Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

SlayerSlaughter

SlayerSlaughter

New member
So I'm finally getting ready to go buy a full stack. Not sure what brand!

Crate has been my all time favorite, along with Randall, Krank, and Marshall. Randall and Krank are out of the picture...Head's alone are to much for me. But Marshall and Crate are my 2 Favorites. I also know there are so many different type of amps out there, for all different styles so I'll give you an idea of what I play.

Death Metal, Speed Metal, Rock. I play a Dean ML (Dimebag) and Gibsons LP (EMG's ZW) I usually play very heavy, very fast, and do a lot of solo's, dives, and screams.

Now I want something that can CRANK, but holds tone under the pressure. I also know that you can change speakers in the amps, so what would you guys suggest?

Even if it isn't Crate or Marshall I'll be looking into it.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

what's your budget? ... and are you really talking about (2) 4x12" cabs plus a head? ... i just dont know who needs that kinda power these days unless you are about to headline some stadium gigs, yunno?

i am not yet sure what advice i'd give on the gear other than the generic "play a bunch and buy used to get more bang for the buck" ...

but i do know that if you are talking (2) 4x12" cabs and a head, i am definitely gonna advise HEARING PROTECTION

as for the gear, would you be open to a better quality half stack solution for the same budget, or do you have your heart set on a full stack?

good luck
t4d
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

tone4days said:
what's your budget? ... and are you really talking about (2) 4x12" cabs plus a head? ... i just dont know who needs that kinda power these days unless you are about to headline some stadium gigs, yunno?

i am not yet sure what advice i'd give on the gear other than the generic "play a bunch and buy used to get more bang for the buck" ...

but i do know that if you are talking (2) 4x12" cabs and a head, i am definitely gonna advise HEARING PROTECTION

as for the gear, would you be open to a better quality half stack solution for the same budget, or do you have your heart set on a full stack?

good luck
t4d
Click to expand...



Well Any Stack would technically work, since we have a sound man in the band. We'd just mic the half if need be. But I wouldn't mind getting a Full. If I was going to get a half, I'd blow the cash on a Krank, but I was thinking of getting a full so I can put a Cab on each side during practice (I play mostly rhythm in one band, but lead in another)

My budget is close to $1,000.00. Maybe more Maybe less. And speaker wise, I hear a lot about celestial? Any info on those?
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

I don't really know if you can get 2 decent 4x12's with good speakers and have enough money for an amp (unless you get something like the Marshall MG series which I have hear dare quite buzzy).
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

SlayerSlaughter said:
... And speaker wise, I hear a lot about celestial? Any info on those?
Click to expand...

celestion, maybe?

yeah, lots and lots of the most influential electric guitar recordings have been made with celestion speakers ... but that is just a brand name ... there are some speakers in their line that are monumental and some that are not quite so good ... and you'll have to decide with your own ears which get the tone you are hoping for ... and there are other manufacturers of speakers with killer quality besides celestion ... again, use your ears after you do your research ... a good place to start might be to find out what kinds of speakers were used by guitarists whose tone you dig ... again, just a starting point because their hands, guitars, pickups, effects, and amps are going to determine their tone quite a bit ... you will ultimately want to craft together a rig that works for you, yunno? .. for example, just cus zakk wyld digs his EVM speakers (another brand) with his rig doesnt mean you'd like them with yours ...

as always, your money will usually go further if you can find decent quality used gear as opposed to buying new ...

maybe you can get a higher quality half stack for now ... see how it works for you and save for the other cab if you think you really need it in the future
 
Last edited:
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

well, by the brands you've mentioned i'm willing to bet your going solid state, right? i'd suggest either the vox advt(used) or vt(if it came out)100w head with 2 avatar speaker cabs, as they're very high quality for not too much bones. or, if your going for more of the early panera type tone, you could go for the randall stack(here's the head):
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Randall-RX-Series-RX120RH-120W-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=481151
avatar speakers:
http://www.avatarspeakers.com/
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

