Jam Along Amps

Gamera

Gamera

New member
Looking for a Christmas gift for a friend looking to get into guitar. They already have a decent beater guitar. I want to get them a small amp that has built-in beats they can jam along to. Built-in amp models and effects are nice but not crucial. Sound quality is not crucial. I'm hoping the built-in beats will be incentive to play.

I've done some research and found some nice options listed below. Any other suggestions?

Fender G-Dec Junior $160

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My top choice as it's simple with no navigation menus. Only dials and the beats have drums and bass. Price is decent but still a bit high considering it may be destined to be a dust-collector. A used model may be the ticket though.

Line 6 Spider Jam $400

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Way overkill for my needs and out of my price range. It has way too many doodads, knobs, buttons, and screens. It does have built-in recording though so it looks like a cool tool for a more advanced user. Also has tons of jam tracks which is cool.

Roland Micro Cube RX $260

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Again, out of my price range and the beats are only drums. But it has effects and models and the controls are nice and simple.

Any other options?
 
Re: Jam Along Amps

Don't know much about these types of amps, but the G-Dec does look like something I could enjoy, and the price is right, at least compared to the others. Plus, if this is for a starter, the simplicity in terms of how to control the sounds is a great plus.
 
Re: Jam Along Amps

I actually own a G-Dec like the one above. I confess I use it way more than my better amps just because of the simplicity and built-in beats. That's why I thought something similar would be a perfect starter amp. Just wondering if there are cheaper options.

Alternatively, I could give him my G-Dec and upgrade myself to something similar. The G-Dec is great but having played it for a couple years now those same beats are getting old. Maybe the next level up G-Dec that allows for downloadable content. Those get kinda pricey though.
 
Re: Jam Along Amps

That's funny. With all my various amp projects here and there waiting to be completed, for a quick jam, I turn on my Mustang 3 time and time again.

Go with the GDEC and it will be fun.

Or buy him a better amp and get two Band in the Pocket CD's to go with it.
 
Re: Jam Along Amps

Gamera said:
Alternatively, I could give him my G-Dec and upgrade myself to something similar. The G-Dec is great but having played it for a couple years now those same beats are getting old. Maybe the next level up G-Dec that allows for downloadable content. Those get kinda pricey though.
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That seems to be the perfect solution here, man. If I were you, I'd go that way for sure!
 
Re: Jam Along Amps

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I highly recommend the Boss Micro BR, or the newer Micro BR 80

While I have no experience with the newer BR-80, my original Micro BR still gets alot of useage. It has built in drum beats, you can play and slow down MP3's, record, has built in guitar emulations and effects. A really cool tool and I've used it hundreds of times to learn new songs. It had a direct guitar input. You'll need to output to a pair of speakers or headphones.

Its definetely worht checking out and a very cool tool for the noob and experienced alike.
 
Re: Jam Along Amps

or you could give away the g-dec and use a cheap netbook and download torrents of all sorts of backing tracks and aebersolds, hook it up to the amp with a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch plug adapter, watch the chord changes and jam to the tracks.
 
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