Guitar amp and effects questions

**Usarka** · 19th March 2011, 07:08

Hi all you guitar guru's out there I need some direction.

I need a new amp (old one too big for purpose) AND I'm wanting to start playing with some different sounds.

So should I:

Buy a new amp that incorporates a small range of effects (eg Roland 20xl) OR
Buy a "standard" but quality amp (HT1?)

and
Add some effects pedals over time? OR
Or use a multi-effects box like a BOSS or Line6.

Chur.

**mrchips** · 19th March 2011, 07:47

Back in the day I used to have a Marshall Valvestate & a KORG - A3 - muti-effects processor, was a friggen awesome combo.

But i always loved the effects from a guitar synth, something like this...

The look on peoples faces playing sax on a guitar would be priceless ... Just love the sounds from a synth !

**steve_t** · 19th March 2011, 08:00

What are you using it for? Just jamming in the garage/lounge solo? Or in a band?
What's your budget?

**Usarka** · 19th March 2011, 08:07

Originally Posted by steve_t

What are you using it for? Just jamming in the garage/lounge solo? Or in a band?
What's your budget?

For practice/lounge/solo. I'm still definitely in the "learning" mode but want to play around a bit more.

Looking at a staggered purchase (if applicable) and budget depends somewhat on the answer but is probably lower end (but not crappy end).

Looking at $250-450 for an amp (negotiable), and considering the roland cube 20xl. Not sure about effects stuff at this point, but if was going multi-effect would prob start with a boss me25 ($360).

**Ntoxcated** · 19th March 2011, 08:12

One of the benefits of using a separate multi-effects box is that you can then plug into any amp and still have your patches available more or less. Handy for practice, or just jamming at a mate's.

**steve_t** · 19th March 2011, 08:56

Damn, that's ME-25 looks sweet. Way better than the crappy multi effects units back in my day. Good choice I reckon

**Drunken Monkey** · 19th March 2011, 09:13

If it was me, I'd look at either the VOX AC 4 or the Orange Tiny Terror, then add effects as required as I don't use them very often and I really dig the old fashioned warm sound of a genuine tube.

If you use fx quite often, the all transistor digital modelling amps are, apparently, the shizzle these days. some say they even mimic the tube sound fairly well, but I haven't tried one of the new, fancier better quality types yet.

I still think it comes right down to trying them out, the right guitar and amp combination for you is what sounds right, if you can get the sound you want with a certain piece of equipment and it doesn't have a fancy label or high price tag on it, then I say go for it.

**SlashWylde** · 19th March 2011, 10:29

I like to play a variety of styles so I need an amp with a wide tonal pallet. I've had a Line 6 Flextone II XL for nearly 10 years and I still love it. I've added a few outboard effects like EQ pedals and a Wah, but as a single complete package it does it all.

Where one doesn't need a medium to large valve amp for gigging I'm totally sold on small (<50W) software-based amp and effects modeling amplifiers, like what Line 6 offers as part of it's product range.

I don't know what you'll get for the sort of money you want to spend, but digital modeling is pretty good these days and you can get good sounds for not a lot of money.

I would spend as much money as you can on getting a good amplifier, then add effects later. Good pedals won't sound their best through a mediocre amp.

I've bought some nice guitars and pedals really cheap from Cash Converters, so they can be worth a look, in addition to Tardme of course.

Also, if you live in or near Auckland, keep an eye out for the music industry sale that usually comes around once a year at the ASB showgrounds Greenlane. Not sure when the next one is but there are some good bargains to be had.

Hope this helps.

**Usarka** · 19th March 2011, 14:04

Cheers guys,

The OCD kicked in so I got the botany rock shop guys to sort me out with a ME-25 and a small fender amp.

The quality of the sound through headphones on the ME-25 is 60x better than from the headphone jack on my old amp, plus I can muck around on the PC both of which at this stage almost justify themselves. Maybe i didn't need the 2nd amp (that's like not needing a bike or not needing beer

). And funnily enough I dig a lot of the clean/acoustic/blues sounds this thing makes where I was expecting it to be more of a distortion rock metal thing.

Now to get back to actually learning how to play properly instead of trying to be an instant guitar god.

**CookMySock** · 19th March 2011, 19:09

Originally Posted by Usarka

For practice/lounge/solo.

Theres some quite good computer software for just arsing around. Cost = zilch.

**Usarka** · 19th March 2011, 19:13

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Theres some quite good computer software for just arsing around. Cost = zilch.

Need some sort of pre-amp to get the signal into the computer. Plus I'm not really into sitting in front of the pc when jamming - jamming - I hope you like jamming too.

**rapid van cleef** · 19th March 2011, 19:50

righto, i know a thing or two about this, so take it or leave it....

bear in mind every part of your 'chain' will alter the sound, from your strings to your picks ups, and your ability / technique.

buy the best amp you can afford, that is the heart of your sound. a crap / cheap amp and a great effects until will still sound crap / cheap.

a good amp should have good EQ adjustablity and preferably 2 channels. also a headphone output and speaker emulator output is desireable..budget will determine this.

those boss me 25 things are great. thats the first boss fx unit ive heard that does not sound like a box of flies compared to a 'proper' valve amp.

line 6 flextone amps are great amps too. grate value for money. i personally use a marshall 2x12 cab, marshall power amp and a behringer v- amp, plus some traditional stomp boxes. i was in a band with another guitarist that had the line 6 pod, (er rack mount version) gtr fx unit and we tried them side by side with the same parameters, same amp, same speaker, same guitar and couldnt tell the difference in the speaker/amp emulators.

the line 6 effects like flanger n chorus n phaser etc were better than on my behringer unit but i dont use use them as i have them externally as i like the sound of the pedals.

so, go to your budget again and go with the amp first, then fx later.

chur!

**steve_t** · 19th March 2011, 19:54

Originally Posted by rapid van cleef

so, go to your budget again and go with the amp first, then fx later.

chur!

See post #9

**bsasuper** · 19th March 2011, 19:56

A Marshall 50watt valve amp with a digitech hotrod pedal is what you need.

**riffer** · 19th March 2011, 20:30

You're not wrong there bsasuper.
I use the following gear:

Guitars:
1988 Gibson Les Paul Custom
1980 Ibanez Blazer BL300 (Like Stratocaster but with pickup coil tapping and hard tail bridge)
Takamine EF381SC 12 string (Bruce Springsteen model) with CT4B preamp
Garrison AG700 six string

Effects:
Boss GT3 COSM effects board

Amps:
practice: Marshall G15
stage: Marshall JCM800 1987 Superlead MKII 50W Head and 1960A JCM800 Speaker box

Computer:

I use Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 through an mBox which is excellent for simulating all sorts of guitar and amp sounds.

I reckon I've got most things covered.

To be honest, if I had to recommend it, I'd say get a nice tube amp - the Marshall 20W handwired release is brilliant - and add the effects to it.