There's no possible way you can get a reasonably decent full stack for under a grand. Unless you're playing 20,000 seat arenas, there's no need. Get a good amp head that does what you want, and put a solid 4x12 under it so it'll be gig worthy. That's more than enough oomph for bars & clubs. Chances are you won't go past 5 on the volume dial anyway.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

A half stack is more than enough even for the loudest bands. Get the amp you like the sound of ( Krank or whatever) becuause the sound engineer will still ask you to turn it down at just about every gig you play. You can always get another box later if you get a stadium gig. You will actually get a fatter sound with one box because you can turn the amp up past 3 and have the power tubes actually working the way they are designed.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

Shop for a used 50 watt tube head, perhaps a DSL50, and a used cabinet. You might be able to keep it around 1000 and it will probably be miles better than a new SS rig. Also keep open to the possibility of a good 2x12 cab. A 2x12 will more and do the job and give you more budget room for a good tube head.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

tone4days said:
celestion, maybe?
Click to expand...

No, he means Celestial. They make speaker cones out of old recycled tea bags.

super rad ska said:
ya know, 2 1x12s still makes a full stack;)
Click to expand...

Egnater Rebel, anyone? I, too question anyone's need for a full stack. Chances are a 20-30 wat amp is plenty, and will sound awesome on a 4x12 cab. 50 watts max.

For anyone of the OP's apparently limited experience, the ONLY reason for a full stack would be because it looks cool. With a $1,000 budget you have a choice: cool-looking crappy gear that doesn't sound so good, or reasonably-sized that sounds great, but isn't quite so "stonehenge".

Also consider:

Peavey half stacks (5150, Windsor, other lesser-know models)

Fender Bassman heads (50 cleanish watts on a 4x12) with a couple stomp boxes. Especially silverface bassman heads: high build quality cheap.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

In that price range I'd look at Peavey. Used is definitely the way to go. If your going to be carting it around to practices and gigs I wouldn't go with anything bigger than a half stack and I'd recommend getting a combo amp. While big amps look cool, hauling them around, loading them into cars, and setting them up gets old really fast.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

my favorite choice has always been a 2x12 combo with a 4x12 cab under it, it has to do with projection and stage volume, (ok and cool looks too)from practice to gigging its pretty much perfect for any situation..
3/4 stack thats my final answer
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

Got the combo, Got the Full Stack Mini-XL, I'm looking into the Krank's since everyone says don't get a full. Might as well right? Only issue is a head alone cost as much as most common half stacks lol. Thanks guys for all your responses.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

Karmadog777 said:
my favorite choice has always been a 2x12 combo with a 4x12 cab under it, it has to do with projection and stage volume, (ok and cool looks too)from practice to gigging its pretty much perfect for any situation..
3/4 stack thats my final answer
Click to expand...

See thats exactly what I was going to do, use my combo, get a angel cab, and just hook em up. Would that be the best choice?
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

yea, if you like the sound of your combo or you get a good combo to do that with.
what cab are you going with?
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

Not sure, my combo is a Crate 212 GFX-DSP Onboard. I haven't really tried many cabs. I had a Jensen Sound Bearer with Plexiglass casing, and that thing sounded sick. Held back all the feed back and what not. And also I've tried my guitarist Marshall cab, and that sounded alright. I'll probably check some out tomorrow at the music store.
 
Re: Getting a new Amp, want some advice...

look up avatar cabs, they've gotten some pretty good reviews around here and they're very good for the money.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FuseG4
Incoming amp
Replies
8
Views
131
Sam SG
S
xxxplorer
Played a Peavey JSX and XXX cab
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
Fender_Punk
Fender_Punk
SirJackdeFuzz II
If you want to your amp to sound tighter, you use a TS9 . . . right ?
Replies
15
Views
281
Bill Dennis
B
T
Need bridge pickup advice...
2 3
Replies
46
Views
2K
Kirk Dahnke
K
Ascension
New amp day PRS Sonsera 20 combo
Replies
0
Views
269
Ascension
Ascension
Back
Top