Guitar Amps

[MJK]

So if you have not been following my recent urge to spend money...I am in the market for a Gibson Les Paul and an amp. The amp I have always wanted and loved is the Marshall.

Now, I haven't been into playing electric music for a few years now so I am kinda out of the loop.

I have been looking at these two...thoughts?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/compa...ase_pid=483104

[greerb]

Messa Boogie make some great amps as well.

[tussery]

Reeve's also makes some great amps. Supposedly they are closer to the original Hiwatt amps than what is sold under the Hiwatt name in North America.

[Engine09]

I bought a Marshall combo just a few months ago, got a good deal off Ebay.

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbas...4/4/266844.jpg

I went with the DSL 401, single 12", because I wanted a tube amp. I've owned a JCM2000 50 Watt with a 4x12 cab in the past, no use for that in my apartment anymore and those stacks are overkill in 80% of situations anyways.

The 2 amps you linked are alright and the price is decent, solid states are reliable also. Diamond Darrel used solid states, so does Tommy Victor of Prong. Depends on what sounds better to your ear.

[Flames0910]

Marshall makes great amps - nothing beats the tone of a Marshall IMO.
I recently bought a Marshal AVT 150x (half stack) and have been loving it.

Looking at that amp, you'll like the footswitch if you've never had one before, built in digital effects are nice although I find I don't use them as much as I did with my old amp. Don't need as many FX if you start with a beautiful tone.
Between the two I'd probably go with the second as its only $30 more...whats 30 when you're spending close to $500 eh? However I would definitely recommend going to a physical store such as Music Centre Canada and trying out a couple amps before buying one.

[kermitology]

I'm partial to VOX amps myself. A Les Paul sounds amazing through my vox

[foofighter15]

sweet jeebus, where are you getting this money?

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

sweet jeebus, where are you getting this money?

the obvious answer is hookers and blow (selling them both!)

[Rhetts_the_Best]

http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/amps.html
Great Amp, i would definitely recommend this type of amp for a les paul!

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

the obvious answer is hookers and blow (selling them both!)

In a remote village you can only get to by plane in the far white north!!!

[MJK]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

In a remote village you can only get to by plane in the far white north!!!

Atta boy! Teaching in the North pays very well. I will leave it at that.

[Matata]

If it doesn't have tubes, then its a Marshall in name only.

It sounds like you've decided on your equipment based on name recognition. I recomend going to a music store and discuss your price range and what kind of sound you want.

Sounds like you've budgeted about $2000 for an amp an guitar. If I was you, I'd spend $1200-$1400 (Marshall tube) on the amp, $600-700 guitar (Epiphone instead of gibson) and $200-300 on new pickups (Seymour Duncan). The main differences between a $600 and $1200 guitar is usually the quality of electronics and where its built (ie - mexico vs california), a cheaper guitar with high end pickups is the cheapest way to get a great sounding guitar. I think amps count the most in the quality of your tone, so spend the most on that.

Just so you know where I'm coming from: Im an absolute gear junkie, I've played guitar for 10 year and I have a few friends who work in music stores full-time.

[stang]

Originally Posted by Matata

If it doesn't have tubes, then its a Marshall in name only.

It sounds like you've decided on your equipment based on name recognition. I recomend going to a music store and discuss your price range and what kind of sound you want.

Sounds like you've budgeted about $2000 for an amp an guitar. If I was you, I'd spend $1200-$1400 (Marshall tube) on the amp, $600-700 guitar (Epiphone instead of gibson) and $200-300 on new pickups (Seymour Duncan). The main differences between a $600 and $1200 guitar is usually the quality of electronics and where its built (ie - mexico vs california), a cheaper guitar with high end pickups is the cheapest way to get a great sounding guitar. I think amps count the most in the quality of your tone, so spend the most on that.

Just so you know where I'm coming from: Im an absolute gear junkie, I've played guitar for 10 year and I have a few friends who work in music stores full-time.

+1

DONT GET A SOLID STATE MARSHALL

You are pretty much just buying the name and for the money there are WAY better amps.

What kind of music do you play? Is the amp just going to sit in your bedroom or are you going to be playing wth some friends? Bars? Stadiums?

