Amp cabs..

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Hello people, i've recently started looking into buying some Cabs/heads since my amplifier, i've had it since i started playing, is on it's way out. It's a cheap Marshall amp....Anyhow, i'm looking into buying Cabs/heads, but i'm not quite sure what to look for. I own two guitars with Seymour pups, and the Boss Gt8, i just need a decent amp rig to get me going now....I play mainly heavy rock, some classic rock...and a fair bit of clean stuff. If anyone has a setup that they recommend or anything of the sort...let me know! I'm looking for a californian metal distorted sound out of an amp..I've heard you can change the tubes in cabs/amp's to meet those requirements..if any of you guitar experts (lew, artie-too e.t.c) can explain..that'd be great! ANY suggestions are welcome! Thank you for your help,

Alex

 

[MDS]

Re: Amp cabs..

Well...to me, California Metal Distortion=Mesa, so I'd start with that! What's your price range?

 

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Re: Amp cabs..

Well...lol, i don't have the price range for Mesa, considering they're in the thousands...I'd probably say my price range is about £800. Even though, having a Mesa Boogie stack would be a dream come true..lol, i highly doubt it'd happen unless i was a millionaire or something. lol.. Any other ideas???

Alex

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Amp cabs..

I'm gonna get killed for saying this but...The Crate Blue Voodoo is an amp you can get cheap and the cab is pretty good when you load the RIGHT speakers up in it. Put some good tubes in it as well. I love the sound of my Blue Voodoo BV60H now that I have two V30s and two G12H30s in an X pattern. This amp sounded horrible with the Crate speakers, better with Eminence Legend V12s and great with the Celestions and some new tubes. Channel switching head with reverb and seperate reverb controls for each channel.

Is it the greatest, killer amp ever? Of course not, but when I wanted the Mesa or VHT, then heard this, I decided I could really live with this and keep the other few thousand in my pocket.

 

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Re: Amp cabs..

Well, i looked up the Crate Blue Voodoo..and it does look pretty good! How do you change tubes?? And can someone explain the difference in sound between having tubes and not having them? I've never tried them..but am i right to think it makes the sound "chunkier" ??? I'm assuming tubes are better, which is why i want an amp with tubes..no doubt about that. Any more suggestions are welcome! I'm open to anything! Thank you for your help! It's much appreciated :-D

Alex

 

[tone4days]

Re: Amp cabs..

well, alex .... here's the thing

you are young enough and old enough to be forming your own opinions on things like this ... i would advise you to bring your guitar to a few music shops and play a bunch of amps .. tube .. solid state ... modeling ... hybrid ... whatever ... getting information from websites and message forums is one thing (good!) .. but getting opinions predigested for you is not nearly as good .. go out and play and listen and let your own opinion form about if tubes are better FOR YOU and your needs ... tubes can sound great ... so can all the other kinds ... choose how to spend your 800 pounds based on your needs

now - it is NOT true that you can make ANY tube amp sound like a 'california sound' just by the tubes you put into it ... the entire 'architecture' of the amp determines if it will sound like that or not .. . you can influence how an amp will sound 'within certain boundaries' by selecting different tubes ... but not drastically change the operating characteristics

just my thoughts

t4d

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Amp cabs..

Pound 800 = roughly $1,600.00 US and you can get a Mesa for that here in California. I'm not sure how you would get it to the UK though.

 

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Re: Amp cabs..

Ahh, yes..Your right! I will most definetely check out different types of Amps in a music shop...I've also been checking out Mesa Boogie heads/cabs on Ebay from say China and America...it's a damn sight cheaper! Especially from China...i think i may very well get Mesa once i've researched this enough and come to a good enough conclusion. Do any of you people on here have any experience with Mesa Boogie? Or the Marshall JCM??? I'd love to read your opinions :-D. Thank you for your help!

Alex

 

[Strapocaster]

Re: Amp cabs..

i would be very careful about trying to purchase a mesa boogie from china. i am also looking to find one cheap and the people selling from china usually have no feedback at all and just look dodgy to me. try buying from the USA you have less of a risk of getting scammed IMO anyways good luck on you amp search.

 

[rainsong86]

Re: Amp cabs..

also.. if you do commit to a piece of gear MAKE SURE THE PLACE YOU BOUGHT IT FROM HAS A RETURN POLICY.. what your amp sounds or the cab you're playing it through sounds like the store takes on a whole nother character when you're playing it at 110 dB's with the band.. btw the Crate Blue Voodoo 120 watt tubie head is a great buy.. plus you can find some with the blue head and matching blue cab w/ gold crate labels (if you're into aesthetics and all)