hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

The AVT is just a solid state amp with a tube in it. The tube really does nothing, in my opinion, and you're better off with any other amp.

Except for the TSL. I've played one and a DSL100, and neither really had a great tone. It didn't do anything really well, or good for that matter. I don't know what to recommend, but I did not like any of those amps.
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

I have the AVT50 before it gained the hx or whatever. Its a really great amp if you dont got the funds for an all tube amp. I don't know if the preamp tube really makes a difference, but it sounds much better than the MG, and I think its almost as good as the JCM2000:wall:
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

I play an AVT50 (also before the HX) combo and I, for the most part, agree with taphappy. It's a really great amp if you don't have the funds for a real tube amp. The tone can come close at times to a tube amp, but without the extra noise. The knock is it is nowhere near as warm, nor does it deliver the potential twang that a tube amp can produce. It definitely does sound better than the MG though, I don't know about putting it in the same league as the JCM2000 though (sorry).

For what you want to play as far as the metal is concerned, this amp will work great. You'll need a good compressor/sustainer pedal and probably a real thick crunchy distortion pedal too. The gain at full blast on the AVT is just good enough to achieve a thick Social Distortion-esque punk rock sound. That of course works good for heavy blues but not heavy metal. Usually, the lower noise solid state road is what you want for metal though (this varies depending on what kind of metal but you said some speed metal).

For some old school blues, the amp leaves room for improvement. Even with the gain cranked, bass up a lil past mid and the treble at mid on the clean channel, it leaves a lot of soul to be desired. I use it for blues, but I would love to buy a real tube amp just for blues. I like the AVT for funk, reggae, punk and some heavy riffs though. Also, the clean channel could use a good volume boost when compared to the OD channel (or maybe some control over the mids).

The knock is that Marshall's footswitches tend to go bad. I've gone through 3 of them. It's not an issue of just resoldering a loose connection either. For some reason it just eventually starts switching on it's own. You buy a new switch and you're good again for awhile.

If you can afford a tube amp...get one instead. One you might want to look into is the Ashdown Fallen Angel FA-60 DSP series combos and heads. They are all tube but have some built in DSP effects which I've heard are so good they can achieve ANY sound you are looking for. I have not actually used one yet, I am just going by some word of mouth. Also the Vox AC30 is a great classic tube to look into as well. The Marshall tube amps are quite expensive, but the best ones are vintage and if you are talking about an AVT50, you might not be looking to spend several thousands of dollars on a vintage tube Marshall.

If you can't afford those, then I would definitely say the best choices for solid state is either the Marshall AVT series or the Vox Valvetronix (like the AD50VT) series (which is very versatile with it's built in effects and also has a tube/valve in the power stage).

Hope that helps.
 
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Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

Get a Valvetronix AD120VTH head. If you had 1 day to play both amps, you'd hand the Marshall back and keep the Vox. Using the OD models in conjunction with the amps, you can shape the sound any way you want. You can basically put on an album, and sit there and duplicate the tone.
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

I play an AVT... Nice cleans for a solid state (nothing you would care about :laugh2: ) and two tube gain channels... think JCM and not Plexi... Gain2 have a more extreme metal tone then 1...

But it's not a tube amp... you can compare it to a Vox Valvetronix (who get better reviews), and to other hybrid amps... and for metal there are also good solid state amps.

If you have the money for it... tube amps are always a better option IMO... Marshall may not be the only good option today... I think that the new Peavey line is very popular in the SD forum these days...
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

Triple XXX is another good amp to try. I prefer them way over the 5150, but maybe the 5150 next week. My tastes constantly change.
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

taphappy said:
I have the AVT50 before it gained the hx or whatever. Its a really great amp if you dont got the funds for an all tube amp. I don't know if the preamp tube really makes a difference, but it sounds much better than the MG, and I think its almost as good as the JCM2000:wall:
Click to expand...