You could also try a Traynor YCV50blue amp. It has that marshally crunch to it but it also has pretty nice cleans.

Again though if we know what kind of music you play it might help.

go to www.ultimate-guitar.com forums.. there is a wealth of info there on what kinds of amps sound best for the type of music to play.

I wouldnt rely TOO much on reviews you read on sites like musicians friend etc...

[MJK]

Ok let me set this straight. I have played Les Paul's. I have played through Marshall half stacks but it has been like 8 years ago that I did. Like I said I am a little out of the loop when it comes to electric guitars and amps (I currently own a sweeeeet Ibanez electric/acoustic).

To say that I am buying based on 'name recognition' is false. Like I have said I have played BOTH just not both together, you know what I mean?

I also owned a 2 X 12 120W Fender HotRod amp waayy back ( I think thats what it was called) and that was a pretty sweet amp.

Basically I wanted to know how the Les Paul sounds through the Marshall. Like I said, I like both just have not played both together. Getting into a music store really isnt an option because of where I live.

I like playing mostly metal stuff like TOOL, System of a Down, maybe some Queens of the Stone Age...that type of stuff.

Thoughts?

[stang]

OK you must have misunderstood.

IMO the MG series of Marshall sound like ass..

THey take a 200 dollar crap SS amp... Slap a marshall nameplate on it.. and that instantly raises the price of the amp up to $500. Then they get Zakk Wylde to say he uses it and they make a killing selling it to people who want a Marshall.

Now dont get me wrong... Marshall Tube amps sound GREAT... IMO you should get one of those... A JCM800 or something..

The MG series is a budget line that sounds like crap... if you only want to spend $500 I could find you a handful of amps that sound way better.

But I would Spend more on my Amp then I would on the guitar... a great guitar through a crappy amp sounds like crap. A crappy guitar through a great amp sounds good.

Where in NFLD are you? Have you checked Craigslist? some great deals to be had there!

Edit: The Fender is a great amp... but imo it wont do TOOL of SOAD very well.
edit: 2 Try reading this thread http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum...ht=marshall+mg

Edit3: Here are 2 amps that are better then those 2 you picked
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/compa...ase_pid=481442

[foofighter15]

Originally Posted by MJK

Atta boy! Teaching in the North pays very well. I will leave it at that.

Makes sense. Anyone educated in Edmonton is as uncommon as an Oiler fan mentioning anything past 1990.

[Hack&Lube]

I need a new amp myself but I need to sell guitars first or I can't afford them. Any tips on where? How much do places like L&M pay?

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I need a new amp myself but I need to sell guitars first or I can't afford them. Any tips on where? How much do places like L&M pay?

You'll get the most money if you put out an ad in the Bargain finder and do all the grunt work yourself. L&M (or any music store) will underpay you for the guitars, because they have to sell them at a profit, theres also no garauntee that they even want your guitars.

Back to the OP, Stang gave you some good advice. As far as how a Les Paul through a Marshall will sound, well, it sounds great, a very classic combination. However, my concern is that you seem to expect to get that tone through the equipment you've expressed interest in and I hate to burst your bubble when I say you can't do it. In fact, I can't see that set-up sounding very good at all and you can spend your money alot smarter.

The classic gibson/marshall set-up would cost ~$3500 for starters, A Marshall half-stack alone would cost ~3K (stupidly overpriced, these companies waaaay overcharge because of their glorious Rock'n'Roll tradition). I have always thought of the Les Paul Studio as an Epiphone thats made in Nashville, so save a couple hundred bucks and shoot for an Epiphone. The last peice of advice that I can give is to take your time with buying equipment and really get educated, it generally takes me 1-2 months to buy a new guitar/amp.

Happy Hunting.

[Igottago]

Im not much of a gearhead, but I have a Marshall avt30 valvestate combo. For its size it does the trick for me, sounds pretty nice with my telecaster, loud enough to play small clubs.

Also, Orange amps are nice. They are on the pricey side, but sweet.

http://www.orangeamps.com/

[MJK]

Ok you guys have me almost talked out of the Marshall but I will still be getting the GIBSON Les Paul...

I have been looking at this one today....whatcha think?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ier?sku=482271

Will this do the trick?