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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Amp for a novice
So I go and get the JB Epi and I have a tiny P.O.S. amp. I'm thinking I would like something with a nice tone, but not to ostentatious. I'll probably never be good enough to gig, just want something that sounds nice in my home.
Any suggestions? Would like to stay in the $500 to $1,000 range
So I go and get the JB Epi and I have a tiny P.O.S. amp. I'm thinking I would like something with a nice tone, but not to ostentatious. I'll probably never be good enough to gig, just want something that sounds nice in my home.
Any suggestions? Would like to stay in the $500 to $1,000 range
VOX AD30VT ( I think ) was my first amp and it sounded pretty good!:)
The Vox Little Night Train is an unbelievable sounding little amp for a great price. I heard one through a Marshall 4x12 cabinet and it was pure ROCK. Blue Jr. or a Marshall Class 5 are also very cool. There are a lot of "lunchbox" amps out there now.
Although I haven't personally heard it, the Mesa TA-15 looks like a great little amp too.
So I go and get the JB Epi and I have a tiny P.O.S. amp. I'm thinking I would like something with a nice tone, but not to ostentatious. I'll probably never be good enough to gig, just want something that sounds nice in my home.
Any suggestions? Would like to stay in the $500 to $1,000 range
Do you prefer a combo amp or a small tube head and 2x12 cab?
Do you plan on using pedals for any effects or some amps now already come with built in effects?
Are you looking more for versatility in tones or just a straight ahead tube amp with no frills?
You can get a lot for $1,000. Just depends on what your after.
The Marshall Haze combo is 40watts, loud enough, and has a lot of versatility and there are some good low watt tube heads like Egnater and the Orange Tiny Terror but until you get a speaker cab, you darn near blew your wad and not much left over for pedals if you want reverb or delay etc.. Obviously buying used will allow your money to go further but also keep in mind "Where" you buy something from so if you need to take it back, you can. Ebay and Amazon sellers don't always allow for that or you have to go through the pain of shipping... Guitar Center always lets you play things too if there is one close by. -Seth..
Egnator Tweaker and a few pedals as you grow along. Or, a Blackheart Handsome Devil and some stompies.
Tons of tone out of this little 20 watter. It's a Soldano design, just made in China to keep the price down. I'm sure that you could get one of the guys at your local Guitar Center to demo it for you. JCA gets more than $299 just for the 20 watt head with no reverb in it. And this combo has an Eminance high efficiency 12 inch speaker in it so even tho it's only 20 watts, it's still pretty loud when you crank it up. For $299 you can't go wrong in my estimation. I have the 20 watt half stack, so basically the same thing without the reverb and it cost me $200 more!
http://backstage.musiciansfriend.com/pr … 01.product
The obvious one is a Marshall Class 5! I love them
I can heartily recommend the Blackheart Handsome Devil. Stick a treble booster or OD pedal in front and go crazy.
Here is a few suggestions, some have already suggested
+1 on the Marshall Class 5
Blackstar HT5 Combo (does very good Plexi sounds)
Vox Night Train
Orange Tiny Terror
Ceriatone Champ Ultra (Fender Champ Clone)
+1 for the Marshall Class 5 too!
Great little amp. I have a JB Epi also and I think it sounds great through the Class 5. Very no frills amp and it takes pedals very well.
I have also heard good things about the Jet City units. Heard one at GC and was pretty impressed, but you can't beat that Marshall sound IMHO.
Of course, there are plenty of others as noted by our fellow posters. Try as many out as you can if you feel comfortable doing that at your local emporiums. 
My suggestion would be a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe or HR Junior. Damn good little amp! And resale value is good too.
I played a Blackstar HT40 and it got a wide spectrum of tones clean, rock and heavy.
Although I've been playing Rivera for 12 years. It has a 2 channel (marshall tone stack and a fender tone stack) design.
You would be happy with a Fender Blues JR if you're a novice, or a Marshall Class 5. I have a F blues JR, and I like it quite a bit.
You can get a lot of good amps for $500-$1000!
If you're a novice like most, buy from Guitar Center, as if anything ever goes wrong/warranty you'll be taken care of. That being said, I like a Fender Tweed Blues Jr or Marshall Class 5 - personally like Tweed Jr (Black Blues Jr that sells for $499.00 stinks - don't buy). Class 5's had issues, but either way, will leave you enough money to buy a Fulltone OCD and Boss Digital Delay at same time - these are all the pedals you'll need. With a little bartering on price, could get all for $600-750.00 tax included pending on amp- maybe less.
Good luck.
I appreciate everyone's input. Going to have to delay this purchase a bit, seems my good friends at the IRS want me to send them some money on or before April 15 (well, April 18 actually, but I think you get the point).
I'll recheck this topic in due time when I'm ready to make the purchase.
Thanks again.
Tons of tone out of this little 20 watter. It's a Soldano design, just made in China to keep the price down. I'm sure that you could get one of the guys at your local Guitar Center to demo it for you. JCA gets more than $299 just for the 20 watt head with no reverb in it. And this combo has an Eminance high efficiency 12 inch speaker in it so even tho it's only 20 watts, it's still pretty loud when you crank it up. For $299 you can't go wrong in my estimation. I have the 20 watt half stack, so basically the same thing without the reverb and it cost me $200 more!
+1 on this - I tried the half stack version at a music shop a year or so ago and was really impressed. For rock, blues, hard rock or anything like that it's a great little amp.
I recommend a decent Fender tube amp with a Fulltone OCD. This type rig is tough to beat for low volumes and the OCD's have a thick Marshall type overdrive.
I appreciate everyone's input. Going to have to delay this purchase a bit...
That means you have lots of time to go amp shopping and find something that works for you! Good times ahead! Seriously, though, there's no substitute for going out and trying a whole bunch of different amps to find something that really works for you. Plus, it's an awful lot of fun!
Has anyone played any of the Fender Mustangs? Yea, yea, I know it's not tube, but it's been getting good reviews as far as modeling amps go, kind of like the scanner/printer/fax all-in-one of affordable amps.
Jim
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Amp for a novice
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