Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

[eternal_metalhead]

Ok. I want SS amps, even though I like Tube better, I have no cash for it, and my friend's the same. We're gonna start a band, my friend's gonna start playing this summer.

We asked ourselves which amp (combo, preferably) would be the best for good distortion (metal), under 400-500 bucks.

There are the Roland Cubes, the Peavey Bandit that appear to be the best choices right now. GTG to Steve's music to listen to them, but right now, which do you think are the "best buys" ?

Thanks guys!

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Peavey is almost always a best buy. Bandits are great practice amps, but may be a little under powered to be heard well with drums.

That being said, you can nearly always find a used Peavey in the $100 to $200 range that will do the job. Go used to stretch the bang for the buck ratio.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

I meay get some heat for this, but when we started out our band, a Line 6 Spyer II 100W combo was the guitar amp. Comparing to my current Mesa, of course there's a world of differece, but it really worked out well, especially considering the price. It's got a nice clean, Marshally and Recto tone along with built in effects. Being a punk band, we didn't use the effects that much, but a little chorus and delay on the cleans made it sound really full, and we used the trem for one song too.

I'm sure some people will tell you to buy a used Fender and a distortion pedal, but it was so nice to only have the amp and channel selector since the guitarist wasn't using a ton of effects. (If you ARE a heavy effects user, the amp is NOT a good choice, it doesn't take pedals very well) I still think it was the best choice, relatively light, reliable and louder than my bass amp at the time. lol

 

[eternal_metalhead]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

For the Rectifier tone, we thought about the 60W Cube. However, people say the Bandit has a great distortion on its own. Most people seem to say that the Roland Cubes are better than the Line6 Spyders, for similar effects.

Oh, we aren't heavy effects user. Sometimes we add chorus for fun, but in songs, we only use some liiiight reverb. However, we experiment .

 

[emilio]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

what about randall g3?

 

[eternal_metalhead]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Never heard about it, I'll take a look at it ! Thanks

 

[emilio]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

randall, dimebag........ i think he used an g2 and then used the warhead. (both randall) then krank.

 

[eternal_metalhead]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

I'm not the biggest fan of Dimebag (still, may he RIP), however I'm sure his amps weren't bad either. Gonna look up for Randalls more seriously now.

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

CRATE ... I'm serious. break in the speakers WELL and keep on tweakin'. you'll find good tone ... I have

 

[eternal_metalhead]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Which one there are many...

 

[emilio]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zyZ4JeNlIug

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I48sU6NTYa8

these kind of suck but i'll look for more.

 

[eternal_metalhead]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

They're not good quality but the tone seems pretty good, alhough those G3s are a little pricier than the "other" ones.

 

[BGtelecaster]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Yeah Crates are my favorite SS amps out there I have a GX15 that I enjoy. I would look into Vox Valvetronix. I am in the market for a Tube amp and was blown away by this one so much I am going to go for the 15 watt version

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Actually if you can find one the Ampeg VH 140's were killer ss metal amps. They came in both head and 2x12 versions. They're loud enough to gig with. A good specimen shouldnt cost more than about 400 bones.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

"Chatreeo" has some cool clips of Randalls, here's a G3 one http://youtube.com/watch?v=29Ihhm6ii4w

You could get a used Randall G2 for pretty cheap and those kick ass.

This is a pretty good representation of the G2: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wwv3NQwjEVc

 

[baritone]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

There are a lot of cool options available to you. I think Vox modeling amps sound cool, but there are so many other choices from Crate, H&K, Marshall MG series, etc.

 

[emilio]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

They're not good quality but the tone seems pretty good, alhough those G3s are a little pricier than the "other" ones.

that is because g3's are hybrids, but youcan also buy g2's which are older and cheaper but are fully ss.

 

[emilio]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

There are a lot of cool options available to you. I think Vox modeling amps sound cool, but there are so many other choices from Crate, H&K, Marshall MG series, etc.

MG's are too staticy.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

There's a 30 watt Crate tube amp under $500, give it a look.

 

[emilio]

Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

i don't think 30 would keep up with drums. :no: