The Tone Ranger
New member
Here’s my deal: I am NOT a working musician or regular gigging musician. I play guitar in my church’s praise and worship band. I use a POD XT Live straight into the board and it does a fine job. I’d like an amp for home use and the occasional jam session with a friend. We also play every once in a while at a homeless shelter where I need an amp that will project over the drums. I love the idea though of someday getting to jam out at small clubs, coffee houses, etc.
Mostly this amp will be used at home to learn, practice, and have fun playing.
I’ve narrowed down my choices to 2 amps:
1) Line 6 Spider Jam. These go for about $400 new. I know it’s not tubes, but the idea of having all those jam tracks and getting to play and record over/with them sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to practice and learn. It’s got some good sounds that are easy to dial in. I doubt I would use all those artist presets, song presets, or fx, but at least they’re there if I need them. At 75 watts it is really too loud for what I need, but at least if I did play out or jam at a friends it wouldn’t be underpowered. There’s also the benefit of plugging in a mic for vocals. I’m sure I wouldn’t use all the technology that’s in this amp, but at the very least it sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to practice. I can also play songs thru it to jam along with. All in all, this amp sounds like a winner. Sure, it’s not tubes, but for my needs...it sounds perfect. Is it a bear to lug around?
2) Blackstar HT-5 combo. Someone is selling one locally for $250. It’s tube, low wattage, but enough to be heard, and easy to transport. It also has 2 channels that sound great and a line out to go to board w/speaker emulation. I really only need two channels...a clean and an overdrive/distortion. And this amp sounds great. I really just need a clean channel on the edge of breakup and then goose it with an overdrive, but having the 2 channels and an fx loop is nice. It’s really all the amp I think I would need. However, when it comes to practicing at home...it’s just an amp. It doesn’t have the jam tracks, drum tracks, looping or recording capabilities, etc. I have a little Fender Bullet right now...and I get bored of my playing real quick! LOL. I’d love to have songs or jams to attempt to solo over, record riffs, etc.
So based on my needs (mostly home use for fun and practicing my worship team tunes), what do you think? Again, I love the idea of jamming out and with friends, but I rarely get to do it. When I do, I want something that can be heard over a drummer.
I think either of these are great choices. I’m just wondering which one will inspire my playing and just plain have the most fun with. I do have a Mac with Garageband. Can I use this for jam tracks, practicing, etc.? I’m trying to determine if I go with the Blackstar, how can I replace the looping and jam tracks for practice and fun purposes (without spending more $)?
Overall, I’m leaning toward the Line 6...it just seems like it would make practicing fun. I can practice with any amp, but at the end of the day it’s just you and the amp. The Line 6 has like 100 different jam tracks from real studio musicians. That just seems like fun. It looks a little big to lug around though, which is the reason why I sold my Peavey 5150 2x12 years ago...too loud and too heavy. It was practically useless to try to lug around.
Do any of you have these or think the same thing as me? Did you purchase either of these? Based on my LONG diatribe (sorry, wanted to be clear and thorough up front)...can you help steer me in the right decision?
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Mostly this amp will be used at home to learn, practice, and have fun playing.
I’ve narrowed down my choices to 2 amps:
1) Line 6 Spider Jam. These go for about $400 new. I know it’s not tubes, but the idea of having all those jam tracks and getting to play and record over/with them sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to practice and learn. It’s got some good sounds that are easy to dial in. I doubt I would use all those artist presets, song presets, or fx, but at least they’re there if I need them. At 75 watts it is really too loud for what I need, but at least if I did play out or jam at a friends it wouldn’t be underpowered. There’s also the benefit of plugging in a mic for vocals. I’m sure I wouldn’t use all the technology that’s in this amp, but at the very least it sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to practice. I can also play songs thru it to jam along with. All in all, this amp sounds like a winner. Sure, it’s not tubes, but for my needs...it sounds perfect. Is it a bear to lug around?
2) Blackstar HT-5 combo. Someone is selling one locally for $250. It’s tube, low wattage, but enough to be heard, and easy to transport. It also has 2 channels that sound great and a line out to go to board w/speaker emulation. I really only need two channels...a clean and an overdrive/distortion. And this amp sounds great. I really just need a clean channel on the edge of breakup and then goose it with an overdrive, but having the 2 channels and an fx loop is nice. It’s really all the amp I think I would need. However, when it comes to practicing at home...it’s just an amp. It doesn’t have the jam tracks, drum tracks, looping or recording capabilities, etc. I have a little Fender Bullet right now...and I get bored of my playing real quick! LOL. I’d love to have songs or jams to attempt to solo over, record riffs, etc.
So based on my needs (mostly home use for fun and practicing my worship team tunes), what do you think? Again, I love the idea of jamming out and with friends, but I rarely get to do it. When I do, I want something that can be heard over a drummer.
I think either of these are great choices. I’m just wondering which one will inspire my playing and just plain have the most fun with. I do have a Mac with Garageband. Can I use this for jam tracks, practicing, etc.? I’m trying to determine if I go with the Blackstar, how can I replace the looping and jam tracks for practice and fun purposes (without spending more $)?
Overall, I’m leaning toward the Line 6...it just seems like it would make practicing fun. I can practice with any amp, but at the end of the day it’s just you and the amp. The Line 6 has like 100 different jam tracks from real studio musicians. That just seems like fun. It looks a little big to lug around though, which is the reason why I sold my Peavey 5150 2x12 years ago...too loud and too heavy. It was practically useless to try to lug around.
Do any of you have these or think the same thing as me? Did you purchase either of these? Based on my LONG diatribe (sorry, wanted to be clear and thorough up front)...can you help steer me in the right decision?
Thanks! Much appreciated.
