Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

JGarofalo3

JGarofalo3

New member
Greetings!

As my band is now starting to play larger venues, I am in the market for a guitar amp head and cabinet (not a combo) and looking to pick something up in the secondary/used market. Preferably a 4 x 12 but open to all ideas. This rig will be used for larger venues where my combo amp might not get the job done (sometimes we mic the amps and sometimes we do not).

**NOTE**: I am NOT super technically savvy. I have looked at some amp heads that look amazing but have been frankly a bit intimidating to me with all the modeling and presets etc....so I guess I am "not" looking for a modeling amp.

Some 411 for perspective purposes:

My budget: I'd like to stay inside $1000 with a preferred landing spot of around $750 but will expand that strike zone some for the right gear.

My playing: I am almost exclusively a rhythm guitar player as I am lead vocals so my playing is predominantly heavy on the tone side to add fullness, wholeness and depth to our core. I do every know and then play a dual lead or lead piece but not shredding or ripping ever.

My music: Mostly covers, classic, contemporary and progressive rock, pop, funk, R&B, nothing uber heavy.

My gear (guitars): I mostly play a Gibby ES335 or an LP with pups typically humbuckers, P-90's and P-Rails (as you can sense my playing is all about the right tone application.

My gear (amps): I currently use combo's: Fender 65 Twin Reissue (my fav), Fender Frontman 212R (like this one alot too), Marshall Valvestate VS265 (I am kinda "meh" with this amp primarily because its a bit complicated)

Any and all suggestions and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

JG3
 
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Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

I'm surprised your Twin Reissue isn't loud enough, isn't it an 85W tube combo? It should have a jack going out for another cabinet, you could add a 2x12 cabinet underneath it, see if that gets you the volume you need.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

used marshall jcm 900 or marshall DSL 2000 heads are very cheap and sound great. i'd consider those with a used marshall 1960 cabinet. if you look enough i think you can get both in your budget. i'd recommend 100W because you can get the clean headroom when you need it. 50W heads clip too easily, i find.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

That's a great idea dominus! Thanks for the reco's esandes, good stuff too!
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

JGarofalo3 said:
That's a great idea dominus! Thanks for the reco's esandes, good stuff too!
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You *might* even be able to use one of your other combo amps as a spare 2x12 if they have 1/4 connectors. Just verify that the ohm ratings match, then unplug the speakers from the Frontman or VS265R and plug them into the Twin.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

was looking at the Fender VibroKing 2x12 cab, not sure the Twin would sit on top of it (I think it would). Would have preferred the speakers to have Alnico's but they are not bad. Not sure what other cab might work harmoniously (meaning the Twin would sit nicely above it) with the twin 65
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

What you might want to do is try to find one locally and take your Twin with you to test it out.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

2x12 cabs are notoriously directional whereas the 4x12 can fill out a room better.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

esandes said:
used marshall jcm 900 or marshall DSL 2000 heads are very cheap and sound great. i'd consider those with a used marshall 1960 cabinet. if you look enough i think you can get both in your budget. i'd recommend 100W because you can get the clean headroom when you need it. 50W heads clip too easily, i find.
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+1
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

I don't think a DSL is dynamic enough for a 335. The Dual Reverb 900 is better in this single aspect but I still hate it for its stiff, unresponsive feel. A decent single channel Marshall run alongside the Fender Twin would be my pick.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

esandes said:
used marshall jcm 900 or marshall DSL 2000 heads are very cheap and sound great. i'd consider those with a used marshall 1960 cabinet. if you look enough i think you can get both in your budget. i'd recommend 100W because you can get the clean headroom when you need it. 50W heads clip too easily, i find.
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I swear by the 1960A, plus or minus any speaker swapping you may or may not want to do. Mine has mono/stereo switching, which is nice for versatility. It's light, has casters, easy to move around. Easy to take apart and work on, too. The light construction gives it a nice cabinet thunk.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

Little Pigbacon said:
I swear by the 1960A, plus or minus any speaker swapping you may or may not want to do. Mine has mono/stereo switching, which is nice for versatility. It's light, has casters, easy to move around. Easy to take apart and work on, too. The light construction gives it a nice cabinet thunk.
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what? LOL you consider the marshall 4x12 light? you must be a weightlifter.
 
Re: Looking for head and cabinet recommendations

esandes said:
what? LOL you consider the marshall 4x12 light? you must be a weightlifter.
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Compared to the Mesa Recto 2x12 I used to have, it is. Maybe they used to be heavier. This is a JCM900 with the plastic handles, probably 14 years old.
 
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