The Valvestate is a good alternative when cash flow is an issue. I got mine 8 or 9 years ago for around $600 new, and have never had a problem. In fact, the preamp tube just went last week so I really can't complain. And after changing that single tube to an Electro Harmonix, it sounds even better. Some of that real compressed, lifeless feel is totally gone and the amp breathes so much now. The preamp tube does in fact make a difference. The amp has a much warmer feel than other traditional solid states I've owned or played. Very good bang for your buck, and built to last.
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

Jay 77 said:
The Valvestate is a good alternative when cash flow is an issue. I got mine 8 or 9 years ago for around $600 new, and have never had a problem. In fact, the preamp tube just went last week so I really can't complain. And after changing that single tube to an Electro Harmonix, it sounds even better. Some of that real compressed, lifeless feel is totally gone and the amp breathes so much now. The preamp tube does in fact make a difference. The amp has a much warmer feel than other traditional solid states I've owned or played. Very good bang for your buck, and built to last.
Click to expand...

Luckily I go to school in sacramento now and theres a guitar center there, so I'll be trying a new preamp tube probably next week.
 
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Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

i would agree with the peavey comment. marsahll valvestate runs around 750-800 $ right? you can get a XXX for that i believe or a 6505 for about 1100. if you go with the 6505, make sure you actually play it first at volumes you'll actually be playing at. ... i.e. if you play smaller clubs or bars, and you're mic'd through a PA, you're probably not going to be running it much above 40-50% (im talking tube amps for that last part). so make sure it sounds good TO YOU at those levels and below. (because we all know bass players and singers bitch about the guitar being too damn loud! lol.) i have a 50 watt mesa and i RARELY have the master above 9:00 unless its outside or a bigger bar. the 6505 is rated at 120 so you can imagine how loud it gets.
 
Re: hey guys... what about AVT150hx...

anewdefguitarist said:
(because we all know bass players and singers bitch about the guitar being too damn loud! lol.)
Click to expand...

Haha, so true. As a bass player, I had two problems in the last band... I was running on about 450 watts at the volume level I had on my GK 1001RB (it's capable of close to 1100 watts if you crank it!!) but that caused some problems for live shows.

The drummer loved it, the singer/rhythm guitarist loved it but our lead guitarist didn't understand how bass worked. He figured if you can feel the vibes then he must not be loud enough. He was playing on an all-tube Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a Gibson SG and had that **** so loud it drowned the rest of us out. He never realized how loud he was til we had a DVD recorded of us live and he watched it. You cannot hear anything but him (it also allowed us to see how lazy his technique was live).

The other problem was that our singer/rhythm g-man was never loud enough. He has since bought an all tube amp and probably fixed that problem. I don't know, we don't play anymore.

Bass players can definitely be picky though. I was always bitchin about levels. About 50% of the time I was right, but, *swallows pride* it's true, even bass players can be wrong sometimes!!
 
VOX VOx Vox :)

VOX VOx Vox :)

No, you don't need to bias your preamp tubes. Check this:

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Valves-Tu...0000987756?ssPageName=BUYGD:CAT:-1:LISTINGS:2

On the amplifier subject:

I've played them all (combos). Marshall MG - it has a terrible overdrive, just stay away from it. Marshall AVT is far better choice than MG, the tube actually does the job...sound is much better.
I am now using VOX AD30 Valvetronix...and it simply kills everything else!
Its far better choice then Marshall Valvestate! No mistake about that!

You're sure you need 150W? A 50W amp can be rather loud :)
If you need it for the gigs you'd be miking it anyway.

If you need cab/head then:
VOX AD120VTH + Vox AD212 cabinet 1050$ both
VOX AD100VTH + VOX V412BK cabinet 750$ both
OR: VOX AD50VT combo + Shure beta57 mic 500$ both.

Also check: PEavey Valveking 112 (50W) 400$.
Peavey ValveKing 212 (100W) 580$.
Those are all tube amps, never played them, but they should sound better than rest!

Prices from musicians friend.
 
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