going to be my next amp. I havent heard one bad thing about it, and ive done my research.

and the B-52 combo was 399? are you sure it was the tube? cuz i know they have 2 ss combos for around that price. If the tube was 399, im gonna have to check it out.

Now that I think about it, it might have been a used one GC had. It was with the other used amps, but I didn't even think about it, it was mint. Just looked at the price.

 

[GibsonGod91]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

So you didn't check out any marshalls?

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

So you didn't check out any marshalls?

That is kinda funny, the king of amps and I didn't even try one out today. I think I just look at the price tag of those suckers and say why even bother. Plus I was bargain hunting for the most part till i went into the sound room with all the expensive gear.

 

[James Rock]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

There are plenty of cheap tube amps these days. I'm wanting to upgrade from my pro junior to an el-84 cathode biased 15/30 watt amps and i've got laney, crate and of course vox to chose from although here in australia they arent as cheap as the listed above models but still a bargain!! (especially considering marshall valvestates cost more!!!!)

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

I hate you guys. No really, I do.

You can't get a new tube amp here for under 800$...

 

[nebucanazza]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

^Me too....I cant get ANY tube amp here in India:10:

 

[tubeman87]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

You know earlier this year when I was in search of a new amp I tried the Palamino and I just could not bring my self to like it, I tried 3 times, different guitars the last time was with my guitar. I couldn't do it, and I like Crates. I owned and played the hell out of the Vintage series 2 x 12 50 watter for about 4 yrs. But tone is very subjective and if it rock for you guys....more power to you.

Good job on the reviews Top Jimmy, I think that if there weree more post reviewing a variety of equipment like this one it would eliminate the "poll.....which should I get" threads. Good Job!

 

[DankStar]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

cool reviews.

My main question though: How in the heck to you play a dozen amps at GC without someone wanting to throw you out, especially if you don't buy any of them!?! I go in there and goof on 2 or 3, and it's like if they can't strike a deal, they want me outta there. What do you do, just walk around with a guitar and a cord, plugging into everything? I always get some dude that wants to hold my hand around the store, making it tough for me to actually check stuff out. What happens when you return to the same store - aren't they like "here's that one guy that just wants to play all the amps but not buy anything" and snub you? Maybe it's how I handle myself, but I always end up at the counter in some sort of a faux deal, and I act like I was going to buy something but I need to sleep on it. Maybe I just gotta do what you're doing and say, "look dudes, I'm just here to kill a few hours, give me a guitar and a cord and leave me alone."

Teach me your ways...

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

cool reviews.

My main question though: How in the heck to you play a dozen amps at GC without someone wanting to throw you out, especially if you don't buy any of them!?! I go in there and goof on 2 or 3, and it's like if they can't strike a deal, they want me outta there. What do you do, just walk around with a guitar and a cord, plugging into everything? I always get some dude that wants to hold my hand around the store, making it tough for me to actually check stuff out. What happens when you return to the same store - aren't they like "here's that one guy that just wants to play all the amps but not buy anything" and snub you? Maybe it's how I handle myself, but I always end up at the counter in some sort of a faux deal, and I act like I was going to buy something but I need to sleep on it. Maybe I just gotta do what you're doing and say, "look dudes, I'm just here to kill a few hours, give me a guitar and a cord and leave me alone."

Teach me your ways...

different salespeople/managers have different ways of doing things

if the manager of the store wants his salespeople to be like that they will

 

[DankStar]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

different salespeople/managers have different ways of doing things

if the manager of the store wants his salespeople to be like that they will

I've never been into a GC where they don't ask you if you've found what you're looking for, or ask you what sound you're trying to nail after you try even one. I've been to maybe 5 or 6 stores in several states (OH, GA, CA, and AZ). After 6 amp trials in one instance, I don't think I could say with a straight face, "nah, I need to play a good 6 or 7 more" and then just walk out after all that. It's exactly how I "use" GC too, but I've never gone quite that far. But I commend anyone that can!

 

[LesStrat]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

If I were to purchase a mass production amp, I'd have a hard time passing on the

Lonestar.

I played through one to try out a guitar once. Mainly because I wanted an EL 84 amp sound (a la Franklin).

I only scratched the surface of the Lonestar, but I was very impressed.

 

[Top Jimmy]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

cool reviews.

My main question though: How in the heck to you play a dozen amps at GC without someone wanting to throw you out, especially if you don't buy any of them!?! I go in there and goof on 2 or 3, and it's like if they can't strike a deal, they want me outta there. What do you do, just walk around with a guitar and a cord, plugging into everything? I always get some dude that wants to hold my hand around the store, making it tough for me to actually check stuff out. What happens when you return to the same store - aren't they like "here's that one guy that just wants to play all the amps but not buy anything" and snub you? Maybe it's how I handle myself, but I always end up at the counter in some sort of a faux deal, and I act like I was going to buy something but I need to sleep on it. Maybe I just gotta do what you're doing and say, "look dudes, I'm just here to kill a few hours, give me a guitar and a cord and leave me alone."

Teach me your ways...

I've probably spent a decent amount of money there in the last few months $1000 (Valvetronix, couple pedals, new pickups, acoustic, strings, cables, etc, it adds up) and some of the dudes might vaguely recognize me, though not by name or anything, so I think they know I buy stuff. Plus I came in there looking for something specific and they didn't have it so i said screw it, might as well jam.

Plus I think if you respect their gear, look like you know what you are doing, and don't play Enter Sandman they will give you some slack.

And yes, i did grab an Ibanez and a cord and walked around just plug-n-playing away and no one tried to sell me ****.


Side note: I went there for two things. I wanted to try the Mesa F-30 again to see if is the one I want. Also, has anyone tried the Behringer V-Amp Pro rack unit. They are dirt cheap, the clips don't sound half bad, and i wanted the hear it with my own ears, but they don't carry that stuff anymore. I know quality with Behringer is always a question, but I do love chasing tone on the cheap.

 

[DankStar]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

Side note: I went there for two things. I wanted to try the Mesa F-30 again to see if is the one I want. Also, has anyone tried the Behringer V-Amp Pro rack unit. They are dirt cheap, the clips don't sound half bad, and i wanted the hear it with my own ears, but they don't carry that stuff anymore. I know quality with Behringer is always a question, but I do love chasing tone on the cheap.

ahh, thanks for the input. sorry to hijack for a bit there. a lot of peeps at homerecording.com use the v-amp rack unit with good results (usually they report having to turn the bass almost completely down though, it has so much). I'd love to hear one myself with a nice tube power amp and 4-12.

 

[Corbic]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

Nice reviews, and I'll give a vote toward the Palomino. I loved all the Palominos I played at Guitar Center, but ended up with the 30 watt one because of my volume needs (live gigging, band practices, but decent low volume tone for bedroom stuff). The 15 watt one was the first one I tried and I really enjoyed playing through it. Tried it out with a Strat, Tele, Gretsch, and a Les Paul, all sounded great.

I think the people in my GC are starting to recognize me since I go in looking around at stuff all the time, but I'm the one kid who comes in and doesn't play Metallica or something similar, and instead takes a Tele or Strat, plugs it into the Fender Bassman reissue, turns up the volume a tad and plays some nice blues. Sometimes there are some guys playing some great blues in there on the lower gain amps that I also play and we get into little impromptu jams of trading licks and chord progressions. Fun stuff. The guys in there let me try most of the stuff and don't mind that I usually don't buy more than picks or strings.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: 2+ hours at GC, so many tube amps for $300-400, so little time.

Nice review, and time well spent at CG.:bigok: