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

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

eternal_metalhead said:
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!
Click to expand...



IMHO . . . if you have money to "spend", you can NOT go wrong with a Fender BJr. :usa2:

It is cheap, all-valve, and has killer tone - and is NOT S/S !!!!!

( . . . just ad an EHX MetalMuff, or T-Rex MudHoney, or a DuceTone Rat !)


My 2 cents
JP
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Go with a randall, I am always impressed with their solid state stuff. It isnt tube, but it really does work well for metal.
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

for $500 you can get an all-tube half-stack. look for Peavey Butchers, VTM60's and VTM120's...look for old Fender's nobody wants...most music shops have cheap 4x12s around that aren't great but do the job. It'll get you the tone you want and the live raw feel a punk or metal band should have.

if you ask me...
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Thanks. So right now my options are :
- Randall G3 75 Watts Combo (if 75 is not enough, then I might get a 100)
- Peavey Bandit 112 (80 Watts)
- Vox Valvetronix AD60VT (if 60 is not enough, I might go for 120)
- Fender Blues Jr. with effect (doesn't look "loud" enough + EVH Metal Muff)
- Crate V50-112 (50 watts all-tube, looks good to me)
- Peavey XXL and XXX combos
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

my vote goes to the Vox modelers.... ADT50 or whatever the 50watt 1x12 model is called is a great sounding amp for the bucks... the heavy tones are nice... plus the 50 watts, the ext speaker out, and the direct output has enough power and toys to gig and record with.... Musicians Friend sell them for around $380 USA i think

I would stay away from the Marshall MG series.... noisey amps.. some of the Fender SS amps can also be noisey as well but some are OK..
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Vox Ad50Vt or the 100 watt version. Powerful / Versatile / with tube flavor and built in effects. Plus its cheap.

I don't know how long it will be, but vox also has a new version of the valvetronix coming out called the "XL" series which is geared more toward high gain amp models and less vintage clean.
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Yeah they look pretty good. I wonder what'll be the price. Oh, and is 50 watts plenty to keep up with drums ?
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

I was looking for the new Vox, and it just set me back to the Cubes.
Anyone here likes the Roland Cubes ?

-50 posts ! Yay :D

EDIT : OOPS Double-post. Sorry :D
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Gpo for the Crate all tube. V-50 if you can afford it, V-32 if you can't afford the 50.
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

I'd go for a Vox Vavetronics, I'm gonna get one myself as an "alternative" to my 2 Cornfords! My Cornfords are great, handbuilt and point to point wired.. NO boards in there. But, my mate who is the Manager of the guitar section in one of the BIG national stores, demoed a VOX for a guy while I was there and after the guy left (with the amp!) we A/B tested them against loads of amps. This guy could have ANY amp he wants (he is a semi pro and gigging week in week out) , his mainstay is a Cornford MK50, and now he has a Vox... not sure if hyis is the 60 watter or the 120, but you should check these out. They will sound good for any style IMO and will last until you have the funds for a high end amp.
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

I would recommend leaning toward 2x12 speaker layout in either a cab or a combo. For amps, I would say approximately 30 watts tube or 100 watts solid state. I mean approximately as opposed to minimum because it depends on the amp. You may find that a 15 watt tube amp or a 50 or 60 watt solid state amp works for your particular situation, but you may have to try a few out. I'm not totally into hybrid amps, but the Vox modelers are awesome.

Yeah, 30 watts tube is going to be a loud amp. My amp is 35 watts RMS, and I rarely use it when playing along with friends because it is so loud. I only turn it on if it's daytime and no one else is home, since it shakes the whole house. I usually play through one of my older solid state combos when jamming with friends, or I run my 5 watt tube Epiphone Valve Jr. into my 2x12 cab, and it gets loud when I need to.
 
Last edited:
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

get a crate powerblock and build a 212 cab which fits your taste
 
Re: Which are the best starter/garage band/practice cheap amps?

Baltar said:
get a crate powerblock and build a 212 cab which fits your taste
Click to expand...

Also a good idea. But if you want hi-gain distortion you will need a modellor or a preamp. Works pretty well with either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
Advice on practice amps
Replies
8
Views
201
PFDarkside
PFDarkside
Mr. B
Help Finding Good Student Practice Amps
Replies
5
Views
139
80's_Thrash_Metal
80's_Thrash_Metal
G
A comparison and review of 20 small/low-wattage/lunchbox amps
2
Replies
21
Views
771
St_Genesius
St_Genesius
Metalman_666
N(P/A)D: Fractal AX8 surprise
Replies
17
Views
711
kramer.geetar
kramer.geetar
P
Two Amps Died the Same Way — HELP!!
2 3
Replies
53
Views
3K
Punkrot
P
Back
Top