New amp time - what to go for!

S

spleenharvester

New member
Hey all :)

I've returned to playing for the first time in quite a while, this time with money from a part time job.

I have a budget of £400 for the amp, which I can maybe push a little bit (forgot I can sell my current horrid amp, a Vox Valvetronix VT40+!).

I'm after an amp that will help me recreate the Live and Loud sound I know and love when under distortion (skip to 1:28, change it to medium quality or it's impossible to hear) - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1...-48-mtv-live-loud-seattle-wa-dec-1-1993_music This may also help http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1...-48-mtv-live-loud-seattle-wa-dec-1-1993_music http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1...-48-mtv-live-loud-seattle-wa-dec-1-1993_music

Nobody seems to have any idea what kit he used at that concert, some say JCM800, some say JCM900, others some funky rack setup. Eitherway, I really want that thick distortion sound for rhythm playing.

I know there's two guitarists there so it's a difficult one to recreate. It will be for live performances - perhaps 2 1x12s at either side to some kind of head?

Does anyone know if that's something that can be achieved with a JCM800 2x12? They often sell for about £350ish used in my area so I'm thinking that may be worth a try.

My guitar is currently a horrible Yamaha RGX212 with a Duncan Slash bridge pickup in the neck, a hot rail in the middle, and a Tonerider in the bridge. I will likely upgrade the body to a decent quality Strat and move some or all of the electronics over, so it's not too consequential at the moment.

Cheers!
 
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Re: New amp time - what to go for!

A jcm800 2 x 12 goes for about $550 USD over there?! That's crazy. People around here try to get like $1,200 for them!
 
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Re: New amp time - what to go for!

You can't go wrong with the JCM800.... In all honesty I suggest a 4x12 if you want a super thick sound
 
Re: New amp time - what to go for!

JCM800 is what I had my eyes set on last time but I didn't quite have enough money haha.

The pricing is weird over here, the 2x12s go for £350 odd on local pickup but the heads go for about twice that, every once in a while they sell for like £900. I just have to wait for the right one I guess :)

Cheers guys, I'm thinking right now the JCM800 2x12 (for the reason above, the heads go for way too much), but not sure yet!
 
Re: New amp time - what to go for!

Yeah you can go wrong with a JCM800... the biggest thing that gets most people is that they must be played LOUD to get that sort of crunch that or you need a pedal upfront. Listening to the clips it sounds like a pushed tube amp with a pedal upfront. You would be better served with something that doesnt have to be played at 113 decibels to get good crunch.
 
Re: New amp time - what to go for!

But for live stuff it'll be loud enough to not be a problem anyways right? And it shouldn't sound too bad with an attenuator in front?

I can't think of a better option for £400. It will be a pain in the arse to use at home but if I can practice on it then awesome.
 
Re: New amp time - what to go for!

Even live in many clubs and practice spaces it will be too loud. Sure you can practice with it at home at TV volume levels. But it will sound thin and buzzy. You can use a attenuator to trim off some of the volume but definitely not all of it. If you can normally run the master at 3 a attenuator will let you run it at 5. Sometimes its just enough to push it over the edge but its still damn loud.

I gigged for 11 years with a 50 watt JMP as my main amp and I never even outdoors ran the master higher than 4. Most of the time it was closer to 2 or 2.5 on the knob. They are great amps but they do have limitations I'm telling you this cause I want you to know what your getting into.

Expect it to be loud... Expect to have to use a pedal up front... no effects loop or reverb limit or effects options. What people forget about the 800's is that they spawned a whole industry centered around modifying them all due to the limitations of the amps. I own 2 JCM800's both are modded and anytime I play through a stock JCM800 im reminded why.
 
Re: New amp time - what to go for!

First video you posted is compressed to high-hell, and the In Bloom cover is dubbed OVER the original track, so you can't tell which guitar tone you're liking, Kurts or this guy's...

I always thought Kurt used Fenders and a RAT pedal. Even the guy doing the cover used some distortion pedals thru his JCM800.
 
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